10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2012

The Rose-ringed Parakeet’s European (=feral) range is surprisingly coherent for an introduced bird that is dependent on large metropolitan areas, and the species occurs in very decent numbers from UK’s London throughout the Netherland’s large cities all the way up along the Rhine to Germany’s Heidelberg.

Germany 255

Germany Netherlands Zoos Costa Rica 255

Critter News

JULY 18, 2011

An article in today's Seattle Times about Woodland Park Zoo's attempts over the last 20 years to breed elephants. The zoo claims it's to preserve the species. Very controversial with organizations such as In Defense of Animals, PETA and the Northwest Animal Rights Network. They say it's cruel.

Zoos 100

Zoos Elephants Breeding Seattle 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2022

.): Hot Bird Summer (“Every spring, for as long as records have been kept, a crowd of hundreds of black-crowned night herons descend on the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, mating, eating and generally causing a ruckus. Many of the keepers at the zoo enjoy them, but they can be a tough bird to love.”). Sidedoor ( Smithsonian , 2020, 25 min.):

Zoos 264

Zoos 2020 Massachusetts 2015 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2013

It can be hard for the average joe to understand why preserving exotic species in far-flung places is so important. The trust uses education, fieldwork, and a zoo in the Channel Islands to further its goal of saving threatened species from distinction. Enter the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust , and The Lonely Dodo.

Zoos 241

Zoos Campaign Branding Wildlife 241

10,000 Birds

JUNE 11, 2019

Of course, the California Condor is listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and it has been famously subject to some of the most ambitious conservation efforts (including litigation ) ever undertaken for a bird. One management tool used by FWS is reintroduction of an endangered species into its former range.

California Condor 250

California Condor California Endangered Species Oregon 250

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2014

The birds were too far away to identify, and I know more than one species does this, but if I had to guess they were starlings. One group is trying to make a better list of which species of birds to pretend to be doing something about vis-a-vis imminent extinction using a unique approach: Identifying the most genetically unique species.

Bald Eagle 239

Bald Eagle Zoos Philippines Birds 239

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2021

I was asked by a new birder about the site’s potential and I remarked we should expect between 40 to 50 species for our circa two kilometre stroll. A crop of Eucalypt trees had been planted and clearly coppiced, apparently to feed recovering koalas from Steve Irwin’s [he of Crocodile Hunter fame] family’s zoo and wildlife hospital.

Koalas 264

Koalas Zoos Birds Hunters 264

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Thirteen Spoon-billed Sandpipers have arrived in England after spending sixty days in quarantine at Moscow Zoo. The birds were captured on their breeding grounds in Siberia and the hope is that they can be used to start a captive breeding program in an attempt to bring the species back from the brink. Here’s hoping it goes well!

Zoos 178

Zoos Breeding Species Birds 178

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Superficially similar to Fork-tailed Flycatcher, especially if you don’t know that this species exists! Most of these birds are escaped/freed pets who have established breeding populations, and many of these populations are growing; others could be falconer’s birds, or part of a zoo or private collection.

San Francisco 222

San Francisco San Diego Connecticut South America 222

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

The species that manage to colonize these islands evolve in competition with relatively few other species, developing survival strategies based on interdependence, co-evolution, and mutualism rather than adapting to deal with a broad range of predators and competitors. A species, wiped off the earth, never to exist again.

Cuba 259

Cuba Parrots Columbus DC 259

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

Back in 2009, Tai Haku sent us a fascinating post exploring a question that ecologists worldwide grapple with: can the translocation of rare species into niches left empty by extinction be successful or justified? Photo copyright The Smithsonian’s National Zoo, taken from the Guam Rail page. . It is extinct.

Puerto Rico 244

Puerto Rico Guam Virgin Islands Feral 244

10,000 Birds

MAY 30, 2011

Our northern winters and highly developed landscape make New York City inhospitable to most species of lizard and it is no surprise that the two species that do occur in the Big Apple have their strongholds in the outer boroughs.* The range of the species extends as far south as Florida and as far west as Mexico and Texas.

New York City 252

New York City New York Reptiles New Jersey 252

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2024

Given that according to the HBW, the species prefers dense primary and secondary montane forests, the note that the bird also forages among kitchen waste (in the same HBW entry) seems somewhat incongruous. Fish & Wildlife Service has a web page for this species – but it contains absolutely no information.

Burma 246

Burma India Thailand Indonesia 246

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2020

Conservation status is Least Concern: “This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion” Or to put it more personally, I saw it in Shanghai yesterday. Still hard for me to believe that these guys live outside of zoos. Painted Stork.

India 241

India Birds Zoos 2019 241

10,000 Birds

MARCH 26, 2012

What is truly remarkable is that our quarry was a newly discovered species of leopard frog. You’re probably incredulous that a new species of frog has been discovered in New York City. It is an extremely rare occasion when any new vertebrate species is discovered in a major population center.

New York City 208

New York City New York Leopards Investigation 208

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 28, 2021

Not in a zoo but in the wild, despite the fence in the background. According to the HBW, based on strong morphological, ecological, and genetic differences, this is likely to be a distinct species altogether. I always feel a bit sad for bird species that probably cannot even pronounce their own names. No nice blue flowers.

Sheep 264

Sheep Mountain Goats Gazelles Mammals 264

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2023

I am only including them in this post to give you my real-life Kabul experience … Four species are the most easily seen in the few urban parks (into which women are not actually allowed to enter – I am not sure about female birds). Drinking water is also provided, though it looks a bit dubious in quality.

Afghanistan 242

Afghanistan Birds Feral Zoos 242

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2011

As part of the Wildlife Conservation Society Birds of Brazil giveaway we asked readers of 10,000 Birds to name the bird in Brazil that they would like to see more than any other species. What follows are the responses that readers offered, a veritable aviary of sought after species. It is a really neat bird that I have not seen before.

Brazil 247

Brazil 2011 Birds Penguins 247

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2021

A typical description of the family is that of “a tropical African and Asian songbird that typically has a melodious voice and drab plumage”, another is “small, dull-colored passerine birds of Asia and Africa”, yet another states that they are “often rather plain” Individual species get even harsher reviews.

South Africa 278

South Africa Malaysia Africa China 278

10,000 Birds

MARCH 28, 2024

So both birds are assumed by many to be escapees from a zoo or a private collection somewhere. After birding and passing through a large number of habitats, our total for the day was 109 species.) Of course, when a group sees 109 species, there are many highlights for the day. Flamingos !”

Mexico 246

Mexico Cuba Chile South America 246

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2013

I also pulled three species of tailorbird along with Asian Glossy Starling , Black-naped Oriole , and White-bellied Sea-Eagle en route. The wetlands actually host a much higher diversity of shorebirds, but many of the more exotic sandpipers and the many other plover species had come and gone before mid-December.

Singapore 193

Singapore Zebras Zoos Owls 193

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2013

From Owls in the Family to Wesley the Owl , the narrative in which a human interacts with another species and learns a bit about life along the way has long been a popular and affecting one.

Stray Cat 219

Stray Cat Stray Zoos Owls 219

10,000 Birds

MARCH 24, 2024

There are beautiful beaches, a plethora of amazing food and drinks, a multitude of family fun locations, a world-renowned zoo, and one of the biggest birding festivals in the US. Riding around Mission Bay and back to the headquarters along the San Diego River can garner us about sixty-five species over the 10-mile bike ride.

San Diego 246

San Diego Sea Lions Lions Birds 246

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2024

The proximity to the Myanmar border is reflected in the presence of Burmese Shrikes here – on the wrong side of the border, but it is well known that this species has never been particularly good at geography. This photo explains the scientific species name haemacephalus (bloodheaded).

Myanmar 244

Myanmar Sri Lanka Nepal Niger 244

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2011

One of only two species in the plover genus Thinornis , the other being Australia’s Hooded Plover , this species is another New Zealand endemic. Actually, it’s one I originally thought was endemic to the Chatham Islands, a group of islands to the east of the main islands that hosts endemic species like the Black Robin.

New Zealand 185

New Zealand Penguins Endangered Species Zoos 185

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2015

I wish I could count the uncharacteristically confiding Sunbittern at the Toronto Zoo, but that species continues to elude me in its natural range. School either just started or is starting soon, weather in most places simply demands grilling, and birds are on the wing. What more could you want for a three-day weekend?

2015 154

2015 Zoos Canada Birds 154

10,000 Birds

MARCH 7, 2015

Yes, the time had come to see how many of Costa Rica’s hummingbird species we could find, and we had two days to work with. Having already snagged Plain-capped Starthroat, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, and Cinnamon Hummingbird , the Mangrove was actually our third species of the day. Green-breasted Mango.

Costa Rica 255

Costa Rica San Jose Owls Zoos 255

10,000 Birds

APRIL 23, 2016

is home to a few exotic species. A zoo once stood at the south end and possibly contributed a few peafowl to the growing population in the USA. My encounters with peacocks showing off have been in the shade and usually from behind where the view is still impressive, but not so colourful.

Miami 167

Miami Battery Zoos India 167

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 16, 2019

So we made our way to the grounds of the Uganda Wildlife Education Center , a former zoo that now rehabilitates injured animals. Fortunately, we had a crack team of birders on hand and we quickly ruled out any other species that the bird could possibly be – like Sharp-tailed Sandpiper – and got quite a few photos to boot.

Uganda 246

Uganda Zoos New York Experiments 246

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2013

It’s a small education Northern White-faced Owl that completely changes shape as zoo keepers bring by other types of owls that would be a predator for that species. Perhaps you’ve heard of the Transformer Owl Video ? For the only slightly larger Barn Owl the bird puffs itself up to look fierce and like a foe to be avoided.

Owls 273

Owls Barn Owls Agenda Zoos 273

4 The Love Of Animals

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

Nat Geo WILD takes viewers around the world to follow dedicated people working to save Nature’s Miracle Babies – often the last hope for critically vulnerable species. The giant panda is one of the world’s most iconic species, but its population numbers are critically low. Meanwhile, at Whipsnade Zoo in the U.K.,

Pandas 100

Pandas Leopards Gorillas Zoos 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2018

Following passage of the United States Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, the California Condor ( Gymnogyps californianus ) was among the first 75 species listed for protection, the so-called “Class of 1967”. A portion of all draft and bottle sales of Condor Kolsch will be donated to these programs.

California Condor 150

California Condor Oregon California Zoos 150

4 The Love Of Animals

AUGUST 2, 2012

Sarah, an 11-year-old cheetah at the Cincinnati Zoo, broke her own world record by running 100m in 5.95 At the Cincinnati Zoo it is our goal to inspire every visitor with wildlife every day, and nothing inspires awe like seeing a cheetah running full blast in our Cheetah Encounter. Sarah the cheetah broke her own world record!

Zoos 100

Zoos 2012 Jamaica Africa 100

4 The Love Of Animals

MARCH 17, 2011

The new cub was born at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to a mother who wasn’t able to care for him. When zoo keepers saw that the baby was not eating and having trouble gaining weight, they made the decision to hand-raise him. It was on the SSP and Jacksonville Zoo’s advice that the new baby was brought to Busch Gardens.

Jacksonville 100

Jacksonville White Rhinos Zoos Rhinos 100

Critter News

FEBRUARY 9, 2009

They are in zoos, circuses, commercials, movies, etc. If they are members of an endangered species, why are there so many of them around? Tags: rant chimpanzees medical research endangered species. The public in general has a warped understanding of chimpanzees. If you go by the media, there are a ton of them out there.

Medical Research 100

Medical Research Endangered Species Medical Zoos 100

4 The Love Of Animals

APRIL 20, 2012

Especially it is associated with dogs, which may raise kids of other species and even of scary and dangerous representatives of wildlife! Although, it is not for the first time when inter-species adoption occurs, but every single case is getting more and more exciting – animals can not only be friends, but parents and brothers as well.

Badgers 100

Badgers Tigers Porcupines Zoos 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 19, 2011

But it wasn’t all that diabolical when you consider that it was the Queens Zoo that served as the setting and I also left this clue: “a knowledge of what birds can be seen in my fine borough will be of great assistance to you.&# Those who are really familiar with Queens should know what birds are in the zoo named for our borough.

Bald Eagle 113

Bald Eagle Zoos 2011 Deer 113