10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 22, 2019

Next Thursday is the American Thanksgiving holiday – which means it’s time to trot out that old legend concerning Benjamin Franklin’s opinions on two iconic American birds: The Wild Turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo ) and the Bald Eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ). He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly.

2017 151

2017 Bald Eagle United States Turkey 151

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 237

Australia Birds 2017 Groups 237

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

If, someday, you make your way to Morelia, and ask for me to show you some of our best birds, I will surely do my best to accomodate you. In the case of most of these wonderful bird species, I probably know where they are most likely to be found. The Aztec Thrush is a beautiful bird, with bold dark/light plumage patterns.

2017 209

2017 2019 Nashville 2018 209

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

Our wine of the week – the 2017 Raimat Saira Albariño – features these graceful, long-necked birds on its label, where the storks take shape in a flying formation of lovely geometric abstractions reminiscent of the work of Charley Harper. Good birding and happy drinking! Raimat Saira Albariño (2017).

2017 114

2017 Spain California Condor California 114

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2018

Birds can be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways. Those of us who chase rare birds for our counties, states, or other human-made geographical distinctions watch birds for more reasons than the twitch. Personally, I enjoy birds in every way. After a bird rich morning at Cope’s.

Costa Rica 182

Costa Rica Species San Jose Birds 182

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

I haven’t yet been birding in Europe but whenever I occasionally skim a field guide about the birds on the other side of the Atlantic, I’m always encouraged to find that I’m already familiar with many species found over there, even though most of my birding experience has been limited to eastern North America.

2017 117

2017 Portugal Rabbits Europe 117

10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2019

We don’t always have especially high standards here at Birds and Booze – really, a bottle need only have a bird on it for our consideration here – but today we have a rosé that defies the style’s unfortunate reputation. Good birding and happy drinking! Château de Colombe: Bordeaux Rosé (2017).

2017 115

2017 France Lifestyle Feral 115

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 17, 2017

With only a few weeks left before we turn the page on 2017, birders around the world have been burning their proverbial candles at both ends to observe as many birds as possible. Did you partake in any Christmas Bird Count excitement this weekend? Sign me up for a Memorial Day Bird Count any year! How about you?

2017 124

2017 Science Birds Experience 124

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

DECEMBER 13, 2019

Owling on Christmas Bird Counts is a peculiar business. Some counters are unfailingly resolute in their dedication to this thankless graveyard shift of the birding world, marching headlong year after year into the bleak winter landscape in search of their heard-only, nocturnal quarry. There’s the whole role of chance in owling, too.

2017 137

2017 Owls Game California 137

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2017

Here’s hoping that 2017 is a much better year than 2016! I know I will be doing my best to make it so, especially from a birding perspective. I’ll bird my butt off and see what happens… I will add at least three new birds to my Queens list. I will see at least 500 species for the year.

2017 103

2017 Puerto Rico 2016 Austria 103

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2021

When it comes to tropical birding, field guides regularly deal with well over a 1000 birds and tend to be on the hefty side. Travel guides are mostly lighter, but this “where to watch birds guide” is truly lightweight and traveller friendly. Each site gets from 2 to 5 pages (but mostly 3-4).

Kenya 261

Kenya Africa South Africa Penguins 261

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 2, 2017

9 beats, birded 9 countries this month; Belize , Guatamala , Costa Rica, UK, Iran, USA, Greece, Australia and Mexico. They submitted 144 checklists, noting 628 species adding 72 to the year’s running total bringing it to 1890. Those are the numbers, here come the birds; Alphabetic Taxonomic. 13 Jan 2017.

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 6, 2017

Donna is still recovering after a speed-reading accident, but has shared some more wonderful birds from her Cuba trip that will retrospectively be added to the March totals. Thus; As at April 30 th 2017, the collaborative year total stands at 1432 , with 895 species noted this month from 164 shared checklists. 13 Jan 2017.

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2017

146 shared checklists (an increase on last year’s 97, well done chaps) noted 664 species (ooooh, down on 826 from last February) and brought the yearly total to 1063 (1303 at this time in 2016, ouch!). 13 Jan 2017. 20 Jan 2017. 05 Jan 2017. 01 Jan 2017. 08 Jan 2017. 01 Jan 2017. 05 Jan 2017.

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Don’t panic yet, but do plan for how you’ll spend the rest of 2017 making this birding year one to remember. I’ve dipped on a few fancy species recently, so I’ll be watching the wires for their potential return. Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? How about you?

2017 100

2017 Birds Species 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2021

The adventure of the second European Breeding Bird Atlas, or EBBA2, was the topic of one of my first posts here at 10,000 Birds: In a warm Catalonian March, Barcelona is filled with sunlight and full of Rose-ringed and Monk Parakeets. In a very short time, we get two responses, two birds calling from opposite directions.

Europe 264

Europe Breeding Denmark Birds 264

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2017

For 2017, in keeping with all the top businesses, the list will be refreshed and re-branded. All entries will still appear as links and readers who cannot wait for the monthly (first Saturday) updates may also access the 10,000 Birds interactive profile page. 1499 species were seen in the eastern hemisphere in 2016.

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 28, 2022

Predictably, other birds around here with the same first name “Common” include Common Greenshank … … and Common Sandpiper. Anyway, it seems to work reasonably well for the two species I saw here. Both species are remarkably attractive … … and apparently do not mind plastic trash too much.

Birds 209

Birds 2017 Fish Species 209

10,000 Birds

MAY 14, 2017

Global Big Day 2017 is in the books, with 15,954 participants submitting 40,698 checklists to eBird accounting for 6,068 species … so far. Corey had no problem choosing his Best Bird of the Weekend this weekend as he managed to see a new bird for him in his home borough of Queens! How about you?

2017 101

2017 Laws Birds Experience 101

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

The White-shouldered Starling is not very common in Shanghai or even in China in general, despite its species name sinensis. It is another species on which limited information is available – there is still work left for ornithologists outside of the determination of mitochondrial DNA.

Birds 130

Birds Tigers Humane Ecuador 130

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2022

The main attraction for birders here are the hornbills – I have written about them before , so this post will be more on the other birds I saw there in 2017. Anyway, it is a very cute-looking bird if you are big enough not to be among its prey of (mostly) insects.

Birds 147

Birds Myanmar China Chicago 147

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 14, 2017

The tenth month of the year isn’t one that is commonly associated with birding in Costa Rica but no matter, it should be. Those with binoculars who visit now will still lays eyes on lots of birds. Focus on the bird action in the morning : To keep the birding real, make sure to get out there at dawn and bird all morning.

Costa Rica 134

Costa Rica 2017 Birds Woodpeckers 134

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 25, 2017

The ones that will be in the calendar, the elite 12 are selected by not only the quality of the image, but most colorful, most unique, and in the case of a couple of birds cut out this year, species that appeared in last years Calendar.

2017 124

2017 Culling 2016 Birds 124

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2017

Good choice, the birding is fantastic! If not, I hope the following tips will convince you to come on down to this easy birding paradise: 100s of bird species are closer than you think. Given all that apparent awesome habitat, we can’t help but wonder where the heck all those birds are (!)…

Costa Rica 114

Costa Rica 2017 Birds West Virginia 114

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2021

There was a time when I thought each bird species had its own individual song. Then I found out that there was this vocalization called a ‘call,’ so I thought each bird species had its own individual song (but just the males) and individual call. Bird communication is a complex and evolving science.

North America 278

North America Research Birds Groups 278

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2024

I don’t remember where I first learned about Elizabeth Gould–possibly when I was birding Doi Angkhang, Thailand and saw a stunning little bird named Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird–but I have been fascinated by her story and her art for the past five years. And I’m so happy I did. Twelve years!

Australia 186

Australia Birds Europe Collecting 186

10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2023

May is a busy month for birds migrating through Shanghai – and of course, last May was completely missed due to the lockdown. So, I spent a lot of time birding this month, and to keep this post at a manageable length, it mostly only covers the first half of May. The video is notable for the bird basically refusing to move at all.

Birds 130

Birds Raised Cattle Mammals 130

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2017

I started keeping year lists – not just blogging about them but really keeping track of what I see each year – as late as 2012, roughly 30 years into my birding career. I was able to maintain the new structure in the 2014 list , and this was a mighty fine birding year in all aspects. Species List. What was left?

2017 100

2017 Germany 2012 2013 100

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

JULY 19, 2021

Jim Wright is an author and birding columnist. Jim’s first contribution to 10,000 Birds was A Rare Caribbean Parrot on the Brink. In 2021, the American Ornithological Society announced that it has now classified the Bahama Nuthatch as a distinct species, Sitta insularis. There’s just one problem.

Bahamas 343

Bahamas Philadelphia 2004 United States 343

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2022

Thank you, goddess of birding luck and text group people).* My inner self felt stuck in an area between disbelief and total joy and the voices near me were echoing this state of mind: “Oh My God,” “I never thought I would see this bird,” “Look at that bill!” “How did that bird get here?”

Birds 259

Birds Compassion Eagles Science 259

10,000 Birds

APRIL 11, 2017

A reasonable birder could respond to this change in a variety of ways, from satisfaction that another bird species has recovered to concern that FWS is caving to rapacious corporations at the expense of an endangered bird. (If FWS agreed that the species had recovered sufficiently and proposed a rule delisting the vireo.

Endangered Species 127

Endangered Species Species Texas Oklahoma 127

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. For many years it was thought the two bird families were related taxonomically.

Guinea 262

Guinea Birds Papua New Guinea Family 262

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2018

With only a few more days left, 2017 was coming to a close. Birdwise, it turned out to be a good one and my year list was almost 400 species long, which made me happy… almost. 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?

Greece 181

Greece 2017 Pelicans Geese 181

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2017

Just looking at everyone’s lists over the years you can see how varied our birding lives can be. As usual we got out and about on New Year’s Day and got the first one hundred birds onto the list, so now it will be a little harder or it means we need to travel beyond the town of Broome!

2017 100

2017 Zebras Ducks Australia 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

Anyone lucky enough to be high and dry these days can surely appreciate how many birds are on the move. I was thrilled this weekend to see a bird I haven’t encountered in nearly a decade; maybe American Pipit is common in your parts, but I had to scour the East Spit of Braddock Bay to luck into one. How about you?

2017 124

2017 Jamaica Birds Experience 124