10,000 Birds

APRIL 20, 2012

But the grasslands of eastern Montana bear a resemblance to their wildlife that goes beyond the mere evolutionary imperative of camoflauge. The cottonwoods in the river bottoms echo the branching antlers of the elk that bugle among them each falls (abundant, but never enough so for Montana’s voracious hunters.)

Wildlife 183

Wildlife Ferrets Montana Prairie Dogs 183

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2019

These reports (called “ Banking on Nature “) are relevant to birders because they are among the few comprehensive analyses that relate to the economic impact of birders on national wildlife refuges, which are among the more popular birding locations. A number of these NWRs appear on my list of the Top 25 NWRs for Birding.).

Wildlife 245

Wildlife Maryland San Francisco Minnesota 245

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2016

I dipped a bird recently – possibly a lifer. First I noticed a red cap – a male, then striped flanks and pale-red undertail, but couldn’t see its wing because some part of the bird remained hidden by a branch at any given time. The soil is disturbed by foraging boars (and there is not a single shot from those hunters).

Greece 252

Greece Woodpeckers Boars Eagles 252

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2021

If you had your choice of one bird family to pursue, to seek out and observe and photograph and kvell over, which one would you choose? A passion for one bird family is also very useful. It provides goals and a definite direction for your birding travels and thoughts; sometimes it even becomes the basis of a book!

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica Brazil Ecuador Bolivia 264

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 26, 2016

In her book, “ On a Wing and a Prayer, “ Sarah Woods describes the bird that captured her interest when she first visited Panama: “At more than one metre tall and able to kill a monkey with a single swipe of its powerful, knife-like talons, [H]arpy [E]agles are incredibly hard to find.” A Harpy Eagle.

Panama 100

Panama Grizzly Bear Porcupines Eagles 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2014

I find it astonishing that people argue of whether feral cats are bad for birds in North America. This almost certainly can be argued to be true just on the basis of logic, because feral Cats are proficient hunters and are entirely out of ecological place. How many wild birds are eaten by either feral Cats or “outdoor Cats?”

Feral Cats 254

Feral Cats North America Feral Cats 254

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

At Sea With the Marine Birds of the Raincoast opens with the unexpected appearance of a Laysan Albatross. Having shown us the bird, the boat, and the water, Fox then introduces herself: “Albatrosses, petrels, fulmars, puffins and gulls live out their lives along these transect lines; my job is to count them all.”.

Fox 100

Fox Albatross Geese Bald Eagle 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

How when he needed a dissertation topic in 2005 (studying at the University of Minnesota), it was either Hooded Crane or Blakiston’s Fish Owl, both iconic birds of the area. We learn about their unique vocalizations, a duet in which they are in such harmony they sound like one bird. So, Blakiston’s Fish Owl it was.

Owls 134

Owls Russia Fish Research 134

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 27, 2013

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the rest of 10,000 Birds. I’m not just saying this to be an annoying gadfly on the backside of the birding and general wildlife community, although this is certainly a fringe benefit. Hunters are prepared to spend a lot of money for the privilege of shooting a lion.

Lions 183

Lions Killing Hunting Hunters 183

10,000 Birds

JUNE 28, 2018

In 1850, the Passenger Pigeon ( Ectopistes migratorius ) was the most abundant bird in North America and possibly the world. ” Contemporary environmentalism arrived too late to prevent the passenger pigeon’s demise due to market hunters, but the two phenomena share a historical connection. A newly created U.S. But I digress.

Hunting 110

Hunting Hunters Gorillas Wolves 110

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2018

Birders have been encouraged by the American Birding Association and others to buy Federal Duck Stamps. The argument is straightforward: birders (and others, including hunters) buy stamps and the federal government turns around and obtains important bird habitat. In June, the 2018-2019 Federal Duck Stamp was released.

Ducks 203

Ducks Wildlife Texas Hawaii 203