There’s a birdwatcher in Central Park in New York City who calls himself Birding Bob. He leads bird walks in the park for the nominal sum of $10. But according to the New York Times, Bob ruffles the feathers of some birdwatchers. What he does is play bird calls, which some birdwatchers consider unethical because …
Just returned from East Texas a short while ago. Did some birdwatching of course but saw nothing exotic or unexpected, but I was struck by the difference in coloration in East Texas birds compared to those at my home in Northern California. The Blue Jays were a striking blue and black and white, making our …
The majestic Golden Eagle, named for the shining feathers on the back of its head and neck, inspires awe around the world. Reflecting the reverence many have for this raptor, the Golden Eagle is the national symbol for five countries: Albania, Germany, Austria, Mexico, and Kazakhstan. The scientific name Aquila chrysaetos comes from the Ancient …
Why are there only 10,000 species of birds when there are 25,000 species of fish and 350,000 species of beetles out of at least 900,000 species of insects. A 1959 paper by G.E. Hutchinson entitled Homage to Santa Rosalia or Why are There So Many Kinds of Animals? provides some ideas. Birds have only been …
