10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2021

This shouldn’t have to be stated, especially in a book on bird evolution by an evolutionary biologist with a Ph.D. How Birds Evolve: What Science Reveals about Their Origin, Lives, and Diversity by Douglas J. Futuyma is a synthesis of theory and research about evolution and birds. that’s three birds).

Science 223

Science Albatross Research Birds 223

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 9, 2014

Although a quite common bird of Norfolk, for me it was an attractive lure and a possibility of a lifer. The biggest surprise among the Breydon birds was one Little Egret , only the first of several I was going to see that day. Still, the tide was not nearly as high as we hoped for and all the birds were quite far away.

Geese 214

Geese Barn Owls Serbia Sheep 214

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2019

I’m a long-time champion of the IOC World Bird List as a standard for bird names. They give short shrift to New Zealand’s birds, lumping them with odd names no one here uses because the names are shared elsewhere and God knows America isn’t going to take a hit for us. But the Blue Tit was different.

Iran 132

Iran Barn Owls New Zealand Europe 132

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2019

It’s never too late or too early to buy a children’s book about birds. It’s been a few years since my last roundup of children’s bird books, and children’s book writers, illustrators and publishers continue to produce picture books that feature avian protagonists. First, the board books.

New York City 155

New York City Pelicans Birds New York 155

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2019

But, sometimes an appreciation of birds and birding requires more than a reference book with images of birds and facts about their identifying field marks. There are large avian handbooks and small ‘how-to bird’ guides, and quite a few excellent books of both types have been published.

Birds 115

Birds North America Breeding America 115

10,000 Birds

MAY 21, 2013

The Spring Wings Festival , held this past weekend, was the perfect way for a birding-festival newbie like me to get into the swing of things. Its small size, laid-back nature, and ample opportunities to get up close and personal with birds make it a good fit for experienced birders, but also for people looking to get their feet wet.

Nevada 178

Nevada Birds Barn Owls Cows 178

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Let me introduce my guest blogger, Lisa Owens Viani, co-founder of the California-based group RATS ( Raptors Are The Solution ), which educates people about the dangers of rat poisons. Syngenta’s product “Talon”—evidently inspired by the talons of the natural pest- controlling birds of prey—uses the active ingredient brodifacoum.

Mountain Lions 265

Mountain Lions Rats Rodents Lions 265

10,000 Birds

JUNE 15, 2011

I mentioned last week, while talking about rails and the Pacific, that Tonga is not a particularly birdy birding destination. A combination of extinctions and proximity to Fiji means that a trip to that island group would net you pretty much all the same birds plus a whole raft of others.

Tonga 165

Tonga Fiji New Zealand Parrots 165

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2013

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!

Africa 197

Africa South Africa Elephants Rhinos 197

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Two full days at Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge, three days at Dog Lake, and a short visit to Upper Cottonwood Lake brought back many great memories, in addition to a nice list of birds. I only ran across this one Clark’s Grebe mixed in with in the groups of Westerns. There was a large population of Western Grebes on the lake.

Oregon 115

Oregon Owls Wildlife Barn Owls 115

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2019

Birders know that the pairing of farms and birds represents more than mere bucolic romance – it’s a match borne out of a real avian dependence on these man-made landscapes. Note the two birds flying over the wheatfield on the lefthand side. By the early twentieth century, however, saison was sliding into obscurity.

Vermont 120

Vermont Belgium Farming Europe 120

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2012

Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge is one of those birding destinations that leaves those about to go trembling with excitement and those merely reading about it green with envy. The camping ground is at the northern end of the Tableland, but is also convenient for the Daintree and Cape Tribulation, another good birding and wildlife area.

Possums 172

Possums Guinea Marsupials Rats 172

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2013

When visiting Sydney I have in the past tended to visit birding sites near the coast and centre, by virtue of that being where my family is. While planning my four day trip I noticed that the Cumberland Bird Observers Club had an outing on the Saturday I was there to Scheyville National Park.

Parrots 145

Parrots Barn Owls Eagles Australia 145

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

Old cars, antique gas pumps, and neon lit motels, were just up Jeanne’s photographic alley, and Lake Tucumcari was sure to be a birding hot spot for me. Unfortunately, the lake was the victim of several years of draught, but the grassy areas held a few nice birds, and there were a few surprises along the way. This was a first!

Albuquerque 123

Albuquerque New Mexico Mexico Sparrows 123

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2021

The roadmap out of lockdown here in the UK has allowed us to meet up in small groups to indulge in outdoor activities, so birders have been gathering in loose flocks to greet the migrants as they head north.

Woodpeckers 155

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 155

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 2, 2017

9 beats, birded 9 countries this month; Belize , Guatamala , Costa Rica, UK, Iran, USA, Greece, Australia and Mexico. Those are the numbers, here come the birds; Alphabetic Taxonomic. Ota Ward–Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park). Barn Owl – Tyto alba. Eastern Screech-Owl – Megascops asio.

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100