10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2018

Those of us who chase rare birds for our counties, states, or other human-made geographical distinctions watch birds for more reasons than the twitch. A few other birds also showed, highlights including a tree full of screeching Mealy Parrots but other birding experiences par excellence were waiting in the wings.

Costa Rica 189

Costa Rica Species San Jose Birds 189

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2014

So do parrots, some songbirds, humans, and a few other mammals. Humans don’t share merely a similar capacity for vocal learning with hummingbirds, we share share similar brain machinery , and that brain machinery is regulated by similar genes , genes not shared by hummingbirds’ closest relatives, nor by ours.

Family 279

Family Birds Parrots 2014 279

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2015

Many of the great debates over human behavior, those related to things such as race or gender, are muddled and messy because plasticity is ignored. Plasticity in humans is probably modulated primarily through experience and enculturation. Presumably the humans keep away the predators.

Birds 123

Birds Research Humane Pets 123

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2011

The modal bird song is a song, but not all ‘songs’ are song-like, in the sense that we expect song to come out of the ‘mouth’ (bill) and to consist of modulated air currents (like human voice). Drawing of bower birds from Darwin’s 1871 volume on sexual selection. The top two are individuals with normal song.

Zebras 258

Zebras Birds Humane Raised 258

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2019

And, Essay #195, “Our Human Values: The Ugly,” describes the standoff between catfish loving Double-crested Cormorants and catfish farmers in the Missouri Valley. I’m not sure if “the Ugly” refers to the cormorant itself or human reaction (catfish farmers are officially allowed to shoot the birds).

Birds 115

Birds North America Breeding America 115

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2020

The longer Introduction lists and briefly summarizes topics covered in the Portfolio (evolution feathers, coloration, variation, senses, movement, physiology, migration, food and foraging, survival, social behavior, birds and humans, threats). Also, I wish I could use the tiny birds for my own presentations.

2020 264

2020 Birds Groups North America 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2011

But this critically endangered and majestic blue parrot has remained elusive to most of the world and, sniffle sniffle, to me as well. However, the Stresemann’s Bristlefront is one of those birds that is simply enigmatic and rare and recently discovered, with many aspects of its life history unknown to humanity.

Brazil 210

Brazil 2011 Birds Wildlife 210

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2016

Pine Grosbeak is a real treat for New Yorkers and many a city-birder has made the journey to the Adirondacks to see these large, almost parrot-like birds. But before we get to that there was a creature that really wanted a feeder of its own and seemed used to getting fed by humans. And the finches! The finches! What a beautiful beast!

Birds 100

Birds New York Fox New York City 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 18, 2011

Our visit had two main purposes, one was to experience the exotic biodiversity of the lowland Choco forest and its birds, and the other was to gauge the state of conservation in this area that has been highly criticized due to the deforestation caused by a the logging company Botrosa. Mealy Amazon … a.

Monkeys 172

Monkeys Birds Farming Woodpeckers 172

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2011

I photographed this Guianan Cock-of-the-rock at a lek site near Surama, deep in the rainforest zone of Guyana, and my incredible experience with Andean Cock-of-the-rocks was at a display lek on the edge of the town of Jardin, in the coffee-belt of Colombia, both just incredible birds that make the heart soar with joy!

2011 186

2011 Birds South Korea North Dakota 186

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2017

The four authors, themselves field ornithologists, conservationists, birders, and writers with years of experience in southeast Asia, researched scientific studies ranging from early 19th-century descriptions of the birds of Java to the latest phylogenomic studies. Where is the Indonesian Archipelago? There is no entry for Lory.

Indonesia 130

Indonesia Brunei Birds Malaysia 130

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2011

.’ Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning – little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door - Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as `Nevermore.’

2011 247

2011 Fowl Deer Cats 247