Wed.Jun 18, 2014

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Violet-green Swallows Take Up Residence on my Bluebird Trail

10,000 Birds

'Every few years I am lucky enough to have Violet-green Swallows ( Tachycineta thalassina ) take up residence on one of my Bluebird trails. This year I have two pair nesting on two different trails! The featured image above shows a female incubating eggs from my first resident breeding pair back in 2007. Violet-green Swallows will nest solitarily or in colonies and in my experience seem much more mellow than other swallow species.

Eggs 162
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From Today's New York Times

Animal Ethics

'To the Editor: Re “ Worry Under the Big Top as Mexico City Moves to Ban Circus Animals ” (news article, June 15): Mexico City joins the growing list of cities that have banned the exploitation of animals in circuses. Several countries, including Austria, Bolivia, Colombia, Greece, Peru, Britain and Paraguay, have already imposed or approved bans. Why is the United States lagging so far behind?

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Crested Firebacks

10,000 Birds

'One of the less talked about draws of visiting Asia for birders is the opportunity to check out some of the many pheasants that lurk there. While you can easily find drab representatives of the pheasant family across most of the world – dull uninteresting birds like partridges, quail, francolins, grouse, or, God help you, turkeys, pheasants are usually found only in Asia.

Asia 145