10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2024

Transported by the falcons’ inimitable aerial prowess, I could almost feel the wind stream behind me, feel every subtle movement of wing or tail that determined my trajectory, my speed, my effortless engagement with the wind. Becoming one with the sky, the peregrines flew with ineffable grace, dazzling speed, and breathtaking agility.

California Condor 191

California Condor Falcons California Birds 191

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2014

We can, of course, count wild, native, species. Of course, there are a lot more rules that apply to both birds that can and can’t be counted, and one of the most entertaining ways to get a bunch of birders to make a Facebook discussion thread go on forever is to innocently ask a question about some esoteric aspect of listing rules.

Chickens 209

Chickens Florida Feral Species 209

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2023

Basically, hornbills get paid by evolution to eat fruit, digest the fleshy parts, and regurgitate or defecate the rest – a means of seed transportation that is apparently quite attractive to many plants despite the yuck factor involved. One paper describes them breeding in a human settlement in abandoned clay jars.

Rhinoceros 132

Rhinoceros Singapore Transported Hunting 132

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!”

Birds 242

Birds Australia Ducks Mountain Goats 242

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2023

One interesting paper argues that contrary to what might seem logical, cuckoos do not aim to lay eggs specifically into the nests of those parrotbills whose egg color and pattern match their own. The rationale includes the speed of the laying (too fast to check for color matches) and the low number of egg-laying attempts (i.e.,

Pandas 218

Pandas Birds Eggs China 218