10,000 Birds

JANUARY 11, 2022

Jeff Gordon resigned as president of the American Birding Association, effective November 30, 2021. The last full audit seems to have been in 2017 and the independent auditor’s report is alarming (emphasis added): “The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Association will continue as a going concern.

2019 292

2019 Legislation 2017 2018 292

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Now that the odometer on year lists has rolled back to zero, you’re probably eagerly looking forward to beginning the bird hunt anew. Corey did not see many birds this weekend but he saw a few good ones. What was your best bird of the weekend? But take a moment first to appreciate your final sightings of the year gone by.

2017 101

2017 Birds Hunting Experience 101

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 24, 2017

No matter how much time you can spare, you MUST respond to the spectacle of migration taking place right now. Such a pleasant little sparrow, and easily Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend. They appeared in numbers everywhere, harassing each other or any other bird they could find. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2017 124

2017 Virginia Sparrows Game 124

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2017

But any time of year is the right time to pay attention to uncommon avian behavior, even from common birds. For example, I saw all kinds of special species this weekend, but nothing impressed me more than displays of the tyranny of tiny birds. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

2017 113

2017 Jamaica Birds Wildlife 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2017

If you’re feeling some measure of terror right now, you may not be thinking of the season’s cavalcade of horrors. No, what scares me is the idea that migration will be ending soon… Nonetheless, this time of year introduces a suite of seasonal birds. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

2017 100

2017 Nashville Birds Ducks 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2018

With only a few more days left, 2017 was coming to a close. I needed 4 more birds to round it up to 400, and as I said, I had only a few more days left. At home, I may find a new bird, perhaps two, but four? I am right, Kostas confirms, it is a Greater Spotted Eagle. Reaching that threshold, birding become less tense.

Greece 187

Greece 2017 Pelicans Geese 187

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2017

Oh right, good birders don’t wear white. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was easy to choose as he spotted a Buff-breasted Sandpiper out in the Rockaways, only the third he’s ever seen in Queens. What was your best bird of the weekend? What’s that? How about you?

2017 100

2017 United States Birds Experience 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2017

North America is aflame with eclipse fever right now, which provides yet another opportunity to wonder what life would be like if the average citizen felt a fraction as much passion for birding as is devoted to countless sports, media, celebrities, fashion, or even the rare astronomical phenomenon. How about you?

2017 100

2017 North America Whales Whaling 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2017

Oh, to be birding at Shark Bay in Australia. What season are we in right now? Conditions vary wherever you are, but take comfort in the fact that birds hang around whatever the season. Conditions vary wherever you are, but take comfort in the fact that birds hang around whatever the season. How about you?

Sharks 109

Sharks United States 2017 Birds 109

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2020

Having finally found a Black Vulture for my Queens list , an important tick both because it was long overdue and because it was the tenth bird since my last set of predictions, it is time, once again, to look at what might be coming to my Queens list. Western Tanager – Pretty unlikely but a guy can dream, right? 1 out of 2!).

2018 164

2018 2015 Birds 2019 164

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

I remember it as the one in Niagara where the Arctic would come on down to bring ice for the roads, cold blue for the sky, and, with luck, birds from the north. Looking for Northern Shrikes and redpolls was a test for winter gear and wind chill factors but the birds weren’t going to be there in the hot days of summer.

Costa Rica 193

Costa Rica 2019 Birds Litter 193

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2017

But no matter where you are, you undoubtedly have good reasons to get out and enjoy nature right now. Corey really enjoyed spring migration this weekend as he birded across Queens on both Saturday and Sunday morning. What was your best bird of the weekend? But did you? How about you?

2017 100

2017 Kentucky Birds Sparrows 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2017

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… That’s right, the Christmas Bird Count season is finally here! The Rochester CBC also falls this weekend, but my love of birding is no match for my ardent hatred of winter. Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? How about you?

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica 2017 Birds Rights 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 11, 2017

June may be the gateway to summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but the birding still delivers the thrills of spring migration when you have access to the right birds’ breeding grounds. Corey had a surprising wealth of birds to choose from for his Best Bird of the Weekend. How about you?

2017 101

2017 Louisiana Birds Breeding 101

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 20, 2017

Indeed, many consider the gaudy display of spring migration the dizzying peak of a full year of birding. So much is on the move right now… what are you going to find? Lots of birds are moving across the Great Lakes, which means I’ll be headed out to Hamlin State Park for a little lakewatch action. How about you?

2017 100

2017 Birds Rights 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2017

July can be very special time of year, but the birding rarely reaches the level of excitement our migratory months deliver. Enjoy this season for what it is and look for birds anyway! Boring, right? Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? How about you? Share your plans in the comments below.

2017 100

2017 Birds Rights 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 23, 2017

But the advancement of the season does signal shifts in bird behavior, which is, in itself, pretty hot. Corey enjoyed some more slow-paced-puddle-birding again this weekend and saw a surprise visitor run past the puddle while he was digiscoping from his car in the dune scrub at Rockaway Beach. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2017 100

2017 Birds Experience Experiments 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

But that isn’t tough enough for 10,000 Birds readers: no, we have to make things a bit more, shall we say, diabolical? Yes, that’s right, it is time once again for a diabolical identification quiz on 10,000 Birds! It is autumn, the time of year when wood-warblers are allegedly at their most difficult.

2017 141

2017 Jamaica Wildlife Rights 141

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2017

But everything feels a little wild these days, right? Maybe it’s just me… I’m already over winter weather, which means I couldn’t be bothered to chase birds this weekend. They’ll do as his Best Bird of the Weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

Bald Eagle 100

Bald Eagle 2017 Lions Birds 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2017

There are two kinds of travel in this world: the kind where you get to see great birds and the other kind. Right now, I’m in the middle of the other kind. 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 ! What a waste! How about you?

Boston 100

Boston 2017 Birds Rights 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2017

You believe in birthday birds , right? If you haven’t yet embraced the theory or practice of birthday birds, I recommend that, next time your special day rolls around, you make it a point to pursue a seasonally appropriate species you don’t regularly see. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

Los Angeles 100

Los Angeles 2017 Coyotes Birds 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2017

Speaking for just about everyone living in the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, I don’t have big cats on my brain right now. Like you, I’m thinking of birds, particularly the ones winging my way from parts south. What better way to get in the right mindset for spring migration? How about you?

Lions 100

Lions Ethiopia Lamb 2017 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2017

That’s right, May 13 is Global Big Day , so be sure to get out there and record some birds! ( Corey is leading another Audubon bird walk and will no doubt expand his bird chasing efforts beyond that. Corey is leading another Audubon bird walk and will no doubt expand his bird chasing efforts beyond that.

2017 100

2017 Birds Rights 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2017

So many lucky people are gathered in Northwest Ohio right now for The Biggest Week in American Birding. Those of us who aren’t there are at least a little lucky–though clearly not as blessedly immersed in amazing avian observation as some others–since the current wave of bird migration blankets the globe.

2017 100

2017 Ohio Birds Rights 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2017

Whether you are celebrating or marching this weekend, take a moment to look up: birds will still be flying. I need to transition from tropical to boreal birds and start adding Rochester winter specialties to my list this weekend. Corey is busy lavishly illustrating his eBird lists, but may be moved to chase the right bird.

2017 100

2017 Birds Rights 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2019

Back in November of 2017, I travelled to the tourist town of Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico’s west coast, to sing in a Christian event. Still, a birder’s gotta bird, so I made sure I would have one morning to check out someplace right there in town. Try to set aside enough time to bird outside the town if possible.

Mexico 116

Mexico Birds 2017 Pelicans 116

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. Barn Owl on a dry tree trunk and a… traffic jam!

South Africa 232

South Africa Africa Game Elephants 232

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2021

“Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea” by James A. kg could be, do keep in mind that this guide covers 4,400 km / 2,750 mi of the Earth’s circumference, or 11% of the length of the Equator, and describes 13% of global bird diversity. Eaton, Bas van Balen, Nick W. Brickle and Frank E. Rheindt is a big book.

Indonesia 264

Indonesia Timor Brunei Guinea 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 27, 2017

I am a birder and I can claim that out of Serbia’s total of 350+ bird species, highly urbanised inner city areas of Belgrade hold almost 100 birds, while the outskirts have more than 200 species. eBird says that, at the time of writing (April 2017), there are some ten hotspots that have crossed the 100 bird species mark.

Birds 211

Birds 2017 Eagles Otters 211

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2017

This is a chance to recharge out batteries, spend a little quite time together and try to get in a whole bunch of birding done. We have found a spot that is right at the place where a very large arroyo meets up with the Sea of Cortez. This allows me to see frigates, boobies, terns and pelicans on the saltwater side.

Sparrows 123

Sparrows 2017 Battery Mexico 123

10,000 Birds

JULY 8, 2017

It’s 2017 and we have reached the halfway point. If you are doing any sort of year list, you know what I’m talking about and also know that now is the time to take a moment, count up the species, and go over strategies to reach those birding goals for 2017.

Costa Rica 101

Costa Rica 2017 Birds Tigers 101

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 17, 2022

Within 140 ac / 60 ha of Rancho Naturalista’s Reserve, there are 500 bird species – or 55% of the nation’s total! While I already visited Costa Rica once, I do not feel overly-confident with its birds. And Verbena attracts another specialty bird and a regional endemic (from Honduras to Panama), the Snowcap.

Costa Rica 257

Costa Rica Rats Parrots Raccoons 257

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 25, 2016

Of course it also means that there is only one week left of birding to top up your year list and I am not really expecting to add anything new to my year list over the next week unless the tropical low that is buffeting the north-west of Western Australia throws something our way. It is quintessentially a Christmas bird! Common Snipe.

2016 155

2016 Geese Birds Ducks 155

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2017

With enough planning, you can enjoy a family-friendly, bird-rich vacation in the Panama Canal zone. Any dedicated birder visiting Panama City should first consider the Canopy Tower , one of the most important and beloved birding lodges in the Americas. Despite the golf course, this place host all manner of birds and mammals.

Panama 100

Panama 2017 Monkeys Family 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 11, 2021

There is the Varied Thrush , a northern bird that barely reaches northern Baja California in winter. That puts me in some sort of select club, because this is one tough bird to see! But fear not, the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America does: “Sits still for prolonged periods.”

Mexico 264

Mexico North America 2017 America 264

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

MARCH 20, 2017

Here are some facts to keep in mind about Good Birders Still Don’t Wear White: Passionate Birders Share the Joys of Watching Birds: (1) This is not a dress code. (2) The 37 essays by birders, bird artists, photographers, tour leaders, ornithologists, field guide authors, and other members of the tribe (even bloggers!)

2017 151

2017 Costa Rica 2007 Hunters 151