10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2024

Ruili is a Chinese city right on the border to Myanmar, and a major border crossing. When I last visited the town almost 10 years ago, it had a Wild West feel, and Wikipedia claims that it is “an important location for trade with Myanmar, in both legal and illegal goods and services” but it seemed pretty tame to me this time.

Myanmar 222

Myanmar Sri Lanka Nepal Niger 222

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 18, 2015

However, that would be unfair since Asian scientists had to cope with tropical heat, leeches, kraits, and thick jungle while North American researchers just had to get over more or less severe cases of warbler neck, so I guess I’ll leave it at that and quickly return to the Pygmy Wren-babbler. Then, however, it becomes interesting.

Vietnam 168

Vietnam Timor Myanmar Asia 168

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2024

Hongbenghe is directly at the border to Myanmar – before COVID-19, it was easy enough to walk across the border on foot, but now a monstrous long steel and barbed-wire fence separates the two countries. Very appealing to tourists nostalgic for that iron curtain feeling.

Burma 239

Burma India Indonesia Thailand 239

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2022

Hongbenghe is a very small village in Yunnan, right next to the border with Myanmar. Even better, there is a wooden, unguarded, slowly decaying bridge over to Myanmar – so while I do not have the passport stamp to prove it, I can honestly say that I have been to that country as well.

Myanmar 147

Myanmar Birds China Chicago 147

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2024

One proposed explanation by the researchers for this phenomenon is that similar-looking birds reduce their risk of predation, as predators find it more difficult to focus on and isolate a single target. Interested in doing research on the Orange-bellied Leafbird ? melliana but might represent an undescribed subspecies.

Burma 234

Burma Vietnam Birds Laos 234