Critter News

AUGUST 2, 2010

Here's an article about an increase in animal experiments at Cardiff University in Wales. In four years it experimented on 157,839 mice, 17,324 rats, 11,096 fish, 1,941 birds, 1,253 guinea pigs, 933 pigeons, 884 frogs, 207 cats, 54 rabbits and 18 tree shrews from the tropics of south-east Asia.

Animal Research 100

Animal Research Guinea Pigs Research Mice 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2023

Cattle Egrets are thoroughly modern birds – they were among the first species to ditch mailed letters for faxes, then switched to email early, and now (at least in China) mostly communicate by WeChat. They are also early adopters with regard to their foraging – nowadays mostly following tractors rather than cattle.

Birds 130

Birds Eggs Breeders Breeding 130

10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2022

If I was an ornithologist aiming for a grant, I would now definitely highlight the need for more research on this topic. The researchers are quite aware of the differences between humans and birds and thus have completely ignored another explanation for this behavior. It is sometimes necessary to find food though.

Singapore 147

Singapore Mountain Goats Birds Giraffes 147

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2023

In my experience, people eat more food they are familiar with than food that is unfamiliar. In my (fortunately rather limited) experience, Chinese karaoke singers adapt their singing based on the chosen song, the audience, and the amount of alcohol in their blood. They also eat more when together with other people.

Birds 198

Birds Blackbirds Indonesia Bhutan 198

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2018

Audubon Associate Naturalist, have led this tour many times, through tornados, droughts, questionable restaurants, and, sadly, the advent of fracking, and every one of my friends who has participated over the years has raved about the experience and the birds (in fact, one member of our group was on his third or fourth trip, I lost count).

North Dakota 140

North Dakota Birds Sparrows Blackbirds 140

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2022

Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary was an amazing and unexpected treat, but that’s because I failed to do my research. It’s only 15 minutes north of High Island, though in neighboring Chambers County (High Island is part of Galveston County, good to know if you’re going to be researching eBird checklists).

Houston 213

Houston Texas Sanctuary Sparrows 213

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2016

To an intermediate-level birder like me, the material in Better Birding –highly focused, detailed, based on the latest research and years of field experience– is daunting, but also fascinating. Sullivan are birders as well as writers, researchers, and organizational administrators, and this makes a big difference.

Birds 190

Birds Groups 2015 North America 190