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Every sperm is sacred

10,000 Birds

By studying Zebra Finches and domestic chickens, the scientists discovered that multiple sperm appear necessary for a fertilized egg to progress to the embryo stage (a process called “polyspermy”.) This differs from humans and other mammals, in which the addition of extra sperm essentially destroys the egg.

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15 Australian Birds (Episode 6)

10,000 Birds

Is it offensive to say that Australian Zebra Finches breed like rabbits? The quirkily titled article “Why Love Matters to a Zebra Finch” describes how pairings based on female preferences rather than on chance had much higher reproduction rates. I guess we have to be thankful they do not also wear leggings. So typical.

Birds 147
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Birding Sepilok, Borneo (Part 2)

10,000 Birds

The species is classified as Near Threatened for all the usual depressing reasons – pollution, drainage, hunting, and the collection of eggs and nestlings ( source ). After the two broadbill species at the start of this post, the other main attraction is a pair of two trogons.

Sri Lanka 224
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Camping by the Fitzroy River

10,000 Birds

We moved in slowly and soon observed that there was a well camouflaged nest with one egg in it. Black-fronted Dotterel nest with one egg. Our walk downstream added a few more bird species including Zebra Finch , Purple-backed Fairywrens , Rufous Songlarks , Black-breasted Buzzard , Black Falcon and Common Greenshank.

Eagles 151
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Striding Snake-killers

10,000 Birds

The quills of the “Saqu Ettair” Secretarybirds feed on small lizards, insects, rodents, birds eggs and, of course, snakes. As do a diverse suite of other wildlife from lions and zebras to ground squirrels and meerkats. Coursers, larks, korhaans and other dry country specialists abound here.

Botswana 231
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Collaborative List – October 2018

10,000 Birds

Zebra Dove – Geopelia striata. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Zebra Finch – Taeniopygia guttata. Slaty-backed Forktail – Enicurus schistaceus. Jeriau Waterfall. 12 Jun 2018.

2018 113
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Collaborative list – September 2018

10,000 Birds

Zebra Dove – Geopelia striata. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Zebra Finch – Taeniopygia guttata. Slaty-backed Forktail – Enicurus schistaceus. Jeriau Waterfall. 12 Jun 2018.

2018 113