article thumbnail

Evidence of earlier humans in Madagascar is unconvincing but interesting

10,000 Birds

But here I want to note, and for now, dismiss, a find from Madagascar. It was always thought that humans first inhabited the island of Madagascar about four or five thousand years ago or so. It was after that date that many of the great and strange animals of that island went extinct, presumably because of human hunting.

article thumbnail

Madagascar: The Last Inheritor of Gondwana

10,000 Birds

Are humans a part of nature or a force (sometimes benevolent, more often destructive) that acts upon it? Madagascar: The Last Inheritor of Gondwana tries to walk the “all of the above” line, which is sometimes satisfying, sometimes disconcerting, and sometimes outright frustrating. It depends on perspective and context.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

Madagascar’s Lost and Found

10,000 Birds

Madagascar, however, has had more than its fair share of extinct or lost species and Madagascar Pochard was firmly on this list. Previously common at its only known site, Lake Aloatra, into the 1930’s, the introduction of numerous exotic fish species and human disturbance led to massive population declines.

article thumbnail

Habitats of the World: A Field Guide for Birders, Naturalists, and Ecologists

10,000 Birds

This comprehensive book features concise identification descriptions and is richly illustrated—including more than 650 colour photos of habitats and their wildlife, 150 distribution maps, 200 diagrams, and 150 silhouettes depicting each habitat alongside a human figure.

article thumbnail

Mallards are a Threat to Mottled Ducks in Florida

10,000 Birds

Most were introduced, meaning they were brought to Florida by humans. However, captive-reared mallards are being unlawfully released by humans in large numbers in Florida. The Meller’s Duck is highly endangered in its native Madagascar. Exotic species are animals that did not historically occur in Florida.

Florida 199
article thumbnail

The Storks of Africa

10,000 Birds

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. Its range also extends to nearby Madagascar.

Africa 233
article thumbnail

The Warbler Brewery – Moon & Back Imperial Stout

10,000 Birds

Last week we talked about the human “snowbird” migration, in which thousands of northerners flock south to the Sun Belt of the United States to escape the frozen wasteland their home states and provinces will turn into from about November through March or later.