10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2014

It was not a kitty cat, even though all of its relatives in the Americas were. But they don’t live in North America. I once knew a guy who kept and raised cats. I find it astonishing that people argue of whether feral cats are bad for birds in North America. Unless we put them there. Have you ever seen the Dryfus Lion?

Feral Cats 257

Feral Cats North America Feral Cats 257

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2020

But when raised, they seem to have a sort of weird cape. In other words, they never raise their own young. Instead, they lay their eggs in other species’ nests, and let those nest-making birds (often significantly smaller than the cowbirds) raise their young. But in most light, they appear to have a shiny black color.

Blackbirds 170

Blackbirds Mexico Birds Cattle 170

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

Clapper Rails are common but rarely seen birds across the islands and on my own island are common in a range of habitats that may surprise readers used to seeing them in wetlands in North America. There are any number of concerns one could raise. How ecologically similar are the two species?

Puerto Rico 223

Puerto Rico Guam Virgin Islands Feral 223

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 6, 2009

Dogs were bred to be companion animals; pigs and cows are raised as food. Rather than eating dogs, we all ought to eat exclusively small-farmed, free-range meat. The fury this meal caused my friends and family back in America motivated me to examine whether eating any animal was justified. Howland Northport, N.Y.

Los Angeles 40

Los Angeles San Francisco Factory Farming Factory Farm 40