10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2015

There’s a Three-striped Palm Squirrel by the side of the track, while Jungle Bush Quails are running across it in front of our Maruti Gypsy, almost the official safari vehicle of India. The Osprey tries another hunt, finally a successful one, while Telia goes deeper into the water and lies down. Some results may already be visible.

Tigers 248

Tigers India Killing 2012 248

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

Originally a hunting term, the Big Five were the most dangerous and prized targets of the great white hunters on safari. However it is now one of the world’s rarest animals after decades of relentless hunting and poaching. They are harmless to humans and their horns are used for wrestling other males for mating rights.

Buffalo 207

Buffalo Rhinoceros Elephants Leopards 207

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

If there are human fishing activities then all the better – Marabous will gather in numbers around fishermen’s docks and fish markets, in fact anywhere where fish are cleaned and scraps disposed of, allowing these intelligent birds to obtain a free meal. They are also attracted by fires and can gather in thousands.

Africa 243

Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 243

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2023

Another item they feed on is hunting edible bird nest swiftlets, which are quite common in edible swiftlet houses in Sabah, Malaysia ( source ). The first attempt in hunting was made by the male hornbill which was seen snapping at a passing swiftlet, but was unsuccessful. Then she tried to feed it to the remaining chicks.

Rhinoceros 129

Rhinoceros Singapore Transported Hunting 129

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

The Crested Serpent-eagle is not a vulture, but that does not keep me from mentioning a recent Economist article here, “The sudden demise of Indian vultures killed thousands of people” And while this article is behind a paywall, the original research paper is not.

Los Angeles 192

Los Angeles Birds Woodpeckers Owls 192

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2013

My post last week where I defended game hunting as a conservation tool has, unaccountably, encountered a certain amount of push back. Who would have thought that a post defending hunting game in general would have not been universally acclaimed? I will address two of them in the new year, namely, “Is hunting moral at all?”

Tigers 175

Tigers Hunting Game Protection 175