10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

There’s no information as to when these European colonies died out, but we do know that it was a long time ago. 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”.

Morocco 223

Morocco Austria Algeria Germany 223

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

Jennifer Ackerman points out in the introduction to What the Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds , that we don’t know much, but that very soon we may know a lot more. What the Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds is a joyous, fascinating read.

Owls 209

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 209

10,000 Birds

JUNE 26, 2018

Pink Pigeons were featured on episode four of the second season of The Zoo , the excellent television series about The Bronx Zoo,* and their story was disturbing. This description appears to be an overstatement though, because we learn by the end of the episode that The Stud and Serendipity have not produced one viable egg.

Mauritius 101

Mauritius Stud Zoos Eggs 101

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

We have photographs and newspaper obituaries of Martha, the last living Passenger Pigeon, who died after a lifetime in captivity, mostly in the Cincinnati Zoo. This bit of science is a nice final counterpoint to an account that has emphasized art, history, and literature. How many eggs did a pigeon lay?

2014 160

2014 Killing Michigan Kentucky 160