10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2012

Unlike North America, Germany has never had naturally occurring psittacines that went extinct, and the one we have is a true and complete invasive alien introduction. Heidelberg Zoo to the south-west of Neuenheimer Feld, all over the place but most often at the seals enclosure and the adjacent kiosk.

Germany 254

Germany Netherlands Zoos Geese 254

10,000 Birds

JULY 23, 2014

There are the endemics, which are odd in their own way, and then there introduced species, which are so varied in their type and origin that you get the feeling you’ve arrived at the aftermath of a small zoo that escaped. California Quail are familiar birds to West Coast birders of North America, and Kiwis too now.

New Zealand 163

New Zealand Possums Rabbits Ferrets 163

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2019

For some reason, even though there are Mandarin Ducks in zoos throughout New York City, this escapee has become an internationally known tourist attraction, even heading the New York Times list of “Five Times the Internet Was Actually Fun in 2018.” Harris’s Sparrow, Central Park, NYC. Baird’s Sparrow, North Dakota.

2018 179

2018 New Jersey Michigan North Dakota 179