10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2015

Here, in south-west Ethiopia’s awkwardly named “Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region”, bordering Kenya and Sudan, the great Omo River dominates this dry savanna valley, resulting in some of Africa’s most well developed and best preserved arid-zone riverine forests.

Ethiopia 254

Ethiopia Sudan Leopards Cattle 254

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2024

One of my most memorable outings was a night-time game drive in Kenya when we saw an aardvark and a zorilla, so we ticked off both the first mammal in the field guide’s index, and the last. Why the weasel should be the head of the family doesn’t really make sense. Why not the stoat family or the badger family?)

Fur 230

Fur Otters Bulgaria Estonia 230

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2011

This 12,000 square mile ecosystem stretches across north-western Tanzania into the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Elephants are nowhere more abundant and one can often find oneself in the midst of a peaceful, grazing family herd, a special experience indeed to be so close to such huge animals. And of course the big game is an added bonus.

Tanzania 246

Tanzania Africa Stud Leopards 246

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

Prime destinations for seeing African Elephant in the wild include Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda. Lions are most easily found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Buffalo 236

Buffalo Rhinoceros Leopards Elephants 236

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

That larger clade is in turn sister to a clade containing the four remaining totipalmate bird families, which do still seem to be related, and which needed a new order name once pelicans were removed. But meanwhile, let’s look at the four avian families that comprise the brand new order Suliformes.

2011 165

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea California 165

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2014

And I, like some dowager countess in a birding vest, am expected to know each one’s family at a glance and greet them by name. You may have heard of him; he lives in Kenya and holds the Big Day world record. They look like grayish flycatchers but they’ll show rufous in the wings when they fly.”.

Peru 255

Peru South America Birds Kenya 255

10,000 Birds

JULY 30, 2014

The first time I went was for my Masters Field Trip, studying tropical ecology in Kenya (otherwise known as the best month of my life). Ugandan Mangabeys were part of my family once. As has been the case every time I’ve been to Africa before, I won’t be there just for play. And you’ll meet amazing people too.

Uganda 168

Uganda Sharks New Zealand Africa 168

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2024

Called home to the Oregon Coast to operate the family motel, in her free time she leads Tufted Puffin walks and escapes to guide at birding festivals and explore the world as often as possible. Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa are heavily eBirded because Americans regularly visit. eBird is a huge help with that.

Senegal 237

Senegal South Dakota Gambia Birds 237

4 The Love Of Animals

APRIL 17, 2009

All donations go to the National AAZK for distribution to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, Africa, the Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia and the Bukit Barisan Seletan National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia. Ask your friends, family, and coworkers to pledge money to BFR. Date: May 1, 2009. Time: 5:00pm-9:00pm.

Rhinos 100

Rhinos Indonesia Utah Kenya 100

4 The Love Of Animals

MARCH 17, 2011

Chimpanzees and elephants grieve the loss of family and friends, and gorillas hold wakes for the dead. A few years ago while I was watching elephants in the Samburu National Reserve in Northern Kenya with elephant researcher Iain Douglas-Hamilton, I noticed a teenaged female, Babyl, who walked very slowly and had difficulty taking each step.

Emotional 100

Emotional Animal Whales Whaling 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2012

Photo taken by Adam Riley in Kenya. Image taken in Samburu, Kenya by Adam Riley. This group of 4 species (as well as all the remaining “weavers” that are covered below) are not even placed in the weaver family ( Ploceidae ) but in Passeridae – the Old World Sparrow family. Image taken in Kenya by Adam Riley.

Tanzania 253

Tanzania Buffalo Kenya Namibia 253

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2014

It’s relatively easy to classify birds into family groups based on physical characteristics. We view them as our enemies when they eat our crops and as an extension of our family when we see them at our feeders. Remarkably, there are 59 bird families that have very little cultural significance; these are listed in Appendix III.

Egypt 241

Egypt Birds Albania Eagles 241

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

Few places boast so many different bird species in such a small area — over 900 species (more than Europe, or all of the United States and Canada combined), including 75 different families, like 51 species of hummingbirds, 48 warblers, and 45 tanagers.

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica San Jose Nepal Europe 264

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. This image was taken in Nairobi National Park, Kenya.

Ethiopia 251

Ethiopia Tanzania Uganda Africa 251

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2023

Several, like the mocker and the hummer, were members of families I hadn’t encountered before, either. It was during this period that I took part in a bird race in Kenya, where I saw 290 species in one day, 442 in two. I can still recall the thrill of that first morning outside San Francisco, surrounded by new birds. Fantastic!

Sri Lanka 246

Sri Lanka Kenya San Francisco Greece 246

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Aisles of exhibitors tempted visitors with birding trips to such far-flung locations as Colombia, Kenya, and Sri Lanka, and grown men and women got all kid-in-a-candy-store at the optics booths. And Sunday was “family day,” with fun activities for kids (make a Crisco-and-pinecone bird feeder! feel different types of feathers!),

Sri Lanka 100

Sri Lanka Philadelphia Kenya Colombia 100