Critter News

APRIL 23, 2010

A kitten died from dehydration as a result of too much medication, individual primates were neglected for days at a time, mice and Guinea pig cages were found to be overcrowded, and calves may have been exposed to painful situations for too long, but University of Utah officials maintain that none of the most recent animal-testing violations, released (..)

Utah 100

Utah Guinea Pigs PETA Investigation 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2014

There are two Painted Bunting populations, one that breeds along the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to Florida and one that breeds in the interior United States and northern Mexico from southeastern New Mexico to western Mississippi. Here’s what we knew about the Painted Bunting up until about 2010: 1.

Mississippi 265

Mississippi Mexico Alabama North Carolina 265

10,000 Birds

MAY 31, 2018

By the time you see this in the United States, I will have had a full week to explore this amazing area, and the wildlife that calls this home. That would have tested out rental insurance policy! The schedule is a bit daunting, as we are up before 5 AM to get to the gate for the 6AM opening.

Lions 118

Lions Buffalo United States Zebras 118

Critter News

APRIL 13, 2009

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, “farm animals are regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) only when used in biomedical research, testing, teaching and exhibition. Humane treatment runs counter to the entire industry when the point is to make money by processing these animals as fast as possible.

Animal Welfare Act 100

Animal Welfare Act Animal Welfare Farmed Animals Farm Animal 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 12, 2014

Originally founded in 1925 to test the adaptability and marketability of the plantain, it also protects 1,281 hectacres of tropical lowland forest rich in birds such as Rufous-tailed Jacamar and Pale-billed Woodpecker. The last site we visited from Pico Bonito was Lancetilla Botanic Gardens.

Honduras 162

Honduras Birds Monkeys America 162

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2022

An estimated one billion birds collide with glass each year in the United States* and most of them die; window collisions are considered the second highest cause of death of birds after cats (putting aside the big overall causes, like habitat loss and climate change).* ©2012 Donna L.

New York City 248

New York City Birds Illinois Science 248

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2014

But as of right now there is nowhere in the United States where a birder can see a chicken and count it on his or her list despite the fact that there is a well established and long lasting Feral Chicken population in the Florida Keys. In 2008, over nine billion chickens were slaughtered for Americans to eat.

Chickens 193

Chickens Florida Feral Species 193

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2017

The accounts vary in length from two to six pages, and are well illustrated with photographic images by Ryan Phillips of the Belize Raptor Research Institute and a group of 40 photographers from the United States and Central America.

Mexico 156

Mexico America North America Falcons 156

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 4, 2014

There were birders from a wide cross-section of the United States: Colorado, Ohio, Idaho, Iowa, Wyoming, Washington State, Pennsylvania, New York State, New Jersey, California, Texas, Florida. I’m sure there are states that I missed, but you get the idea.

South Africa 251

South Africa Africa Leopards Penguins 251

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2020

Though the third-most densely populated county in the United States (as of the 2010 census, thank you Wikipedia), about 25% of Bronx land is open, public space. The authors’ detailed delineation of problems with the accuracy of NYC breeding bird surveys or with the limits of historical writings may test a reader’s patience.

New York City 146

New York City New York Birds Breeding 146

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2011

Here is a little test-there are 6 species of shorebird in the photo-can you identify them? She has lived in the Middle East and the United States and traveled extensively in Europe. I am often amazed how tolerant the shorebirds are on big tides.

2011 150

2011 Australia Deer China 150

Animal Ethics

APRIL 16, 2009

The Argument from Glass-Walled Slaughter Houses Mel Morse, former president of the Humane Society of the United States, once remarked: “If every one of our slaughter houses were constructed of glass this would be a nation of vegetarians.” For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post.

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Humane Society Of The United States Slaughter 40

Animal Ethics

OCTOBER 6, 2009

In 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that irradiating half the meat and poultry consumed in the United States would mean 900,000 fewer cases of food-borne illness and 350 fewer deaths each year. Unfortunately, irradiated meat and poultry can’t be found on store shelves.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Hamburgers Meat Industry 40

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

There was also a certain appeal to bravado in testing one’s mettle by downing the latest “hop bomb”. American White Pelicans have been making a bit of a splash in the northeast United States lately, with more and more birds straying into the region over the years.

Pelicans 113

Pelicans India Vermont San Diego 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2017

This was an ABA bird for me; I had already seen it in India, but I was thrilled to finally observe it in the United States. I tested the waters before my California pelagic, with a brief Atlantic Ocean voyage, a whale watching trip from Montauk, N.Y. 7) Piping Plover. But, I saw the bird! I even managed to get a single photo.

2016 108

2016 India Ducks Birds 108

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 26, 2012

Bill Schmoker , Nikon Birding ProStaff member, and I spent a day in the field testing the new Nikon EDG VR Fieldscope. I can tell you from talking to my friends abroad that we have some of the most beautiful species in the world represented in the United States and I believe the birds in this post belong in that category.

Denver 166

Denver Ducks New Jersey United States 166

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

A species which has been hunted in the United States for the last 50 years (and in spite of your assertion that hunting has somehow damaged midcontinent populations 2009 saw the highest count on record). Hunters will be required to pass and ID test. A species which is the most abundant crane species on the planet.

2011 240

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 240

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2020

COVID-19 was the worst of it but we also endured horrific wildfires, tremendously damaging hurricanes, another year of the worst President of the United States in history, and the list could go on ad infinitum. 2020 will be remembered as a year that we’d like to forget.

2020 223

2020 Birds Germany Costa Rica 223

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2017

At least in the eastern half of the United States and, generally speaking, in the northern 2/3 of the northern hemisphere. Or, you might end up in a situation like mine where you ask a test question late on Mothers Day morning, “Daisy, how do you feel about me going birding the rest of the day?”

United States 133

United States Laws Abandoning Abandon 133

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 24, 2006

As reported in the AP story, two styles of Sean John jackets—one a hooded snorkel style, the other a classic version—were originally advertised as faux fur, but an investigation by the Humane Society of the United States [ HSUS ] found that the jackets were made from dog fur.

Fur 40

Fur Fur Industry HSUS Dogs 40

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2022

True to form, the United States Department of Agriculture seems less concerned about the health or status of Yellow Bitterns and more about managing the birds on Guam to minimize threats to aviation safety. One of the established ways to evaluate self-cognition in animals (including humans) is the mirror test.

Birds 180

Birds Sparrows Protection Humane 180