10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2019

Birders know that the pairing of farms and birds represents more than mere bucolic romance – it’s a match borne out of a real avian dependence on these man-made landscapes. And of course, there are Cattle Egrets ( Bubulcus ibis ) and several species of cowbirds that rarely stray too far from livestock.

Vermont 118

Vermont Belgium Farming Europe 118

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2012

Like several of my favorite NWRs, this one was established as a haven for migratory birds, most notably waterfowl, during the bad old days when uncontrolled hunting and habitat loss had put the future of even species we now think of as common in doubt. An additional fly-over by more Trumpeter Swans got the group charged up.

Wildlife 165

Wildlife Montana Geese Bald Eagle 165

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2017

On a recent visit to Tokyo, Japan, I came across a beautiful bird that I took to be a White’s Thrush , Zoothera dauma. My Japanese field guide, published in 1982, calls my bird White’s Ground Thrush and prefers the Turdus genus. Where there is a description of one of the birds, the author fails to mention which one.

Sri Lanka 100

Sri Lanka Japan India 2005 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013

Nonprofit pet protection groups would manage the program and be responsible for ensuring that cat caretakers take the required steps. The problem of free-roaming cats — and their predation on birds and other wildlife — is hotly contested in communities across the country, and it triggered a lively exchange in the hearing room.

Feral Cats 202

Feral Cats Feral Cats Minneapolis 202

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

If a blustery, snowy afternoon isn’t custom-made for catching up on bird news, then I don’t know what is. Better to get current on what’s happening with the rest of the bird world. To that end: More caterpillars = less reason to stray? International Bird Rescue has more on how to help.). Sorry, couldn’t resist.).

Nepal 157

Nepal Bird Rescue Penguins Rescue 157

Animal Person

JUNE 8, 2009

It's one that's brought on, no doubt, by the acts of vandalism and intimidation of radical animal-rights groups, but I think it also serves to insulate the research community from any responsibility it might otherwise have to increase transparency and public engagement with the work.

Animal Welfare 100

Animal Welfare Monkeys Animal Welfare Act Vivisection 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2013

In each instance they start with a striking anecdote — my particular favorite took place on the University of Montana campus, where in 1964 an American Crow learned to call and taunt stray dogs into causing perhaps the most adorable college riots of the decade.

Humane 139

Humane Emotional Stray Dog Science 139

10,000 Birds

JULY 26, 2012

South American seriemas also belong with this newly recognized group, as explained in my earlier post. According to the Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names, it is derived from the Greek words haima (blood) and orrhos (rump). I wrote about this last year. Last fall, a new study strengthened the case for these sweeping changes.

Falcons 171

Falcons Parrots California Breeding 171

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2011

Melanerpes lewis is, to put it simply, a really cool bird. Second of all, Lewis’s Woodpeckers are birds of the west and they rarely stray to New York State. In fact, the bird is the fifth recorded in the history of the state,* and the first spotted in the Empire State since 2001. What a bird! Really well.

New York 185

New York Woodpeckers Jordan 2011 185

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2019

Slightly larger than Wales and about the size of the US state of Maryland, this country’s lure is its 703 bird species and three dozen Albertine Rift endemics among them. Ken Behrens is a tour guide for Tropical Birding, originally from Idaho, but now lives in Madagascar. This man is driven, but he gets the birds…”.

Rwanda 201

Rwanda Primates Wildlife Gorillas 201