10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2014

Our group watching the first Snow Leopard from a knoll above our camp in Hemis National Park. At this very spot, on our first afternoon in the park, and within half an hour of officially beginning our Snow Leopard search, our expert local spotter had exclaimed “ Shan !!” – the Ladakhi name for Snow Leopard.

Snow Leopard 279

Snow Leopard Leopards Hunting Sheep 279

10,000 Birds

APRIL 20, 2016

As Director of SABUKO (the Society for Nature Conservation) , Rukhaia has led his colleagues in making a substantial impact, driving the number of birds killed in two villages down by 80% since 2010. In the end, no matter who goes home with the award (and gets to shake Sir David Attenborough’s hand), wildlife wins big.

Papua New Guinea 100

Papua New Guinea Snow Leopard Pakistan illegal 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

My fiance and I drove nearly two hours to the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in rural Indiana to watch them come in for the evening. I was fortunate to rack up a number of lifers in 2013, both at home and abroad ( Varied Thrush in Washington, Brewer’s Blackbirds in California, Burrowing Owl in the Nevada desert).

2013 169

2013 Costa Rica Birds India 169