10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2013

Here, thousands of Amur Falcons hunt for insects during the southern summer, Wattled Cranes and Denham’s Bustards may be seen, impressive Long-tailed Widowbirds display over the grasslands and the waterbodies are a haven to many hundreds of waterbirds, including Maccoa and White-backed Ducks. Image by Adam Riley. Image by Adam Riley.

Lesotho 173

Lesotho Africa Birds Rats 173

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2023

There’s Lynford Water, a scenic tree-fringed former gravel working that today is popular with Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Ducks and wild swimmers (yes, they even swim in December). Lynford also boasts an arboretum, with 200 different species of trees. They were bold, too, unworried by my presence.

Barn Owls 219

Barn Owls Japan Rats Owls 219

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2011

The haunting call of the West Indian Whistling Duck has long been a sound synonymous with the ever-shrinking wetlands of the Caribbean. But, as with so many other species, these birds have been left to do their own whistle blowing. West Indian Whistling Ducks are the largest of the eight different whistling duck species.

Antigua and Barbuda 227

Antigua and Barbuda Puerto Rico Dominican Republic Jamaica 227

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2014

They all went extinct since 1500 and they are only eight of the nearly two hundred species that have blinked out since then. Sure, we try not to introduce snakes, rats, cats, goats, pigs, and a host of other creatures to isolated islands. Amsterdam Duck. The eight species above still exist. Ascencion Crake. Mauritius Owl.

Mauritius 172

Mauritius Djibouti Guam Birds 172