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Birding the Kruger Park (2): Bateleur area

10,000 Birds

As the world’s largest living bird, the Ostrich is the topic of many weird and wonderful scientific papers. Here are a few examples: The Ostrich Communal Nesting System. Medicinal and commercial uses of ostrich products in Tanzania. Studies on improving ostrich egg hatchability. Ostriches originated in Asia.

Ostriches 147
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Is my Rhino Still Alive?

10,000 Birds

On average, over 100 rhinos were illegally killed each month. Molewa added that so far this year 49 rhino had been killed countrywide. The sky was becoming orange-pink; its reflections were colouring the water, while the rhino raised its head, water sipping through his half-open snout, itself shining from the last sun rays of the day.

Rhinos 174
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Here’s the new bird family tree. It’s amazing.

10,000 Birds

The new 48-genome analysis included only ostrich and tinamou DNA, so it doesn’t shed further light on paleognath interrelationships, but it does reinforce their distinctiveness from all other living birds. Now it’s late 2014, six and a half years later, and here’s what we know today. Open Jarvis et al.’s Jarvis et al.

Family 279