10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2021

He found some solace when, at age eleven, he became entranced with birds – specifically, with a Green Woodpecker — and that sighting, he says, “took me to another, safer world.” . More Birds Than Bullets: My Life With Birds is his account of the centrality of birds in all of these endeavors, and in his life.

Fox 196

Fox Kuwait Bosnia Afghanistan 196

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2014

It took me a while to wrap my mind around the concept of Birds and People , Mark Cocker and David Tipling’s book that, in 592 pages, explores the intersection of just that—birds and us. Nor have I overlooked “sightings” of birds in movies mouthing other birds’ calls. I’m not sure why.

Birds 232

Birds Egypt Family Eagles 232

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2014

During the decades that preceded the Iraq war there were two schools of view on how to deal with that country and its troublesome leader. And the last of the facts that I listed is rather an example why that support is, well, qualified. But by the same token, it isn’t necessarily a good idea either. Shot a rhino?

Rhinos 174

Rhinos Hunting New Zealand Science 174

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2018

He roots the theft in the history of collecting bird skins, in the brief life history of Edwin Rist, in the secretive world of classic fly tying, and in his own efforts to follow up on a police investigation that got the man but not all of the loot. Only, birders don’t require pieces of dead birds to satisfy their desires.

Collecting 106

Collecting Iraq Ostriches Science 106

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2013

By way of example form the world of politics, what could possibly be wrong with deposing a murderous monster of dictator and replacing him with a free and fair democracy? The Iraq War was a demonstration of the most dangerous and beguiling aspect of the should – the belief that what should be is so obvious that a nudge will make it so.

Tigers 183

Tigers Hunting Game Protection 183

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2023

February 2023 was a slow month for birding in Shanghai, at least for me – so slow that I almost put the Spotted Dove , possibly my least favorite bird here, on the cover. Not a cover species The Black Kite is not actually black, but of course, misleading bird names are not exactly rare. Maybe those should be protected too?

Birds 130

Birds Iraq China Ireland 130