10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2022

I met Jonathan because his mother-in-law lives here in Morelia, and when he visits her, we sometimes find a space to bird together. With 85 species in 6 hours, I’d like to think it was well repaid. That’s me on the right. Snowy Plovers also breed half an hour north of my home, so we have those in common.

San Diego 249

San Diego Turtles Mexico Sparrows 249

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 18, 2021

All sorts of exotic and beautiful species may be seen. This would sound attractive even to me, except for one fact: almost all of those exotic and beautiful species are common down here in central Mexico. Southeastern Arizona is unusual, precisely because its species mix is as much Mexican as it is American.

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Arizona Mexico Los Angeles Dallas 261

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2022

Or would be, had I encountered more of them – so far, I have seen only a very small share of the approximately 233 woodpecker species, and got decent photos of an even smaller number – not much more than 10% of all of them. So, writing a post about them is easy.

Woodpeckers 230

Woodpeckers South Africa China Singapore 230

10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2021

You can’t say the same about migration: you can’t say that every book about birds is necessarily about migration, for the simple reason that only about 4,000 bird species migrate (with some 1,800 of those traveling long distances). (Well, purely physical attributes play a part, too: they’re pretty good looking.).

Alaska 205

Alaska Breeding Kenya Africa 205

10,000 Birds

APRIL 12, 2022

Some access issues are addressed by federal law. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George H.W. The refuge is a popular birding location and approximately 230 species have been observed by about 1,400 birders who have submitted nearly 8,000 checklists. Bush in 1990.

Portland 190

Portland Oregon Laws Experience 190

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2017

Over the last weekend, my wife and I made a whirl-wind trip from Mexico, up to the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle area, where we stayed with the in-laws. They have a nice large back yard, complete with a variety of bird feeders, and a fence that backs right up to a Green Belt.

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Seattle Birds Mexico Laws 137

Animal Person

MAY 10, 2009

In " 'Animal Rights:' Pernicious Nonsense for Both Law & Public Policy ," Massachusetts attorney and "sportsman" Richard Latimer is on the mark with some concepts, and way off with others. Now, I know you're saying: That's not what animal rights is. than with any genuine concern for species diversity or even animal welfare."

Animal Rights 100

Animal Rights Rights Broiler Chicken Animal 100

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 30, 2012

The legal rights of nonhuman animals might first be achieved in any of three ways. In 2002 the German Parliament amended Article 26 of the Basic Law to give nonhuman animals the right to be “respected as fellow creatures” and to be protected from “avoidable pain.” What is the common law? Steven M.

Rights 40

Rights For Animals Legislation Laws 40

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2013

Two days ago I went on Facebook and queried some of my exhausted compatriots: if you could have one wish right now – anything in the world – what would it be? “I Change in Law. I wish for a federal law prohibiting domestic and feral cats from roaming free outdoors. That’s easy!” wrote Veronica in California. “I

Wildlife 245

Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Oklahoma New York 245

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2014

With about 110 recorded species, the Kozara becomes truly magical place when the Danube swells and reclaims what is rightfully his. Hence, I had the be equally grumpy to explain to them that I had an equal right to be there (equal right? armed with binoculars only?), Kozara backwaters. All dabbling ducks can dive, but rarely do.

Serbia 240

Serbia Stray Dog Protection Botswana 240

10,000 Birds

JULY 27, 2014

This June my brother-in-law and I took off to Kangiq (Cape Crauford), the western edge of of the mouth of Admiralty Inlet to Lancaster Sound. One of the most common species on our trip, the charming, and striking, Black Guillemot. This is big country, Kangiq is just off the right of the photo, jutting out into Lancaster Sound.

Polar Bears 188

Polar Bears Seals Bears Laws 188

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013

…a City Council committee voted 5-0 to recommend a new law that in essence licenses the care and feeding of free-roaming cats as part of a larger effort to reduce their numbers. But it’s something in the right direction.”. First Amendment rights are in question here,” Moriarty said. First amendment rights?

Feral Cats 207

Feral Cats Feral Cats Minneapolis 207

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2019

In Cranes , the reader meets, for the first time, Roy Ducannon, a Canadian RCMP sergeant who has a cool but respectful relationship with his brother-in-law, Jejeune. Each title in the series is the collective noun for a bird species, which becomes a central theme of the story.

Humane 132

Humane 2018 Laws Science 132

10,000 Birds

APRIL 4, 2018

We are spending some time here on my wife’s family property right on the water. My Father-in-law had worked with the DOC here to establish a managed wetland here on the property, and it has been well received by the very rare Brown Teal. Of those 95 species, 85 are new Lifers! Here is a closer shot of the Brown Teal.

New Zealand 100

New Zealand Groups Alaska Laws 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2011

We’ll see… But there is one more thing to do for Wood-Warbler Week, and that is to figure out what wood-warbler is represented in the Wood-Warbler Week logo, which was created by my wonderful sister-in-law, Stephanie Chung. What species is shown? Below is the logo. Leave your best guess in the comments.

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United States South America 2011 2012 155

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2018

In the end, I ended up with 9 species, 4 of which were new to the list, the Black-crowned Sparrow Lark, White-checked Bulbo, House Crow , and the Indian Silverbill. This leg of the trip was for the most part all about my father-in-law. That does not mean that we can’t make a stop or two along the way, right? Wish me luck!

Qatar 114

Qatar Sparrows South Africa Africa 114

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

His obituary in The Auk describes him as “without a doubt” responsible for Texas’ laws on bird conservation, “for he was the first in the state to present the real facts concerning the importance of bird life in its relation to human welfare.”

Chickens 122

Chickens Texas Louisiana Wildlife 122

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

The majority are clearly Mallards , followed by Garganeys , with one and possibly more Green-winged Teals , also Ferruginous Ducks … Surprises among them are one Common Shelduck , a species that most likely breeds some 15 mi from here (and my first shelduck of the year) and an even greater surprise: two Eurasian Wigeons.

Serbia 165

Serbia Protection Eagles Ducks 165

Animal Person

MARCH 29, 2010

Whenever the media report that someone has killed "an endangered animal" or "an endangered species," they too confuse an individual with a species. Hunters kill members of endangered species. Conversely, animals who are personally safe are not endangered, even if they belong to an endangered species (14).

Speciesism 100

Speciesism Endangered Species Vivisection Killing 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2016

“Below the 40th latitude there is no law; below the 50th no god; below the 60th no common sense and below the 70th no intelligence whatsoever.” (“Antarctica” by Kim Stanley Robinson, 1998). Right: Robert McCormick, by Stephen Pearce. There are 11 species of birds that breed in the Ross Sea region. Finally – the Seabirds.

Russia 171

Russia Penguins Whales Whaling 171

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 17, 2014

Developed in the post-frontier era, the NAMWC helped put a stop to wanton wildlife destruction in an era where many species were being hunted and trapped ruthlessly to the brink of extinction. Wilderness Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Air and Water Acts, and similar acts in Canada.

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Wildlife Coyotes Hunters Wolves 238

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2016

Late April / early May is the best birding season in the south of Europe and wherever you go, you will have 50% to 100% more species than in any other season. Recently, I did a bit of embankment birding, nailing 65 species (several of them firsts for the season, European Bee-eaters among them – always exciting).

Birds 111

Birds India Africa Serbia 111

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2016

But when taken as a whole, the impact of the Refuge System is truly profound, supporting population-level numbers of numerous bird species. The System also helps implement the Endangered Species Act and other federal conservation laws. Refuges in the Klamath Basin can host a million waterfowl a day during migration.

Wildlife 189

Wildlife Grizzly Bear Puerto Rico United States 189

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2016

I am not entirely sure whether most birders outside Germany know or realize that Germany still has a decent population of one of Europe’s most attractive and desired bird species: the Great Bustard Otis tarda. Follow the track through a gap in the pine tree plantation and immediately turn right.

Germany 101

Germany Abandon Abandoning Abandonment 101

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2011

The species is fairly widespread in the Western Pacific, ranging from New Zealand to Japan, and contrary to its name it isn’t actually a true snapper (family Lutjanidae), but is instead a member of the porgy and sea bream family (Sparidae). Protected snapper show no fear and even considerable curiosity when it comes to divers.

New Zealand 152

New Zealand Goats Fish Protection 152

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

As the story goes, way back in the late 19th Century and organization called the American Acclimitazation Society was working hard to introduce every one of the 600 species of birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays to North America. The AAS released some hundred European Starlings into Central Park in 1890 and 1891.

India 156

India Stray Dog United States Stray 156

10,000 Birds

JULY 15, 2011

BirdLife Cyprus noted that, “The three-day conference dealt with illegal bird killing across Europe, and emphasis was given to the problem of poisoning, which affects many bird species in many countries (including the Griffon Vulture in Cyprus). Kingfisher on a limestick (Credit: Hüseyin Yorganc?)

Cyprus 174

Cyprus illegal Game Birds 174

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2011

It’s one thing to add some seed, suet and fruit to the grocery list right before a snow storm hits…but if you feel stressed because you have to make your own personal mix of seed for your birds six times a day or you have personally failed and perhaps sentences some birds to certain starvation in your yard? Grackle Guy?

Bald Eagle 243

Bald Eagle Birds Deer Minnesota 243

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 11, 2012

Sharks cruise off the city’s beaches, and just yesterday a deadly species of snake was found in a suburban railway station. This is a roundabout way of introducing Australia’s most dangerous bird, because of course a country where an agonizing death lurk in every lake, river or law has a bird that can you kill you too.

Sharks 221

Sharks Birds Australia Boars 221

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 28, 2012

Because I have birded southern California in winter several times there weren’t any of the normally occurring birds that I could get within easy reach of my in-laws house in Orange County. I ruled this option out because I have had terrible luck with the species and because I wasn’t sure enough of the bird’s exact location.

San Marino 105

San Marino Los Angeles Birds Laws 105

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2012

The term “take” is defined as killing a listed species but also includes “harm,” which is defined in regulation as including “significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding, or sheltering 2.

San Diego 165

San Diego illegal California South America 165

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Without adequate funding, habitats are not restored, invasive species are left unchecked, poaching and other illegal activities occur and our nation’s wildlife suffers 1. Additional issues include a shortage of law enforcement officials, as well as invasive species problems on 2.5 million acres of Refuge lands.

Wildlife 199

Wildlife Hunters Ducks Hunting 199

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2016

Over 3,200 photographs have been used, most showing species in their habitats. There is also text, distribution maps, a dark red bar “warning” about similar looking rare species, and conservation symbols. So, how do you find the species account for Kestrel if falcons are not placed between woodpeckers and parakeet?

Ireland 143

Ireland Birds Groups Falcons 143

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2016

By Greek law enforcement officers, I had already been taken for a spy. A month ago I visited this site, right at the edge of Belgrade for the first time, only to discover that I cannot get into the overgrown area in my low-clearance city car. Birders are utterly suspicious characters. The other day, I came at 5.40

Abandon 143

Abandon Abandoning Abandonment Serbia 143

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2016

My visit to the park in southwestern Utah commenced with us (us being me and my family, and an extended number of in-laws, eleven people in total, four of us kids under ten) driving through Zion late in the evening on Saturday, 26 December, in order to get to our lodging just east of the park in Zion Pionderosa Ranch Resort.

Birds 101

Birds Mules Utah Deer 101

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2011

In the right season, with a little luck, we often find it, and sometimes it perches high and long enough that we can admire its scimitar of a bill, its stern face pattern, and even the patch of rusty red on the undertail that gives the species its English and its scientific names. Wicked, right? at Princeton University in 1990.

2011 140

2011 Tucson Arizona Deer 140

Animal Person

JULY 17, 2009

Many people have said to me that they believe if they started thinking about what they are responsible for, or what we do as a species to other species--and particularly if they have to see too much--they'd break down and don't think they'd ever recover. They choose instead to focus on "higher" or "cleaner" matters.

Vivisection 100

Vivisection Vegan Ethics Cruelty 100