10,000 Birds

JUNE 13, 2022

Honeyeaters are a large bird family (190 species) with a strong presence in Australia. According to the HBW entry for this species, it “has been claimed that loss of native mammals after European settlement created shortage of nesting material, explaining this species’ penchant for taking hair from humans.”

Australia 225

Australia Birds Feral Cats Kangaroos 225

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2011

Not that I don’t enjoy seeing new species myself, it’s just that they are an easy target and I am nothing if not lazy and mean spirited. The year before I only got one, the shrike-tits (Falcunculidae), although if you include mammals also I finally got my lifer wombat (Vombatidae) too.

Family 166

Family Wombats Uganda Fiji 166

4 The Love Of Animals

MARCH 17, 2011

It’s not surprising that animals—especially, but not only, mammals—share many emotions with us because we also share brain structures—located in the limbic system—that are the seat of our emotions. After publishing my stories I got emails from people all over the world who had seen similar behavior in various birds and mammals.

Emotional 100

Emotional Animal Whales Whaling 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2011

The data here are from the site of Manaus: All animals: 200 Mammals: 8.4 This is also because mammals are large. Comparing mammals, birds, and reptiles, for instance, what is the distribution and range of sizes? The top histogram is mammals, the bottom one birds. Amphibian’s and Reptiles: 3.4 This is not a surprise.

Mammals 186

Mammals Rodents Birds Reptiles 186

10,000 Birds

MAY 30, 2012

In the parking area I immediately encountered a pair of Australian Brush-turkeys as well as a new species for me, a Grey-headed Robin. This huge member of the Australian robin family is really tame in this carpark, making it probably the easiest place n the world to see the species (other than the Tableland it is only found in New Guinea).

Kangaroos 166

Kangaroos Guinea Pigs Turkey Guinea 166