10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2019

And here in Europe, they are the real deal, an indigenous species and not domesticated animals gone wild. They may have been disturbed by the presence of hunters in the Danube backwaters. The only wildcat I found was illegally killed by hunters during closed season. I think all were males, at last two huge ones certainly were.

Serbia 246

Serbia Otters Boars Eagles 246

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2022

I saw two Pitta species at Hongbenghe, both among the slightly less glamourous among the pitta family: The Blue-naped Pitta … … and the closely related Rusty-naped Pitta. While it is listed as Least Concern, it is rare in China – the range map in the HBW barely touches Chinese territory.

Birds 147

Birds Myanmar China Chicago 147

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2022

The new Guide to the Birds of China (John MacKinnon) has been published. This is partly due to hunting in China, where about 90% of the species winter (HBW). I guess it would be wise for Shanghai not to make this species its city bird, as it may not be around for much longer. And it does not even live in reeds.

Raccoons 231

Raccoons Birds Oregon China 231

4 The Love Of Animals

NOVEMBER 23, 2011

For example, shark fin soup is a delicacy in most of Asia, especially China. While there are laws in place protecting endangered species of shark from shark finning, international waters are rarely regulated when it comes to the practice. In fact, dried shark fin can go for as much as $300 a pound or more.

Sharks 100

Sharks Asia Endangered Species Hunters 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2023

Not a cover species The Black Kite is not actually black, but of course, misleading bird names are not exactly rare. Maybe those should be protected too? No surprise then that the species is listed as Vulnerable. But then, sanity (or maybe respect for you, the reader) prevailed. Fortunately, they are quite common in Shanghai.

Birds 130

Birds Iraq China Ireland 130

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 3, 2015

And then, in 1996, a farmer/fossil-hunter named Li Yinfang found a unique fossil in his home province of Liaoning–a beautifully preserved turkey-sized creature that clearly had feathers. Things got more complicated when evidence was found that even the larger dinosaur species, such as tyrannosaurs, probably had feathers.

Mongolia 191

Mongolia Science Reptiles Indiana 191