10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2017

A few years back, I birded northern Greece with a couple from Namibia. Nicolaas, who can see them back home any day commented that they are the most numerous wading birds in the world (the “most numerous” equaling “the least interesting”). The species he was thrilled to see was the Mute Swan. Here comes the angry bird.

Birds 119

Birds Namibia Greece Feral 119

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2017

Germany has only one high seas island it calls its own, the mighty (from a birding perspective) island of Heligoland. In this treaty, the Germans ceded control over some of their colonial territories in East Africa to the British in return for the Caprivi Strip (now Namibia) and, surprise, the island of Heligoland.

Germany 100

Germany Denmark Namibia Breeding 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 27, 2015

Mum, Dad, I’m sorry I described my childhood as feral. This time it is the Old World that has misnamed a group of birds, or in fact several groups. It all comes back to a split in one of the great bird families, the Turdidae, or thrushes. Collared palm-thrushes are rather fine birds. They remain little know.

Mozambique 162

Mozambique Zambia Zimbabwe Namibia 162