10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Wouldn’t you love to chase New Zealand’s newest family of birds at Mount Taranaki ? Around Christmas, some folks hark the herald angels singing, but those heavenly creatures in the air right now don’t have halos. The verb hark derives from Proto-Germanic by way of Middle English to urge someone to listen attentively.

New Zealand 153

New Zealand 2013 New York Birds 153

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

Yet they also bring up questions, which I’m going to talk about right now before diving into the specifics of the guides themselves. I think we do have the right to expect that artwork and species descriptions when repeated are current, reflect recent studies and taxonomic thought. © 2023 by Steve N.

Costa Rica 227

Costa Rica Belize El Salvador Birds 227

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

The inner side of the front cover contains the visual Quick Reference with paintings of one representative of the family followed by the relevant page number. You can zoom right into the photos, illustrations and maps, to enlarge the details. In the upper right corner of every species entry is a pencil.

Africa 264

Africa South Africa Swaziland Lesotho 264

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. December 25th is possibly the worst day of the year to be posting a blog, because lets face it, even the dispensing of wisdom from the world’s leading birder (past, present, and future) can compete with family duties.

Costa Rica 160

Costa Rica 2012 2013 Family 160

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2022

A family motel and passion for responsible ecotourism brought her home to the Oregon Coast where she and her husband, Erik, adventure and record a podcast ( Hannah and Erik Go Birding ), created in an effort to inspire others to get out and bird. The marine protected area status was designated in 2013.

South Africa 264

South Africa Mice Albatross Africa 264

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2015

Red-billed Curassow ( Crax blumenbachii ), a large, ground-dwelling bird belonging to the same family as the more familiar Plain Chachalaca of southern Texas, was never a very widespread species. In 2013, Dalcio Dacol and I paid a visit to this reserve as part of an independent, month long birding trip in southeast Brazil.

Brazil 224

Brazil California Condor Parrots Texas 224

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2013

The mystery of the Long-whiskered Owlet has been resolved as a new ecolodge was built right at the area where the Owlet was first discovered. The Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager and many other colorful members of this colorful family are found in Andean humid forest. Photo: Dubi Shapiro. Photo: Alex Duran.

Peru 184

Peru 2013 Louisiana Birds 184

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 22, 2014

In the ABA region, southeast Arizona and the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas host many sites right along the Mexican border that fit this description. 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

MARCH 11, 2013

Confusing, right? The Common Black Hawk earns its name by being common throughout at least part of its wide range, being black or very dark as adults, and being a hawk in the family Accipitridae. Photos from The Crossley ID Guide: Raptors used with the kind permission of Princeton University Press as part of the 2013 Raptor Blog Tour.

Chicago 250

Chicago South America 2013 Illinois 250

10,000 Birds

MAY 29, 2019

However, some of Paso Ancho’s most beautiful species are to be seen right along that river. 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. In Paso Ancho, I have never seen this species away from the river.

Squirrels 113

Squirrels Birds Mexico 2013 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 28, 2014

Defenders of the gun club accused me of lying, of distorting facts, of being anti-hunting, of being an animal rights activist, of being allied with the dreaded Friends of Animals, of hiding my true agenda (gun control), and of being unconcerned that animal lovers were supposedly threatening members of the gun club with death. “We

Killing 260

Killing Hunting Hunters Possums 260

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2013

We had a family picnic at Fort Tilden less than two weeks after my last set of predictions and a single Purple Martin was flying low over the fields with Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows. Upland Sandpiper – 23 Jun 2013 – Found by Isaac Grant at the Edgemere Landfill in the midst of Isaac’s New York City big year. (It

2012 158

2012 2013 New York City Jamaica 158

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

But on the other hand, there was so much more I wanted to do in 2012 … and wow, I really need to start buying gifts for my family and friends. you may have noticed that adorkable little Burrowing Owl who’s been peeking out of the right sidebar for the last few days. That’s right … and … BAM!

Bald Eagle 141

Bald Eagle Puffins 2012 Baltimore 141

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019

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.” Coverage of all families is not comprehensive. The reasoning is that most of the species in these families are birds seen near shore, but not at sea.

Albatross 167

Albatross North America Birds Groups 167

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2016

A guide that feels so right in my hands? And, that falcons are about as far away from hawks as a bird family could get. The group pages show how much the taxonomy of certain bird families has changed over the past 13 years. The colors, a point of criticism with the 2013 main volume, retain the corrections of the second printing.

North America 171

North America 2003 Birds America 171

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2015

I’m happy to say that Laura Erickson and Marie Read have written a book, Into the Nest: Intimate Views of the Courting, Parenting, and Family Lives of Familiar Birds , that is not too cute and that does not anthropomorphize. Part Two: The Family Live of Selected Species” describes and illustrates the family lives of 49 species in 25 chapters.

Eggs 263

Eggs Family 2006 New York 263

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 7, 2014

Twelve family accounts have been added. It is 72 pages longer than the first edition. An undisclosed number of family and species accounts have been updated. Nine photographers contributed most of the photographs used to illustrate the family sections, including Richard Crossley, Kevin T. Over 70 range maps were updated.

North America 178

North America America Birds Family 178

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2022

The taxonomy may have changed a bit since the guide was published in 2013, but the warblers are still the same, giving us extreme joy while driving us crazy as we try to identify them high in the canopy or zipping amongst lower branches. Princeton University Press, 2013. I’ve tried to learn the system, it’s not easy.

United States 229

United States North America Species 2013 229

10,000 Birds

JULY 1, 2014

Here are three excellent but very different children’s books I enjoyed this year (two were published in 2013, one in 2011). In the lower right-hand corner we see the partial figure of a bespectacled hiker. This plate is right at the center of the book. Lee & Low Books, October 2013. SeaGrove Press, July 2013.

Puerto Rico 241

Puerto Rico Parrots New York City 2013 241

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2013

Two days ago I went on Facebook and queried some of my exhausted compatriots: if you could have one wish right now – anything in the world – what would it be? “I Eventually everyone made it to their computer, and created the Summer of 2013 Rehabber’s Wish List: Money. Charitable Things. wrote Maryjane in Pennsylvania.

Wildlife 251

Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Oklahoma New York 251

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2015

The Karlson-Rosselet BBI approach is theoretically based on hemispheric brain differences, the idea that the left side of our brain processes stimuli analytically in a linear manner and the right side of our brain processes what we see and hear creatively and holistically. There Is No Left Brain/Right Brain Divide by Stephen M.

Birds 172

Birds New Jersey Science Groups 172

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

Within families, the species are arranged less taxonomically and more in line with “design and space considerations,” (Introduction), and on the plates themselves, species are arranged to facilitate comparison. Text is on the left, plates are on the right. The two plates above are both by Dale Dyer.

America 214

America El Salvador Costa Rica Honduras 214

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2013

The Peru Birding Rally Challenge is a joint initiative between PromPeru and the Inkaterra Family of hotels. Sargatal’s team, the Tramuntanas, came in last place, but all had an excellent time and they know now what to expect for the northern Peru event that will be held in June of 2013.

Peru 237

Peru 2012 Birds Falcons 237

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

The Peterson Reference Guide to Seawatching offers two types of information: Species Accounts–descriptions of 112 birds within 15 families as they appear over and on the water, and Where to Watch, brief descriptions of 47 sites on the North American eastern coast and interior recommended for seawatching.

Ducks 240

Ducks Groups Species North America 240

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2014

At the same time, one Black Stork wades through the shallows, right next to the road. Such actions were performed here and have reduced mortality and significantly increased breeding success: in 2013, over 190 youngsters successfully left the 130 nests on the artificial platforms at Lake Kerkini.

Greece 163

Greece Pelicans Breeding Buffalo 163

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2017

Species Accounts are arranged taxonomically, grouped by family. Family sections start with a brief description of the characteristics shared by the species in the family, followed by a description of the sounds made by those species and how they obtain their song/call knowledge.

North America 178

North America America Birds New York 178

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2015

Of course I then had to continue and so once again in 2013 I joined others in listing for the year and have just completed the third year in 2014. Firstly I would like to just do a little update on the Pied Oystercatcher family that were a large part of my life for the last few weeks of 2014. What a nice way to end the year!

2015 191

2015 2014 Ducks Ponies 191

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2014

And I, like some dowager countess in a birding vest, am expected to know each one’s family at a glance and greet them by name. Read James’s account of the 2012 Birding Rally and Alfredo’s account of the 2013 Birding Rally. Left to right: Rich Hoyer, Jake Mohlmann, Manuel Bryce, Gustavo Bautista, Paul French, Steve Howell.

Peru 255

Peru Birds South America Owls 255

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2015

Maharashtra, February 2013. Somewhere below that mysterious eagle, at the far shore of the lake, lies one Bengal Tiger … and further to the right – two more! Trying not to inhale so much of the dust cloud that envelops us, I am sporting a bandana tied bank-robber style. He has earned his tip. Very dusty Swarovski CLs.

Tigers 252

Tigers India Killing 2012 252

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2017

The organization is the same as The Crossley Guide: Raptors (PUP, 2013): photographic plates and brief text in the first half and extensive “Written Accounts” in the second half. This is how, I think, the “Crossley technique” works best—coverage of specific bird families that pose identification challenges to birders at all levels of skill.

Ducks 124

Ducks North America Geese Hunters 124

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2013

I haven’t done any surveys, but I would bet my binoculars that images and stories of hawks attract more attention and adoration from birders and the average person on the street than any other bird family. Families do not hike up mountains to sit all day on pointy rocks to watch woodpeckers. Princeton University Press, 2013.

North America 222

North America Bald Eagle Falcons Owls 222

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2017

I have to say right off that taxonomic organization is imprinted in my brain. Behrens, who comes from United States, also co-wrote the innovative Peterson Reference Guide to Seawatching: Eastern Waterbirds in Flight (with Cameron Cox, 2013). So, my taxonomic brain sees a couple of drawbacks immediately.

Ecuador 180

Ecuador Wildlife Reptiles Birds 180

4 The Love Of Animals

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

Starting with Casey and Arrow, our keepers in the woods, our family would keep cats and dogs. We both feel that even though we’ve never met these dogs, they’re ours, too; an extension of our family, someone to keep Peter smiling. Growing up, we always had animals. He was drawn to their innocence, and their pure emotions. Authors Bios.

Dogs 100

Dogs Puppies Iraq Pets 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2013

We saw several of the kingfisher family whilst on our trip, including Azure Kingfisher, Red-backed Kingfisher and Sacred Kingfisher. I expect he has done some travelling in the period from May 2012 to February 2013! Forest Kingfisher. Our trip was camping based and so we planned to avoid all wet weather where possible.

Birds 151

Birds Cattle Litter 2012 151

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2014

Each bird illustration consists of two parts–the image itself on the right-hand page full-page size with a wide white border, and the text on the left-hand page, a brief description of the bird in Harper’s distinctive voice. Ammo Books; Anniversary ed edition; November, 2013 (originally published 1972, reissued 2008).

Betty Crocker 170

Betty Crocker Birds 2008 2007 170

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2016

My librarian self is partial to a more strict taxonomic organization, but with no hope that the constant shifting of families will end in the near future, this type of sequence is making more and more sense. Browsing is facilitated by section titles at the top of each left-hand page and smaller group titles on the upper right-hand page.

Ireland 150

Ireland Birds Groups Falcons 150

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

This is like Sibley calling his bird guide “The Sibley guide to Birds of Massachusetts and North America” The latter sounds silly, right? Paper | 2013 | $29.95 / £17.95 | ISBN: 9780691157535. So what is one to think of the former? They are instructive with a clear focus on tracking, yet they manage to go far beyond that.

Europe 166

Europe Mammals Animal Birds 166