10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 8, 2011

Islands, for various reasons, experience more extinctions than continents (with Africa being the only continent not suffering a bird extinction!). Previously common at its only known site, Lake Aloatra, into the 1930’s, the introduction of numerous exotic fish species and human disturbance led to massive population declines.

Madagascar 247

Madagascar Lemurs 2006 Owls 247

10,000 Birds

JUNE 26, 2012

The water this Northern Pintail is in has human poo in it, which completely ruins the experience of seeing this bird. I know part of the experience of birding is taking in the beauty of the outdoors, but (call me crazy) I’m actually in it for the birds. What’s better than finding a Tufted Duck?

San Francisco 221

San Francisco Birds North Dakota Oakland 221

10,000 Birds

APRIL 1, 2014

The great crush of humanity that accompanies any visit to one of these world-famous destinations has never been my cup of tea. Soon after the waders I my ears and eyes were assaulted by nearly 300 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. People, and by that I mean the general population, come to Orlando typically for one reason only.

Florida 179

Florida Rattlesnake North Carolina Ducks 179

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 23, 2011

For many birders a highlight of birding the southeastern United States, maybe even the definitive birding experience of the region, is taking in the great numbers and diversity of long-legged wading birds. Modern humans may have little to fear from alligators, but deep in our conscious we remember. Where do I sign up?

South Carolina 157

South Carolina Alligators Florida United States 157

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

I don’t really know – from my own experience with school bullies or from Jack London’s novels? Those bears live in the wild and are not used to humans. Mallard duck, Anas platyrhynchos. I was in primary school then, probably early grades, but I knew that whatever I do, I cannot afford to turn my back to them.

Animal 115

Animal Bears Stray Dog Blackbirds 115

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2015

The Little Egret walks in front of her, a dozen Lesser Whistling Ducks flies noisily low above water and through a flooded grass wades one Black-winged Stilt. She has grown up in the reserve and has no experience of the environment of which tourists would not be a permanent, however boring part of. Telia, copyright © Nitin Bhardwaj.

Tigers 252

Tigers India Killing 2012 252

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2013

Despite all the people, the birds were incredibly active, rarely shy, and a reminder that natural wonders like the cherry blossoms interact with more than just us humans. Stretching over the water, big boughs dangled their flowers below, so a passerby literally had to duck their heads to avoid the bloom. Mallard in a lovely place.

DC 202

DC Washington Birds Geese 202

Animal Person

FEBRUARY 5, 2010

But as Cohen experiences, humans don't live "in theory." The theory that the mind finds inescapably well-formulated is often overwhelmed and overturned by human emotions. Or pig, or duck, or fish. product that comes from an animal ). The theory is sound. There's no way out. I must confess I’ve been having a hard time.

Pigs 100

Pigs Dogs Meat Ethics 100

Animal Person

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

Masson tells Benjy's story--and Benjy stories--while explaining his theory about the mutual domestication of dogs and humans. You may know that dog/human coevolution has been a popular topic in the past decade, and if so, this might help: Masson "takes E. The point is that, as Chapter 3 is titled, "Dogs Make Us Human."

Dogs 100

Dogs Pit Bulls Greyhounds Kennels 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 29, 2011

On to a small pond where we hoped to see a dabbling duck or two but found only more bupkis. To them I say that a shower and a nice big dinner with some booze was far more important to us as human beings then a couple more birds was to us as birders. It was a bupkis fest!

Soreing 165

Soreing Birds Suffering Woodpeckers 165

Animal Person

JUNE 26, 2009

We humans have decided that, for a combination of reasons that are important to us, cats are worthy of our respect. Cats are slaves to no one, at least according to their reputation, which in my experience holds true. The outrage I've been seeing and hearing is typical, as we like cats. Cats represent something: independence.

Cats 100

Cats Dissection Cougars Pigs 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2017

Perhaps on a lakewatch while ducks flew past and you hoped for a Long-tailed Jaeger ? Humans have evolved with binocular vision and it is unnatural and unfortunate that our spotting scopes have, with a few unimpressive exceptions, left us stuck with an inferior monocular view. But let me step back for a moment.

Austria 196

Austria Rights Eagles Birds 196

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2014

I got to see a beautiful female and owlet on a trip to a secret nest location near Howard Prairie Lake (human-made nest structures have enhanced local breeding for these huge owls whose nest success is boosted to 83% on artificial platforms vs. 66% at natural sites). The experience, the place, and the bird combine to make this my BBOTY.

2014 197

2014 Costa Rica South Africa Birds 197

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Other birds with webbed feet, including ducks and geese, have only three webbed toes; the hallux (which in birds is usually the “hind toe&# and in humans, the “big toe&# ) is free. For all of recorded history, humans have classified other living things by their physical characteristics.

2011 155

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 155

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2020

For those of us with the great good fortune to bird in Latin America, or other less-studied biological regions, my experience suggests that we are much more likely to benefit from the new species created by such splits. But you pretty much must come to Mexico to see the Mexican Duck , which I see every time I go to our nearest lake.

San Diego 185

San Diego San Francisco Mexico Baltimore 185

10,000 Birds

JUNE 24, 2021

A juvenile night heron experimented with getting across fences (note: neither fence nor heron were hurt during the experiment). A few Mandarin Ducks stayed far away from my camera, understandable given their serious case of molting. I guess looking elegant during sex is difficult for most humans, too. Not this one.

Birds 230

Birds Uganda Breeding Rats 230

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2020

The longer Introduction lists and briefly summarizes topics covered in the Portfolio (evolution feathers, coloration, variation, senses, movement, physiology, migration, food and foraging, survival, social behavior, birds and humans, threats). 167, Meadowlark line of sight–not p.67). copyright @2020 by David A llen Sibley.

2020 264

2020 Birds Groups North America 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2019

Several Ferruginous Duck and one surprising male Goosander , four Glossy Ibises , Common Kingfishers , Eurasian Hopooes , a high note of a Penduline Tit somewhere from the willows along the canal, Eurasian Spoonbills , European Turtle Doves gently purrring …. Below legal size for humans is still legal for pelicans.

Greece 200

Greece Pelicans Buffalo Fish 200

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2011

Plus, I mean, it’s a giant chicken-looking thing that’s actually related to ducks… with that kind of identity crisis going on, what’s not to love? They really appeared to enjoy this, because as soon as they swam back to the rocks they would line up again to repeat the experience.

Brazil 216

Brazil 2011 Birds Wildlife 216

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2014

l-r) Brushland Tinamou ( Nothoprocta cinerascens ), Southern Cassowary ( Casuarius casuarius ), Greater Sage-Grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ), Mandarin Duck ( Aix galericulata ). Have you noticed ducks and quail replacing loons and grebes at the beginning of newer bird field guides and checklists? This is why. Jarvis et al.

Family 279

Family Birds Parrots 2014 279

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 15, 2015

Ducks are easier prey for the Eagle. Non-bird watchers without binoculars and experience are notoriously bad sources of information. The new offspring of that year hang back and leave later, finding their way to their wintering grounds using something other than experience, and something other than being taught by their parents.

Humane 216

Humane Eagles Investigation Research 216

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Crocodile warning As you walk out towards the hide the birdlife is not the least bit bothered about any human activity and remains along the water’s edge. There are informative paintings of the birdlife that you may experience and benches positioned well for observing the area.

Pelicans 171

Pelicans Geese Australia Ducks 171

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

This is the story of Fox’s experiences on board the Achiever, the research vessel of the Raincoast Conservation Foundation. She is one of the best nature writers I’ve encountered in recent years, able to paint experiences with emotional immediacy. Northern Fulmar, image courtesy of Peter Hodum.

Fox 100

Fox Albatross Geese Bald Eagle 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2011

There are also a number of Takahe , one of which, named Greg, has learnt that humans equal food, and will hang around the day visitors in the hope of a snack. Duncan Mar 10th, 2011 at 3:01 am I know from experience that Saddlebacks are tricky little guys to catch. A week spent on Kapiti only got us 3 of them!

New Zealand 149

New Zealand 2011 Deer Cats 149

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Darwin Day is February 12th, and for an early celebration I thought I’d take a look at a book that rethinks the way Darwin, and we, think about evolution—a very specific part of evolution, the way beautiful features and behavior have developed amongst birds and, by extension, amongst humans.

Ducks 100

Ducks Research Animal Stud 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 10, 2011

Many a birding trip starts with a longish drive from the airport to the first birding site with these common roadside birds being the first taste you get of a country’s wildlife, and I feel that many bird trip reports, interested mostly in mega-rarities, gloss over the amazing experience this first drive can give.

New Zealand 179

New Zealand Birds Thailand Falcons 179

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2022

Do you really need to have Kai’s birding experience further detailed not just by month but a level below? As with Chinese male humans, having your own building is still vital to raising young. One of the established ways to evaluate self-cognition in animals (including humans) is the mirror test. Yes, you do, trust me.

Birds 197

Birds Sparrows Protection Humane 197