10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

There’s lots of disheartening stuff going on in the bird world this week, so let’s start with some love in the air, in honor of Valentine’s Day: An avian version of “The Dating Game” at a Chicago-area zoo aims to reveal how best to manage mating in captivity. Bad news: The massive Common Murre die-off along the U.S. I know, right?!)

Penguins 100

Penguins Chicago Zoos Game 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2011

One of only two species in the plover genus Thinornis , the other being Australia’s Hooded Plover , this species is another New Zealand endemic. Actually, it’s one I originally thought was endemic to the Chatham Islands, a group of islands to the east of the main islands that hosts endemic species like the Black Robin.

New Zealand 161

New Zealand Penguins Endangered Species Species 161

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2012

More than 150 bird species are known to have become extinct over the past 500 years, and many more are estimated to have been driven to extinction before they became known to science. The Gray Crowned-Crane is a new addition to the list of the world’s Endangered species, creeping up a category from Vulnerable.

Endangered Species 183

Endangered Species Species South Africa Morocco 183

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

” Writing about owls means writing about roughly 250 species (I counted 245 on the 2022 Clements spreadsheet, but I might have missed a few, and we all know that each classification system is different). The chapters on courtship and breeding and roosting and migration are the longest, which isn’t surprising.

Owls 200

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 200

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2011

As part of the Wildlife Conservation Society Birds of Brazil giveaway we asked readers of 10,000 Birds to name the bird in Brazil that they would like to see more than any other species. What follows are the responses that readers offered, a veritable aviary of sought after species. It is a really neat bird that I have not seen before.

Brazil 197

Brazil 2011 Birds Wildlife 197

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2015

Last month woodpeckers, this month penguins. None fly, most are curious and social, which probably contributes to our cultural perception of penguins as one step away from human. They are software mascots, cartoon characters, animated film dancers, children’s book heroes, zoo celebrities, and documentary film stars.

Penguins 191

Penguins New Zealand South Africa Albatross 191