10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2011

I photographed this Guianan Cock-of-the-rock at a lek site near Surama, deep in the rainforest zone of Guyana, and my incredible experience with Andean Cock-of-the-rocks was at a display lek on the edge of the town of Jardin, in the coffee-belt of Colombia, both just incredible birds that make the heart soar with joy!

2011 180

2011 Birds South Korea North Dakota 180

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

I’m sure many of you have had similar experiences. I’m wondering as I write if you are shaking your head, uneasy that all these FACTS will interfere with your love of observing owls, an experience that easily borders on the mystical for some of us. But what do we know beyond these commonly seen and heard behaviors?

Owls 208

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 208

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2016

Birds that are not easily grouped with others are put together in what I call the fun groups: “Dippers, Wren, accentors, oriole, starlings and waxwings” and “Kingfishers, cuckoos, Hoopoe, bee-eaters, Roller and parrot” (which are actually related, the authors tell us, as they are mostly “higher landbirds”).

Ireland 143

Ireland Birds Groups Falcons 143

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2014

So do parrots, some songbirds, humans, and a few other mammals. It looks as though “New World” vultures are sister to hawks and eagles after all, not anything stranger or more exotic (and certainly not storks). Is the ability something that parrots and oscines share, or did it arise more than once? Jarvis et al.

Family 279

Family Birds Parrots 2014 279

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2020

On a quick browse, here are some facts I learned: Melanin helps to resist bacteria that attack feathers; most parrots are left-footed and this is associated with problem-solving; some birds nest in two different places in the same year. (Also, I wish I could use the tiny birds for my own presentations. Is a free digital download possible?)

2020 263

2020 Birds Groups North America 263