10,000 Birds

JANUARY 16, 2015

I was there for Arts and Birding , a five-day adult course in photography, videography, sketching, painting, writing, or any combination thereof … plus lots of birding. The established courses fill up quickly, so Audubon keeps adding new ones and attracting renowned instructors. What was it like?”

Puffins 265

Puffins Birds Groups West Virginia 265

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2014

This would be a night drive, cold, dark, uncomfortable seats, loud engine in the giant 26-seater truck, scanning the brush and the roadside with three or four strong spotlights wrangled by volunteers among the nature-loving tourists, and of course, the headlights of the truck. And, of course, something interesting came along.

Feral Cats 256

Feral Cats North America Feral Cats 256

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2012

The quills of the “Saqu Ettair” Secretarybirds feed on small lizards, insects, rodents, birds eggs and, of course, snakes. Their two incredibly long central tail streamers resemble the tail-coats that many of the – mostly male – secretaries wore in those days.

Botswana 233

Botswana Eagles Porcupines Hunting 233

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

How many eggs did a pigeon lay? He reasons out answers to both questions, finally stating that, despite what many eyewitnesses wrote, the birds had to have laid more than one egg and that the birds had to have nested more than once a breeding season. Avery offers some interesting insights into the biology of the Passenger Pigeon.

2014 161

2014 Killing Michigan Kentucky 161

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

The species was seemingly killed off by feather hunters, but then, after years, reappeared at the site of one of the deserted breeding colonies, Torishima Island in Japan. Although we are not close nor on a direct course, the geese are skittish.

Fox 100

Fox Albatross Geese Bald Eagle 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Foxes have also been known to take their eggs and there are now numerous local groups who endeavour to help the populations of Hooded Plovers along their local coastlines. It is correct, of course, to think of extinction this way during the Holocene Extinction, which we are living through right now. … Extinction is forever.

Species 176

Species Australia Birds Parrots 176

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2012

Considering the bird survived a season in an area saturated with hunters and birds of prey, this facemelting rarity deserves our respect. Of course, no ordinary chicken would do, but the Red Junglefowl is the primordial progenitor of poultry, the wild source of cutlets, nuggets, and Buffalo wings. And, no, I am not kidding.

2012 156

2012 Birds Guatemala Florida 156

10,000 Birds

JUNE 28, 2018

” Contemporary environmentalism arrived too late to prevent the passenger pigeon’s demise due to market hunters, but the two phenomena share a historical connection. Of course, by now most people know they have been slaughtered by hunters for their ivory. ” I’ll give you a hint, it’s not hunters!

Hunting 115

Hunting Hunters Gorillas Wolves 115