10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2014

With binoculars around my neck, I am leaving home, wondering which will be the first species on my year list. The explanation said: „dovecote – fresh meat in case of siege“. Obviously, I am talking of Feral Pigeons (also called city, town or street pigeons). New Year’s Day 2014. And yet, I have passed by one before that.

Feral 251

Feral Meat Species Serbia 251

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

The very first thing we notice about this large member of the Galliformes is that there is a wild version and a domestic version, and although the two are rather different, they are both given the same species name, Meleagris gallopavo. This is not entirely unknown among domestic animals, but many domesticates have no living wild version.

Turkey 198

Turkey Columbus Spain Fowl 198

10,000 Birds

MARCH 26, 2014

It hasn’t achieved as much attention yet, presumably because people are rather preoccupied with wars brewing in Eastern Europe and missing airliners, but give it time. If the whole thing passed you by then Mother Jones did a good piece on why zoos sometimes have to kill individuals for the good of the species.

Lions 150

Lions Giraffes Zoos Killing 150