10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2016

Intriguingly, Common Moorhens are also rather common in Germany’s large ornamental city parks and zoos. I am not referring to the one incident when two Carrion Crows at Basel Zoo suddenly descended on a grazing Common Moorhen and ripped it apart for no apparent other reason than joyful play. Beware of Crocodiles.

Zoos 100

Zoos Germany California Condor Lions 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the World states that “disturbance by local people, tourists, and egg and zoo collectors has similarly reduced the colonies, and more protection is vital”. In 2018, there were 1,745 birds living in 92 different zoos and collections. It may not be beautiful, but it’s a bird with definite charisma.

Morocco 235

Morocco Austria Algeria Germany 235

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2023

In Kangding, there is a rather opulent bird hide – two stories, solid construction, spacious, lots of glass, a separate paved parking lot, though mysteriously (and as far as I can tell from my experience of living in China for almost 20 years, not indicative of fundamentally different physical needs of Chinese people) missing a bathroom.

Birds 147

Birds Mammals St. Louis Monkeys 147

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2011

While it’s no longer possible to see this regal macaw soar gracefully through the Brazilian skies, to be able to worship them—even from afar at one of the conservatories or zoos—would be a dream, at last, come true. I worked with a pair of motmots at a US zoo and fell in love with their vibrant colors and unique tails.

Brazil 216

Brazil 2011 Birds Wildlife 216

10,000 Birds

MARCH 7, 2015

This definitely took the edge of off the craziness and turned out to be a necessary move because some hummingbirds just don’t want to play. This hat-trick and hummingbird ace in the hole was the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a place I usually avoid because it’s expensive to enter, is sort of like a zoo, and crawling with people.

Costa Rica 214

Costa Rica San Jose Species Owls 214

4 The Love Of Animals

MARCH 17, 2011

Grief, friendship, gratitude, wonder, and other things we animals experience. Donna Fernandes, president of the Buffalo Zoo, witnessed a wake for a female gorilla, Babs, who had died of cancer at Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo. Waterfall Dances: Do animals have spiritual experiences? by Marc Bekoff. Photo by Ginger Me.

Emotional 100

Emotional Animal Whales Whaling 100