10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2012

Females and non-breeding males look similar The Brown Teal is endemic to New Zealand, and was once lumped with two closely related island forms, the Auckland Island Teal and the Campbell Teal. Brown Teal chasing a New Zealand Scaup Adult male with almost fully grown youngsters. Almost fully grown young bird.

New Zealand 172

New Zealand Ducks 2000 Breeding 172

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2014

Yesterday i introduced you, gentle reader, to the lovely work done by the acclimatisation societies of New Zealand in making the already interesting biogeography of this country even more complicated. The solution, as you might imagine from this go getting era, was to bring some better ducks to New Zealand.

Species 165

Species New Zealand Ducks Game 165

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Conservation was in the news again in the last few weeks here in New Zealand, and unfortunately not in a good way. As most people know cats, both feral and domestic, have a pretty big impact on wild birds and other wildlife, and the effect of mammals is particularly profound in New Zealand.

New Zealand 114

New Zealand Possums SPCA Cats 114

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 21, 2012

While New Zealand is famous for its endemic oddities, once upon a time New Zealand also had many birds from groups and families that are no longer found here. The mysterious piopio were recently recognized for what they were, New Zealand’s representatives from the oriole family. New Zealand had eagles.

Eagles 101

Eagles New Zealand Bald Eagle Collecting 101

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2012

I’ve written before at length about how New Zealand is pretty much the best place in the world to see petrels of all kinds, so with these guys on the brain it seemed natural to write about them today. Smaller numbers breed on sub-Antarctic islands as far north as the Chathams in New Zealand.

New Zealand 158

New Zealand Albatross South Africa Brazil 158

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2014

Eagle-eyed readers of my posts will have noticed that I haven’t been talking about New Zealand much lately. But really, the reason I haven’t had much to say about New Zealand lately is because I haven’t seen much of it. But mostly it just gets colder and darker and more unpleasant to be out.

New Zealand 140

New Zealand Australia Albatross Pigs 140

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 28, 2014

The colorful Purple Swamphen ( Porphyrio porphyrio ) lives in wetlands from Portugal and Senegal all the way east to New Zealand and the Samoan Islands, and a feral population is now well established in Florida. Above: Swamphen in Australia by James Niland). Australasian Swamphen. To split or not to split.

Papua New Guinea 188

Papua New Guinea Philippines New Zealand Florida 188

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

This makes it a particularly exciting time in New Zealand as the Rugby World Cup begins in two days, and the competition is being held right here in New Zealand (I would imagine they might be more excited if they hadn’t just lost two matches to Australia and South Africa, their big rivals in the Tri-Nations).

New Zealand 157

New Zealand Penguins Sanctuary Birds 157

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

Here in New Zealand our shambolic exercise in not picking a new flag is becoming a) political and b) something that people will quickly stop paying attention to when the Rugby World Cup starts. It’s hard to escape the kookaburra when in Australia. Progress, of a sort. This is a double edged sword for me.

Australia 156

Australia New Zealand Guinea Hunters 156

Critter News

DECEMBER 30, 2008

You can search for all kinds of crimes against animals in the US, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, Australia and Spain. Tags: canada australia animal abuse UK new zealand us. There are 14,436 cases in the animal abuse database. Great research tool. Amazing work.

Animal Cruelty 100

Animal Cruelty Animal Abuse New Zealand Cruelty 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 9, 2017

Naturally, many wide-ranging seabirds breed in other countries along the vast Pacific, including: Sooty Shearwater (Chile and New Zealand), Pink-footed Shearwater (Chile), Buller’s Shearwater (New Zealand), Flesh-footed Shearwater (Australia and New Zealand), Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (Chile and Antarctica), and Black Storm-Petrel (Mexico and small numbers (..)

Albatross 137

Albatross Hawaii Alaska Puerto Rico 137

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2011

home about advertise archives birds conservation contact galleries links reviews subscribe Browse: Home / Birds / Petrel Paradise Petrel Paradise By Duncan • March 2, 2011 • 4 comments Tweet Share I’ve mentioned before that New Zealand is a great place for enjoying petrels.

New Zealand 174

New Zealand Albatross 2011 Cooking 174

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2018

You might remember, or maybe not, that the last spot I birded, prior to boarding a plane for New Zealand, was Nisqually NWR, in a snow storm, and -5 ° F. Australia species – 242. New Zealand species – 104. That is what birding weather should be. eBird Checklists – 237. USA species – 111.

New Zealand 110

New Zealand Seattle Qatar South Africa 110

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2011

One of only two species in the plover genus Thinornis , the other being Australia’s Hooded Plover , this species is another New Zealand endemic. The species in fact used to occur across New Zealand, but declined quickly with the arrival of introduced mammals.

New Zealand 161

New Zealand Penguins Endangered Species Species 161

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2017

This is a bird blog, and my beat is New Zealand, so let me talk about a fish I saw in Australia. On Nigaloo Reef in Western Australia, where I took these pictures, there were lots of them. They’re there, and for that reason you may not pay much attention to them. Narrow-lined Puffer.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica Porcupines Fish New Zealand 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 17, 2013

This Short-tailed Shearwater is a passage visitor from Australia, on its way up to see America! The rocks here are particularly good for New Zealand Fur-seals, but we also saw Variable Oystercatchers , Black-fronted Terns, Caspian Terns , White-fronted Terns, Red-billed Gulls and Kelp Gulls. A New Zealand Fur-seal.

Albatross 165

Albatross New Zealand Seals Fur 165

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2018

When we were planning this trip, New Zealand, Australia, and most certainly South Africa got all my attention. Australia Species 242. New Zealand species 104. I want to start this posting with an official appology: you see I feel it is owed to Scotland, Wales, and England, or more appropriately, the “UK”.

South Africa 100

South Africa New Zealand Costa Rica Qatar 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 14, 2017

The mallard is a mighty duck indeed, successful all across its broad range from the Americas through Eurasia down into Australia and New Zealand. Answers will be forthcoming, but for now, I can tell you that they are all members of the mallard complex , a roster of about 20 closely-related Anas -species ducks around the world.

Purebred 120

Purebred Ducks New Zealand 2011 120

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2011

I wasn’t there for birding per se, just a chance to get away from New Zealand’s winter in a sunny tropical island. The Buff-banded Rail (simply Banded Rail here in New Zealand) is something of a tramp, ranging from the Philippines through New Guinea and Australia to northern New Zealand.

Tonga 165

Tonga New Zealand Samoa Fiji 165

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2012

This small shorebird is throughout most of Australia and has also self-introduced itself to New Zealand. The presence of a vehicle appears to be much less of a threat than a person on foot and as a result of this we have obtained some close photos of the Black-fronted Dotterel.

New Zealand 155

New Zealand Eggs Australia Rights 155

10,000 Birds

MAY 9, 2012

For example on my trip to Australia earlier this year I borrowed the car one day to drive to Ku-Ring-Gai National Park, a location that proved fruitful for Clare later in the year. I’ve spoken before about the positive impacts marine reserves are having around New Zealand, so it is nice to have one around here.

Seals 156

Seals New Zealand Fur Marine Life 156

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

The increasingly important antipodal harvest, mostly in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, starts in February). It’s a modest but no less rewarding effort compared to the massive global endeavor of hop harvesting, which sees the entire Northern Hemisphere crop picked and processed in a matter of weeks.

Portland 113

Portland South Africa New Zealand Oregon 113

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2011

Fairy Prions are probably the most common prion found in New Zealand, and breed from the subAntarctic islands to the south of Stewart Island to Northland. In fact I first saw this species off the ferry to South Island a number of Christmases ago, but these particular beauties were seen on my pelagic trip off Northland.

New Zealand 169

New Zealand Breeding Australia Species 169

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2013

In his comment in last week’s post on the Marlborough Sounds , Beat writer Jochen described the New Zealand Fantail as one of the best birds in the world. wakawaka, the New Zealand Fantail is a delightful inhabitant of New Zealand, and one of my favourite local birds. Fantails don’t do necks.

New Zealand 173

New Zealand Samoa Fiji Killing 173

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2013

Some of the shorebirds will remain with us for several months now, but others are stopping over on their way south or even en route to New Zealand. Two other individuals were marked with flags from South Australia and were obviously having a “stopover” in Broome before they continue their journey south.

Turtles 160

Turtles Sea Turtles Australia Japan 160

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 25, 2016

Of course if you are in Australia or New Zealand you probably won’t be reading this until Boxing Day, because it goes up late in the day here! Firstly I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas today if you are reading this first thing Sunday morning!

2016 146

2016 Geese Birds Ducks 146

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2019

New Zealand Total: 104. Australia Total: 242. Giles Daubney – Melbourne Australia. Murray Hunt – Daintree River Guide Caines, Australia – Boatman@daintreerivertours.com.au. So below is what the year looked, by the numbers: Total Number of Little Big Year Species: 1302. Overall World Ranking as per eBird.com 79th.

Costa Rica 128

Costa Rica Tucson South Africa Bahamas 128

10,000 Birds

MAY 14, 2014

But today, briefly, let’s recall that I am supposed to be the New Zealand beat writer. I’m pleased to do this because two bits of the puzzle of New Zealand’s faunal history were in the news today, and besides, it means I don’t have to think about some tropical idyll in this miserable Antipodean winter day.

New Zealand 161

New Zealand Penguins Sea Lions Lions 161

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2013

While all the posts I see in the blog (when I can bring myself to read it and let’s face it, that isn’t often at the best of times) are about spring and migrants and birds that are so gauche they actually dress in pink, here in New Zealand we are experiencing the start of winter. Don’t mind me.

New Zealand 156

New Zealand Sanctuary Australia Wildlife 156

10,000 Birds

MAY 6, 2012

Are you or do you know someone who is currently anywhere between the north of Australia and the Bohai Sea in China? Red Knot that visit Broome have also been shown to visit New Zealand, so they are really travelling the world. Have you seen any Red Knot ? Red Knot tend to stand out prior to migration!

China 168

China New Zealand Australia Asia 168

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2014

Earlier this year a cyclone blew through New Zealand and uprooted a lot of native trees on government land on South Island. The focus of the Department of Conservation has seemingly been turned from conservation to extracting maximum economic benefit out of New Zealand’s large amount of conservation land.

Rhinos 166

Rhinos Hunting New Zealand Science 166

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2021

The Kea – New Zealand’s enigmatic alpine parrot. It is also strange, perhaps, that the subject of this short excellent video series, is not from Australia but from the true ‘land of birds’ across the ditch from Australia – New Zealand or Aotearoa.

New Zealand 255

New Zealand Feral Animals Feral Parrots 255

10,000 Birds

JULY 26, 2014

– Greater Rheas : Germany’s new Big Bird – Feral Pigeons World Wide – New York City’s First Eurasian Collared-Dove – The Eurasian Collared-Dove Explosion: Coming to a Town Near You! … Here at 10,000 Birds 20 July – 26 July is Invasive Species Week.

Species 160

Species Feral Cats Feral Miami 160

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 31, 2012

Living in New Zealand is fun and all, don’t get me wrong. But it wasn’t until I saw the next bird did I feel I was back in the Old World (or any world that wasn’t Australia or New Zealand) for the first time in four years, a trio of Common Flamebacks.

New Zealand 138

New Zealand Fur Malaysia Woodpeckers 138

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2016

In October 2014, during a meeting in Hobart, Australia, the protection of this important region was once again blocked by China and Russia. The Oceanwide Expeditions are giving away one free cruise ticket for the month long expedition from New Zealand through the Ross Sea to Argentina.

Russia 165

Russia Penguins Whales Whaling 165

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 27, 2014

Thing is, I saw, as I logged into eBird, that the milestone had already passed, which was odd, because I hadn’t seen many birds in New Zealand this year, and certainly would have remembered a lifer (my last was the Parasitic Jaeger ).

Tonga 173

Tonga Fiji Samoa Vanuatu 173

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2014

Second, they occupy an astonishing variety of habitats from temperate Araucaria forests in Chile to alpine scree in New Zealand to seasonally flooded rainforests in Brazil to rocky sea cliffs in Australia. By contrast, Australia, often considered to be the land of parrots, has approximately 54 species.

Parrots 167

Parrots Brazil Mauritius Dominica 167