10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2012

What I didn’t know was how this relationship actually works: the mechanics of Red Knot migration, the reduced digestive systems necessary for their long flighta, the need to fatten up quickly so they can fly to the Arctic and breed, how they compete with other shorebirds and gulls and, it turns out, humans, for horseshoe crab eggs.

Delaware 176

Delaware New Jersey Research Eggs 176

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2023

It is also about Chris’s personal history: his boyhood in suburban Long Island, college years at Harvard and the struggle to come out, ‘nerdy’ passions beyond birding–namely science fiction books and films, career highs at Marvel Comics, travels to foreign countries, and his complicated relationships with his parents.

Emotional 219

Emotional Birds Minneapolis Nepal 219

10,000 Birds

JUNE 24, 2021

A juvenile night heron experimented with getting across fences (note: neither fence nor heron were hurt during the experiment). In contrast, the Common Terns present look much more elegant. I guess looking elegant during sex is difficult for most humans, too.

Birds 205

Birds Uganda Breeding Rats 205

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2020

This is a delightful book, large (8-1/2 by 11 inches), filled with Sibley’s distinctive artwork and an organized potpourri of research-based stories about the science behind bird’s lives. This was a pleasant surprise if only because I’m so used to the more technical views presented in his field guides.

2020 262

2020 Birds Groups North America 262

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2014

The magnificent history and diversity of birds on Earth came into sharper focus this month with the publication of 28 new scientific papers in Science and other journals. 2014), presents an authoritative framework for our understanding of and future work on bird phylogeny. So do parrots, some songbirds, humans, and a few other mammals.

Family 279

Family Parrots Birds 2014 279

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

So sorry, but this is a necessary part of our thought experiment!) Let’s do another thought experiment. First, I set the dial to produce the kind of high energy radioactive radiation stuff that would be emitted by an atomic bomb, and calibrate it to dose you (sorry, but this is necessary for our thought experiment!)

Mammals 225

Mammals Birds Fish Cooking 225

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Darwin Day is February 12th, and for an early celebration I thought I’d take a look at a book that rethinks the way Darwin, and we, think about evolution—a very specific part of evolution, the way beautiful features and behavior have developed amongst birds and, by extension, amongst humans.

Ducks 100

Ducks Research Animal Stud 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2011

To describe his life as one filled with achievement is a major understatement, and what I present is a brief summary. The experience was to prove critical the following year when introduced rats reached crisis levels on the remaining island of the South Island Saddleback. It worked, and the translocated birds were soon breeding.

Species 218

Species New Zealand Rats Endangered Species 218

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2015

None fly, most are curious and social, which probably contributes to our cultural perception of penguins as one step away from human. Science and Conservation , the second section, presents two-page summaries of the diverse research being done around the world about penguins. Some are cute, some are dignified (and royal!).

Penguins 191

Penguins New Zealand South Africa Albatross 191