10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2024

Mid-February is an early start for spring – even this far south – but spring is spring, and birds were waiting. My plan was to do research for this post, so I decided to enter as a common mortal and not use the electronic pass. There were birds singing everywhere. Interestingly, a bird of prey set off a psychological experiment.

Psychology 195

Psychology Portugal Japan Eagles 195

10,000 Birds

APRIL 1, 2024

Birding Shanghai has its own specific annoyances apart from birds not showing up. Finally, there are specific restrictions for foreigners – I guess we might steal some vital state secrets that have some kind of relationship with the local birds. Tianmashan had two interesting birds in March. One, a Ryukyu Minivet.

Chicago 159

Chicago Birds Asia China 159

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2022

In 2007 I was working in a university building that was just begging for bird feeders. This was where I set up my bird feeders, just one at first, then expanding as everyone expressed delight in seeing the Carolina Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Downy Woodpeckers. There were no dead birds for weeks. I hoped it was an anomaly.

New York City 264

New York City Birds Illinois Science 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2023

Their migration is quite fast compared to many other larger birds – in one study , several birds flew 4000 km within 5–7 days while one individual even flew 5600 km non-stop. That includes breeding birds, as indicated by the presence of some rather cute chicks ( video ). Also as video. Bye, bye, Lesser Coucal.

Birds 130

Birds Eggs Breeders Breeding 130

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

This is something not seen in very young children but then typically develops and becomes observable and testable by psychology graduate students who have done innumerable studies on it. A number of research projects have sought to determine if some of these human brain abilities are found in other animals. But that’s another story.

Abandon 254

Abandon Abandoning Abandonment Research 254

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2012

My friends, knowing my interest in birds, were eager to show me. In European folklore particularly, birds (that is White Storks ) bringeth babies, and birds (specifically various types of eagles) taketh babies away. I suspect that, like so many of what seem our primal instincts, the real basis is far more psychological.

Eagles 137

Eagles Psychology Primates Montana 137