10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

How can something so miniscule bust out of an opaque egg and immediately commence the preparation for a thousand-mile journey – that is often made without any adult accompaniment – is completely beyond this human’s understanding. A couple days ago I paid a visit to (what was) a wetland in southwest Tobago.

Fish 233

Fish Family Eggs Humane 233

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2014

The obvious choice was the Mallard , that plucky familiar northern hemisphere species that is the father of the even more familiar domesticated duck. In fact, as the species was quickly identified as as creating hybrids with Grey Ducks, the opinion was by the 1920s that the species shouldn’t be released further.

Species 165

Species New Zealand Ducks Game 165

10,000 Birds

APRIL 25, 2022

So, the basic idea is to show 15 species of Australian birds in each post and give you the usual trivia about them. This species has also eliminated the need for childcare – the chicks emerge from this pile on their own and never even get to see their parents. Admittedly, it is mostly grey.

Australia 182

Australia Birds Koalas Parrots 182

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2021

The text goes far beyond just those two birds, however, as Doug works his way through the puzzles presented by the incredibly wide diversity of bird behavior, even within species, citing current research and new and old theories, reasoning out the most likely and unlikely answers. The six middle chapters are my favorite reading.

Science 208

Science Albatross Research Birds 208

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2023

It covers 403 species: 172 nonpasserine species and 231 passerine species in the Species Accounts, 198 species beautifully illustrated by the author in the Plates section. The scarcity of information on the young of some avian species is astounding. and three of the nine woodpeckers illustrated.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 250

Wildlife Rehabilitation Birds Family Collecting 250

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2021

Pough “with illustrations in color of every species” by Don Eckelberry, Doubleday, 1946. The National Audubon Society Birds of North America covers all species seen in mainland United States, Canada and Baja California. The press material says it covers over 800 species, so you know I had to do a count.

North America 278

North America America Birds California Condor 278

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2021

There was a time when I thought each bird species had its own individual song. Then I found out that there was this vocalization called a ‘call,’ so I thought each bird species had its own individual song (but just the males) and individual call. How do they know? And, that’s it.

North America 278

North America Research Birds Groups 278

10,000 Birds

JULY 1, 2018

This year is the eighteenth year since we discovered our first Pied Oystercatcher nest on Cable Beach in Broome and it didn’t take us long to realise that they are not at all successful at raising young due to egg and chick predation. Each year we hope for anther success, but so far it has not happened. Pied Oystercatcher nest.

Breeding 100

Breeding 2018 Eggs 2016 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

In late July, I travelled a half hour north of Morelia to Lake Cuitzeo (kweet-SAY-oh) to see if our two inevitable first migratory species from up north, Baird’s Sandpiper and Wilson’s Phalarope, had begun arriving. At that point, neither species was yet present, and there wasn’t much of a lake, either.

Ducks 249

Ducks 2020 Eggs California 249

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2019

Birds of the West: An Artist’s Guide presents both sides of the artistic equation–lovely prints and water colors of 88 (or so) North American birds of the Pacific Northwest; commentary on how the author/artist created the images; and lessons on how to draw and paint birds in various media.

Birds 145

Birds Eggs Laws Woodpeckers 145

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

Over the last weekend, I was at Lake Kissimmee in Florida, observing Snail Kites at an area kites were not present or rare just a few years ago. Decades of land transformation and hydrological changes resulted in the decline of the only species of apple snail native to Florida and the kite population followed suit.

Florida 215

Florida South America Eggs Bolivia 215

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

Also known as the Scaly-breasted Munia , Spice Finch , or, more properly, as Lonchura punctulata , Nutmeg Mannikins have been present in California for decades, with counts in the hundreds not terribly unusual in southern California. A young or female Nutmeg Mannikin can be a confusing bird to identify for the unprepared observer.

California 192

California Los Angeles 2013 Eggs 192

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2013

Twenty two species are distributed among six genera, depending on what happens to be extinct, and for the most part one grebe is like another. This makes Grebes vulnerable to climate change and the predation of invasive species. It is easy to see how Minks set lose in a welcoming habitat could eat an entire species.

2010 199

2010 South America 2011 Argentina 199

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2018

Some 84 species of North American birds , excavate nesting holes, use cavities resulting from decay (natural cavities), or use holes created by other species in dead or deteriorating trees for nesting. Many species of these cavity nesting birds have declined because of habitat reduction. But you can help.

Tenant 192

Tenant Shelters Protection Species 192

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2013

Once again Pied Oystercatcher breeding season is fast approaching in Broome and we can expect the first batch of eggs to be laid within the next few weeks. We have also discovered that they are very rarely successful with the first eggs laid due to predation of either the eggs or the chicks. Sooty Oystercatcher having a shake!

Eggs 170

Eggs Breeding Australia Raised 170

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

The first eggs were laid in the first week of July, which is the case each year. The eggs take 28 days to hatch and it is then at least 35 days before the chicks are developed enough to fly and there have been problems with predation as in other years. Pied Oystercatcher sitting on eggs in the nudist area of Cable Beach.

Breeding 158

Breeding Eggs Camels Raised 158

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 22, 2013

The Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacean is present in some of the ephemeral lakes around Broome in wet years, but can be absent for several years and then reappear. Once you travel further north from Broome there are numerous opportunities to observe this species and any fresh water body is worth checking.

Australia 162

Australia 2011 Eggs Species 162

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

They may be about bird eggs ( The Most Perfect Thing: The Inside (and Outside) of a Bird’s Egg , 2016), or a 17th-century ornithologist ( Virtuoso by Nature: The Scientific Worlds of Francis Willughby, 2016), or How Bullfinches learn songs from humans ( The Wisdom of Birds: An Illustrated History of Ornithology.

Dissection 213

Dissection Birds Research Europe 213

10,000 Birds

JULY 23, 2014

The northwestern spread of this non-native species made it to my yard a few years ago. The lightest shade of lavender coincides with a 0 – 2% frequency of sightings, the next darker shade 2 – 10%, the next 10 – 25%, the next 25 – 40% and the darkest (almost black) shade is a 40 – 100% occurrence of the species.

Breeders 177

Breeders 2002 North America Bahamas 177

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 28, 2014

Among birds the Egyptian Vulture uses rocks to crack Ostrich eggs, the New Caledonian Crow and Woodpecker Finch (one of several Darwin Finches of the Galapagos Islands), uses sticks to extract grubs from inside a branch. This is similar to the fact that all birds, even first time breeders within a species build identical nests.

Fish 163

Fish Woodpeckers Ostriches Eggs 163

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2024

Osborn, a passionate field biologist who participates to the core of her being three re-introduction projects aimed at saving three very different, endangered species: Peregrine Falcon, Hawaiian Crow (‘Alala)*, and California Condor. Sophie Osborn’s stories are personal and inspiring, but this is more than a personal memoir.

California Condor 172

California Condor Falcons California Birds 172

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2012

All of the pairs that we monitor have lost either their eggs or juvenile birds to predation before they were fledged and are patiently sitting once again on a new clutch of eggs. This week we had large tides and there were several large flocks on Cable Beach. It doesn’t take long and they are dried discs left to blow in the wind.

Wounded 160

Wounded Eggs Rescue Breeding 160

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2012

Bufflehead ( Bucephala albeola ) Female at Cavity Entrance photos by Larry Jordan “Some 85 species of North American birds excavate nesting holes, use cavities resulting from decay (natural cavities), or use holes created by other species in dead or deteriorating trees. Notice the chick in the upper left corner.

North America 209

North America America Barn Owls Falcons 209

10,000 Birds

MAY 16, 2011

Brown-headed Cowbirds evoke strong feelings in many birders, some of whom can’t abide a bird that lays its eggs in other birds’ nests, often to the detriment of the nest owners’ offspring. Now nearly ubiquitous from forests to urban centers And our young have even more bird species as mentors.

Eggs 158

Eggs Buffalo Sparrows Humane 158

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2014

We can, of course, count wild, native, species. We can count vagrant species that made it to the area we are in under their own power. We can count introduced species that have met the criteria of the “Bird Police” for the area to which they are introduced. When we eat eggs we eat chicken eggs almost exclusively.

Chickens 194

Chickens Florida Feral Species 194

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2018

and a visit to Big Egg Marsh (one year bird!) But both species of swans present had enough neck to reach something to eat on the bottom of the pond. I was psyched to see the one that had been reported but first I had to do some other birding on Sunday morning to keep my year list moving along. done I headed over to Jamaica Bay.

Jamaica 104

Jamaica Wildlife New York City Ducks 104

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2013

The two dozen species are, nearly to an individual, long bodied and bicolored. Unlike most of its cogeners, Venezuelan Troupial does not build one of those hanging bag nests so well known by the other Icterus species, it’s a nest parasite. Just lazy ones.

Baltimore 175

Baltimore Broker North America Raised 175

10,000 Birds

JULY 13, 2011

The most dominant tern species on Tern Island is the Sooty Tern. This species nests on the edges of the larger colonies and was much quieter. The largest species of noddy is the ground nesting Brown Noddy. This species doesn’t breed on Tern Island itself, but does sometimes turn up there. Click to enbiggen.

Hawaii 172

Hawaii Breeding Wildlife Eggs 172

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2016

We have several of the cuckoo species around the Broome area and all cuckoos are more likely to be heard than seen, but every now and again you get lucky! All other cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests and let them raise them. At 28-33cm they are one of the larger cuckoos. Pallid Cuckoo.

United Kingdom 100

United Kingdom Raised 2013 Africa 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2011

We discovered another juvenile not far away, so other species have had their eggs swapped out. There is very little information on this species of bird and it is believed that there are only 1500 in Australia. Now a birthday present is nice, but sometimes nature can do so much better and Grant thinks I did well this year!

Australia 150

Australia Investigation Falcons Eggs 150

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

Ackerman surrounds each individual story with background facts and studies on other birds who mimic, play, parasitize nests, engage in complex cognitive routines, parent in unusual ways–presenting a complex mosaic of avian behaviors amongst bird families and the scientific histories of trying to understand them.

Research 216

Research Birds Science Costa Rica 216

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2018

I found this little grouping of Guillemots, with parents, babies and even an egg. While there were way less Puffins than any of the other species, they are still so much fun to see. Red Kites were considerted a Threatened Species starting in the early ‘80s, and a nation wide program was started to re-introduce them around the UK.

Puffins 100

Puffins Wildlife Reserve 2003 Farming 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2012

As a Northeast birder I am familiar with the alarming decrease in the number of Red Knots along Atlantic shores and have signed petitions and written e-mails calling for legislation and rules that will limit the overharvesting of the horseshoe crab, whose eggs Red Knots depend on. million in the late 1990’s. Should the gulls be controlled?

Delaware 177

Delaware New Jersey Research Eggs 177

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2012

Which brings us to the present post, in which we ask “How many birds are there?” For the present, we’ll keep the conversation in the United States; variation from region to region in bird die off may be great and meaningfully complex. Many foraged in the city as well (and yes, maybe about 5% of the ledge was used by other species).

Cats 179

Cats Boston Ferrets Killing 179

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2018

It’s not often that we have the opportunity to glimpse the home life of albatrosses, nor of any seabird species. Where does the female Emperor Penguin go after she has produced that one egg and handed it over to the male for incubation? Technology to the rescue! What about incubation shifts?

Albatross 114

Albatross Penguins Research Breeding 114

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2019

I like observing them, reading about them, grappling with species and subspecies identification, and even—on a good day—talking about sparrow taxonomy. Peterson Reference Guide to Sparrows of North America covers 61 species of the New World sparrow family Passerellidae that breed in Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico.

North America 144

North America Sparrows America United States 144

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2014

Did I dare dip my toe into this catalog of tantalizing species? Phillipps’ Field Guide (I’ll be using this shortened form of the title) covers 673 avian species, including 59 endemics, and 53 species that have not been documented yet for the area but which may show up in the next few years. Now, I’m not so sure.

Brunei 173

Brunei Birds Asia China 173