10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2012

There was a Peregrine Falcon hanging around the back arms of the lake all season, scaring up the birds right when you thought you had a Western Sandpiper nailed down. That is, unless the good citizens of Raleigh start using a lot of water really soon. With large numbers of shorebirds present, the falcons came. Isn’t it green?

Raleigh 168

Raleigh North Carolina Falcons 2012 168

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 18, 2017

Yesterday, the world lost its most powerful voice for animal rights, Tom Regan. No one has done more to explain what "animal rights" means and why animals have rights than Tom Regan. As Regan expressed so simply and straightforwardly, what animal rights advocates want is for "people to stop doing terrible things to animals."

2017 75

2017 Raleigh Animal Advocacy Animal Rights 75

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 6, 2015

Way back last year, a whole two weeks ago, a sudden influx of Ross’s Geese in central North Carolina led to an unofficial competition between myself and some birders in the Raleigh-Durham Area. Well, that’s yet to be determined, but bragging rights would appear to be a significant motivator.

Game 183

Game Raleigh North Carolina Gorillas 183

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2014

This means that when you find something unusual you have an obligation to the rest of the community to get it right in case someone else is going to be spending their time and money to try to see it. I found this young Glaucous Gull at a Raleigh landfill among several thousand more common birds.

Raleigh 211

Raleigh 2008 Rights Raised 211

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

Instead of heading out to my local patch, which abuts a section of gameland sure to disperse the migrants’ impact, I went to Lake Crabtree County Park which lies amidst the sprawl of north Raleigh, just under the airport. But not at first, the fog was still heavy and the bird sound was muted.

Raleigh 182

Raleigh Tennessee Canada Owls 182