10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2018

Scientists were largely limited to studies birds in breeding colonies, at least those we knew about and that were accessible (and, if you think that’s a complete list, you haven’t read the news that came out this week about a new colony of Adélie penguins found in the Danger Islands, Antarctica). Technology to the rescue!

Albatross 114

Albatross Penguins Research Breeding 114

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2020

The source of this ranking, BirdLife International, lists Bolivia as currently having 1,439 bird species, including 18 breeding endemics. This is more than eBird reports–a checklist generated from the citizen science database lists only 1,413 species. This unfortunately happens with the large Tanager (Thraupidae) family here.

Bolivia 168

Bolivia Birds Brazil Switzerland 168

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2022

And I found this one because he was singing his heart out quite persistently, which certainly suggests a bird that wants to settle down and raise a family. So yes, this appears to be a breeding population.]. And since I don’t go to the lake very often in late spring, I rarely get to see these Avocets in their breeding plumage.

Mexico 209

Mexico 2018 Ducks Breeding 209

10,000 Birds

JUNE 5, 2018

Describing gull plumage is a combination of science, graphic art, and visual metaphor. I suppose this works with such a small family, but it made my librarian brain ache just a little bit. Distribution maps, ranging in size from one-eight to one-half of a page, indicate breeding and non-breeding habitats and trace migration routes.

2004 142

2004 North America America Europe 142

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2022

A paper titled “Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus may adapt well to life in urban areas across its range in Asia” already made the same observation in 2018. The Little Grebe is of course a very common bird that can still surprise by its beauty in its breeding plumage. But it is all for science, I hear them say.

Birds 147

Birds China Eggs Breeding 147