Critter News

JULY 13, 2009

The trade in TCM {Traditional Chinese Medicine} products has also been growing at an annual rate of 10 percent, which has seriously impacted medicinal plant and animal populations, though more than half of plants and animals being used by TCM are from artificial propagation or captive breeding. From the China Daily.

China 100

China Wildlife Tigers Endangered Species 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 17, 2023

Black Francolin – one of several hundred birds with black in its name OK, nearly all of the people who had birds named after them were white, often rich and typically colonialists, army officers or explorers, but there’s hardly a dull person among them, and all were products of their time.

Falcons 221

Falcons Collecting 2003 Wounded 221

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2019

a British expat birder who was living in Belgrade, for a suggestion: “The top species is undoubtedly White-tailed Eagle. commented further: “With a little work some species can be seen quite easily such as the divers, scaup, scoter, Goosander , Garganey and Long-eared Owl. Black Storks migrate along and breed in the Danube flood zone.

Serbia 249

Serbia Birds Woodpeckers Breeding 249

10,000 Birds

JULY 13, 2021

Additionally, I have written about Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), which are important but underappreciated parts of the National Wildlife Refuge System. On eBird, Horicon NWR has nearly 300 species observed, more than 18,000 checklists, and 13 hotspots. Thus, I limited my options. But now it has.

Wisconsin 263

Wisconsin LACS Milwaukee Birds 263

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2022

One of the surest signs of approaching winter in Britain is the influx of Eurasian Woodcock ( Scolopax rusticola ) arriving from summering grounds in Scandinavia, Siberia, and the Russian Far East, encompassing an enormous, forested swath of the Northern Hemisphere that supports the greater part of the world’s breeding population.

Owls 216

Owls Ireland United States Birds 216

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2013

Tar sands production is one of the world’s most environmentally damaging activities. It wrecks vast areas of boreal forest through surface mining and subsurface production. Clicking on the map will take you to an explanation of this important biome, including its climate and its plant and animal species.

Obama 245

Obama 2008 United States Industry 245

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2022

I was surprised that this species is named for its vocalization – which sounds like laughter. For example, the Diamond Dove is the world’s second-smallest species of the columbidae order ( source ). The Latin species name haematonotus (“blood-backed”) sounds a bit more exciting but not necessarily more accurate.

Australia 147

Australia Birds Parrots Ostriches 147

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2019

A while back, I wrote about an under-appreciated part of the National Wildlife Refuge System : Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). Although little-known, WPAs provide critical breeding, resting, and nesting habitat for millions of ducks, geese, and swans, as well as shorebirds and grassland species.

Nebraska 146

Nebraska Dissection Geese Ducks 146

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 11, 2022

But your reason to check the canyon is a White-throated Dipper that breeds there and with some luck, you may even encounter a Rock Bunting. Other species include Grey Wagtail and Marsh Tit. This is a very productive area of mostly open or semi-open habitats , where birds are numerous and easy to spot. Somrda Peak (810 m a.s.l.)

Serbia 241

Serbia Birds Woodpeckers Romania 241

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2019

A while back, I wrote about an under-appreciated part of the National Wildlife Refuge System : Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). Although little-known, WPAs provide critical breeding, resting, and nesting habitat for millions of ducks, geese, and swans, as well as shorebirds and grassland species.

Nebraska 113

Nebraska Dissection Geese Ducks 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2017

But within the National Wildlife Refuge System is a frequently overlooked collection of properties burdened by a mundane name: Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). WPAs provide critical breeding, resting, and nesting habitat for millions of ducks, geese, and swans, as well as shorebirds and grassland birds. Ding” Darling NWR in Florida.

Factory 117

Factory Ducks North Dakota Nebraska 117

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

Photo: This area holds 3 to 4 breeding pairs of White-tailed Eagles , which represents the biggest density per square mile anywhere in the country. Wigeons are only migrants and not a breeding species in Serbia and August is a bit too early for any longer distance duck movements. Photographed by Szekeres Levente. and one ad.).

Serbia 165

Serbia Protection Eagles Ducks 165

10,000 Birds

APRIL 11, 2019

So far, 33 species have been eBirded in Serbia. An asphalt road passes by the eastern pond, the site of the breeding colony of Black-headed Gulls , in some years with a pair or two of Mediterranean Gulls among them. This spot is under-visited, with only 8 wader species eBirded so far – Hotspot . Black-winged Stilt.

Serbia 153

Serbia New Jersey Europe Hunters 153

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2022

It is not particularly big but has a reported 430 bird species including migrants, though during my short stay it seems I missed most of the key attractions among them. Great White Pelican is not just the name of a non-existent glam-rock band but also of a bird species. Pel’s Fishing Owl, where were you?

South Africa 147

South Africa Africa Birds Research 147

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2015

Add more than 350 pairs of White Pelicans to that picture, numerous herons and up to 700 pairs of Pygmy Cormorants breeding in the same reedbeds (cover photo)… It must be bursting with activity in spring, but I was there in mid-September. Up the dirt track next to a hilltop church is not particularly productive at this time of year.

Greece 252

Greece Pelicans Geese Breeding 252

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Other species of interest include the southernmost breeding population of Greylag Goose in Europe, Goosander (at bigger and deeper Megali Prespa), Hazel Grouse (at Mt. The local bird list is impressive at 273 species and my September daily averages were around 50 bird species.

Greece 177

Greece Albania Macedonia Europe 177

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 14, 2017

The drake of this extremely common, sexually dimorphic species ( Anas platyrhynchos ) cuts a fine form with his iridescent emerald dome and chestnut breast. Answers will be forthcoming, but for now, I can tell you that they are all members of the mallard complex , a roster of about 20 closely-related Anas -species ducks around the world.

Purebred 124

Purebred Ducks New Zealand 2011 124

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 18, 2012

There I found a study which showed that the ingenious little birds had found a protein source that allowed them to coincide their breeding with times of man-made, rather than natural seasonal abundance. Clever things!

Asia 189

Asia Feral Breeding Africa 189

10,000 Birds

JUNE 12, 2014

These days I am busy with something called the “avitourism product“ of Belgrade, Serbia. Defining Belgrade bird specialties is the hard part – there is no defined criterion, beside attractiveness which often comes from how uncommon some species is. Pygmy Cormorant – winter (it breeds in Serbia, but overwinters in Belgrade).

Serbia 175

Serbia Eagles Birds Sparrows 175

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2017

In early August this year, I saw 77 species here (69 on the lake, plus 8 more in the surrounding areas) but barely more than a thousand individuals. In my homeland, some 800 km / 500 mi further north, these ducks are common on migration but very rare in the breeding season and I realized that these are my first young birds – ever.

Greece 186

Greece Killing Pelicans Eagles 186

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2015

These three aspects combine to produce one of the most productive spots in the North Atlantic, a place where birds and fish and marine mammals congregate. I finally managed to touch base with South Polar Skua and Leach’s Storm-Petrel , the two most common species I had yet to see, which was great. We went out again the next day.

North Carolina 174

North Carolina Mammals Breeding Fish 174

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2016

The Ross Sea is the most productive stretch of water in the Southern Ocean, teeming with large predatory fish, whales, seals, penguins and other animals that form the last intact marine ecosystem on Earth. There are 11 species of birds that breed in the Ross Sea region. Enough History – Back to the Future. And the Mammals.

Russia 171

Russia Penguins Whales Whaling 171

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2022

we learn) that are home to coveted boreal species, breeding wood-warblers, and two species of Grouse. There are 461 species on the Maine checklist. This field guide covers 265 species, the ones most likely to be seen–residential and migratory, almost all nesting birds, many wintering birds.

Los Angeles 194

Los Angeles Birds District of Columbia Parrots 194

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2014

The Veliko Ratno Island birdlist is about 170 species long, of which more than 90 were observed from the Dorcol Promenade. Highlight species: Ferruginous Duck , Goosander , Red-breasted Merganser , Red-crested Pochard , Greater Scaup , Velvet Scoter , Black-throated Diver. In March and November, Common Cranes are a possibility.

Serbia 232

Serbia Birds Ducks Eagles 232

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

Africa has more than its fair share of storks, with 8 of the world’s 19 species gracing the continent. Storks are typically viewed as wetland species and whilst some storks are restricted to aquatic habitats, others are not. This is another wetland species that nests in sometimes huge colonies atop trees bordering rivers and lakes.

Africa 239

Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 239

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2019

So, for example, Essay #15, “Individual Variation,” uses Herring Gulls to introduce the concept that one species, even one species at a specific age, can vary widely in appearance. The Checklist is more than a taxonomic listing of species and chapter number and title; it also contains useful notes on each bird family.

Birds 115

Birds North America Breeding America 115

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2016

I have not yet had a chance to examine Gallardo’s guide; I know it was a labor of love and a product of much hard work.) Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Northern Central America covers 827 species, including resident, migratory, and common vagrant birds.

El Salvador 232

El Salvador America Costa Rica Honduras 232

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

These arid hills, cloaked in a mosaic of deciduous scrub and desert vegetation, form a northern outpost for several Neotropical species while also harboring several key endemics and southwestern Nearctic species. There are many dusty side roads in this area, many of which offer productive birding. Photo by Andrew Spencer.

Mexico 191

Mexico Costa Rica Arizona Birds 191

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2019

My photos are just to help with IDs, and the good ones are always the product of dumb luck. I also presented this site and species in my first two posts on 10,000 Birds.) As I mentioned in my previous post, to this day no one knows where the species spends the winter. To date, eBird has only 561 registries for the species.

Mexico 128

Mexico Birds 2013 Lamb 128

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 28, 2014

This is similar to the fact that all birds, even first time breeders within a species build identical nests. In another experiment, other species of Darwin Finches were kept next to Woodpecker Finches that used tools. I would not be surprised if smarter herons carry their bait around in search of the most productive pond.

Fish 163

Fish Woodpeckers Ostriches Eggs 163

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2017

The PUP WildGuides are a quality act with high production values, knowledgeable authors, beautiful photographs, introductions in the front that describe habitat and indexes in the back. Birds of Kruger National Park covers the 259 species most frequently seen in the park, about half of the total number of birds documented there.

Ecuador 171

Ecuador Wildlife Reptiles Birds 171

10,000 Birds

JUNE 24, 2017

Plant as many trees as you can, support organic, locally produced food, don’t buy products associated with deforestation, and feel good about coming down to Costa Rica. The other day, I was up there to do my annual breeding bird survey and it was a fine morning of cool, highland jacket weather birding.

Costa Rica 106

Costa Rica Indiana Birds Philadelphia 106

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

We hypothesized that trends in waterfowl hunter numbers, as indicated by Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Conservation Stamp (duck stamp) sales, have become independent of breeding duck populations, and we assess the impacts on habitat conservation. 4 0.81) and 1995–2008 (r 1?4

Ducks 211

Ducks Hunters Hunting Wildlife 211

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2012

This Autumn/Winter has brought excellent numbers of another owl from its breeding grounds in Scandinavia and one that is a damn sight easier to see as it is partly diurnal or active during the day. Short-eared Owls do breed in Britain but every few years an ‘irruption’ of the like we are seeing occurs.

Barn Owls 180

Barn Owls Finland Owls Portugal 180

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2020

That’s pretty amazing–Bolivia has more bird species than India! The source of this ranking, BirdLife International, lists Bolivia as currently having 1,439 bird species, including 18 breeding endemics. The guide covers 1,433 species, the number of birds documented at the end of 2014, the cutoff point for the book.

Bolivia 172

Bolivia Birds Brazil Switzerland 172

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2014

Amazon had a brilliant press release on Cyber Monday 2013 about using drones as a possible delivery service for their products in the near future. It included a video that a production company took with a drone in our park’s corridor. Every species is going to do something different. Here’s a guy harassing Osprey.

Bald Eagle 194

Bald Eagle Mississippi Eagles Ducks 194

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

Many Nearctic species and families reach their southern terminus in the Northern Central American Highlands, such as Common Raven , Red Crossbill , Steller’s Jay , and even Brown Creeper. Alex also masterfully worked another tricky species into view for us during that first afternoon, Ruddy Crake (a close relative of the Black Rail ).

Honduras 213

Honduras Costa Rica El Salvador Arizona 213