10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

Jennifer Ackerman points out in the introduction to What the Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds , that we don’t know much, but that very soon we may know a lot more. What the Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds is a joyous, fascinating read.

Owls 224

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 224

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2018

According to a Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study, human-induced climate change has doubled the area affected by forest fires in the western U.S. Forest Service research biologist Vicki Saab studies, birds evolved alongside fire and flee in the face of conflagrations. More resources on this topic: Wildfire!

Wildlife 103

Wildlife Sacramento Shelters Science 103

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2021

Pough “with illustrations in color of every species” by Don Eckelberry, Doubleday, 1946. The National Audubon Society Birds of North America covers all species seen in mainland United States, Canada and Baja California. The press material says it covers over 800 species, so you know I had to do a count.

North America 279

North America America Birds California Condor 279

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2018

It’s not often that we have the opportunity to glimpse the home life of albatrosses, nor of any seabird species. This is essentially a survey of ornithological marine research told in the voice of one of its most passionate and experienced participants. What about incubation shifts?

Albatross 114

Albatross Penguins Research Breeding 114

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2016

All species are from the ABA area, and all groups must meet at least one of these criteria: (1) the group “represented a good opportunity to build core birding skills,” (2) the authors thought it was a group that needed “a refreshed treatment,” (3) the authors were intrigued by the group and wanted to present it using their unique format.

Birds 190

Birds Groups 2015 North America 190

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2020

That’s pretty amazing–Bolivia has more bird species than India! The source of this ranking, BirdLife International, lists Bolivia as currently having 1,439 bird species, including 18 breeding endemics. The guide covers 1,433 species, the number of birds documented at the end of 2014, the cutoff point for the book.

Bolivia 181

Bolivia Birds Brazil Switzerland 181

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

But getting a grip on gulls can be rewarding, and even within a large group of seemingly drab-colored, dump-loving trash eaters, there are spectacular species, like the dramatic Sabine’s Gull, the nearly mythical Ivory Gull, and easily one of the most sought-after species in North America, the mysterious Ross’s gull. (p.

Birds 263

Birds North Carolina North America Owls 263

10,000 Birds

MAY 23, 2023

Birders often venture into various habitats, such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, or coastal areas, to encounter different bird species. The primary objective of birding is to identify bird species based on their physical characteristics, behavior, and vocalizations.

United States 147

United States North America Birds America 147

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2023

Even the Latin species name soror (“sister”) indicates the similarity to another pitta species (blue-naped). The eBird description of the Small Niltava starts with the surprisingly dull statement that “size distinguishes this species from other niltavas” Who would have thought.

China 242

China Birds Pythons Eagles 242

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2014

Steve Kelling from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology gave the keynote talk, “The Birder Effect: Birding, Science, and Conservation.” The talk described eBird’s origins in 2002 and traced its history as a project aimed at using “citizen science” to help researchers and conservationists learn more about birds.

Science 202

Science 2002 Chicago Adoptable 202

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2015

So these complex ecological interactions and systems must emerge as a result of individual behaviors, which also means to some extent, at levels within (below) the species we see interacting. New research on bluebirds helps address this question. One of the species that soon becomes abundant in fire disturbed habitats is the bluebird.

Species 217

Species Eggs Research Science 217

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Like any birder visiting a new place, I had a target species list I was hoping to seek out during the one day I had available between business commitments. Are they adaptable and remarkably enduring and resourceful? Butchart is head of science at BirdLife International and chairs the IUCN Red List Technical Working Group.

Species 178

Species Science Los Angeles Birds 178

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2023

I tried to get a better idea of what exactly the definition of cuckoo-dove is but am still not very clear about it – Wikipedia only offers the rather formal definition “any of several species of bird in the genera Macropygia , Reinwardtoena, and Turacoena of the pigeon family.” But I may well be wrong.

Birds 147

Birds Geese Fish Industry 147

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2018

This is also where Johnson starts talking about the cost of the theft to the Museum and to science. In some cases, he took all adult males of the species or subspecies held by the museum. The skins were invaluable tools for ornithological, ecological, environmental research. Mostly adult males. The Flame Bowerbird, for example.

Collecting 105

Collecting Iraq Ostriches Science 105

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2018

Several years ago, I read about the enormous colonies of breeding birds in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and I did some research to satisfy my curiosity. ( Google Scholar is an excellent resource and free full-text PDFs can be located for many papers, particularly when research is taxpayer-funded. It is all business.

Transported 113

Transported 2011 Research 2012 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

For my new book, due out in 2012 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, I’ve been researching sandhill crane hunting. Hunting sandhill cranes in Kentucky is a bad idea from a public relations standpoint, considering the growing cadre of birders and nature enthusiasts for whom cranes are a touchstone species.

2011 254

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 254

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2012

One North American species I am very familiar with is the Cassin’s Auklet , which ranges from the end of the Aleutian Islands to California. Unless you spend much time on their breeding islands it is probably not one of the better known species of alcid, it is small and nondescript even as auks go.

Eggs 166

Eggs Puffins Breeding Raised 166

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2011

Even if you don’t live in the summer range of a particular species, you may have opportunities to observe it while it passes through, especailly if you live in an active flyway, like I happen to. Way back when I started what turned out to be my thesis research (on humans), it became important for me to learn about bird migration.

Research 201

Research Humane Compassion New York 201

10,000 Birds

JUNE 26, 2018

Basically, this species is so dimwitted, it doesn’t know how to survive. Because, Pink Pigeons are not capable of doing the tasks required to create and bring up children of the species. Don’t these birds care about propagating their species? What happened to Thelma and Louise? I know, that’s harsh.

Mauritius 102

Mauritius Stud Zoos Eggs 102

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2023

Not a cover species The Black Kite is not actually black, but of course, misleading bird names are not exactly rare. It is mostly a question of economics – raising just one is troublesome enough given the resources required to feed and educate the chick. No surprise then that the species is listed as Vulnerable.

Birds 130

Birds Iraq China Ireland 130

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

If the birds were Germans, Siberian Rubythroats wintering in Xishuangbanna (where I saw them a few years ago) would certainly be described as “Warmduscher” by their fellow species members seen in Shanghai this month. And particularly compared to this juvenile Greater Flamingo. of the total, a sobering thought). ”), etc.

Birds 170

Birds China Humane Battery 170

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2011

But seriously, Science has a more interesting set of answers, and some recently published research on European Robins helps to examine this question in some detail. Here’s a short list of them: 1) Species recognition. Animals can assess species and sex with much more subtle cues. Why is the Robin’s breast red?

Research 216

Research Science Birds Deer 216

10,000 Birds

JUNE 5, 2018

So many species that change eye color or leg color as they age. This encyclopedic identification guide covered 43 species in 608 pages, and was illustrated with both Hans Larsson’s exceptional artwork and color photographs by multiple photographers. Describing gull plumage is a combination of science, graphic art, and visual metaphor.

2004 161

2004 North America America Europe 161

10,000 Birds

MAY 6, 2024

It is about as yellow-rumped as the Narcissus Flycatcher – the Chinese name which translates as “white-browed flycatcher” is a bit better at highlighting the difference between the two species. Other species in the same esthetic vein (smallish, cute, colorful) included the Siberian Rubythroat.

Birds 193

Birds Japan Species Singapore 193