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My Year in Birding 2012

10,000 Birds

It was awesome – especially the hedgehog and the amazing new Swarovski spotting scopes I got to play with. Northern White-breasted Hedgehog. We had a wonderful family vacation in Germany and the Czech Republic during which I managed to do a bit of birding. Finally, I learned not to feed the birds. June – Hungary.

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You’re Not Helping

10,000 Birds

Even wiping out one species, like possums, or stoats, or hedgehogs is probably beyond current methods. Given the generational battle that will have to be waged, just about the worst thing you can do is alienate half the nation by firing indiscriminate broadsides at what to most people is a cherished family member.

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Africa’s Big Five and Little Five

10,000 Birds

Generally the large family herds of buffalo are peaceful, but the old bulls (called “dagga” boys, “dagga” being a Zulu word for “mud” since they are often covered with the substance after their long wallows) who have left the herds tend to be furious with life in general and anyone they can smash in particular.

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