10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2021

For some reason that is hard for me to fathom, there is no such bird as a Cape Woodpecker. The Common Waxbill looks like it belongs in a pet shop rather than in the wild. In fact, this is probably a species that has substantially expanded its original range through the pet shop route and the resulting escapees.

South Africa 252

South Africa Africa Lesotho Nigeria 252

10,000 Birds

JULY 23, 2012

After all, North America has no native hedgehogs and seeing something so outside of our normal experience was pretty exciting, even if the little guy quickly headed for cover and refused to show itself for Clay Taylor, who came upon the scene a minute too late. Fine, my best bird was a White-backed Woodpecker , alright? …

Hedgehogs 170

Hedgehogs Hungary Opossums North America 170

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2015

Fernandina’s Flicker, a tongue-twisting alliterative name for one of the most endangered woodpeckers in the world! In addition to habitat loss, extreme weather, invasive species, hunting, and the illegal capture of birds for pet markets are major contributing factors. Bee Hummingbird, the smallest hummingbird in the world!

Cuba 240

Cuba Birds United States 2000 240

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2011

The experience is one of the ornithological highlights in the world. The primary reasons for the decline of macaws and parrots are many but habitat loss due to logging; clear cutting for crops and cattle ranching; and capture for the pet trade rank among the most threatening.

Peru 255

Peru Parrots 2011 South America 255

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2023

In Kangding, there is a rather opulent bird hide – two stories, solid construction, spacious, lots of glass, a separate paved parking lot, though mysteriously (and as far as I can tell from my experience of living in China for almost 20 years, not indicative of fundamentally different physical needs of Chinese people) missing a bathroom.

Birds 147

Birds Mammals St. Louis Monkeys 147