10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2015

The invasive Burmese Python ( Python molurus ) is well established in the Florida Everglade. Another species of Python, the African Python ( Python sebae ) has established a small population in the 2,877-acre Bird Drive Area (BDA) in South Florida. The best chance to catch a Python is during a cold front.

Pythons 204

Pythons Florida Mammals Reptiles 204

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 28, 2015

By studying Zebra Finches and domestic chickens, the scientists discovered that multiple sperm appear necessary for a fertilized egg to progress to the embryo stage (a process called “polyspermy”.) This differs from humans and other mammals, in which the addition of extra sperm essentially destroys the egg.

Zebras 145

Zebras Pythons Mammals Chickens 145

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2023

And of course, on a rather rare occasion for this blog, an almost perfect link to the next bird (my favorite transition is still the Monty Python one: “And now for something completely different”).

China 263

China Birds Pythons Eagles 263

10,000 Birds

APRIL 4, 2022

Once the egg has been laid, the female is chased away and the males hatch it.” And now for something completely different (Monty Python): It seems birds are generally quite adept at matching their plumage color with the plastic objects around them. My possible birdwatching highlight this month was Short-eared Owl at Fengxian.

China 255

China Birds Pythons Breeding 255

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

Of course, it is hard to resist looking at a paper titled “Host personality predicts cuckoo egg rejection in Daurian redstarts” Basically, the personality of a female redstart (bold or shy) predicts the responses to parasitic eggs – bold hosts are more likely to reject parasitic eggs.

Birds 245

Birds China Eggs Owls 245