10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2011

It sheltered him, it haunted him, and it set his thoughts adrift, to the warmth of spring and the family he had. He was a careful and vigilant bird, traits that had saved him from the hawks and the cats on so many occasions while those around him had perished over the years. The darkness was all around him. All were long gone.

Blackbirds 154

Blackbirds Germany Shelters Rodents 154

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2011

My home country of South Africa can only be described as a birding paradise! In this post, I’d like to focus on a small selection of South Africa’s special endemic birds. In this post, I’d like to focus on a small selection of South Africa’s special endemic birds. Starting off with my favorites (I have to say that!),

South Africa 221

South Africa Lesotho Africa Swaziland 221

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2020

The proprietor of our ecolodge guides my small group of birders up a steep slope where we see, just at the point where a scope view deteriorates into pixels, a huge bird—a Chaco Eagle, also known as a Crowned Eagle—on a huge nest. We are cautioned to keep the location of the eagle a secret.

Falcons 208

Falcons United Kingdom Zimbabwe Eggs 208

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

Last weekend we went by vehicle to check on the Pied Oystercatchers that breed along that stretch of beach and there has been continued egg loss over the past few weeks. In fact one of our pairs was doing just that as we headed north to check on not only the Pied Oystercatchers , but any other birds in the area. Family of Brolga.

Eggs 140

Eggs Birds Investigation Bears 140

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2024

According to the eBird description, it is everything I am not: a “neon-colored, noisy, highly social bird” Shudder to think (not the bird part though). Next, this post has a long section on babblers, a very ill-defined category of birds. But some of them look pretty interesting.

Burma 189

Burma Birds Vietnam Laos 189

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2011

To a birder, migration means that you can live in Minnesota, New York, Paris or Moscow and see exotic tropical birds such as Piranga olivacea and Icterus galbula on a regular basis without buying a plane ticket. The birds do the flying for you. But what is migration, why do birds do it, and how is it accomplished? Image source.

Research 191

Research Humane Compassion New York 191

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 26, 2022

This year, it seems I wrote one post on birding in Shanghai each month – and I am still not even sure anyone is interested in these. Probably the most interesting bird this month was a Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher showing up in the Shanghai Botanical Garden. I know – sexism is very common in the birding world.

Finland 147

Finland Birds 2016 McDonalds 147

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 15, 2015

I strongly suspect that the rate of attrition on this Loon family is inversely proportionate to the abundance of ducklings in the bay. Non-bird watchers without binoculars and experience are notoriously bad sources of information. Sometimes that one reaches adulthood, but just as often it disappears. More alarm calling.

Humane 205

Humane Eagles Investigation Research 205

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2017

There’s not always any rhyme or reason to the appearances birds make on beer labels, which makes finding the unexpected ones almost as exciting – for me, at least – as any birding tick. Good birding and happy drinking! And its challenges aren’t nearly as vexing as accipiter identification, I promise.

Penguins 100

Penguins Cooking Belgium New York 100