10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2019

In birding, perhaps only the proverbial wild goose chase and snipe hunt rank below owling in terms of expected success. A Great Horned Owl illustrated in Game Birds: Life Histories of One Hundred and Seventy Birds of Prey, Game Birds and Water-Fowls by Neltje Blanchan. There’s the whole role of chance in owling, too.

2017 146

2017 Owls Game California 146

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. They may have also had hunting dogs with them as well. Which would be weird.

Turkey 221

Turkey Columbus Spain Fowl 221

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 24, 2020

And, on any other night, that could very well mean grouse is being served, as the Scottish table is famed for the bounty of its abundant fish and game. The controversial management of Scotland’s grouse moors for these hunts is discussed in last week’s edition of Birds and Booze.).

Sheep 227

Sheep Branding Ireland Fowl 227

10,000 Birds

APRIL 25, 2015

Scientists investigate the DNA of Hawaii’s free-roaming fowl. Someone better tell that flamingo not to stay put and avoid Malta, where voters narrowly rejected a ban on hunting migratory birds. It’s not quite Tippi Hedren–worthy, but birds swarming your living room is probably fair game for some NSFW language. Now you have.

Malta 197

Malta Barn Owls Cyprus Fowl 197