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A few Barbets

10,000 Birds

I saw it in a park in Delhi, and indeed the HBW remarks that it “has adapted well to human habitation, and is common and widespread in the parks and gardens of cities such as Delhi” (I once had a visitor from India here in Shanghai, and he asked me if/why there are no birds in Shanghai. Lucia, South Africa) will be your favorite.

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Vultures, Human Evolution, Global Warming, and Windmills

10,000 Birds

The topic was the concept of humans as predators, or hunters, or really, eaters of meat, and I was discussing the many ways in which people misconceived this notion. Even though this referred to a period after the supposed “scavenging” phase, it lent support to the idea of a stepwise evolution of the ability to hunt.

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Book Review: Spillover – Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic

10,000 Birds

” I’ll sometimes add “It’s in West Africa, I’ll be in South Africa. Hunting, the bush meat trade, habitat loss, population increases, they all have a part to play in this story. . “Aren’t I worried about Ebola?” ” To which I reply “No, not personally.”

Humane 161
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Africa’s Big Five and Little Five

10,000 Birds

I’m sure you’ve all heard of Africa’s famous Big Five , but do you know there is also an equally fascinating Little Five ? Africa is famous for its large, charismatic mammals, and the Big Five epitomize the most sought-after of these fantastic beasts. Black Rhinos are best sought in South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania.

Buffalo 197
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The Storks of Africa

10,000 Birds

It is predominantly a wetland bird and most productive larger wetlands and lakes of Africa will support a population of these large, hulking birds that hang around the shallows searching for fish, waterbird nestlings and anything else remotely edible. They are also attracted by fires and can gather in thousands.

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Fresh Scaled Antpitta Caught Today

10,000 Birds

This is not a surprise as both pastimes tap into my primeval desire to hunt. I don’t need to kill something to feel the rush of the hunt. However there are places where, with a little human ingenuity, one can see even very rare species with some ease. The stuff we get in South Africa or the UK.

Ecuador 150
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Best Bird of the Year 2014

10,000 Birds

I got to see a beautiful female and owlet on a trip to a secret nest location near Howard Prairie Lake (human-made nest structures have enhanced local breeding for these huge owls whose nest success is boosted to 83% on artificial platforms vs. 66% at natural sites). Larry’s BBOTY – Great Gray Owl.

2014 184