10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2019

Its holiness may not be in question, but from the label drawing, I’m not quite sure which species of the family Columbidae the Sainte-Colombe pigeon belongs to. The flamboyant Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove may be native to Australia and the Indonesian archipelago, but it would make a fitting mascot for this week’s summery French wine. .

2017 115

2017 France Lifestyle Feral 115

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 18, 2012

The study was conducted on a population of Striated Munias, Lonchura striata, but it would seem that they are not the only species to take advantage of the body-building power of algae. White-backed / Striated Munia Lonchura striata Munias or mannikins (but not manakins), are small, seed-eating finches from Africa, Asia and Australia.

Asia 194

Asia Feral Breeding Africa 194

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2011

Australia is a dry continent and as such all bird-life needs to take advantage of any fresh water that is available. This may be a simple dripping tap, but one of the biggest attractions in Australia is the Poo Ponds. Here are some views from the air-thanks to Google Earth-so you can see how easy it is to find a Poo Pond in Australia!

Feral Animals 175

Feral Animals Australia Feral Ducks 175

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

As most people know cats, both feral and domestic, have a pretty big impact on wild birds and other wildlife, and the effect of mammals is particularly profound in New Zealand. Even wiping out one species, like possums, or stoats, or hedgehogs is probably beyond current methods.

New Zealand 122

New Zealand Possums SPCA Hedgehogs 122

10,000 Birds

MARCH 26, 2014

If the whole thing passed you by then Mother Jones did a good piece on why zoos sometimes have to kill individuals for the good of the species. The drug that turned the White-rumped Vulture from the “most abundant large bird of prey in the world” in 1985 to a species that is critically endangered.

Lions 150

Lions Giraffes Zoos Killing 150

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 23, 2015

Thankfully with the longevity of this species it appears the population is fairly stable, but this may not always be the case if predation continues at the rate that it is. The main problem appears to be feral cats, but there is also predation from birds of prey and the parent Pied Oystercatchers do their utmost to protect their young.

Feral Cats 159

Feral Cats Eggs Feral Cats 159

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2021

It is also strange, perhaps, that the subject of this short excellent video series, is not from Australia but from the true ‘land of birds’ across the ditch from Australia – New Zealand or Aotearoa. It is a story of recent and future conservation efforts within New Zealand to conserve their endemic bird species.

New Zealand 262

New Zealand Feral Animals Feral Parrots 262

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

Every March, hope springs anew that I’ll cross paths with one of these feral fluffballs, but as April ends, so do another year’s delirious dreams. Driving along ice-choked inlets off Lake Ontario, admiring Mute Swans and scaup species, my commitment to nail this nemesis never wavered. Great bird–congratulations!

2011 169

2011 Deer Owls New York 169

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Australia is a vast country with a very small human population, which mostly clings to the edge of the continent. The lack of people does not mean we have any less extinct or threatened bird species than other countries. Handbook to The Birds of Australia, 1865. Preface,p.xxiv.

Species 176

Species Australia Birds Parrots 176

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2020

I always approach the bridge slowly to see what bird species are below and around the area. There is a family of feral foxes that I often encounter near Bennison Creek. Foxes were introduced to Australia in 1855 for hunting and have established themselves far and wide. Once I find a few active species I watch and wait.

Fox 155

Fox Feral Ducks Horses 155

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 8, 2017

Black-fronted Dotterels , Magpie-larks and Willie Wagtails ran along the muddy edges where there was evidence of feral pigs. Camooweal may be a small outback town, but it has numerous bird species to enchant you before you head either 190 kilometres/118 miles east towards Mt Isa or 470 kilometres/292 miles west to Tennant Creek.

Ducks 100

Ducks Pigs Zebras Feral 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2012

They are one of the most attractive of Australia’s parrots, and one of the most common, benefiting from the planting of attractive flowering shrubs. Pairs of these a are common sight on open grassy areas in Australia. Rounding off the waterbirds were Australian Pelicans, Eurasian Coots , the iconic Black Swans and feral geese.

New Zealand 172

New Zealand Ducks Australia Japan 172

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2013

There was evidence of the mussels that would be a source of food for many species in the receding water line. There was also evidence of the damage that feral pigs can do all along the trail and along the water’s edge and we soon came across a small group of them. Feral pigs. Australian Pelicans soaring in the thermals.

Feral 148

Feral Pelicans Pigs Ducks 148

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2012

In the event I’m in a life or death struggle with an Oregon Junco or a particularly feral Dunnock I’d rather my birding companion was at least nominally on my side. Australian Magpies are found across Australia, southern New Guinea and have been introduced to New Zealand (along with just about everything else). Dum dum DUM!

New Zealand 154

New Zealand Kangaroos Australia Birds 154

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

7 beats contributed their sightings from 7 countries (Hong Kong, UK, China, USA, Serbia, Australia and, of course, Costa Rica). 149 checklists were submitted, accounting for 465 species. You may notice a few non-commital “sp” entries and/or a few domestic/feral/hybrid forms.

2020 153

2020 Niger Sparrows Woodpeckers 153

10,000 Birds

JULY 31, 2011

Thankfully they do live for many years and the population is not in decline at present, despite the feral cats getting their eggs. They are a species of opisthobranch called Haminoea ovalis and they have a small thin shell beneath the mantle. We have never seen two survive and the success of even one is remote.

Feral Cats 167

Feral Cats Eggs Feral Cats 167

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2012

Whenever possible we have used our Christmas Day to see how many bird species we can get in our local area and this year was no different. We usually try and plan a route prior to the day with particular bird species in mind and also taking into account the tidal range for the day. We rarely see them so close to town.

Feral Cats 118

Feral Cats Zebras Feral Ducks 118

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2020

Incidentally, Uganda ( 510 ) leap-frogged Australia ( 475 ) to become the list’s fourth most prolific country behind Costa Rica ( 763 ), USA ( 654 ) and Brazil ( 555 ). They contributed 150 lists accounting for 1032 species and more than 36,000 individual birds. The life list was pumped a further 27 sp up to 3953.

2019 174

2019 Chile Texas Sanctuary 174

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 10, 2011

Also known as the Spur-winged Plover this is another common self-introduction from Australia that has done very well with the clearance of forests. Feral Turkey are also quite common. As well as this species you might see Black Swans , Canada Geese and of course Mallards and Mallard/Grey Duck hybrids everywhere as well.

New Zealand 177

New Zealand Birds Thailand Falcons 177