10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2023

Growing up in Namibia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka provided the perfect setting for this interest. My chance materialized in September this year when I spent a month volunteering at the “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, the bird observatory on the island that is part of the Institute of Avian Research.

Sri Lanka 221

Sri Lanka Birds Netherlands Namibia 221

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2022

Given the complexity of the research, the result feels like a bit of a letdown – “northern populations start migration earlier than southern populations, especially in autumn” The species name of the Chestnut-eared Bunting is fucata , from the Latin “fucare”, to paint red. No wonder no species are named after me.

Birds 216

Birds Eggs Bangladesh China 216

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2022

Birdlife South Africa has previously done two of these types of trips before, previously called Flock to Sea – Namibia in 2013 and Flock to Nowhere in 2017, in partnership with MSC Cruises. These have been used by meteorologists, technicians, and researchers who spend about 13 months on the island at a time researching a variety of sciences.

South Africa 264

South Africa Mice Albatross Africa 264

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2015

This map shows the distribution of the World’s bird species, based on overlying the breeding and wintering ranges of all known species. Namibia (595 / 690). It makes me think what is the meaning of life, the universe and everything? Why am I here? And where all those birds are? Map by BirdLife International. Thailand (925 / 948).

Sri Lanka 257

Sri Lanka Botswana Africa Serbia 257

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2013

Of course Africa could not to be left out of the pink weekend so I have researched all African species whose official or alternative names include the word “pink”. Great White Pelicans showing the pink flush of breeding plumage. There are certainly some stunners involved. Pink-throated Twinspot. Photo by Adam Riley. Pink-breasted Lark.

Africa 217

Africa Somalia Pelicans Mozambique 217