10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2019

The human and economic consequences were dramatic, and continue to be felt. These hurricanes prompted a personal interest in the impact of hurricanes on birds, so I did some research, which ultimately led to an article in the April 2018 issue of Birding magazine. Much of what exists is from the U.S.

Puerto Rico 254

Puerto Rico 2017 2018 Virgin Islands 254

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

OCTOBER 28, 2015

… especially if you’re a lady bird in heat. Because unlike those of mammals, avian ova need penetration by multiple sperm in order to successfully develop into baby birds. That’s the finding of researchers from the University of Sheffield in the UK, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. (If

Zebras 145

Zebras Pythons Mammals Eggs 145

10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2016

Great Tit Telomeres, Baby Talk, Brainy Birds. This morning, I have three interesting scientific findings related to bird for you. First, birds may age more quickly in urban environments. Third, which we already suspected, bird brains are adjusted to provide extra smartness in a way not seen in mammals. Salmón, J.

Mammals 107

Mammals Zebras Birds Primates 107

10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2013

I teach human evolution, and at some point I use a chart showing reversals in the Earth’s magnetic field, which in turn relates to how we date some ancient sites. But also, birds certainly use multiple cues to get around. ” For years, my answer was this: “Well, maybe a lot of them do, nobody said life was fair.

Investigation 187

Investigation 2013 Research Humane 187

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

We know that the human mind has capacities that are not common in other animals. For example, humans have “Theory of Mind” which is not a theory in the scientific sense, but rather, a capacity whereby we have an internal theory of what is going on in other people’s minds. But that’s another story. Here’s the idea.

Abandon 220

Abandon Abandoning Abandonment Research 220

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2017

The three young men returned to their friends, bragged about their exploits, and showed them trophies: metal banding tags, which members of the Pacific Rim Conservation had carefully placed on the albatrosses’ legs in order to keep track of individual birds. The young men had severed the birds’ legs in order to remove the tags.

Albatross 214

Albatross Honolulu Hawaii Killing 214

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2013

There were three profound questions my birding group discussed while we birded Trinidad and Tobago, back in December 2012: (1) How many Bananaquits could fit on a banana? (2) 3) What was the best guide to the birds of Trinidad and Tobago? The bird guide question was a conundrum.

Trinidad 188

Trinidad Birds South America Research 188

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2012

Yes, the warbler formerly known as Dendroica kirtlandii , now Setophaga kirtlandii , is one of those birds that make birders’ hearts pulse quicker and their legs churn faster. Look what happened when the bird made the first of three appearances at the Biggest Week in American Birding at Magee Marsh! photo by Lynn C.

Michigan 220

Michigan Bahamas Endangered Species Research 220

10,000 Birds

JULY 31, 2015

She has a captive-bred education bird named Xena, a Eurasian Eagle Owl. In her words: You all know how it goes, the phone rings and the caller says I have these baby birds…. He meant well, but his research told him to feed them Exact parrot formula – which is NOT a diet for ravens. But this one was a bit different.

Raised 224

Raised Mice Wildlife Rehabilitation Squirrels 224

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 186

Research Humane Compassion New York 186

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2019

Last year I reviewed The Feather Thief , an enjoyable tale centering on the use of feathers in the Victorian art of salmon fly-tying, and how that led to the theft of priceless bird skins by one obsessed young man. and the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act of 1921 in Great Britain). This is where Boase excels.

Industry 117

Industry Virginia Portland Campaign 117

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2011

Found throughout South America in ever-dwindling numbers these extremely beautiful birds – threatened by habitat destruction and collection for the wild bird trade – are often difficult to see and hard to find. These threats are further exacerbated by the naturally low reproductive rates of these cavity-nesting birds.

Peru 254

Peru Parrots 2011 Research Center 254

10,000 Birds

APRIL 17, 2012

As you read the below timeline and see the below images, don’t ever forget the perils that walk hand-in-hand with human greed. Oil begins to wash up on the beaches throughout May and June of 2010 May 6, 2010 Oil washes ashore on the Chandeleur Islands off the Louisiana coast, an important nesting and breeding area for many bird species.

2010 225

2010 Louisiana 2012 2011 225