10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2012

Wood Duck ( Aix sponsa ) Female Incubating Eggs in a Nest Box “Many species of cavity-nesting birds have declined because of habitat reduction. This is the female incubating eggs in the nest box… and a couple of weeks later… then, at the ripe old age of 17 days, what’s going on out here? References: 1 Scott, Virgil E.,

North America 209

North America America Barn Owls Falcons 209

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2012

Back on the bank it gave itself a doggy shake to dry out and held its feathers slightly raised from its body to help them dry, making itself look even bigger than it already was. Using the ubiquitous Great Egret as a reference, the Goliath Heron is half a meter taller (from bill-tip to toe) and four times as heavy.

Hunting 182

Hunting Battery Raised Adoptable 182

Animal Person

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

And the wife says that one thing the family does is eat less meat and eggs (and they raise the animals on their land), but even that is glossed over. I think those are the only references to diet. But they dismiss food.

Nigeria 100

Nigeria Vegan Neglecting Vegetarian 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2022

The Latin species name lamigellerus is a Latin phrase for ‘a small, thin, metal plate’ which refers to the flattened feather shafts, especially on the underparts. Studies on improving ostrich egg hatchability. Also, I learned that in the US , ostrich eggs are priced at $40-$75. Ostriches originated in Asia.

Ostriches 147

Ostriches Parrots Birds Eggs 147

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

From Hiro, we learn how Northern Pygmy Owls are “rule breakers,” not incubating eggs till all are hatched and then raising owlets that mature at the same rate even though the eggs were laid asynchronously (as most owl eggs are). Jennifer Ackerman is one of my favorite bird authors.

Owls 203

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 203

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

How many eggs did a pigeon lay? He reasons out answers to both questions, finally stating that, despite what many eyewitnesses wrote, the birds had to have laid more than one egg and that the birds had to have nested more than once a breeding season. Avery offers some interesting insights into the biology of the Passenger Pigeon.

2014 159

2014 Killing Michigan Kentucky 159

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2012

The Natural History section points out that Red-tailed Pennants hold their wings flat or slightly lowered, while the skimmers tend to raise their wings. Common and differing traits will include type of coloring, thorax patterning, how they perch or fly, how they copulate, and how they oviposit, lay eggs.

United States 227

United States Costa Rica Massachusetts North America 227

10,000 Birds

APRIL 27, 2012

Many of the most peculiar aspects of birds are involved with mating, whether it’s for attracting mates, defending nests against predators, or raising chicks. In this system, females mate and lay eggs with multiple males over the course of a breeding season, leaving males to incubate the eggs and raise the chicks.

2002 164

2002 North America 2000 2009 164

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2022

In contrast, the females need to make sure not to get duped into raising actual cuckoos – the buntings are a targeted host species ( source ). Fortunately for the buntings, they seem to detect most cuckoo eggs smuggled in (75% in one study). Maybe there is some justice in this world after all. Better safe than sorry.

Birds 200

Birds Eggs Bangladesh China 200