10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2016

The icing on the cake has been getting to join this exceptional group of writers, and avian enthusiasts here on 10,000 Birds. The depth of knowledge, and experience shown here, as well as the writing skills leave me in awe most every week, as I scroll thru the weekly entries.

2016 100

2016 Grizzly Bear Puffins Mexico 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2024

The chapter titles of Feather Trails: A Journey of Discovery Among Endangered Birds represent both ends of the spectrum: “A World Full of Poisons,” “Malaria,” “Forest Intruders,” “Lead Shock,” “Shot.” Conservation. It’s not easy.

California Condor 176

California Condor Falcons California Birds 176

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

One good thing about birding during a pandemic–the forced restrictions on place and time translate into more time to observe what birds do. Bird behavior–endlessly fascinating, but so much still hidden and unknown. Extreme behaviors also push scientists to look at birds in new ways.

Research 221

Research Birds Science Costa Rica 221

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2016

Corey could have chosen his first Pine Siskins of the year in New York, a Red-headed Woodpecker , a late Osprey , or a Vesper Sparrow as his Best Bird of the Weekend this weekend. But it was a common bird sitting in good light that he tapped for the honors, a Gray Catbird that cooperated wonderfully in Kissena Park. How about you?

2016 169

2016 New York Birds Woodpeckers 169

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 23, 2016

Corey didn’t see a whole heck of a lot on his one birding outing this weekend to coastal Queens, but he did see a whole mess of Dark-eyed Juncos , which he really appreciated in their formal outfits. Not the most exciting Best Bird of the Weekend but it will do. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

2016 160

2016 Birds Experience Experiments 160

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2024

Most serious bird photographers dislike taking pictures of birds wearing rings (or what on the other side of the Atlantic you call bands). I can sympathise, as a shiny new ring, clamped to a bird’s leg, rarely enhances its portrait. The information I received didn’t indicate the age of the bird.

Lithuania 130

Lithuania Morocco Iceland Ireland 130

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2016

At least one weekend a year, bats–particularly the vampiric kind–command more attention than birds, at least from most people. I saw lots of different kinds of woodpeckers this weekend, but that big, honking Pileated always wins out over the others for Best Bird honors. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2016 156

2016 Cattle Bats New York 156

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2016

One downside to birding in autumn– certainly not the only one –is how almost everything you see heading south is something you caught earlier in the year heading north. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was any of the three Royal Terns flying past Fort Tilden during the weather-shortened Queens County Bird Club Big Sit.

2016 154

2016 Birds Experience Experiments 154

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2016

Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was a close contest. What was your best bird of the weekend? Tell us in the comments section about the rarest, loveliest, or most fascinating bird you observed. Tell us in the comments section about the rarest, loveliest, or most fascinating bird you observed. How about you?

Lamb 154

Lamb 2016 Pennsylvania Jamaica 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2016

No luck there, but I did get into a bunch of nice birds, including what I mistakenly thought was my first Brown Thrasher of the year. Corey had a wonderful Saturday birding Queens and Long Island with Carlos Sanchez and Anthony Collerton. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

2016 154

2016 Jamaica Birds Falcons 154

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 27, 2016

My core values demand that I get outside often enough to experience the real world, rather than what I see while watching football. But his Best Bird of the Weekend was the fifth Western Tanager he’s ever seen in New York State. What was your best bird of the weekend? What are your values? How about you?

2016 134

2016 Squirrels New York Birds 134

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2016

I was surprised lots of birds that might have left weeks ago were still hanging around. As mentioned, our exquisite autumn weekend had me out enjoying the warmth and sun, not to mention the birds. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was an easy decision this weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2016 154

2016 New York Birds Experience 154

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2021

10,000 Birds is running a series of articles by and about tour guides, tour companies, eco-lodges, and other birding travel organizations. We want to help the birding tourism industry come back strong from the COVID pandemic. Marcelo Arias has 25+ years of experience guiding. In Ecuador, there are 1.600+ species of birds.

Ecuador 180

Ecuador Spain Experience Experiments 180

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

Of course, birds only represent a sliver of the near-infinite flora and fauna that, collectively, grows, blooms, dies back, and lapses into dormancy over the course of a year. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was his favorite species, a Green Heron , at the Great Vly in his hometown of Saugerties, New York. How about you?

2016 154

2016 New York Birds Collecting 154

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2016

But we have splendid birds in Western NY all year long. Corey had a pleasing plethora of good birds from which to choose his Best Bird of the Weekend from this week. Not a bad Best Bird of the Weekend by any standard! What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

Bald Eagle 134

Bald Eagle 2016 United States Birds 134

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2016

While acquiring our fragrant Balsam Fir , I was distracted by a variety of birds flying over. Corey had an easy choice for his Best Bird of the Weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend? Tell us in the comments section about the rarest, loveliest, or most fascinating bird you observed. How about you?

2016 124

2016 Birds Owls Experience 124

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

There’s something wonderfully primeval about the Northern Bald Ibis: it has the look of a bird that really ought to be extinct. The fact that it’s not is quite surprising, as this curious bird has come very close to the brink. Sadly, they no longer breed in Algeria, while in Turkey no free-flying birds remain. (In

Morocco 223

Morocco Austria Algeria Germany 223

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2017

Don’t think we’ve noticed that most of you don’t play along with this game of sharing the best–meaning the coolest, rarest, fanciest, or dearest–bird species you’ve spotted in a given weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend? Your year will be much better for it! How about you?

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2016 2017 New York Birds 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2016

Every year around this very weekend, new birds return from a far-too-long hiatus. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was any of the horde of Sanderlings he saw in the Rockaways on Saturday morning. What was your best bird of the weekend? That’s right… football season has finally begun. How about you?

2016 100

2016 New York Falcons Birds 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2017

The year 2016 is done and gone and 2017 beckons us onward, bright and new and shiny, hopefully full of birds. Here’s hoping everyone has a wonderful 2017, full of amazing birds and experiences. Here’s hoping everyone has a wonderful 2017, full of amazing birds and experiences. How about you?

2017 124

2017 2016 New York Birds 124

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2016

” Unless we’re talking about birding, in which case the jasmine in my mind– whatever that is –patiently waits for migration! Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was an easy one to choose as it was his first albatross, a Black-footed Albatross off the coast of California. How about you?

Albatross 101

Albatross 2016 Seals Birds 101

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2016

Those of you in the tropical zones can enjoy your resident birds in peace for once. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was a Barn Swallow that kept him company in a bird blind while Seaside Sparrows sang and Common Terns hunted in Wildwood, NJ. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

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2016 Breeders Birds Hunting 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2016

Yet, in realms such as birding, the acts rarely overlap; if you are birding, you’re probably not writing about it, and vice versa. This brief moment of rumination is meant to explain why we don’t have the best bird of Corey’s weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

Idaho 100

Idaho 2016 Colorado Birds 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 17, 2016

And some of the rest of us went birding! But whether you’re questing for Pokémon or birds, at least you got outside. My week on the shores of Lake Michigan resulted in the same birds I enjoy on the shores of Lake Ontario. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

2016 100

2016 Michigan Jamaica Birds 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 31, 2016

Summer weekends might not offer as many birds as other times of year, but they certainly offer the best conditions for enjoying whatever might be found. Nothing beats cracking open a cold one on a hot day and watching waves of fledgling yard birds suck our feeders dry. What was your best bird of the weekend?

Denver 101

Denver 2016 Birds Owls 101

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2016

After some weekends, we reflect on better views of birds we see all the time. Other times, however, find us smiling after seeing birds we haven’t seen in months. I didn’t wander far from home this weekend, but luckily a ton of new birds came to me. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

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New York City 2016 New York Birds 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2016

The dog days of summer are upon us though here at 10,000 Birds we call them bird days. This despite the heat and humidity sometimes making it seem that there are no birds to see. Both Mike and I saw birds more or less far from our homes this weekend. How about you?

New York City 100

New York City 2016 Michigan New York 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2016

These are the days when birds of one season overlap with those of another. I couldn’t quite turn a runt among Canada Geese at Genessee Valley Park into a Cackling , so my best bird had to be a flyover Sharp-shinned Hawk. What was your best bird of the weekend? Erratic weather patterns signal flux. Cherish them!

2016 101

2016 New York Geese Canada 101

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2016

Speaking of summer, the coolest birds I saw this weekend were on the festive curtains (pictured above) in my son’s new cabin at sleepaway camp in the Finger Lakes. But if I have to pick a living bird, American Kestrels hunting along farm roads always work for me. Tyrannus tyrannus is an exemplary Best Bird of the Weekend.

2016 100

2016 Birds Farming Hunting 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 17, 2016

These seasons of transition make for exciting birding. Best of all, your birds next weekend may be even better than what this weekend offered. Corey could have chosen any of several new birds for the year for him in New York for his Best Bird of the Weekend this weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2016 101

2016 Jamaica New York Laws 101

10,000 Birds

MAY 22, 2016

I’ve added plenty of new species to my year list, but the bird I appreciated most this weekend was the one closest to home. With a hundred and ten species seen by noon on Sunday, Corey had a host of birds to choose from for his Best Bird of the Weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

2016 101

2016 Baltimore Birds Experience 101

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2016

I don’t know which legislative branch to appeal to, but there ought to be a law that mandates life birds on a birder’s birthday. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was a cooperative Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge that contentedly foraged while Corey digiscoped. Sure beats cake! How about you?

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2016 Legislation Jamaica Laws 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2016

Maybe this whole comparison falls apart upon closer scrutiny, but these are still fine days to be looking at birds! Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks that have taken up residence in his parents’ neighborhood in Saugerties, in upstate New York. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2016 100

2016 Eggs Chickens New York 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2016

Now that the balance between night and day is shifting, no matter how imperceptibly, we can anticipate new birds in our immediate vicinities. Corey could have chosen his first Piping Plover or Eastern Phoebe of the year in New York as his Best Bird of the Weekend and either would have been an understandable pick. How about you?

2016 100

2016 New York 2009 Birds 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

An unfortunate side effect of birding in the developing world, is the amount of habitat destruction you are likely to see. I started afforesting our church lot in 2016, just after we were able to fence it. The post Afforestation appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

ALA 191

ALA 2016 Free Range Livestock 191

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

Corey tried his best to find storm-tossed or at least storm-effected birds on Sunday morning but Tropical Storm Hermine paused far to New York City’s south and east so he saw nothing great on his seawatch from Jacob Riis Park in Queens. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

New York City 100

New York City 2016 New York Birds 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2016

Some birds are leaving, making room for welcome new arrivals. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was either of a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers that he saw at the Ramshorn Livingston Sanctuary in Catskill, New York, while he was on a walk with his family. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

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2016 Sanctuary New York Woodpeckers 100