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Solomon Islands Laundering Birds?

10,000 Birds

Even red list species are being exported under the claim that they are captive bred despite the lack of breeding facilities in the archipelago. Amazingly, CITES is actually getting on the case after the practice has been going on for only ten years… a.

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Eye Level with a Whiskered Treeswift

10,000 Birds

There are four species in the family, ranging from India to the Solomon Islands. Of course this is nonsense, and they are clearly close to swifts, but with a hind toe that lets them perch like a swallow, they sit outside the family as well, in their own, rarely thought about, family.

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The Cocha Antshrike

10,000 Birds

In short, I truly believe that there still are, maybe not plenty but a good number of species that to this day go unnoticed to the scientific eye, but are surely known to the indigenous peoples (the best example is the newly discovered giant rat from the Solomon Islands). The Cocha Antshrike was one of these species not long ago.

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Birding Kadavu and Nadi in Fiji

10,000 Birds

I quickly got a good view of an Orange-breasted Honeyeater , a local endemic, and the Vanikoro Flycatcher , a geographically disjunct oddity that occurs only in Fiji and the Solomon islands. The Kadavu race is now placed in the White-throated Whistler , along with birds from Gau and Lau in Fiji and some birds in the Solomon Islands.

Fiji 223
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Trolling for Cuckoos in Costa Rica

10,000 Birds

On one memorable occasion, I recall a birder breaking his cover while I was watching the movie, “The Thin Red Line” Given that the director of that war film is into nature and might also be a birder, I guess it was expected that a few fantastic looking birds from the Solomon Islands would appear on the screen now and then.

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The Jewel Hunter: A Book Review About One Birder’s Quest for Pittas and Beer

10,000 Birds

Black-faced Pitta is found only on one of the Solomon Islands (northwest of Australia). It isn’t till his travels get under way that we learn, chapter by chapter, about the specific difficulties of locating and viewing pittas. The endangered Gurney’s Pitta is losing habitat due to deforestation.

Hunters 248
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Someone Said “More Parrots”?

10,000 Birds

Few people consider the 11th hour the least bit appealing. However, with just over two hours left to go until this post is supposed to be published, here I am reading 10,000Birds and having a good chuckle here and there – while learning a thing or two.

Parrots 246