10,000 Birds

MAY 27, 2015

It all comes back to a split in one of the great bird families, the Turdidae, or thrushes. Once upon a time, when I started birding, this great family included a wide range of species collectively known as the robins and chats. The family reunited in safety. Collared Palm-thrush with no collar visible. They remain little know.

Mozambique 196

Mozambique Zambia Zimbabwe Namibia 196

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2012

The famous Verreaux family who made several expeditions into the province through the 1820’s and 1830’s procuring specimens for rich collectors. After one 3 year stint, they left with 131,405 specimens including birds, mammals, reptiles, plants and even human remains (which were only recently repatriated for burial in Africa!)

Mozambique 228

Mozambique South Africa Africa Collecting 228

10,000 Birds

JULY 15, 2015

It was founded as a safe place for refugees from the Mozambique Civil War , which ran from 1977 to 1992. But it wasn’t founded to serve as a refuge for human refugees, but animal ones, specifically elephants. It was pretty awesome to see so many tuskers, as well as families of elephants safe in their special park.

South Africa 163

South Africa Elephants Africa Lions 163

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2012

Originally they were all placed in the family Capitonidae , but over time taxonomists have determined that actual relationships between these barbets are far more complex. Gray-throated Barbet is one of the plainer members of the African Barbet family. Note the strange nasal tufts at the base of the bill.

Ethiopia 252

Ethiopia Tanzania Uganda Africa 252