10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2015

This Cape Francolin was raising a family less than a hundred metres from the main gate. The gardens also have some mammals, although for the most part you’ll need to show up very early if you want to have any hope of seeing Cape Fox , Caracal and Cape Grysbok.

Africa 245

Africa South Africa Mongoose Birds 245

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2011

A friend of mine saw a family of eight Ermine while hiking this past summer. If they each raised nine owlets, the owlets alone would have eaten over 25,000 lemmings from that valley. And when lemmings have a good year, predators such as Arctic Fox , Ermine and Snowy Owls adjust their breeding to take advantage of the bounty.

Owls 264

Owls Fox Oklahoma Soreing 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2017

Can a family-focused trip—even to one of the world’s most biodiverse countries—deliver enough opportunities for avian observation to satisfy this serious world birder? With enough planning, you can enjoy a family-friendly, bird-rich vacation in the Panama Canal zone. If you have kids, you’re probably as curious as I was.

Panama 100

Panama 2017 Monkeys Family 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

We’ve only recently begun to completely piece it together, using fossils and scientific analysis, but what is shows is that, once upon a time, the rail family was one of the most, if not the most, species rich family of birds in the world. But they are, as a family, prone to remarkable wandering.

Hawaii 255

Hawaii Guam Mammals Fiji 255

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 25, 2011

Between staying warm/cool, finding food, avoiding predators, migrating thousands of miles every year, finding mates, raising chicks and doing all this at the mercy of the elements, it makes sense that they have more brainpower than just simple instinct to run on. Picture being a Blackpoll Warbler being born in the boreal forests of Alaska.

Emotional 252

Emotional Science Mammals Alaska 252

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2015

The closer one raises her head, than lies back. Telia watches him in half-amusement, then raises and gives a low, bull-like roar, provoking the lapwings to an excited screech, makes a few steps and lies down. Telia yawns, raises and sprays her urine on a dead tree stump, marking her territory. The other two are motionless.

Tigers 259

Tigers India Killing 2006 259

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 245

Mozambique South Africa Africa Collecting 245

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2022

Into the souvenir shop for some local coffee, chocolate and cocoa, then a coffee mug with an image of a Three-toed Sloth and the Field Guide to the Mammals of Costa Rica, and off we go. There was a Gartered Trogon right above me, and one cooperative Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth on a cecropia tree, raising its head to smile at us.

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica Nicaragua 2019 Farming 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2011

Duck Stamp) for wildlife observers (81 votes, 12 comments) Create a photography permit allowing regulated off-trail access to refuges (80 votes, 15 comments) Christmas Bird Count for Kids – A half day free family event with partners @ all USFG visitor centers (46 votes, 5 comments) Establish partnership(s) with national birding conservation orgs.

2011 140

2011 Deer Wildlife Birds 140

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2011

Itcher birds, migratory members of the tern family. Did birds repeatedly evolve migration because they ‘need’ to migrate more than, say, mammals? Another question this raises has to do with migration itself. The idea was to see if those without magnets taped to their heads got less lost then those with the magnets.

Compassion 249

Compassion Humane Research Egypt 249

10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2023

While having somebody else raise your chicks like an attractive strategy to me, it is not without dangers. Not only does this species directly parasitize other species but also metaphorically, by imitating the sparrowhawks in its appearance and thus deterring potential predators.

Birds 130

Birds Cattle Raised Mammals 130

4 The Love Of Animals

MARCH 17, 2011

It’s not surprising that animals—especially, but not only, mammals—share many emotions with us because we also share brain structures—located in the limbic system—that are the seat of our emotions. Chimpanzees and elephants grieve the loss of family and friends, and gorillas hold wakes for the dead. Empathy Among Elephants.

Emotional 100

Emotional Animal Whaling Whales 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

This outstanding member of the wattlebird family is unique among songbirds in having different shaped beaks for each of the sexes. We’ll also keep our eyes open for several members of the New Zealand wren family. There aren’t many mammal ticks on this trip, but the ones you get are pretty remarkable. Laughing Owl.

New Zealand 251

New Zealand Ducks Mountain Goats Australia 251

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 28, 2015

This of course raises questions of what happens when all of the inland nesting grounds of all the loons becomes covered with glacial ice during ice ages, then later, the ice melts and the lakes return. Duncan chose a mammal! Do the same pairs return, if possible, to the same nests after their long winter migration?

2015 190

2015 Costa Rica Birds Sparrows 190

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2015

These strange birds are two species in their own family; White-necked or Yellow-headed, endemic to the Upper Guinea forests and Grey-necked or Red-headed, restricted to Lower Guinea forests. The rare Rufous Fishing Owl was one of the many species seen by the group here.

Ghana 251

Ghana Hunters Gambia Guinea 251