10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2019

A discarded pigeon’s egg reminded me that spring is just around the corner and that nest boxes should be readied in anticipation. If you have room for only one nest box in your garden, target a likely species and select a suitable style of box with the appropriate entrance opening. Could a cat easily reach the box?

Eggs 182

Eggs Suffering Cats Protection 182

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 23, 2015

To the north they are very unlucky with predation before the eggs even hatch out, but to the south the eggs hatch out and then the predation occurs on the chicks. Thankfully with the longevity of this species it appears the population is fairly stable, but this may not always be the case if predation continues at the rate that it is.

Feral Cats 158

Feral Cats Eggs Feral Cats 158

10,000 Birds

APRIL 25, 2022

So, the basic idea is to show 15 species of Australian birds in each post and give you the usual trivia about them. This species has also eliminated the need for childcare – the chicks emerge from this pile on their own and never even get to see their parents. would be cats for me, but you get the general idea).

Australia 185

Australia Birds Koalas Parrots 185

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2024

Osborn, a passionate field biologist who participates to the core of her being three re-introduction projects aimed at saving three very different, endangered species: Peregrine Falcon, Hawaiian Crow (‘Alala)*, and California Condor. Sophie Osborn’s stories are personal and inspiring, but this is more than a personal memoir.

California Condor 176

California Condor Falcons California Birds 176

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 12, 2019

A good place to stay seems to be the Shazan Inn – not because it is in any way special (it is not), but because it is the home of a very friendly cat which would like you to share your breakfast with it. Wikipedia grudgingly admits that the species “has dramatic coloration unlike any other member of its genus”. Just saying.

Birds 202

Birds Malaysia Morals Asia 202

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2022

I once had a cat who loved to lick plastic bags, and while I find the pleasure in this hard to comprehend, it still seems more understandable to me than the joy (?) According to the HBW, when breeding, male birds do most of the incubation and parenting while females often leave the nest up to one week before the eggs hatch.

Birds 162

Birds South Korea Japan Abandon 162

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2014

Just as the ranger was telling us that we might see wild cats – well, not wild cats, but rather, Wildcats , the wild version of the domestic cat, Felis silvestris lybica , one of those cats popped its head out of the brush about 50 feet beyond her. The most interesting thing about this cat was lack of kitty-cat-ness.

Feral Cats 254

Feral Cats North America Feral Cats 254

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2011

The adults of most species will still care for the chicks no matter how much you touch them. If it is in immediate danger from cats, try and shoo it away from the cat and lock the cat up indoors (preferably for good) or at least while the bird learns to fly. Do not worry about touching the baby birds.

Birds 265

Birds Fox Raised Ducks 265

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2014

That’s when the state and feds demand that we fill out complicated forms detailing every bird we’ve taken in during the year, supposedly using the North American Ornithological Society’s abbreviation for each species. Hit by car, HBC; caught by cat, CBC; window strike, WS.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 231

Wildlife Rehabilitation Wildlife Mice Vet 231

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

The most common species we see are the Stoke’s Sea Snake Astrotia stokesii , Dubois’ Sea Snake Aipysurus duboisii and the Olive Sea Snake Aipysurus laevis. Speaking of pregnant snakes, do sea snakes lay their eggs ashore like sea turtles or do they keep them internally until the young are ready to hatch/ be born, like some sharks?

Australia 150

Australia 2011 Sharks Deer 150

10,000 Birds

MARCH 7, 2011

This happened to me recently on a birding trip, with somewhat egg-on-the-face results. We were driving up to northwestern Michigan from our homes in Ohio (me) and West ByGod Virginia (Geoff) in search of a bird species that would be a lifer for both of us: the Bohemian Waxwing. I was on a birding quest trip with my friend Geoff Heeter.

2011 218

2011 Birds Michigan Ohio 218

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2022

The Oriental Scops Owl is possibly my favorite of all bird species (though I may have said that about other species as well) – so, here’s a post with just some photos of this owl taken this autumn migration season. As an added bonus, they make the owl look even more cat-like than some other owl species.

Owls 162

Owls Eggs Woodpeckers Cats 162

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

With a hardiness that belies their delicate looks (but helps explain their phenomenal success), these pioneering pigeons are already sitting on eggs at at least one location in Montana. Especially of all the species that had been introduced to the US. So right now I’m feeling pretty good about Eurasian Collared-doves.

Montana 134

Montana 2011 New York Bahamas 134

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2013

The story of the cahow, a “Lazurus species” that was thought to be extinct for over 300 years and then discovered to be breeding on a tiny remote island in Bermuda, is part of modern birding legend. All the while, he is observing, documenting, practically living with the cahows when they return to Bermuda. These are magical experiences.

Birds 167

Birds Rats Breeding 2012 167

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2012

What’s even more frustrating is when animal rights people learn of plans to cull nonnative species. Rats had previously preyed on eggs and young of practically every defenseless seabird on the island, and had taken to even attacking adult albatross as they sat on their nests. For example, when the U.S.

Animal Rights Movement 207

Animal Rights Movement Animal Rights Rights Wildlife 207

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2022

Gisela Kaplan has written a book about the species, and how they seem unperturbed by humans: “It’s one of their most successful defense strategies. When these birds breed, this can lead to highly cringeworthy announcements, for example from Adelaide Zoo : “We have egg-citing news!” This is what killed James Dean.

Birds 226

Birds Australia Ducks Mountain Goats 226

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2023

The title of the one just mentioned starts with “Intimacy across species boundaries” … The Spot-necked Babbler is “shy and social”, according to eBird, which sounds a bit like a contradiction to me. ”, in which the Red-whiskered Bulbul is named as one of the two most heavily targeted bird species.

China 147

China Vietnam Birds Monkeys 147

10,000 Birds

JUNE 26, 2018

Basically, this species is so dimwitted, it doesn’t know how to survive. Because, Pink Pigeons are not capable of doing the tasks required to create and bring up children of the species. These endangered birds have trouble producing a fertilized egg and, even worse, they don’t even know how to build a nest so the egg survives?

Mauritius 101

Mauritius Stud Zoos Eggs 101

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2012

Wildlife conservation is concerned with protecting wildlife at the level of species or perhaps population. With the exception of species that number in the hundreds, conservation biologists are not as concerned with the fates of individual animals, it is only when such fates of many individuals are added up do they begin to worry.

Animal Rights 262

Animal Rights Rights New Zealand Animal 262

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2011

In California, coveys break up and pairs begin forming in February or March, followed by nest building and egg laying in May or June. She will usually lay 12 to 17 eggs, averaging five per week 1 , before beginning incubation. Occasionally, larger clutches occur due to egg dumping by other females. References: 1 Baicich, Paul J.

California 218

California Eggs Gophers Rattlesnake 218

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

Each species account includes common and scientific name, size and weight (all metric), and information boxes on Key Identification Features (including how to differentiate the species from similar creatures), Habitat in Kruger, Habits (nocturnal or crepuscular or diurnal, social or loner, feeding behavior) and Diet.

Rhinos 238

Rhinos Mammals Animal White Rhinos 238

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2013

Does the word define a species within country terms, regional terms etc? Is the term defined at the sub-species or full species level in terms of classification? The species must be listed as a separate, full species by both of the most widely used ornithological bird lists, Sibley/Monroe and Clements.

Birds 203

Birds South Africa South America Feral Cats 203

10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2013

The birdlife in the Cape is nothing short of spectacular, with a healthy dose of charismatic endemic species. Over 40 species of South African endemics can be found in the Cape – Cape Sugarbirds, Cape Rockjumpers, Orange-breasted Sunbirds to name but a few. White Sharks, especially young ones, will prey on African Penguins.

Penguins 213

Penguins South Africa Africa Sharks 213

10,000 Birds

JULY 31, 2011

The Red-capped Plover chick I photographed last week is developing fast and I have discovered another nest with two eggs further north. Thankfully they do live for many years and the population is not in decline at present, despite the feral cats getting their eggs. Mystery solved!

Feral Cats 166

Feral Cats Eggs Feral Cats 166

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2011

Watching birds isn’t much of a challenge if you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting one. In your back yard, if you have a feeder and exclude insects, birds may represent 100% of the animal biomass until either you our your cat walks outside. It made me think that birdwatchers are loafing. Peter and St.

Mammals 174

Mammals Rodents Birds Reptiles 174

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

The lack of people does not mean we have any less extinct or threatened bird species than other countries. European settlement in Australia has been the cause of the decline of a variety of bird species and if not directly, then indirectly by the introduction of other species that have been the cause of their decline.

Species 174

Species Australia Birds Parrots 174

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2023

The family has about 37 species, but that includes several fulvettas – only 21 of the species have “parrotbill” in their names (and frankly, the bills of fulvettas do not look like those of parrots at all). A paper on breeding of the species was actually researched right here at Wawushan.

Pandas 202

Pandas Birds Eggs China 202

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2011

How do I know of their Gothic moods when they have hidden them so well in an egg-white shell of conformity? And I haven’t even started to write about ageing them … What are your experiences, and what is the colour of the claws on your local gull species? It is the claws that give them away, their black nail polish.

2011 161

2011 Birds Deer Europe 161

Animal Person

OCTOBER 26, 2009

Yet he spends time describing the miserable deaths of day-old male chicks and understands what happens in dairy production, and I assume he doesn't partake of anyone's eggs or milk. He always refers to himself and his wife and his child as "vegetarian." But why does he say "vegetarian?"

Factory Farm 100

Factory Farm Factory Farming Animal Vegan 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2023

Anyway, in case you are still reading, the main attraction at this hide is Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, which perversely is not featured in this post (it is treated in a separate one, thus grudgingly acknowledging the almost disgusting flamboyance of that species). This species tends to use plenty of hair gel to get the perfect wet look.

Birds 147

Birds Mammals St. Louis Monkeys 147

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2024

The species name athertoni is derived from Lt. Unfortunately, there is not much literature on the species except for the inevitable analysis of the mitochondrial genome. As usual in China, there are some anonymous Leaf Warbler species – but who cares, apart from Bella of Alpinebirding ?

Squirrels 137

Squirrels Birds China Bears 137

10,000 Birds

MARCH 19, 2011

In southern Africa, there are two species. As I watched, it slowly moved into a patch of dried vegetation and I noticed that it was settling over a single egg. Two or three eggs may be laid and either bird may incubate. I too am fascinated by the name of this species. How do we know this? I am around to learn more.

2011 163

2011 Deer Africa Peru 163

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 17, 2013

08–20 Many bird species are in trouble, but the Hooded Grebe is really really in trouble. Birds are raised from the egg to follow a certain migration timing, but that timing shifts when the egg hatches later or earlier due to changes in conditions. But there was this one in Australia.

Science 187

Science 2013 Elephants Birds 187

10,000 Birds

APRIL 1, 2013

There has been a great deal of talk these days about “reviving” extinct species. Setting aside the feasibility of extracting DNA from specimens and fossils, and finding a suitable similar species to donate an egg, there is much debate on whether we should bring back those species we’ve lost.

Feral Cats 195

Feral Cats Eggs Cats Feral 195

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. Better safe than sorry.

Birds 205

Birds Eggs Bangladesh China 205

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2011

Orlando is so rich in roadside and overhead birds that I kept a list of species seen from the car which ran to 30+ on the first morning and included a Bald Eagle nonchalantly sitting on a street lamp by a Target store. Boat-tailed Grackles count eggs and chicks as part of their diet and they were well represented here today.

2011 116

2011 Alligators Florida Deer 116