10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2012

Once a body of research was established and the bird was declared endangered, it took many more years of experimentation, political maneuvering, conflicts with the National Guard, and some tragic fires to establish what is now acclaimed as a model conservation project. Now there are volunteer guides, tours and a local festival.

Michigan 221

Michigan Bahamas Endangered Species Research 221

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2023

In China, wherever there is one real tourist attraction (like the Great Wall), the local strategy seems to be to add some fake attractions – replicas of palaces or tombs, amusement parks, shopping centers – in order to maximize the income from tourists. But the starting point has to be a real attraction, not a fake one.

China 217

China Birds Pythons Eagles 217

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2012

Starvation and predators make it hard to grow up, and birds have evolved a lot of strategies to give (at least some of) their chicks the best chance in life. One strategy that varies among birds (and other animals) is the number of offspring. Seabirds are one group of birds that go for the latter strategy. So why do it?

Eggs 163

Eggs Puffins Breeding Raised 163

10,000 Birds

APRIL 24, 2012

Within the bird world, so many different strategies and methods of mating and reproduction have evolved, it simply boggles the mind. Male and female Yellow-rumps pair up on their breeding grounds, share duties in raising chicks, then politely part ways when fall migration comes.

Albatross 186

Albatross Birds Lifestyle Raised 186

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 17, 2022

I guess most scientists would love to see their original research become the basis for a vast field of further studies. Superb Starlings avoid this when using helpers, much like rich people presumably reducing the stress of raising kids by hiring a couple of nannies. She also laid eggs in Melba Finch nests. Red-billed Firefinch.

South Africa 179

South Africa Africa Birds Cape Verde 179

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2022

I have written about the interesting sex life of these jacanas a few times already (short version: female mates with male, lays a bunch of eggs for him to incubate and raise the chicks, leaves him, finds another male, repeat). Once I am moderately successful, I often find such photos quite pleasing. but they do. See the sequence below.

Birds 147

Birds China Eggs Breeding 147