10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2022

This is a cruise like no other, full of scientific lectures, over forty guides spread out on deck, bird-themed parties, and a lights-off mandate to protect birds at night. I learned of the trip right as it had been delayed and made a vow that I would be on that ship. The marine protected area status was designated in 2013.

South Africa 263

South Africa Mice Albatross Africa 263

10,000 Birds

MAY 9, 2012

The objective wasn’t even birds, it was fur seals. My brother is in town for a few days so I decided to take him to Red Rocks on Wellington’s South Coast to look at the seal haul out. The day was sunny and calm (a novelty), and the time of year is right for seals. Which brings us to yesterday.

Seals 158

Seals New Zealand Fur Marine Life 158

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2016

In the early morning out on the water there were plenty of Fluttering Shearwaters and Australasian Gannets, and close to a salmon farm we found New Zealand Fur Seals as well as Pied Shags, Little Shags and Spotted Shags (I can only assume that kiwis just like calling all cormorants shags because they are all five years old).

Charlotte 113

Charlotte New Zealand Seals Fur 113

Animal Person

MAY 11, 2009

Yesterday's " Do Small Victories Affect Big Picture in Animal Rights Debate? Here's the set-up: The European Parliament endorsed a ban on seal products. restaurants by animal rights activists." Notwithstanding their local tactical victories, are animal rights protesters really as effective as they appear?

Foie Gras 100

Foie Gras Seals Protest Protesting 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

This makes it a particularly exciting time in New Zealand as the Rugby World Cup begins in two days, and the competition is being held right here in New Zealand (I would imagine they might be more excited if they hadn’t just lost two matches to Australia and South Africa, their big rivals in the Tri-Nations).

New Zealand 157

New Zealand Penguins Sanctuary Birds 157

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2012

This may be the most awesome pelagic you’ll ever experience… For me it was the publication in 1984 of Peter Harrison’s ground-breaking identification guide to ‘ Seabirds ’ that opened up the off-shore world of pelagic birding right on Cape Town’s door step.

Albatross 181

Albatross Penguins Dolphins Whales 181