10,000 Birds

AUGUST 23, 2015

There are sixteen pairs of Pied Oystercatchers and they have varying success at raising young birds. To the north they are very unlucky with predation before the eggs even hatch out, but to the south the eggs hatch out and then the predation occurs on the chicks.

Feral Cats 159

Feral Cats Eggs Feral Cats 159

10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2012

Several years ago, I was asked to visit my nephew’s preschool class and talk about birds. Jake lives in southern Florida, so he and his friends had to be interested in learning about these birds, which they saw everyday, right? How old were the baby birds? I chalk it up to the original baby bird book, P.D.

Birds 219

Birds Owls Switzerland Lions 219

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

As of 27 August 2013 the California Bird Records Committee has voted to add the introduced Nutmeg Mannikin to the state checklist. Or, as Seagull Steve puts it : The dreaded Nutmeg Mannikin has been added to California’s official state list by the California Bird Records Committee (aka Bird Police).

California 202

California Los Angeles 2013 Eggs 202

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2012

They generally lay four eggs, but we have only seen a maximum of three surviving chicks after a few days. A good indication that they have eggs or young is the extreme noise that they make. They will often fly at both people and other animals in defense of their eggs and young. Looks like it’s coming to us in 2012 now!!

Breeding 145

Breeding Cows Eggs 2012 145

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2016

Traditionally since 2000 we have encountered our first Pied Oystercatcher eggs in the first week of July, but this year one pair have decided to start laying eggs early! Sadly they have already lost one clutch of eggs to predation, so by July 1st this year they are on their second clutch. Pied Oystercatcher nest.

Breeding 100

Breeding Eggs Feral Cats 2000 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2014

I have followed the breeding activity of the Pied Oystercatchers in Broome along Cable Beach since July 2000 when I found the first nest site and the birds have continued to use the same territories, though there have been some partner changes. A second egg was laid the following day and the two eggs hatched at the end of the month.

2007 170

2007 Eggs 2014 2002 170

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2018

Birds are able to fly away, but their nests and eggs can be destroyed. I was able to visualize six of the bird houses that survived. An excellent Audubon article states “What do birds do when wildfires break out? A fire might kill weak birds or, depending on the time of year, claim nestlings.

Wildlife 103

Wildlife Sacramento Shelters Science 103

Critter News

JANUARY 25, 2012

1, 2012, egg-laying hens across many European countries will live with fewer discomforts: The European Commission has officially implemented its ban on battery cages, the notoriously cramped cages used by many egg farmers and criticized by animal rights proponents and veterinarians who call them cruel and harmful to the birds' welfare.

Battery Cages 100

Battery Cages Battery Animal Welfare Welfare 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2012

It is thought that the gray morph mimics a bird eating hawk. In this way, the cuckolding Cuckoo can convince its cuckoldee, the Reed Warbler, to back off when the Cuckoo comes around, allowing the Cuckoo to toss out one of the Warbler’s eggs and replace it with one of its own, to be raised by the hapless Warbler parents.

Hungary 175

Hungary 2012 Science Eggs 175

10,000 Birds

APRIL 17, 2012

Oil begins to wash up on the beaches throughout May and June of 2010 May 6, 2010 Oil washes ashore on the Chandeleur Islands off the Louisiana coast, an important nesting and breeding area for many bird species. January 27, 2012 Reports leak that BP chose to hide its own internal estimates of the scale of the spill.

2010 240

2010 Louisiana 2012 2011 240

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2013

Podicipediformes, aka Grebes, are freshwater diving duckish birds that are not ducks. That of course is true of many birds.) Like many birds, Grebes are mainly preyed on by other birds, but also, because Grebes liv in and on and near (mostly) fresh water, they are also preyed on by the smaller carnivores such as ferrets.

2010 204

2010 South America 2011 Argentina 204

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2011

2011 is about to become 2012 and birders the world over are taking a look at their year lists and reminiscing about the awesome sightings and devastating dips that they have experienced. Not only did we not expect to see this seabird this far inland, it was a life bird for me! We would like you to join in!

2011 188

2011 Birds South Korea North Dakota 188

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2013

There were three profound questions my birding group discussed while we birded Trinidad and Tobago, back in December 2012: (1) How many Bananaquits could fit on a banana? (2) 3) What was the best guide to the birds of Trinidad and Tobago? The bird guide question was a conundrum.

Trinidad 201

Trinidad Birds South America Research 201

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 12, 2012

After 28 days of sharing the duty of sitting on three eggs we finally had the arrival of our first Pied Oystercatcher chicks for 2012 on Friday August 3rd. It is unusual for three eggs to be laid here in Broome and many eggs do not even hatch due to predation each season.

Eggs 177

Eggs Dogs Shelters Family 177

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2013

A breeding bird atlas is a special kind of book. For birders, it’s the extremely large book, shelved in a place where it can’t crush the field guides, used to research the history of a bird in their area. It included surveys of nocturnal and marsh birds, and a point count survey of songbirds.

Pennsylvania 235

Pennsylvania Breeding Birds Sparrows 235

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2013

The cahow is one wild and crazy bird. And, all the while it vocalizes with the strange-sounding, weird cries that give the bird its name, cries so bizarre sounding that they once kept Spanish explorers from settling the island. other birds that collided with a tower and a radio antenna. You’ve never heard of the cahow?

Birds 170

Birds Rats Breeding 2012 170

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2014

We have seen them on remote beaches hunting shorebirds and taking their eggs and they have been responsible for much of the egg loss in breeding Pied Oystercatchers along the Broome coast. Feral cat predation on Pied Oystercatcher eggs. We are lucky in Broome that due to our remoteness we rarely get invasive bird species.

Australia 157

Australia Species Feral Cats Feral 157

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2012

Of course, I jest a bit in the above paragraph because as a sometime New Jersey birder I have birded the Delaware Bay and seen sights such as the memorable image below, in which thousands of Red Knots, Dunlins, and Short-billed Dowitchers fly up as if connected telepathically. million in the late 1990’s.

Delaware 181

Delaware New Jersey Research Eggs 181

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2012

Yes, the warbler formerly known as Dendroica kirtlandii , now Setophaga kirtlandii , is one of those birds that make birders’ hearts pulse quicker and their legs churn faster. Look what happened when the bird made the first of three appearances at the Biggest Week in American Birding at Magee Marsh! photo by Lynn C.

Michigan 235

Michigan Bahamas Endangered Species Research 235

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2012

I spent the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in the usual post-hurricane activities—looking for storm birds, making sure my loved ones were o.k., trying to grasp the enormity of what had just happened, and reading this book, The Feathery Tribe: Robert Ridgway and the Modern Study of Birds by Daniel Lewis. And, draw birds.

Collecting 151

Collecting Illinois United States Science 151

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 18, 2013

Since 2001, at least five additional DNA studies have upheld this proposed relationship, and in 2005, George Sangster proposed the name “Mirandornithes” for the flamingo-grebe group, from Latin and Greek roots meaning “wonderful” (also, “admirable”) and “bird.” Zusi and Robert W.

2001 230

2001 2006 2010 Eggs 230

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Are there birders out there who do not dream of birding Australia? Possibly birders who have already birded Australia (but, wouldn’t you want to go back?) or birders who live there (but, how can you bird it all?). So, I welcomed the opportunity to review The Australian Bird Guide.

Australia 108

Australia Birds Penguins 2015 108

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

birds that we are lucky to have with us today, species that seem to have beat the odds and have been migrating on the long and bumpy road to recovery. That is a big difference compared to the 2,000+ singing males detected in 2012, well above the recovery goal for this species set by the U.S. Here are some U.S.

Albatross 210

Albatross Endangered Species Geese Alaska 210

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2012

Its a hard life being a bird but its especially hard if you’re a crane. The Wattled Crane unfortunately finds itself amongst the majority, with an estimated 7,000 birds remaining on the planet. And we headed down to this part of the world in early 2012 to find out more about these threatened birds.

Botswana 154

Botswana South Africa Africa Ethiopia 154

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2012

Although extinction is a natural phenomenon, experts have determined that the current rate of bird extinction is somewhere between 1,000 and 10,000 times the background rate. Globally, 1,313 bird species of a total of count of 10,064 are threatened, a frightening 13% of the total.

Endangered Species 196

Endangered Species Species South Africa Morocco 196

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

The descriptions of the territory’s birds, seals, whales, introduced mammals, invertebrates, and plants are written within the framework of the conversationist, so it is more than a field guide, it is a record of endangered wildlife and the efforts being made to protect it.

Georgia 174

Georgia Penguins Wildlife Whales 174

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2012

As 2012 draws to a close we here at 10,000 Birds thought that it would be a great idea if we, like we did in 2010 and 2011 , shared our Best Birds of the Year. We also want to know what YOUR Best Bird of the Year was. Now on to the Best Birds of the Year for those who write on 10,000 Birds! Sound good?

2012 152

2012 Birds Guatemala Florida 152

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2015

Well, a New Year has arrived and of course that means a new list for birds! We had not done “year lists” until we started here in 2012 , because a few other Beat Writers had decided to and really…why not! It makes you aware of how a “common bird” can elude you for days or weeks!

2015 187

2015 2014 Ducks Ponies 187

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 3, 2015

In my runs through the dinosaur halls with Jake and Zach, I’m pretty sure I saw Deinonychus , the small fossil that inspired the velociraptors in Jurassic Park and, more importantly (in some minds), revived a 19th century theory that birds are descended directly from dinosaurs. Like birds. Ostrom resurrected the 1868 theory of T.

Mongolia 187

Mongolia Science Reptiles Indiana 187

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2012

I caught glimpses of lots of fine, fine birds including a heroic Killdeer protecting a nest and my first Willow Flycatcher of the season. What was your best bird of the weekend? Tell us in the comments section about the rarest, loveliest, or most fascinating bird you observed.

2012 159

2012 New York Fish Birds 159

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2012

But Yuletide celebrations herald more than just egg nog, latkes, and Secret Santa swaps. One of the historic highlights of this season for bird watchers is the Christmas Bird Count ! That bird better be there when I arrive! Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding?

2012 135

2012 Eggs Birds California 135

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2018

It’s September and time for birds to start their southerly journeys. Please remember to give migrating birds the space that they need. Jason hoisted his colours in Kansas and claimed the state for 10,000 Birds. In an unusual turnaround during September, more birds were seen in USA than in Costa Rica. 28 May 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

The two most prolific contributors, Pat and Tom, have been sharing their birding space in Costa Rica. The beats have now contributed more checklists than birds. During October, 7 countries (Costa Rica, Australia, USA, India, Hong Kong, UK, Serbia) were birded by 11 beats who shared 135 checklists and noted 697 species.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

Best wishes to you all for 2019, keep safe and keep birding. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. La Cotinga Birding B&B. So please keep at it and keep sending me your shared checklists.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

They birded 6 countries; USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, and Mexico. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. La Cotinga Birding B&B. 8 beats shared 126 checklists accounting for 704 species.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2018

The UK has been birded clean by Tom as he ends his Little Big Year (Part 1). 9 beats visited 8 countries, submitting 102 checklists along the way, accounting for 609 birds. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Malbup Creek Bird Hide.

2018 101

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 101

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

Electric storms closed the new walkway there and he amassed a total list of just 3 birds! It is a dream, nay, a mission statement of 10,000 Birds to see as many of the World’s birds as possible. Should the fancy take you, you could call up a 10,000 Birds life list (from 2016 onwards. 08 Feb 2016. 04 Aug 2016.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154