10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2022

The main attraction for birders here are the hornbills – I have written about them before , so this post will be more on the other birds I saw there in 2017. Anyway, it is a very cute-looking bird if you are big enough not to be among its prey of (mostly) insects. I have written about the hornbills of this area before.

Birds 147

Birds Myanmar China Chicago 147

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2016

And then, two canids appeared in my scope field of view… My plan was that the downpour should finally be over in the morning, so I could go birding. They are sitting in the wet grass at the edge of the water, observing the bird movements around them. I am thrilled: this is more than just birding, this is a full-scale safari!

Serbia 129

Serbia Sheep Birds Eagles 129

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 17, 2019

The Christmas Bird Count was the answer. The IWC census starts from mid-January following the logic that it is the period when the birds have reached their wintering grounds and are rather static, so the chance of double-counting the same flock is minimal. But it is so frustrating to pass the birds by without IDing them!

Geese 145

Geese Serbia Birds Estonia 145

10,000 Birds

APRIL 14, 2023

Either way, they are perhaps more central to our stories and lore than other birds, a familiar example, as Darlington reminds us, being Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In the human psyche, owls can be cuddly signs of good luck and benificence (as they are in Japan, and Harry Potter movies) and, at the same time, eerie and unsettling.

Barn Owls 113

Barn Owls Owls Serbia Finland 113

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 22, 2022

It is near a river, attracting some birds that like to eat wet food. As the national bird of Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the African Fish Eagle is usually very busy whenever it stays in these countries, giving speeches, opening shopping centers, etc. The birds I asked about this pretended not to be related to anyone though.

Zimbabwe 147

Zimbabwe Birds South Africa Benin 147

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2015

But the fact is nature has little to do with most problems facing native birds. Consider this: ninety percent of birds treated at wildlife centers are admitted as a result of human interactions that have nothing to do with “nature.” In a recent case involving my own facility, an immature bald eagle was hit by a car.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 189

Wildlife Rehabilitation Bald Eagle Rescue Wildlife 189

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2018

As you know, I started to bird from a canoe, exploring the Danube backwaters in Belgrade, Serbia. It is a fascinating world of swampy forests of willow and poplar, inhabited by Black Storks , White-tailed Eagles , Eastern Olivaceous and Icterine Warblers (above), among more than 200 other species.

Beavers 120

Beavers Serbia Eagles Hungary 120

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2014

On Saturday morning I was exploring the newly-mowed Edgemere Landfill, one of my favorite birding spots in Queens, enjoying birds like Eastern Meadowlarks and American Pipits , both of which seemed to appreciate two years of brush being removed. Birds Bird Behavior Edgemere raptors Red-tailed Hawk'

Bald Eagle 172

Bald Eagle Opossums Squirrels Meat 172

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

Birds are supposed to have feathers and birds without feathers look incomplete, like they left home with shaving cream on their ear and toothpaste spots on their shirt. The smellier the better, particularly as, unusually for birds, many species can boast a robust sense of smell. T urkey Vulture, photo by Dawn Puliafico.

California Condor 181

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 181

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2015

At the far end of the lake stands a tall, dry tree with an eagle that we are struggling to determine and it remains a dark silhouette far too far. Somewhere below that mysterious eagle, at the far shore of the lake, lies one Bengal Tiger … and further to the right – two more! He has earned his tip.

Tigers 245

Tigers India Killing 2012 245

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2022

It stops those thousands of migrating birds flying across the Gulf of Mexico and directs them right onto the trees, fields, sanctuaries, beaches along the Bolivar Peninsula, where they hopefully find food and fresh water. And us, the birders who travel here from March to May to worship the birds as they seek to survive.

Houston 211

Houston Texas Sanctuary Sparrows 211

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2013

I had an interesting email come in this winter: “I have been photographing birds for the past 8 years and have been confronted by numerous “Rude Birders.” I worked with education owls for over ten years, from Great Horned Owls to Saw-whet Owls (above bird). So, how close is “too close” for an owl?

Owls 263

Owls Barn Owls Agenda Zoos 263

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

I’ve been fortunate to encounter many owls in my birding life, sometimes because I’m looking for them, sometimes happily by happenstance. It’s also about human-owl interaction on an individual level and a wider sociocultural level, and ultimately how we can use all this for habitat and bird conservation.

Owls 211

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 211

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

Furthermore we have another very special stork-like bird, the regal Shoebill , previously known as the Whale-headed Stork but now placed in its own family. Marabous have also learnt another trick, and that is to follow vultures and scavenge off the remains of Lion and other large predator kills. They also prey on frogs and crabs.

Africa 240

Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 240

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

Having come back to the blog in whatever form and persistency, the overarching subject of language in birding seemed to be a suitable and deserving theme since bird names were part of my original beat. How have birds infiltrated our everyday language, even of non-birders? No birds required.

Germany 181

Germany Birds Hunters Owls 181

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2014

By the other end of the marsh, there is a flock of Greylag Geese in the grey sky, Common Goldeneye on the water, Western Marsh Harrier above the willows, several Common Reed Buntings on the wire and the White-tailed Eagle in the distance. After that, birds gradually thin out and winter drowsiness overtakes me.

Killing 231

Killing Mali Geese Serbia 231

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

You know there is probably some evil backstory if Wikipedia talks of a “complex” legacy of Raffles – further detailing that “he was ultimately an imperialist benefiting at the expense of the indigenous peoples” So, I guess this is another bird name that should be changed eventually.

Los Angeles 186

Los Angeles Birds Woodpeckers Owls 186

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

MARCH 14, 2011

home about advertise archives birds conservation contact galleries links reviews subscribe Browse: Home / Birds / Sandhill Crane Hunt in Kentucky?! Sandhill Crane Hunt in Kentucky?! Tomorrow, MARCH 15, 2011, is the deadline for public comment on a proposal to hunt sandhill cranes in Kentucky. Martin, U.S.

2011 246

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 246

10,000 Birds

MAY 9, 2018

The bird life certainly changes a bit, with a complete lack of water, unless you are at a town, well, or station, as many of the ranches are referred to. Wedge-tailed Eagles roam the skies, along with Brown Falcon, Black Kites , and Nankeen Kestrels. The third bird flew off just before I could get the shutter released.

Australia 113

Australia Camels Kangaroos Hunting 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2012

There is no raptor quite so removed from the typical confines of what a bird of prey should look and behave like. Although they share some affinities with typical raptors (building eagle-like nests and possessing hooked bills) Secretarybirds have many characteristics that warrant them to be placed in their own genus, Sagittarius.

Botswana 223

Botswana Eagles Porcupines Hunting 223

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 18, 2011

Besides the presence of several noted birding personalities, interesting seminars and phenomenal prize give-aways, the real stars of the show were undoubtably the birds. There were literally hundreds of kids there on both days, the majority sporting optics and talking birds. Raptors were perceived to be vermin.

Bald Eagle 256

Bald Eagle Pennsylvania Sanctuary Hunters 256

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) has been in the news recently, as the Trump Administration has proposed changes to how it is enforced as to activities that harm birds, but only incidentally. Shane asked whether the agents were “looking for tails,” and the female agent said she needed an eagle feather fan for her dress.

Eagles 113

Eagles Bald Eagle Deer Birds 113

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

I’ve decided to get into the bird tour business. Get up early, point at lots of birds, go back to the hotel for celebratory wine. If any birds give trouble just make up an answer, then say it with confidence. Guaranteed to produce birds you’ve never seen before or your money back! I mean, how hard could it be?

New Zealand 201

New Zealand Ducks Australia Mountain Goats 201