10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2015

One of the state’s nicknames is “The Pelican State,” the bird is on the state’s flag, the state seal, the state painting (yes, apparently states have official paintings), as well as on one of Louisiana’s bicentennial coins. They are large birds, with a wingspan that can reach over 78 inches.

Louisiana 160

Louisiana Pelicans Legislature United States 160

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 216

2010 South America 2011 Argentina 216

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2017

There should be thousands of birds at this time of the year, Dimitris Michalakis from the Karla Lake management authority told me. With EU funds, the restoration started in 2009 when embankments were built to create one large and six more small reservoirs. The birds appeared plentiful here and I climbed the dyke to scan the shallows.

Greece 207

Greece Killing Pelicans Eagles 207

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2022

On that glorious day, I observed ten critically endangered birds, representing 8% of their Costa Rican, or 2% of their global population!! In my previous post , I dealt with Rancho Naturalista Lodge itself and birding within their private reserve. But, let’s start at the beginning. 130 mature individuals, in 2019 (Monge et al.

Costa Rica 258

Costa Rica Nicaragua 2019 Farming 258

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2013

Since at least 2009 there has been at least one hypopigmented, or piebald, American Robin living in Alley Pond Park in my home borough of Queens, at least for the breeding season. That changed on a recent visit when the partially leucistic bird and its mate decided to cooperate for me and my camera. It (or they?*)

2009 220

2009 2011 Breeding Birds 220

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2015

We drove for about 290 km through the 400 square kilometres expanse of Pancevacki Rit and found 8 breeding colonies with 252 occupied nests, or a density of 1.6 The best counting season is April, but I will accept late March and early May reports, too (actually, I already have a few early reports – the birds have occupied the nests by now).

Experience 257

Experience Experiments Science Serbia 257

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2016

This is a poor photo I took of this pair’s nest back in 2009. We are all watching intently as these two beautiful raptors attempt another successful breeding season without further disturbance. That is what the Migratory Bird Treaty Act is meant to do. The new nest is still but a ghost of what the old nest looked like.

Transported 102

Transported Eggs Birds Killing 102

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2020

The April arrival of the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America, Second Edition was a supremely happy moment in a very difficult, sad month. A companion regional guide, Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America was published in 1941; its fifth edition will be coming out in early September.

North America 239

North America America Hawaii Birds 239

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. The Atlantic Coast population lingers on the breeding grounds after nesting to molt.

Mississippi 277

Mississippi Mexico Alabama North Carolina 277

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2012

Queens, New York, May 2009 May is the month of migration in North America. … This post was first published on 04 May 2009 but a post like this shouldn’t be left to languish in the archives ! ……… a.

New York City 159

New York City New York 2009 Litter 159

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2012

Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 15 March 2009 It was at about 1:30 AM on Saturday morning that I startled awake and found myself sitting in an empty subway car in an unfamiliar location. John from A DC Birding Blog , and Patrick from The Hawk Owl’s Nest at Jamaica Bay at 8 AM Saturday morning for some birding.

New York 169

New York Honduras Jamaica Geese 169

10,000 Birds

APRIL 18, 2011

One of the least known stories of New York birding is the tale of the wild Mitred Parakeets. Are they breeding? JFK Airport was a major hub for the importation of wildlife for the pet trade, and it is likely that birds escaped from quarantine during this period. The population may also be supplemented by releases of pet birds.

New York City 236

New York City New York Los Angeles South America 236

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 8, 2015

Brown Pelicans in non-breeding plumage. Both are the only Pelican in their non-overlapping breeding grounds. Peruvian Pelican in non-breeding plumage. Brown Pelican in Breeding Plumage. Peruvian Pelican in breeding plumage, photo: Olaf (Creative Commons – Flickr). The Brown Pelican is Louisiana’s state bird.

Pelicans 157

Pelicans North America Peru Fish 157

10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2019

I couldn’t help thinking this–me, the anthropomorphism hater– as I watched a pair of Philippine Eagles tend their nest, raise a chick, and tear monkeys apart in Bird of Prey: The Story of the Rarest Eagle on Earth , a well-crafted, beautifully filmed documentary with a mission. 1980’s Filmstrip, photo by Eric Liner.

Eagles 203

Eagles Philippines Eggs Birds 203

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2012

So it was with a superlative, breeding-plumaged, male Scarlet Tanager today at Jamaica Bay. Now Scarlet Tanagers are always a gorgeous bird, and if you walk by a breeding-plumaged male without looking not only are your credentials as a birder at stake but so are your credentials as a human being. And, well, wow.

Jamaica 180

Jamaica Collecting 2009 Breeding 180

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 13, 2012

Jersey has always gotten a bad rap in general (the smells of the turnpike, the Jersey shore, the governor), and in the world of birding, the state often seems to be symbolized by two words: Cape May. The New Jersey Bird Records Committee (NJBRC) documents 465 species of natural origin. Press, 2003). It does so with authority and style.

New Jersey 209

New Jersey Birds 2009 Bald Eagle 209

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. Birding Australia Broome oystercatcher' Hermit Crab in lid.

2007 175

2007 Eggs 2014 2002 175

Critter News

AUGUST 22, 2010

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper, one of the world's most threatened birds, is rapidly heading towards extinction because young birds are being targeted for human consumption. In 2000, around 1,000 breeding pairs were known, but by 2009, the number had plummeted to just 120-220 pairs, a decline of 88%.

Species 100

Species Myanmar Endangered Species Russia 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2014

The danger of reviewing a field guide to the birds of an exotic country you’ve never been to is that you become obsessed with visiting that country, no matter how far away and how expensive it may be. I’m already looking up birding tours of Borneo and pricing airfares. Borneo, the authors say, is under-birded.

Brunei 186

Brunei Birds Asia China 186

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2012

Kazakhstan – May 2009 After our excellent time at the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve we bid a fond farewell to its gorgeous grassy terrain and made our way to a location where Sociable Lapwing were known to breed. Well, that is almost too much to ask for! Fortunately, they seem to be in good hands!

Kazakhstan 131

Kazakhstan Cows 2009 Endangered Species 131

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2013

More recent sightings, including a photograph taken in 2009 (and which the photographer himself admits may well be a White-Winged Duck ), have been embraced in the main by the cryptozoological world, where there is a strong streak of “I want to believe!” When it comes to a bird like that, I want to believe too.

Myanmar 206

Myanmar Bangladesh Ducks Wisconsin 206

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2015

Producing a book about birds and nesting is a dangerous business. The truth is that there are few images cuter than baby birds in the nest opening their mouths and begging for food, but there are curmudgeons amongst us, myself included, who don’t like to admit this. And of birds courting and mating. We simply refuse to squee.

Eggs 263

Eggs Family 2006 New York 263

10,000 Birds

MARCH 26, 2012

Anhinga , otherwise known as Snakebird , Water Turkey , or American Darter * – and more formally as Anhinga anhinga – is a bird I have long wanted to see in New York State. In fact, he pointed out the exact same bird as the bird below. And their plumage, especially their breeding finery, is a sight to see.

Florida 177

Florida Honduras Turkey Wildlife 177

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2013

Proposal 2013-A-3 recommends adopting that split on the basis of a 2009 study (I wrote about it back in the day here ). The proposal author (a Sage Sparrow researcher) argues that multiple factors indicate the birds deserve full species status. acuflavida ). Moving Hawaiian honeycreepers. Shearwater split. Let the hyphen wars begin!)

2013 205

2013 Sparrows Owls Stray 205

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2013

Our first cyclone for the season has formed, but it is to the north of us and heading east and we are expecting one or two cyclones in coming months and hopefully some birds blown off course with it! Observing birds, but ready for any weather! This pair of birds are in breeding plumage with their black cap covering their eyes.

Asia 145

Asia Australia Bats Breeding 145

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2012

Kazakhstan, May 2009 During the two days spent out in the steppe in Kazakhstan I couldn’t help but notice the sheer number of flowers that dotted the grassy steppe. We here at 10,000 Birds salute Swarovski Optik ‘s commitment to conservation.

Sri Lanka 219

Sri Lanka Kazakhstan 2009 Portugal 219

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 218

Trinidad Birds South America Research 218

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2011

Ponds and estuaries fill up with passage waders and the birding gets good after the summer lull as we rise slowly and surely towards the fever pitch of autumn. One of Britain’s recent colonisers the Mediterranean Gull begins to arrive in bigger numbers every year as post-breeding dispersal takes hold.

Poland 157

Poland 2009 Europe France 157

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 16, 2012

It has been twelve weeks now since the first pair of Pied Oystercatchers attempted to breed along the stretch of beach that we survey and as with each year there have been setbacks. There was a long stretch of beach that did not have a breeding pair, but it was in amongst the vehicles and nudists that frequent the area at this time of year.

Family 202

Family Eggs 2007 2008 202

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2011

The Cape May Warbler is an outstanding bird and an outing that includes one is almost undoubtedly considered successful. It breeds across Canada’s boreal forest and most winter in the Caribbean, though some spend the cold months in Central America. Enjoy these shots and be glad you are not a Spruce Budworm !

Tigers 160

Tigers United States Jamaica Pennsylvania 160

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2011

Most of these birds are small, finch-like species with thick, conical bills for cracking seeds or eating insects. Writing in the Journal of Avian Biology in 2003, Van Remsen theorized: [T]he bill may exert more influence on our cognitive perception because of its proximity to the bird’s face.

2003 235

2003 Sparrows Family South America 235

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 26, 2014

The Yellow-rumped Warbler ( Setophaga coronata ) complex is one of the most abundant and widespread representatives of the New World warbler family in North America, present in many parts of the United States even through the winter months, when the birds feed on small fruits and other foods, including sap. So Toews et al.

United States 256

United States 2011 Guatemala North America 256

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2011

We are into the second attempt at breeding for this season in Broome for Pied Oystercatchers. We had one pair attempt 5 times in 2009, so they don’t give up easily! Sadly a lot of eggs are lost to feral cats and chicks are sometimes taken by birds of prey.

2002 167

2002 Feral Cats Eggs 2007 167

10,000 Birds

MAY 18, 2013

This is the Czech Republic entry for 2009; [link]. Europe’s most celebrated songster, the Nightingale, will be signalling his return to the northern breeding grounds. Tonight, Malmo hosts the high camp drama that is the Eurovision Song Contest. It is a celebration of trite, ridiculous and frankly disturbing pop music.

Czech Republic 140

Czech Republic Sweden Pedigree Finland 140

Critter News

DECEMBER 12, 2009

In April 2009, unseasonably cold weather froze two whopping crane eggs. They were a part of the zoo’s breeding program for the rare birds. And an incident in June 2009, while it didn’t involve death, certainly drew controversy. In November 2008, a virus killed a 15-month-old Asian elephant calf named Malti.

Zoos 100

Zoos Animal Welfare Welfare Elephants 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 13, 2016

Fortunately (for me) Anthony Collerton had made an attempt on the bird earlier in the week but had dipped, only to learn that it was seen several hours after he left. We were in no rush to get to Montezuma as the bird was typically spotted in the afternoon because the sun made for horrible viewing in the morning hours. Time went past.

New York 100

New York Bald Eagle New York City Kazakhstan 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

But you do not want this to happen while you are outside of Philadelphia and facing hours of rain-slowed traffic just to get back to New York City, especially when the bird in question, while within the one hour radius of home, is on the northern edge of that radius. This situation simply could not stand.

New York 169

New York New York City Kazakhstan New Jersey 169