10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2013

I grew up in one of the most beautiful cities in the world – Cape Town, South Africa. In fact, there is no other region in Africa that offers such a fantastic level of endemism in such an accessible location. But their endangered status is belied by the fact that they are one of the easiest rare birds to find in Africa.

Penguins 250

Penguins South Africa Leopards Sharks 250

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2012

This species prefers wetlands and its numbers have been decimated due to a combination of habitat destruction caused by human population growth and illegal removal of birds and eggs from the wild for the pet and zoo trade. An African Penguins strolls along Boulders Beach, Simonstown, South Africa.

Endangered Species 237

Endangered Species Species Morocco South Africa 237

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2013

Helena and professes to hold the title of “remotest inhabited place on earth” And that is Tristan da Cunha Island, situated 1,750 miles from Cape Town, South Africa and over 2,000 miles from the closest point in South America. There is another permanently inhabited island that is even more remote than St.

South Africa 252

South Africa Birds South America Feral Cats 252

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2012

And, I started daydreaming about encountering something a little different, maybe a Horned Frog, Ceratophrys cornuta, a large, squat green and brown frog of South America, with a wide mouth large enough to eat other frogs as well as reptiles. There’s the Goliath frog from South Africa—up to one foot in length and over 6 pounds in weight.

Reptiles 229

Reptiles Madagascar Family New York City 229

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 22, 2022

So, it sometimes comes to South Africa to relax and enjoy relative anonymity. Others are being killed for use in traditional medicine. However, it is kind of sophisticated in that the females lay very individualized eggs in order to be able to detect the added eggs of parasite cuckoo finches.

Zimbabwe 147

Zimbabwe Benin South Africa Birds 147

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2022

While the species is listed as Least Concern, there are some papers suggesting it may not be as common as assumed, at least in South Africa. Studies on improving ostrich egg hatchability. Also, I learned that in the US , ostrich eggs are priced at $40-$75. . “ The diet includes seeds, nuts, and nectar.

Ostriches 147

Ostriches Parrots Eggs Africa 147

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

From Hiro, we learn how Northern Pygmy Owls are “rule breakers,” not incubating eggs till all are hatched and then raising owlets that mature at the same rate even though the eggs were laid asynchronously (as most owl eggs are). They are also hunted.

Owls 246

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 246