10,000 Birds

JANUARY 25, 2015

A new paper out this month attempts to paint the most comprehensive picture yet of the origins and diversification of the American sparrows, wood-warblers, blackbirds, cardinals, tanagers, and their kin, an enormous group of birds more than 800 species strong. The paper is by leading researchers F. Keith Barker, Kevin J.

Sparrows 260

Sparrows North America South America Blackbirds 260

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2018

If you like birds on posts, if seeing “little brown jobs” posing nicely in the distance as you drive or walk along a dirt road only to have it fly away as you approach makes you deliriously happy, then North Dakota is the place for you. I wanted to see prairie birds and I wanted to experience a new state. Scott Barnes, N.J.

North Dakota 144

North Dakota Birds Sparrows Blackbirds 144

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2020

One of these days, Jeopardy will feature a category called “Field Guides” and the first clue will be: “This landlocked South American country finally got its own bird field guide in 2016, but it wasn’t available in the United State until 2019.” Bolivia doesn’t come up much in discussions of birding travel.

Bolivia 179

Bolivia Birds Brazil Switzerland 179

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2013

In 2013 I birded in two countries, submitted eBird checklists for seven U.S. At the beginning of the year I said the following about my goals for the year’s birding: I start 2013 with 297 birds on my Queens Life List , 500 birds on my ABA Life List , and 1,096 birds on my World Life List.

2013 177

2013 New York City New York Trinidad 177

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2012

So, to cut things short, there is sickness all around me, and I have thus decided to have my February post whistle to that tune as well and give an update to the mysterious die-off amongst our Eurasian Blackbirds that occurred around my home turf in Heidelberg last summer – blogged about here.

Germany 161

Germany Blackbirds 2006 Denmark 161

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2014

It took me a while to wrap my mind around the concept of Birds and People , Mark Cocker and David Tipling’s book that, in 592 pages, explores the intersection of just that—birds and us. Nor have I overlooked “sightings” of birds in movies mouthing other birds’ calls. I’m not sure why.

Birds 221

Birds Egypt Family Eagles 221

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

From the time he can remember, every camping, hiking, or simple trip outside was focused on finding wildlife with herps, mammals, birds and native fish as his primary interests. When it comes time to for me to plan a vacation I first figure out what herps occur in the area and then what birds and mammals I can also find.

Salamander 139

Salamander Germany Birds Blackbirds 139

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2017

For three weeks in June, I traveled up and then down the eastern seaboard visiting ecological research sites. One particular resting place brought me to familiar birding territory: Pleasure House Point, Virginia Beach. When I was first learning to bird in the summer of 2013, I spent a summer living with my fiance in Virginia Beach.

Virginia 100

Virginia Branding 2013 Blackbirds 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2017

But a black birder is still a rarity, and whether Lanham is finding blank pages in his genealogy or conducting field research with the breath of white suspicion on his neck, he can never compartmentalize himself. Lanham is also an activist on the topic of getting more diversity into the birding community: you can see a video of his work here.

South Carolina 133

South Carolina Stray Cows 2012 133

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2016

Up to 100 kg – possibly a female, my guide and a bear researcher from the wildlife charity Callisto, Yannis Tsanakis, tells me. According to the latest research data, the total Brown Bear population in Greece is 475 to 500 and here in the Pindos range there are 350 to 400 animals (Pilidis, 2015, in pub.).

Bears 270

Bears Greece Europe Slovenia 270

10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2013

In July of 2010, I checked into a bed and breakfast on Lafayette Square, a little frustrated because I hadn’t yet had a life bird on my epic journey across most of America. Eastern) territory, and birding from a speeding car on the interstate is not really conducive to identifying the finer points of sparrows.

Sparrows 167

Sparrows St. Louis Kansas City Kansas 167

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2019

My review copy (well, actually a contributor’s copy—more on that later) was waiting for me when I returned from the ABA birding tour of Thailand and Malaysia (more on that in a separate post) in early March. The book does not include House Sparrow, an Old World sparrow that belongs to a completely different bird family. Mexico border.

North America 154

North America Sparrows America United States 154

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2015

Producing a book about birds and nesting is a dangerous business. The truth is that there are few images cuter than baby birds in the nest opening their mouths and begging for food, but there are curmudgeons amongst us, myself included, who don’t like to admit this. And of birds courting and mating. We simply refuse to squee.

Eggs 263

Eggs Family 2006 New York 263

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

I recently asked whether Puerto Rico should be part of the American Birding Association’s ABA Area. Both Puerto Rico and the USVI have active birding communities that are currently excluded from full membership in the ABA family. Although different territories, they are nearby and share many of the same birds.

Puerto Rico 160

Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Hawaii United States 160

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2011

I was looking out a car window the other day and noticed that of all the wildlife most of it was bird. A squirrel skittered by … a squirrel is not a bird. So the thought occurred to me that there is a lot of bird on the landscape, in terms of numbers of individuals as well as sheer biomass.

Mammals 178

Mammals Rodents Birds Reptiles 178

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2015

There are many charismatic endangered birds that capture people’s hearts and imaginations: the colossal California Condor , the evocative Red-crowned Crane , and the adorable Spoon-billed Sandpiper come to mind. This is a short series that brings attention to these incredible birds, and my various adventures to try and see them.

Ecuador 204

Ecuador California Condor Blackbirds Parrots 204

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2012

Not only was it pleasure, it was now that most dignified of activities, Research. I am writing (hopefully, by the time this posts, have written) on the odd confluence of good birding territory and historic gay cruising zones. Though spring migration is only just starting to ramp up there, of course I had to visit the Ramble.

Chicago 180

Chicago Litter Louisiana Montana 180

10,000 Birds

APRIL 24, 2012

When people think of birds and their sex lives…most of us don’t know much, although it’s not for a lack of interest. Within the bird world, so many different strategies and methods of mating and reproduction have evolved, it simply boggles the mind. This is just a small slice of how birds get it done.

Albatross 199

Albatross Birds Lifestyle Raised 199

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2011

Happy birding, Dale Forbes Tags: accentors , Alpine Accentor , Birds , features , polygynandry • Have you seen the cool 10,000 Birds t-shirts? While studying, he also worked on various conservation/research projects (parrots, wagtails, vultures, and anything else that flew) and ringed thousands of birds.

2011 218

2011 Breeders Breeding Deer 218

10,000 Birds

MARCH 7, 2014

The result is a nature lover’s paradise rich with mountains, beaches, and birds. Lots and lots of birds! Though my trip wasn’t dedicated exclusively to birding, that was part of my daily routine and sometimes the focus of my day. Birding Tai Po Kau/Mai Po/Long Valley. Victoria Peak/City tour/Kowloon Park.

2014 222

2014 Eagles Asia Groups 222

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). Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia. Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia.

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2023

The person who named this bird apparently cleverly chose the name Yellow-rumped Flycatcher to distinguish the bird from the Narcissus Flycatcher, which is also yellow-rumped. In Chinese, this bird is called White-browed Flycatcher, which introduces some (possibly undesirable) logic into the world of bird names.

Monkeys 147

Monkeys Birds South Korea Owls 147

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2017

The point is, the field guide I grabbed without hesitation was the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 7th Edition by Jon L. No other field guide to North American birds does rarities so comprehensively and so well. (To I miss the shorebird and get it a few days later, but that’s not the point of this story.

North America 186

North America America 2017 Birds 186

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2018

February birding can be tough. Hopland Research and Extension Center (restricted access). Hopland Research and Extension Center (restricted access). Hopland Research and Extension Center (restricted access). Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus.

2018 100

2018 Australia Los Angeles Albatross 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2020

To be honest, I was in a last-minute bind trying to find something appropriately spooky for Hallowe’en, some bottle along the lines of the wines or beers with creepy ravens or blackbird s we’ve enjoyed on this holiday in years past. Good birding and happy drinking! Four out of five feathers (Excellent).

2013 218

2013 Barn Owls Owls Livestock 218

10,000 Birds

MAY 6, 2018

In fashion news this week… (since 10,000 Birds does not have, and is unlikely ever to have, a dedicated fashion section please feel free to use the comments section of this post) … according to the Sunday Times of London, next season’s must have colour is… dramatic pause… Khaki! Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve.

2018 100

2018 Australia Los Angeles Albatross 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2018

Tom continues his odyssey around the world, bumping into birds and beats along the way. Ota Ward–Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park). Ota Ward–Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park). Hopland Research and Extension Center (restricted access). Hopland Research and Extension Center (restricted access). 21 Mar 2018.

2018 100

2018 Australia Los Angeles Albatross 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2018

It’s September and time for birds to start their southerly journeys. Please remember to give migrating birds the space that they need. Jason hoisted his colours in Kansas and claimed the state for 10,000 Birds. In an unusual turnaround during September, more birds were seen in USA than in Costa Rica. 23 May 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

The two most prolific contributors, Pat and Tom, have been sharing their birding space in Costa Rica. The beats have now contributed more checklists than birds. During October, 7 countries (Costa Rica, Australia, USA, India, Hong Kong, UK, Serbia) were birded by 11 beats who shared 135 checklists and noted 697 species.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2018

May by numbers looked like this; 11 beats shared 194 lists and ticked 943 birds between us. Ota Ward–Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park / Shioiri Pond). Hopland Research and Extension Center (restricted access). Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Malbup Creek Bird Hide.

2018 100

2018 Australia Los Angeles Albatross 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

Best wishes to you all for 2019, keep safe and keep birding. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. La Cotinga Birding B&B. Hopland Research and Extension Center (restricted access). Alphabetic Taxonomic. 23 May 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

They birded 6 countries; USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, and Mexico. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. La Cotinga Birding B&B. Hopland Research and Extension Center (restricted access). Kruger NP Central Park.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2018

The UK has been birded clean by Tom as he ends his Little Big Year (Part 1). 9 beats visited 8 countries, submitting 102 checklists along the way, accounting for 609 birds. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Malbup Creek Bird Hide. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve.

2018 101

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 101

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2018

10 countries were birded by 9 beats and 892 species were noted from 144 checklists. Ota Ward–Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park / Shioiri Pond). Hopland Research and Extension Center (restricted access). Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Malbup Creek Bird Hide.

2018 100

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2011

This evergreen post, first written in 2004, has become a 10,000 Birds staple. No Christmas carol features birds as prominently as this one. To the birder, this begs the question: what species of birds appear in the Twelve Days of Christmas ? However, in this case, a bit of research paid off. Merry Christmas!)

Turtles 279

Turtles 2004 United Kingdom Geese 279

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

Electric storms closed the new walkway there and he amassed a total list of just 3 birds! It is a dream, nay, a mission statement of 10,000 Birds to see as many of the World’s birds as possible. Should the fancy take you, you could call up a 10,000 Birds life list (from 2016 onwards. 08 Feb 2016. 04 Aug 2016.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2022

To be precise, “Birding Shanghai from June 10 to June 30, 2022” – but that is even less of an exciting title than the one above. The reason for this post only covering the period from June 10 being that an earlier post, “Revenge Birding”, was about the first 9 days of June. You should try it too.

Birds 193

Birds Sparrows Protection Humane 193