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 279

North America America Birds California Condor 279

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2022

Most people are familiar with their bright red colours and their long seed pods, but what is worth noting is that birds like them too! They also offer an excellent opportunity for birds to nest. Magpie-larks collect “mud” from our garden where the water we provide for the birds overflows. Magpie-lark nest.

Breeding 147

Breeding Australia Family Collecting 147

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2021

I didn’t plan on taking such a long break away from the Birds and Booze beat, but life got in the way the last several weeks, mostly on account of moving into a new home. And what could be better than a new bird-themed brewery opening up less than two miles down the road from me? Good birding and happy drinking!

New York 264

New York Boston 2019 Collecting 264

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023

As mentioned in many other posts on this blog, the avifauna of Trinidad & Tobago consists of several species and family groups occurring very interestingly, in threes. I hadn’t noticed this until I began compiling my own book on the birds of T&T some years ago, and I thought it rather uncanny.

Trinidad 130

Trinidad Bats Falcons Groups 130

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

DECEMBER 1, 2022

On that glorious day, I observed ten critically endangered birds, representing 8% of their Costa Rican, or 2% of their global population!! In my previous post , I dealt with Rancho Naturalista Lodge itself and birding within their private reserve. But, let’s start at the beginning. A group (maybe 4-5 ex.)

Costa Rica 248

Costa Rica Nicaragua 2019 Farming 248

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2020

They looked out their windows and across their patios and up from their apartment terraces and saw–birds. This is a delightful book, large (8-1/2 by 11 inches), filled with Sibley’s distinctive artwork and an organized potpourri of research-based stories about the science behind bird’s lives.

2020 264

2020 Birds Groups North America 264

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 16, 2020

I am shocked to be writing this post already, and doubly shocked that I’ve seen six new species for Queens since I guessed what my next five Queens birds would be just eight months ago, back in March. It’s been a good year for birding in Queens! Fortunately, there are birds to help. I’d like to be the one to find it.

New York City 153

New York City Birds New York Blackbirds 153

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2020

The April arrival of the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America, Second Edition was a supremely happy moment in a very difficult, sad month. A companion regional guide, Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America was published in 1941; its fifth edition will be coming out in early September.

North America 223

North America America Hawaii Birds 223

10,000 Birds

MAY 23, 2022

The scimitar gave the name to a group of birds, the 17 species of scimitar babblers (claims that these birds were named after the Scottish naturalist Edgar Scimitar, 1755-1806, are plainly wrong). Scimitar babblers use these long downcurved bills to work through the leaf litter – they are rather terrestrial birds.

Litter 227

Litter China Species Abandon 227

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 25, 2022

With the end of the year approaching you could consider where you would like to go birding in Australia in 2023. As you well know we are a huge continent with many outlying islands and a huge variety of bird-life. Wherever you dare to go in Australia you won’t be disappointed by the birds that you encounter.

Australia 147

Australia Singapore Birds Battery 147

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2020

For bird books, we mean – reference works and field guides, books of essays and reminiscences, novels, and works on birdsong and other specialties. In any event, there is no better judge of potent potables in the birding world, no better writer about them, than Tristan Lowery, in his charming and unique “Birds and Booze” essays.

2020 209

2020 Birds North America Italy 209

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

It actually makes a lot of sense, the geographic features of the isthmus between North America (including Mexico, because Mexico is part of North America) and South America cut across political lines, as do birds. It is the first bird field guide to every country of Central America (plus the islands governed by those countries).

America 214

America El Salvador Costa Rica Honduras 214

10,000 Birds

APRIL 27, 2014

There are excellent birding opportunities along the highway throughout the year and the area still remains flooded from the rains over our Wet Season and it has been a breeding site for several species of birds. There are no bird hides, but we have our own favourite bird hide and ventured out late last Sunday afternoon.

Birds 165

Birds Geese Falcons 2014 165

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2022

The Eurasian Wryneck is the woodpecker that doesn’t look like a woodpecker, the bird with the portmanteau name that is also a medical condition (and which may remind some people of a Nora Ephron essay). They are slim and small-headed birds and their bills are fine, not strong and dynamic. copyright © 2022 Gerard Gorman.

Woodpeckers 247

Woodpeckers Hungary Thailand 2014 247

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2018

– Birds are indeed dinosaurs, yet, are indubitably not. Knowledge is knowing that a bird is a dinosaur. In other words, you can’t say something like, “humans, gorillas, chimps, and bonobos are all in the same family and equally related to each other.” Therefore, humans are fish with feet, right?

Monkeys 144

Monkeys Gorillas Whales Whaling 144

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

The Durango Highway is arguably one of North America’s great birding roads due to the great variety of habitats, the spectacular mountain scenery of the Sierra Madre Occidental, and the numerous Mexican endemics one can target. There are many dusty side roads in this area, many of which offer productive birding.

Mexico 201

Mexico Costa Rica Arizona Birds 201

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 15, 2019

Or How a Serbian Suave Playboy Promoted Birding the Caribbean. Oh, the joys of slipping through the pages of a new book that has just arrived, the Birds of the West Indies by Kirwan, Levesque, Oberle and Sharpe. Having a tropical maritime climate, birding the West Indies comes with a lot of water, from sea spray to humid forests.

Saint Kitts and Nevis 169

Saint Kitts and Nevis Antigua and Barbuda Dominican Republic Cuba 169

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2021

The chick is just to the right of the adult bird in the photo below in the shade. The Pied Oystercatchers moved around the vegetation and collected food for the chick. Over the next few days we expect the Pied Oystercatcher family to make the trek two kilometres down the beach to Gantheaume Point.

Eggs 263

Eggs Feral Cats Feral Fox 263

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

Unfortunately, these features that make island ecosystems so unique have also lead to a disproportionate number of extinct island birds relative to continental ecosystems. According to his writings, the Cuban Macaw’s behavior was typical of the genus, living in pairs or family parties that kept in contact with loud, raucous calls.

Cuba 252

Cuba Parrots Collecting Columbus 252

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2012

As 10,000 Birds’ New Zealand beat writer, I sometimes should write about New Zealand birds, but today I thought I’d talk about a bird that people thought was one but almost certainly wasn’t. So what were these Australian birds doing in New Zealand? But it seems the story wasn’t so clear cut.

New Zealand 183

New Zealand Pelicans Solomon Islands Palau 183

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2011

My home country of South Africa can only be described as a birding paradise! In this post, I’d like to focus on a small selection of South Africa’s special endemic birds. In this post, I’d like to focus on a small selection of South Africa’s special endemic birds. Starting off with my favorites (I have to say that!),

South Africa 234

South Africa Lesotho Africa Swaziland 234

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2014

Bird hides are very rare around Western Australia and they are ideal for observing birds at close range, but so are vehicles! In fact my favourite bird hide has just celebrated its 21st birthday! Birds seem a lot less cautious of a large vehicle than a person on foot. Bird hide on the move in the outback.

Birds 167

Birds Australia Kangaroos Protection 167

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2017

I’ve never been to the Indonesian Archipelago, but I really like the birds there. Lynx Edicions, the ornithological (and now mammal) publisher that gave us the Handbook of the Birds of the World , has now published Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea , by James A. So, this is no ordinary bird guide.

Indonesia 134

Indonesia Brunei Birds Malaysia 134

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2015

There is GISS and there is Birding by Impression and they are not the same. Birding by Impression is a conscious, deliberate method of identifying and recognizing birds based on the study and evaluation of “distinctive structural features and behavioral movements” and comparison with nearby and similar species. So say Kevin T.

Birds 172

Birds New Jersey Science Groups 172

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2014

Few if any species are as emblematic of the Neotropics as Ramphastidae, the family that includes the toucans, toucanets, and aracaris. Even non-birders can appreciate the huge-billed and colorful birds. On the other, the birds love Pink Banana , and the guests love seeing the birds up close. Disturbing, no?

Costa Rica 240

Costa Rica Horses Farming Collecting 240

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Are there birders out there who do not dream of birding Australia? Possibly birders who have already birded Australia (but, wouldn’t you want to go back?) or birders who live there (but, how can you bird it all?). So, I welcomed the opportunity to review The Australian Bird Guide.

Australia 109

Australia Birds Penguins 2015 109

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2021

At the time, Dreher’s family owned the greatest brewing empire in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and in the 1830s, young Anton embarked on a “Grand Tour” of sorts befitting a promising young brewery heir. Good birding and happy drinking! The post Devils Backbone Brewing Company Vienna Lager appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

Boston 190

Boston Austria Industry Europe 190

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Sure, it’s been well over a month since I returned from my fun-filled, family vacation to Honduras but that doesn’t mean that it’s too late to blog about it, right? Well, it’s a life bird if you consider Salvin’s Emerald a separate species. Of course we had a lot more to do other than look at birds.

Honduras 154

Honduras Birds Butcher Fish 154

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2014

There are probably a few people right now facing the dilemma of what gift they should buy to impress a female friend! In the north of Australia right now the Great Bowerbirds are also trying to impress some members of the other sex, but rather than venture near any shops they are busy thieving!

Papua New Guinea 167

Papua New Guinea Guinea Australia Collecting 167

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2013

We had last experienced this cheerful family of birds in Katherine in the Northern Territory over 13 years ago, so although the population is isolated there they had the same characteristics. They roam in family groups varying from eight birds upwards and have a certain confidence about themselves as they strut around the bush.

Investigation 166

Investigation Australia Family Collecting 166

10,000 Birds

JUNE 24, 2019

Cory is perhaps the worst kind of person after whom you could name a bird. Instead, he led a life of leisure: playing billiards and golf (he competed in the 1904 Olympics as a golfer but somehow didn’t finish the course), traveling, and amassing a massive collection of dead birds, over 19,000 all told. But it gets worse!

Boston 113

Boston Killing Protection Collecting 113

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

APRIL 13, 2015

Ethiopia, a landlocked country situated in the Horn of Africa, has firmly established itself as one of Africa’s top birding destinations. Its great diversity of habitats hosts an incredible bird count of over 900 species, including Africa’s 2nd highest list of endemics and near-endemics (after South Africa).

Ethiopia 249

Ethiopia Sudan Leopards Birds 249

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2013

There were three profound questions my birding group discussed while we birded Trinidad and Tobago, back in December 2012: (1) How many Bananaquits could fit on a banana? (2) 3) What was the best guide to the birds of Trinidad and Tobago? The bird guide question was a conundrum.

Trinidad 205

Trinidad Birds South America Research 205

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2017

Birds with white on them are much more likely to take the form of goodies like the Snowy Cotinga , or two species of tityras. Masked Tityra – the most frequently encountered small bird in Costa Rica with white plumage. The Caribbean slope of Costa Rica also differs from the islands in having a lot more bird species.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica San Jose Birds Bats 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2016

British birders are very serious about birding and their birds. This is a very good thing; it means they publish a lot of books about birds (probably more at this point than U.S. This is a very good thing; it means they publish a lot of books about birds (probably more at this point than U.S.

Ireland 150

Ireland Birds Groups Falcons 150