10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

In Cyprus it also means that the hunters and trappers are active again. BirdLife Cyprus started their Fall monitoring program weeks ago. There are also hunters in Cyprus, which are an entirely different situation. If you’re unfamiliar with that story, here’s a video that’ll clue you in from BirdLife Cyprus: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kk4B4YJWiQ Conservation cyprus hunting trappingSummer is ending, and that means the birds are migrating again.

Cyprus 62

Cyprus 2011 Killing Hunters 62

10,000 Birds

JULY 15, 2011

The big story of the fortnight in Cyprus isn’t about birds, but it crosses the path of birding (kinda). From July 6-8, there was a European conference in Larnaca about illegal bird killing , organized by Terra Cypria. It seems that it came off rather well, and was co-organized by the Cyprus Game Fund and members of the Bern Convention. Which gets me to the real big news in Cyprus of the fortnight, indirectly anyway. So it’s not a good week in Cyprus!

2011 70

2011 illegal Wounded Game 70

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2021

I was especially interested in “To Hide From God,” the chapter on songbird slaughter and protection in Cyprus. Ask any birder–migration is joy.

Cyprus 87

Cyprus Slaughter Slaughtered Research 87

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 24, 2014

I dreamed of birding the Sundarbans delta – roughly the size of Connecticut or Cyprus – ever since my very dear friends Tim and Hanna Balke told me a story of their visit to these swamps where the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Mehgna rivers converge in the Bengal basin. When those roots are coated in oil, it could damage and even kill some of the trees.

2014 74

2014 Dolphins Bangladesh Cambodia 74

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

The Cherokee nation called them “Peace Eagles” owing to the fact that they never killed a living thing – and also that they tended to show up in numbers after battled when peace treaties were being signed, though admittedly that may have been for a slightly more macabre reason. One of the more interesting aspects of Old World vulture life is the extent to which they segregate themselves at kill sites. That vultures get a bad rap is something of a given.

2013 75

2013 California Condor Turkey Charlotte 75

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2011

Of course hybridizations have been reported, and there may or may not be apparent gradations of these descriptions, making identification even tougher in Cyprus where they can all be seen at various times of the year. These Blasts From The Past No Owls at Croton Point I Hate Connecticut… Birding Kazakhstan: Morning of Day 1 in Astana Ottawa By Way of Ohio The Snow Bunting That Almost Killed Me, or, Hyperbole in Bird Blog Post Titles is Fun!

2011 55

2011 Cyprus Deer Kazakhstan 55

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2011

What could motivate gunmen (I cannot call them hunters) in two states to deliberately kill North America’s tallest and most critically endangered bird? Fourth Whooping Crane This Winter Shot Animal Rights vs Conservation in Cyprus Tennessee Crane Hunt Tabled for 2 Years! Those who harvest are unfortunately myopic, seeing only the instant gratification of the meal or the kill. Those that are out to kill this species for their own pleasure.

2011 78

2011 Hunting Raised Kentucky 78