10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2016

During some seasons, millions of male pheasants are killed. In Hawaii, they are found as high as 11,000 feet ! While hunting plays some role, habitat loss as farms switch to monocultures is the greater culprit. These males are striking.

South Dakota 100

South Dakota Hawaii United States North America 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2022

The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch is a beautiful bird that in some of its locations is protected by superstition ( Wikipedia ): “The Lotha Naga people will hunt many birds for food but the velvet-fronted nuthatch is generally proscribed due to the belief that killing them would bring misfortune to the hunter.

Myanmar 147

Myanmar Birds China Chicago 147

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2014

And, then there are the extinct birds of Hawaii, four of which are represented here— Kaua‘i ‘O‘o, `O`u, Po?ouli, ouli, and Mamo (also known as Hawaii Mamo). Their names echo musically in my brain (and challenge my typing skills) as I look at photos fuzzy and sharp, and read tales of habitat encroachment, avian disease, and hunting.

Animal 266

Animal Mammals Hawaii Dolphins 266

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 19, 2011

This particular example of flexibility comes from Tern Island, in French Frigate Shoals to the north of Hawaii. These two species make a good living eating seal carcasses and even hunting the chicks of other seabirds, and are correspondingly among the strongest legged of any of the petrels. And the hole looks fairly fresh.

Albatross 178

Albatross Hawaii Seals Parrots 178