10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2015

A winding track through dense woodlands takes us to the Telia Lake in the southeast of the Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. Our guide explains that it was discovered by tiger cubs and taken off to play with, hence the claw and tooth marks. All of a sudden, in a hushed voice he says one word only: “Tigers!”

Tigers 252

Tigers India Killing 2012 252

10,000 Birds

MAY 13, 2022

For once, eBird gives a good description of the Asian Glossy Starling, calling it a “Fierce-looking, large songbird” As are humans, this species is fairly urbanized – it “sometimes enters urban areas to roost, e.g. in Singapore” (HBW). In Singapore, Common Redshanks mostly drink Tiger Beer.

Singapore 235

Singapore Birds Zebras Feral 235

10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2022

An Ashy Drongo apparently spends approximately 71% of its time scanning (what non-scientists would probably call looking around), 9% eating (less than a typical Chinese human but much more than me), calling 7%, flying 7%, and 6% preening. In Singapore, a Tiger Shrike was observed casting a pellet after eating a large scarab beetle.

Singapore 147

Singapore Birds Mountain Goats Giraffes 147

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 21, 2009

Presumably it would include all human beings, whether they are in the habit of eating animals or not. Since animals cannot be judged morally praiseworthy or blameworthy, the question of whether it is morally wrong for them to eat meat cannot be raised. Moral concepts such as “right” and “wrong” apply only to autonomous beings.

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Meat Lions 40

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

eBird states that “small white patch on throat is not obvious and difficult to see” And they use a photo that I submitted as main illustration, so they must be right. Thank god that this does not apply to humans. Sometimes being a member of the human race feels very embarrassing. It just looks stupid.

Birds 208

Birds China Eggs Owls 208

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2023

The third shrike seen in Shanghai this month was the Tiger Shrike. I guess in terms of probability Common Snipe is the best best, but who knows … Deep in their hearts, Cuckoo species probably know that their way of raising (or rather, not raising) kids is wrong and morally repulsive (you should hear Ron DeSantis talk about this).

Birds 130

Birds China Taiwan Raised 130