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. Part V: Me and My Monkey.

Animal Welfare 100

Animal Welfare Monkeys Animal Welfare Act Vivisection 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2014

With their strong flight and capability to disperse, parrots have managed to colonize almost every major island group from Tahiti to Mauritius to Dominica. There are nectar feeders, dedicated frugivores, specialized seed predators and more. There seems to be a parrot for almost any ecological situation.

Parrots 169

Parrots Brazil Mauritius Dominica 169

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2019

We were met by several Cattle Egret in beautiful breeding plumage feeding on the grass right next to the train station. There were a couple of people with large cameras and then several school groups. We avoided any groups of people with large cameras and tripods, especially when it involved nest sites.

Singapore 114

Singapore Transported Boars Malaysia 114

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

But if we want to continue to throw a monkey-wrench into this all too cut and dried scenario, there’s also the fact that the Old World vultures had a foothold in North America up until the Neogene about 2.5 We’ll take these two similar, yet very different groups of birds separately. millions years ago. New World Vultures.

California Condor 196

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 196

10,000 Birds

APRIL 19, 2023

We managed to see both species of monkey, though – so we were ultimately well satiated. After a brief period of no activity on the shore, a small group of Willets in fresh plumage cruised in. Boat-billed Heron As per norm, there weren’t many other birds to be seen and the sun was quickly disappearing.

Trinidad 29

Trinidad Falcons Primates Monkeys 29

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2021

In the Orinoco, the largest observed groups number 30, but average is just above five. We sailed right into a group of more than a dozen Hoatzins (cover photo, by Tyler Ficker) with their orange mohawks and blue facial skin. We found Black-collared Swallows breeding in cracks among the lower riverside rocks. For a breath of air?

Dolphins 264

Dolphins Colombia Otters Birds 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2013

Once the breeding season is over these impressively adorned males lose not only their tails but also all their black plumage, and most of their other colors, in order to blend into the brown winter grasslands they inhabit. The Afrikaans name for this bird is “ Flap ”, in recognition of this distinctive display.

Papua New Guinea 252

Papua New Guinea South Africa Africa Zimbabwe 252

10,000 Birds

MARCH 7, 2014

I was fortunate to spend time scanning open fields, wetlands, and the inlet separating Hong Kong from China with this large group of friendly and avid avian observers. Imagine me there raring to see more exciting Asian avifauna while the rest of the group screeches to a halt to spend 45 minutes admiring birds I see all the time in New York.

2014 232

2014 Eagles Asia Groups 232

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2011

A single large spider monkey, which might be out of view, equals a large number of lightly built and small birds which may be scattered across the landscape. The clifftop habitats along rocky shores of the North Atlantic (on both sides of the pond) abound in bird biomass during breeding bouts, for instance.

Mammals 182

Mammals Rodents Birds Reptiles 182

10,000 Birds

JUNE 26, 2018

The causes were the usual reasons for island extinction—deforestation by both humans and invasive plants that crowded out native plants, hunting, and invasive rats, mongoose, monkeys, and, of course, feral cats. Yet, think a bit about what our world would be like if the Passenger Pigeon still existed.

Mauritius 103

Mauritius Stud Zoos Eggs 103

10,000 Birds

JULY 28, 2022

The region also provides food, fresh water and shelter to more than 75 million people of nearly 150 distinct ethnic groups. Ngaga Camp’s (above) main draw is tracking the Western Lowland Gorilla (2 habituated groups out of 20 living in the area, time limited to 1 hour).

Central African Republic 307

Central African Republic Congo Gabon Gorillas 307

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2015

I was in contact with a group of birders for whom I arranged and guided an annual tour to Africa. Here local hunters had known about the colony and for generations had been harvesting the birds by simply picking the adults off their nests during the breeding season.

Ghana 204

Ghana Hunters Guinea Gambia 204

10,000 Birds

MAY 24, 2014

USA may get to play there if they make it to the semi-finals as Group G runner up. A pair has been nesting by the roadside for some years, but they are not so predictable outside of the breeding season. Look out for the Howler Monkeys too. Visit as a group and dress down. With luck, you may encounter a Surucua Trogon.

Brazil 160

Brazil Birds Transported Game 160