Birds, Birding and Blogging
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This post is republished in our “From the Archives” series, featuring highlights of our vast back catalogue of more than 10,000 birding-related posts published over the last 15 years or so. One of the most intriguing birds around Broome is the Great Bowerbird. We often see them flying from place to place collecting items for their bowers and they are rather clever at imitating other birds vocal…
I was priviledged enough to spend a week on Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands off the coast of northwest Africa, on a university field trip in spring. Tenerife is well-known among birders (and visited frequently, e.g. see this 10,000 Birds post from last year) and as it was my first time in the Macaronesian islands, I was particularly excited about the mouthwater array of potential lifers. By…
Latin was not, I’m afraid, one of my stronger subjects at school, but when it comes to Latin bird names I do have a handy book I can consult entitled Birds – their Latin names explained. It was written by A.F.Gotch, a retired teacher (though surprisingly Latin wasn’t one of the subjects he taught), and published in 1981. It has just come in handy for researching the origin of the word Burhinidae,…
By Julio Delgado Julio is a bird guide and lodge owner based in Colombia Dear readers of 10,000 Birds — I want to share some news from Colombia. As many of you will have seen, Colombia was hit by the strongest earthquake the country has felt in years — a genuine test of our resilience. Some people lost their lives, others lost loved ones, many were injured, and some lost everything they had. I…
The Common Yellowthroat is another bird that looks surprisingly stunning for a bird breeding in a temperate climate. Apparently, it is very common – the Audubon Society claims that “it is found in practically every reed-bed and patch of cattails from coast to coast”. eBird seems less impressed, calling it a “small warbler, dull olive overall with intense yellow throat” – somehow, I feel if this…
If you build it, they will come or rather If you plant it, they will feed. Hummingbirds agree. Flitting from air to native scarlet sage petals; the same plants I carefully chose and tended and watered and weeded for this very moment. When a pair of emerald avians of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds flew through feisty feeding on their way to the coast and, eventually, across the Gulf.
Here are seven pieces of advice for any bird hoping to attract the attention of ornithologists. 1. Live in Europe or North America.Geographic location is one of the strongest factors affecting research effort. Species in Europe and North America receive much more scientific attention than those in less-studied regions, particularly tropical ones. My hunch is that inaccessible locations, which also…
Birds are often presented as symbols of freedom, beauty and inspiration. This is a generous interpretation of their lives, as many are just trying to get through the day. Here are some more demotivational posters to restore the balance.
We asked several of our writers the same questions. Here are the answers to the one above. — I’ve found a really good way of birding early in the morning when we are on vacation. I sneak out at sunrise and meet the rest of the family at breakfast (Peter Hinow). — My wife knew I was a birdwatcher before she married me, so she doesn’t complain too often (David Tomlinson) — Go birding (Peter…
Among the many things and experiences that amazed me while traveling around Svalbard this past July, was a tiny bird that could cover some ground or water in this case. I saw it almost everywhere. The bird looked like a fat bullet flying fast, frantically, and low over the water. My eyes were not yet accustomed to recognizing the various black and white birds around Svalbard, since I had not done…
White-tailed Ptarmigan has been high on my “wants” list, and I haven’t had available time to really target it. Fortunately, I live in Oregon, and nearby Mount Rainier is on the southern edge of the range and has reliable but infrequent sightings of this species, so on a rare day off from work, we decided to give it a go.I had never been to Mount Rainier, although I know it is a very popular hiking…
1What is your favorite bird species? While I don’t have a single favorite bird, coursers have always fascinated me, particularly the elegant and secretive Three-banded Courser. Its incredible camouflage, refined look, and nocturnal nature make spotting one in the wild an unforgettable experience. What is your name, and where do you live? My name is Mwangi Gitau. I am Kenyan and live in Nairobi.…
Which bird species do you think is the biggest attraction to visitors of your lodge? Blue Crane What is the name of your lodge, and since when has your lodge been operating? Kanon Private Nature Reserve How best to travel to your lodge? By Car from the south (Cape Town) or from the north; you can also fly into George Airport and rent a car. African Oystercatcher What kind of services – except for…
