10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

As 2013 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 , 2011 , and 2012 , 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!

2013 168

2013 Birds Costa Rica India 168

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 18, 2012

What is up with the birding community in the northern part of the US recently? The event brings in people of color in the birding world and we engage in discussion to find out why birding is a bit white in nature and what we can do to be more inclusive. I digiscoped the above bird after waiting for 15 minutes.

Family 167

Family Beavers Minnesota Sparrows 167

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2014

I’m at a yearly disadvantage when it comes to deciding my Best Bird of the Year (BBOY) here on 10,000 Birds. When all of you are settling in inside away from the snow for family, food and arguments, we’re all getting our travel on. Birding best bird of the year Borneo storks' I was Borneo-bound.

2013 179

2013 Birds Rhinoceros Thailand 179

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

Way back on 16 May I managed to see my 312 bird species in Queens to add to my Queens list. Somehow I forgot that the last time I predicted what the next ten species I would see in Queens would be was back on 30 December 2013, when my list was sitting at 302. What did I predict back in December of 2013? Good times!

2013 160

2013 2010 2012 2011 160

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2013

I know that families in the United States are already fretting/anticipating September’s arrival. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was a Least Tern that flew over his apartment, only the second he ever saw from the comfort of his balcony. My best birds were Eastern Kingbirds , which usually catch my attention in summer.

2013 178

2013 United States Birds Family 178

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2020

Be careful how you Google ‘bird of paradise’! It’s the bird family that most people don’t know is a bird family. It’s the bird family that most people don’t know is a bird family.

Guinea 264

Guinea Birds Papua New Guinea Family 264

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2013

Even the solo birders out there have to appreciate that birding together is often better than birding alone. Corey and I don’t get out in the field together much, since we’ve determined that the ongoing security of 10,000 Birds requires the two of us to live in separate cities. Another new Queens bird for Corey!)

New York City 172

New York City 2013 New York Nashville 172

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 2, 2013

Birds in Australia love them ! I’m looking forward to a fun weekend of family and friends in an area where I should see lots of terrific forest birds. Corey will be enjoying city birds as he escorts family around town. Corey will be enjoying city birds as he escorts family around town.

2013 152

2013 Australia Birds Family 152

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 20, 2013

In fact, we lead the world in these ubiquitous red birds, a fact that undoubtedly chafes terrorists and freedom haters everywhere. My best bird this weekend was hardly rare, but spotting a Great Blue Heron in a suburban yard far from water definitely caught my attention. That’s his third new bird in Queens in less than a month!

St. Louis 171

St. Louis 2013 United States Arizona 171

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2022

According to Wikipedia, the national bird of Australia is the Emu – which I have not seen yet. Duncan – in a 10,000 Birds post – apparently also thinks it would make a good national bird. Duncan – in a 10,000 Birds post – apparently also thinks it would make a good national bird.

Australia 147

Australia Birds Parrots Ostriches 147

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2013

We’re early in the month, but many birds are late compared to last year, at least in my part of the world. Then again, migratory birds arrived very early last year. Apparently, all the action is just one Great Lake to the west at the Biggest Week in American Birding. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2013 175

2013 Ohio Birds Experience 175

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

Australia has a lot of birds. The “ Working List of Australian Birds, v.4 4 ,” published by BirdLife Australia lists 2,016 birds, but that includes subspecies (add extinct, domestic, failed introduced & non-confirmed birds and you have 2,106). I recently visited Australia (Yay!) How did they do that?!”

Australia 253

Australia Birds 2017 Groups 253

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2020

Back in 2013, as I was gradually getting back into birding, I found myself trying to ID a tiny bird that had visited my garden. (It Adorable birds, but that’s another story.) Last week, I went birding with Jonathan, one of my chat friends. They were also believed to be part of the Wood Warbler family.

Mexico 252

Mexico United States 2019 America 252

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 27, 2013

I’m headed down to NYC for the holidays, while heads upstate and then much further upstate for family and birds. Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Also be sure to come back Monday to share your best bird of the weekend ! Birding November weekend' How about you?

2013 160

2013 Lions Killing Turkey 160

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

My family already boxed a bushel and look forward to much more. Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Also be sure to come back Monday to share your best bird of the weekend ! Birding September weekend' How do you like them apples? How about you? Share your plans in the comments below.

2013 168

2013 Birds Family Rights 168

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 19, 2023

Photos courtesy of Mosetlha Bush Camp A dusty-red road leads me through Marico bushveld deeper into the 750 square kilometers large wilderness of the Madikwe Game Reserve – the 4th largest reserve in South Africa, home to 350 bird and 66 mammal species, some 4 hours’ drive from Johannesburg.

South Africa 232

South Africa Africa Game Elephants 232

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Wouldn’t you love to chase New Zealand’s newest family of birds at Mount Taranaki ? Corey and I plan to hearken to whatever choice birds pass through our respective parts of New York State. Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Birding September weekend' How about you?

New Zealand 153

New Zealand 2013 New York Birds 153

10,000 Birds

JUNE 13, 2013

My choice is always to allow my kids to bask in my fatherly glory, so I’ll be birding wherever I can bring the team along. He and his family will be in California, where he has his eye on a few West Coast species that have thus far eluded him. Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Birding June weekend'

2013 161

2013 Birds California Australia 161

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2013

I’m fortunate to be spending the weekend entertaining family, which means I’ll be enjoying birds at all the local tourist attractions! Corey is ready at any moment to snag his triumphant 300th bird in Queens: have you guessed which species it will be yet? Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding?

2013 151

2013 Birds Family Species 151

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2016

I purchased my first Sibley— The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America —in 2003. Am I willing to give up the field guide which bears the mud and dirt of so many falls on so many birding trips? Am I willing to give up the field guide which bears the mud and dirt of so many falls on so many birding trips?

North America 171

North America 2003 Birds America 171

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 22, 2014

For others, it is the desire to have a different birding experience from home without needing a passport. Andy Walker and I had the pleasure of visiting Doi Lang in late December of 2013 right on my birthday — so many birthday birds on that day!

Thailand 167

Thailand Birds 2013 China 167

10,000 Birds

MAY 29, 2019

In my last post, I introduced you to some of my favorite birds from the tiny town of Paso Ancho, Michoacán. It would be a shame not to include the Russet-crowned Motmot , from a family known as racketbirds because of the shape of their two specialized central tail feathers. The Squirrel Cuckoo is one of my personal trigger birds.

Squirrels 113

Squirrels Birds Mexico 2013 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2013

The most flamboyant of all hummers, the Marvelous Spatuletail will be one of the many endemic bird highlights along the route of the Second International Birding Rally Challenge in Peru. I can’t convey how thrilled I am about the upcoming International Birding Rally Challenge in Peru. Photo: Courtesy of Dubi Shapiro.

Peru 184

Peru 2013 Louisiana Birds 184

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019

Are seabirds the last frontier of bird identification? They say so right here in the Preface of Oceanic Birds of The World: A Photo Guide —seabirds are “some of the most challenging of all birds to identify.” Which makes the publication of Oceanic Birds of The World: A Photo Guide a significant and happy event.

Albatross 167

Albatross North America Birds Groups 167

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2015

It’s December and that means one thing—a great excuse to buy books on birding. I thought I’d do a round-up of some of the best bird books reviewed this year, a few memorable titles from recent years past, and one that wasn’t reviewed but which I love, that would be great holiday gifts. Books for Beginning Birders.

Papua New Guinea 187

Papua New Guinea 2014 Penguins Birds 187

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 12, 2014

Joseph Chiera is a Masters student in Animal Behavior and Conservation at Hunter College in NYC and a “somewhat newbie” to birding. After taking an ornithology course last year, he was hooked and spends most of his free time birding or reading birding blogs. This is truly a bird-lovers dream-destination.

Sweden 168

Sweden Denmark Geese Birds 168

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2013

In fact, the last one was back on 15 May 2012 when my Queens list stood at 289 and I guessed what my next eleven birds would be that would get me to 300. Note that starred birds are birds that have since been seen and are not indicative of how well I predicted each time.). John’s the Divine Cemetery.

2012 158

2012 2013 New York City Jamaica 158

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2022

Hannah Buschert was first exposed to birds and birding during a required ornithology course at Oregon State University and she quickly caught the birding bug. This is Hannah’s first contribution to 10,000 Birds. Hannah and Erik ready to see some birds! I love to go on cruises.

South Africa 264

South Africa Mice Albatross Africa 264

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2014

It took me a while to wrap my mind around the concept of Birds and People , Mark Cocker and David Tipling’s book that, in 592 pages, explores the intersection of just that—birds and us. Nor have I overlooked “sightings” of birds in movies mouthing other birds’ calls. I’m not sure why.

Birds 224

Birds Egypt Family Eagles 224

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2013

Two-thousand-twelve was a pretty darn good year for me birding-wise and otherwise. Seeing 525 species was nice, as was the fact that I birded in four countries, nine of the fifty states in the United States, and fifty-one counties. I wonder how many I’ll be able to add in 2013. This year my goals are simple. Mottled Duck

2012 145

2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 145

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2015

There are many charismatic endangered birds that capture people’s hearts and imaginations: the colossal California Condor , the evocative Red-crowned Crane , and the adorable Spoon-billed Sandpiper come to mind. This is a short series that brings attention to these incredible birds, and my various adventures to try and see them.

Brazil 224

Brazil California Condor Parrots Texas 224

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 10, 2014

Together, these birds compose the family Alcidae , and they share adaptations that we recognize as penguin-like: an upright stance on land, black-and-white plumage, and — most important — wings that propel them underwater in pursuit of prey ( see them in action here ). © David J. See Cairns et al.

Penguins 233

Penguins Puffins 2008 Sharks 233

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 18, 2014

The vast majority of the 10,000+ living species of birds are passerines, and the vast majority of those have a similar system of breeding: Mom and dad bird make a nest and share parental responsibilities roughly equally, if not identically. There are variations on that theme, of course.

Breeders 210

Breeders Breeding Birds Groups 210

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2020

Going birding is even more of a no-brainer now than before. Many moons ago, when I used to work in the (supposedly) booming petrochemical industry in Trinidad, most of my time was actually spent birding. I racked up a staggering number of life birds in the surprisingly rich surroundings during my four-odd years slaving for The Man.

Trinidad 232

Trinidad Battery Industry Bats 232

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

It actually makes a lot of sense, the geographic features of the isthmus between North America (including Mexico, because Mexico is part of North America) and South America cut across political lines, as do birds. It is the first bird field guide to every country of Central America (plus the islands governed by those countries).

America 214

America El Salvador Costa Rica Honduras 214

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 25, 2012

Tropical Kingbird is likely to be one of the last birds I see in 2012 and first I see in 2013. Not a hard bird to come by in Costa Rica. This confiding Central American bird was far away from its normal home, near Half Moon Bay, CA. That’s what you need to do to be Great. That’s all for this year birders.

Costa Rica 160

Costa Rica 2012 2013 Family 160

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 7, 2014

The second edition of the National Geographic Complete Birds of North America, 2nd Edition has one of the longest book names in bird bookdom: National Geographic Complete Birds of North America, 2nd Edition: Now Covering More Than 1,000 Species With the Most-Detailed Information Found in a Single Volume. Karlson, and Brian E.

North America 178

North America America Birds Family 178