10,000 Birds

JULY 30, 2014

However, I am here to make the case for birding California. With the largest state list by a considerable margin and a mind-boggling diversity of habitats, I reckon we have some amazing birding to offer. Not far south of the bay area are Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, which offer some great birding of their own.

California 193

California San Diego Birds Oakland 193

10,000 Birds

MARCH 24, 2024

There are beautiful beaches, a plethora of amazing food and drinks, a multitude of family fun locations, a world-renowned zoo, and one of the biggest birding festivals in the US. Birders biking around Mission Bay Each year, the San Diego Audubon Society hosts their annual birding festival in the third week of February.

San Diego 191

San Diego Sea Lions Lions Birds 191

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 22, 2021

As August comes rushing to a close, the doldrums of the last few weeks have already started to give way to a new mass movement of birds. Not only did I pick up that little brown job, but I found plenty more species that looked verrrry much like it. What was your best bird of the weekend? Move with them! Good times!

California 264

California New York Birds Experience 264

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2013

The male (seen below) has a black cap and, in Washington, Oregon, California, and Baja California, nearly all males have green backs. Both of these species show gregarious flocking behavior except when nesting. References: 1 Birds of North America Online. Birds goldfinches Lesser Goldfinch West Coast'

California 163

California Species North America Oregon 163

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2017

It is not always obvious which side of a bird-related conservation lawsuit is the right side. As many birders know, the last wild California Condors were captured by the U.S. Audubon thought there should be some wild condors to serve as “guide birds” for condors that would eventually be released from the captive breeding program.

California Condor 104

California Condor California District of Columbia Utah 104

10,000 Birds

JUNE 13, 2021

The bird is just chilling out, waiting for the urge to fly. The bird below is also waiting, but not to fly. One might assume this is a falconry bird, but it’s not. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of birds knows the efficiency and delicacy of their respiratory systems. Now imagine you have the lungs of a bird.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 260

Wildlife Rehabilitation Tethering Giraffes Alabama 260

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2013

After all, California Audubon’s site states that “This is a conservation award. We’re particularly interested in recognizing bird species that were of significant conservation interest in 2013, but that also had a compelling story and rallied the public around it.” How does that sound for a headline?

California 203

California Owls 2013 Factory 203

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

I mean you have two year gulls, three year gulls and even gulls that take four years to mature, and the plumage of all these species changes as they mature. The top photo shows a first winter California Gull ( Larus californicus ) on the right and a non-breeding adult on the left. The pink bill with the black tip was a good start.

California 160

California Sacramento Breeding Turtles 160

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2021

Fortunately, we have birds to look at, so let’s focus on them right now. I spent Saturday recovering from my red eye back from California but I did get out to coastal Queens on Sunday morning, though I didn’t see much. So that will be my Best Bird of the Weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend?

Alaska 215

Alaska California Birds New York 215

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2023

But does ChatGPT have even a rudimentary understanding of a niche topic like birding? I asked it a few questions about birding locations and the (unedited) results are below, along with some brief analysis. Please note that the availability of specific bird species may vary depending on the season.

United States 162

United States Michigan Texas Virginia 162

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2017

We conduct four Christmas Bird Counts in our part of Northern California, the first of which is the Fall River Christmas Bird Count coming up in just about two weeks. We began birding at Fall River overlook, a vista parking area overlooking a canyon.

California 102

California Sparrows Birds Philadelphia 102

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2014

More than 99% of the population of Tricolored Blackbirds ( Agelaius tricolor ) live within the state of California and form the largest colonies of any North American passerine bird 1. The Results of the 2014 Tricolored Blackbird Statewide Survey confirm that this species is in rapid decline. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rwi0SF8r8o.

Blackbirds 185

Blackbirds California 2014 2013 185

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2021

As devoted readers of 10,000 Birds know , the writers contribute checklists to a joint eBird account called the “ 10,000 Birds Collaborative.”. As of mid-November 2021, the Collaborative had submitted more than 4,200 checklists (up from 1,700 in 2018) and has observed 691 species in the United States (up from 618).

United States 190

United States West Virginia Puerto Rico Minnesota 190

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2013

In a move that’s sure to stir controversy far beyond the borders of California, federal officials have announced that h enceforth, fledgling Peregrine Falcons won’t be relocated from nests built on bridges in the state. total was roughly 100 birds. total was roughly 100 birds. What do you think? What do you think?

California 179

California Endangered Species Falcons Jordan 179

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2013

Southern California is loaded with parrots. Many escapes and introductions have taken place over the years and some species have found the warm, dry climate to their liking. Quite a few species are well-established and breeding from San Diego to Los Angeles and beyond. Skylarks in Brooklyn , anyone?

Parrots 211

Parrots California Los Angeles San Diego 211

10,000 Birds

JUNE 16, 2022

Last week, I wrote about my recent trip from my current home of Morelia, Mexico to my childhood home of the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States, and how several species can be found in both places, in spite of how far apart they are, and yet look quite different in each place. California Towhee. Canyon Towhee.

Mexico 187

Mexico San Francisco California United States 187

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2021

I added yet another new Monroe County bird in the form of a Stilt Sandpiper this weekend, which is the only way this species earns my Best Bird honors. Corey is enjoying life visiting relatives in southern California and has seen a bunch of birds he hasn’t seen awhile. What was your best bird of the weekend?

Birds 262

Birds California Raised Wildlife 262

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2014

Northern California’s Christmas Bird Counts started out with a bang this year. Saturday, December 14th, the first day of the 114th Christmas Bird Count, 27 enthusiastic counters had unseasonably warm and sunny weather to count 21,695 birds for the Fall River Mills Christmas Bird Count. Peregrine Falcon.

California 167

California Blackbirds Turkey Birds 167

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

As of 27 August 2013 the California Bird Records Committee has voted to add the introduced Nutmeg Mannikin to the state checklist. Or, as Seagull Steve puts it : The dreaded Nutmeg Mannikin has been added to California’s official state list by the California Bird Records Committee (aka Bird Police).

California 190

California Los Angeles 2013 Eggs 190

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

I have been lucky enough to get close views of two massive Old World Vulture species, the Eurasian Griffon and the Egyptian Vulture. Here in Mexico, I can almost always count on Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures to pad each outing’s list by two species. Black Vultures are a bit smaller than all these other species.

Turkey 188

Turkey California Condor Mexico Meat 188

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2018

According to Macauley Library’s migration map the overwhelming breeding activity for this species occurs north of the state of California. I guess we will find out as the eBird maps change in the future, but until then, here is another photo of one of the males hanging out here in Northern California.

California 100

California 2012 Breeding Species 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2012

The newest bird on the brink to capture her fertile imagination is the California Condor, on which she graciously shares her research and ruminations: Sometimes as a writer you recognize there’s been something overlooked in your midst—something quietly abiding. I enjoyed my time with these birds of earth’s past.

California Condor 202

California Condor California Idaho North America 202

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2022

July: 81 checklists and 318 species. August: 54 checklists and 195 species. September: 82 checklists and 259 species. The 2022 year list is up to 1,188 species. The life list rises by 2 , to 4,126 species : 4,125: Townsend’s Storm-Petrel (California, US). 4,126: Cook’s Petrel (California, US).

San Diego 147

San Diego Costa Rica United States Cooking 147

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

Visiting from California, he had visited local gardens and trails with me, spent time by the pool, and took a few mini-canoe trips. Each time, a small notebook tagged along with me, and I would note the bird species I spotted, then put it away. Do you keep daily bird lists? The post Why Do I Keep a Neighborhood Bird List?

Florida 256

Florida Birds Mississippi Laws 256

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2024

Birders know that some of the finest birding locations in the country are on federal land , which include national parks , wildlife refuges , forests , monuments , and seashores , among others. These lands support countless birds, either year-round, as migratory stopovers, or as breeding grounds. But what else should birders know?

Virgin Islands 200

Virgin Islands Alaska United States Endangered Species 200

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2022

At the end of 2022, let us celebrate the local field guide, a sub-genre that many of us feared would die, the victim of technology, development, and globalization, but which still shines bright, fewer in number but brilliant in quality, thanks to birders and birding organizations that believe in knowing your patch and your state.

Los Angeles 186

Los Angeles Birds District of Columbia Parrots 186

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2024

Sixteen species that have been recorded in the United States are covered: six Myiarchus flycatchers and ten Kingbird ( Tyrannus ) flycatchers. As with the first volume, I was surprised to see the inclusion of a species that has only been seen in the U.S. Introductory Material Sixteen species, 190 pages.

Los Angeles 169

Los Angeles North America Species America 169

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2014

I didn’t know what species of woodpecker it was, but I knew it was just in the clearing on the other side of the road. ” Note how well camouflaged this bird is atop a snag in its natural habitat of burned coniferous forest. Range map courtesy of South Dakota Birds and Birding.

Woodpeckers 169

Woodpeckers California South Dakota Chad 169

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2022

I, desperate for some birds, used that to take a few photos, even though it meant attracting a lot of attention from the other residents, as I am the only foreigner in this compound and also the only person owning an 800 mm telephoto lens. The most interesting bird I got was probably this Asian Stubtail. Feels good.

Los Angeles 167

Los Angeles Birds China Blackbirds 167

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2021

Audubon guides to birds have been around since 1946. The first guide bearing the National Audubon Society imprint was Audubon Bird Guide; Eastern Land Birds , written by Richard Hooper Pough, and illustrated by Don Eckelberry. Plate 28 from Audubon Bird Guide, Eastern Land Birds, by Richard H. Knopf, 1994/97.

North America 278

North America America Birds California Condor 278

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

It was apparently all the way back in 2012, when I was first getting back into birding after a 30 year hiatus, that I took a sad little picture, with my sad little camera, of a cute little bird that seemed to not show up anywhere at all in my field guide. What I didn’t know was that this is a very special species.

Birds 162

Birds Mexico California Spain 162

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 8, 2020

If you want to write a bird guide, you should have guided people yourself. Howell and Fabrice Schmitt: both of them are international bird tour leaders with WINGS. Birds of Chile – A Photo Guide has 240 pages and more than 1,000 photos accompanied by a brief text to make bird ID easy. And that is what recommends Steve N.

Chile 194

Chile Birds South America North America 194

10,000 Birds

JUNE 29, 2022

Anytime I travel, I do what it takes to get in some birding. After all, the best way to find new birds is to look in new places. Birding being best in the early morning, I get up before they do, and try to be back by breakfast — their breakfast. My recent brief trip to California made this strategy especially easy.

San Francisco 147

San Francisco California Battery Ducks 147

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2013

But some recent work by James Maley and others is shedding more light on these secretive and fascinating birds. Clapper Rails , as currently defined by the AOU, occur along the coasts of North and South America and Caribbean islands, and inland in southern California and Arizona. The full study is fascinating and well worth a read.

Species 212

Species North America Cuba Louisiana 212

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2019

This last year of the twenty-teens was a monumental birding year for me. I saw 863 species of birds, bringing my life list to 1,820. I birded Uganda, which was my first time on the continent of Africa. Such travel brings a lot of birds and the 863 species I saw this year is the most species I have ever seen.

2019 137

2019 Barbados Uganda Costa Rica 137

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2021

My first visit there, in June of 2014, was short and apparently just good enough to make me want to go back again, with a mere 12 species seen. My visit the next month produced 20 species; but many of them were great ones! I went back to Cerro de Garnica last week, to see these birds that have since become dear friends.

2014 181

2014 California Mexico Rights 181

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

The Vermilion Flycatcher ( Pyrocephalus rubinus ) is usually found near the US – Mexican border but we were fortunate this year to find an adult male in northern California! The female of the species is beautiful in her own right but only the male had been seen here. Click on photos for full sized images.

California 107

California Sacramento Wildlife Groups 107