10,000 Birds

JUNE 25, 2017

I was given my first real field guide to the birds of Europe by my parents, a guide beyond the species found at backyard feeders and city ponds. My childhood in the 1970s and 1980s was of course shaped by family, friends, playmobil ( very popular in Germany back then), and school but also to a certain extend by the Cold War.

Europe 100

Europe Birds Kazakhstan Russia 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2011

Before my trip to Washington the only species of puffin I had ever seen in the wild was the puffin of the Atlantic Ocean, the appropriately named Atlantic Puffin. The first obstacle was getting to the general range of the species, which is the west coast from northern California to Alaska and across to Russia.* I love puffins.

Washington 169

Washington Protection Puffins Rhinoceros 169

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 9, 2008

While Alaska is increasingly devastated by global warming—melting glaciers, permafrost and sea ice, as well as the severe impacts on wildlife, ecosystems and people—she seems to be working not to protect the polar bear or ultimately the citizens of her state, but to make sure nothing gets in the way of energy company plans for expansion.

New York Times 40

New York Times Polar Bears New York Bears 40

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

Primorye is officially part of Russia’s Far Eastern Federal District. The fish owl is an endangered species, and before Slaght’s work, very little was known about it, especially in Russia. (It The fish owl is Jonathan Slaght’s grail and also, more prosaically, his dissertation topic.

Owls 132

Owls Russia Fish Research 132

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2016

Out of just under 200 bird species I observed this year in SE Europe, there are 6 threatened species. point to just one problem source, one over-abundant and highly invasive species – Homo sapiens. point to just one problem source, one over-abundant and highly invasive species – Homo sapiens.

Serbia 199

Serbia Greece Montenegro Bulgaria 199

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2018

Alaska Day commemorates Alaska’s formal transfer from Russia to the United States in 1867. By protecting 25 free-flowing Alaskan rivers in their natural state, we are almost doubling the size of our Wild and Scenic Rivers System. ANILCA will be the last designation of protected federal land that even approaches this magnitude.

Alaska 205

Alaska United States Puffins Wildlife 205

10,000 Birds

MARCH 7, 2023

Plume hunting raged supreme 150 years ago, when egret feathers were part of a worldwide trade in feathers and other bird parts, used for women’s hats and other articles of clothing (but mostly hats), delighting the upper classes and practically wiping out bird species. Congress and Senate who recognized the need to protect the birds.

Connecticut 147

Connecticut Washington Legislation Hunting 147