10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

Recent studies in Sri Lanka have revealed that, upon sighting a predator, a drongo will imitate the alarm calls of at least 4 other bird species (babblers, laughing thrushes, bulbuls, and others), as well as the call given by the specific predator, i.e. a giant squirrel or eagle.

Birds 211

Birds Sri Lanka Taiwan Cats 211

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2011

I took home a few of the pellets and found that the owls were feasting on grey squirrels and cottontail rabbits. There was also a mammal jawbone in the pellet too. I stuffed it in my pocket and decided to take it to Richard Oehlenschlager at the Science Museum of Minnesota. What was throwing me off were the feathers.

Bats 203

Bats Dissection Owls Minnesota 203

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2024

In the section on other animals which sometimes ends my posts, the mammal comparing favorably with Donald Trump today is some kind of squirrel. If this comparison bothers you, here’s something to comfort you (but not me): Donald Trump will be the next US president, the squirrel will not. A giant squirrel, actually.

Squirrels 137

Squirrels Birds China Bears 137