10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2021

October can be a fantastic birding season in the right places. Corey spent his weekend upstate visiting his folks, picking apples, and, of course, looking for birds. Corey spent his weekend upstate visiting his folks, picking apples, and, of course, looking for birds. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

Blackbirds 214

Blackbirds Birds Sparrows Wildlife 214

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

Despite his best efforts Corey didn’t find any truly outstanding birds this weekend as he stomped his way across Queens. A late Northern Parula was nice, his first Canvasback of the season was pleasant, and sweeping the scoters is always fun, but his favorite bird of the weekend was an Ipswich Sparrow. How about you?

2020 264

2020 Birds Sparrows Experience 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2019

I like sparrows. I like observing them, reading about them, grappling with species and subspecies identification, and even—on a good day—talking about sparrow taxonomy. The book does not include House Sparrow, an Old World sparrow that belongs to a completely different bird family. Scope of Book. Mexico border.

North America 152

North America Sparrows America United States 152

10,000 Birds

APRIL 25, 2021

Weekends like these tend to fill those of us closer to the poles with envy for our birding friends even the slightest bit closer to the equator. While I knocked down plenty of first of spring birds this weekend, I most appreciated the appearance of a species that hangs around all winter. What was your best bird of the weekend?

Birds 235

Birds Sparrows Experience Experiments 235

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2023

I did not actually go to Afghanistan for birding. So, birds in Kabul. I am only including them in this post to give you my real-life Kabul experience … Four species are the most easily seen in the few urban parks (into which women are not actually allowed to enter – I am not sure about female birds).

Afghanistan 177

Afghanistan Birds Feral Zoos 177

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2024

Well, 2023 has ended, so it’s time to look back at the past year’s birding. The pleasures of birding are many and varied, so this kind of post always involves a list. I will also return to several birds which have already appeared here. But Morocco’s example is by far the “housiest” of them all.

Morocco 177

Morocco Birds Turkey Mexico 177

10,000 Birds

JUNE 29, 2023

The (Big) Year that Flew By: Twelve Months, Six Continents, and the Ultimate Birding Record – which is the book’s full title, or Arjan Dwarshuis’s Big Year, as I prefer to call it shortly, is a highly anticipated and a long awaited travelogue of the author’s 2016 race against time across 40 countries in his attempt to break the world birding record.

Papua New Guinea 253

Papua New Guinea Guinea Suriname South America 253

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

Really, the worst part of birding mid-September in upstate New York is the realization that, in a couple of weeks or so, the excitement of migration is over for us. Corey added two year birds to his list this weekend, a Dickcissel and Clay-colored Sparrow. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

New York 176

New York Birds Sparrows Experience 176

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 27, 2020

The end of September doesn’t necessarily mean the end of what you might enjoy about September birding but it definitely signals the beginning of what you love about October. Corey had a few really good birds this weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend? Hopefully, you’re looking forward to the month ahead!

2020 221

2020 Connecticut Virginia New York 221

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 31, 2021

If you haven’t figured out where to visit first once the world opens up, watch this space: we’re going to sharing ideas for your next big birding trip all of February. Not many birds, unfortunately, but somehow a lovely pair of Hooded Mergansers found some open water to enjoy. What was your best bird of the weekend?

Birds 205

Birds Sparrows Experience Experiments 205

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 19, 2022

Costa Rica has long been one of the more frequently visited global birding hotspots. In addition to providing many people with wonderful life experiences, these birding visits have helped increase our understanding of local bird distribution. More Birding in the Northern Volcanoes. Does Wing-banded Antbird occur?

Costa Rica 261

Costa Rica Birds Albatross Protection 261

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2020

In that spirit, Corey chose the lowly feral Rock Pigeon as his Best Bird of the Weekend. Like Corey and so many others, I took the time to really appreciate the everyday species we jaded bird chasers typically take for granted. What was your best bird of the weekend? They really are pretty when you take the time to look at them!

2020 145

2020 Feral Sparrows Birds 145

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2020

The birding is just that good, or at least can be. I was quite pleased to pull my first New York state warblers for the year from the early bird menu. Corey enjoyed a wave of neotropical migrants over the weekend and had a hard time choosing his Best Bird of the Weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2020 166

2020 New York Birds Sparrows 166

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2019

An expanse of habitat as vast as Murchison Falls NP in Uganda, as excessively generous in beauty and biodiversity, permits endless ways to experience both its birds and animals. The Masindi Hotel holds the distinction of being the oldest and most historic hotel in Uganda and has some terrific birds on premises.

Uganda 193

Uganda Senegal Africa Game 193

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 22, 2021

” Yet, response-driven creatures like birds look past little things like blizzards to appreciate how much later the sun sets each day. Corey got out birding both days this weekend and had a typical suite of winter birds for the northeastern United States, with everything from Razorbill to Common Redpoll. How about you?

United States 153

United States Birds Sparrows Humane 153

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2019

Not all birds are created equal. These are the kinds of birds even those barely cognizant of nature recognize, appreciate, and aspire to. These are the kinds of birds even those barely cognizant of nature recognize, appreciate, and aspire to. Central Africa has one of those birds.

Uganda 269

Uganda Africa Birds Penguins 269

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

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.

North Dakota 142

North Dakota Birds Sparrows Blackbirds 142

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2022

In 2007 I was working in a university building that was just begging for bird feeders. This was where I set up my bird feeders, just one at first, then expanding as everyone expressed delight in seeing the Carolina Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Downy Woodpeckers. There were no dead birds for weeks. I hoped it was an anomaly.

New York City 258

New York City Birds Illinois Science 258

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 6, 2019

If your entire birding year depended on the commitment you put forth this past weekend, how excited or appalled would you be? Corey joined our 10,000 Birds Beat Writer Carrie on a twitch upstate to see a Golden-crowned Sparrow , a new state bird for both of them. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2019 114

2019 Geese Sparrows Birds 114

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2023

It is home to four diverse forest ecosystems (deciduous, mixed, boreal, and lowlands), experiences seasonal weather systems ranging from cold dry Arctic winters to humid, thunder-storm filled summers, and, according to the latest official checklist, hosts four professional sports teams with bird names.* state and Canadian provinces.

North America 217

North America Birds Owls Canada 217

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2023

Their migration is quite fast compared to many other larger birds – in one study , several birds flew 4000 km within 5–7 days while one individual even flew 5600 km non-stop. That includes breeding birds, as indicated by the presence of some rather cute chicks ( video ). Also as video. Bye, bye, Lesser Coucal.

Birds 130

Birds Eggs Breeders Breeding 130

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2021

There was a time when I thought each bird species had its own individual song. Then I found out that there was this vocalization called a ‘call,’ so I thought each bird species had its own individual song (but just the males) and individual call. Bird communication is a complex and evolving science.

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North America Research Birds Groups 279

10,000 Birds

JUNE 10, 2020

And I love making my little garden (some 1400 square feet) more attractive to birds. But I would never have imagined how important it would be to my emotional well-being to have a bird-friendly garden during lockdown. In recent years, I have moved much more in the direction of plants that attract birds.

Birds 157

Birds Woodpeckers Madagascar Nashville 157

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2018

Countless flocks of frigid, sodden birds must be wondering whether they took a wrong turn somewhere. In between ice storms, I visited Brighton’s Brickyard Trail, a nice little walk that can be excellent for sparrows. What do you know, I spotted my FOY Swamp Sparrow in song, along with about a hundred Song Sparrows , also in song.

2018 113

2018 Jamaica Sparrows Bears 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Fortunately, China still has lots of interesting birding locations left for me. But of course, it is also nice to remember past birding trips. One in November 2018 included a one-day birding trip in the Drakensberg area, a mountain range in the border area between South Africa and Lesotho. That does not make much sense, I know.

South Africa 239

South Africa Africa Lesotho Nigeria 239

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 10, 2014

If you read my weekly posts bookending theweekend birding experience, you know that I pay close attention to phenology. The way the ebb and flow of each season impacts out experience of the natural world must inform our efforts to observe avifauna if we want to optimize our experience. Birding best bird weekend'

2014 169

2014 New York Birds Experience 169

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 24, 2017

Though it is still September and not really proper sparrow season yet, Corey still managed to turn up a nice Lincoln’s Sparrow at Kissena Corridor Park on Sunday morning, his first of the fall. Such a pleasant little sparrow, and easily Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2017 124

2017 Virginia Sparrows Game 124

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2016

Corey could have chosen his first Pine Siskins of the year in New York, a Red-headed Woodpecker , a late Osprey , or a Vesper Sparrow as his Best Bird of the Weekend this weekend. But it was a common bird sitting in good light that he tapped for the honors, a Gray Catbird that cooperated wonderfully in Kissena Park.

2016 175

2016 New York Birds Woodpeckers 175

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 12, 2016

There are a lot of side benefits to birding. But, while we are making sacrifices for the avian quest, we also experience side benefits much less trying in nature. It was spring migration and they weren’t birding but he greeted me with open arms and a hug. He asked and I told him my name and that I was watching birds.

Birds 156

Birds Costa Rica Chickens Goats 156

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2015

Seeing the radio show in CMAC’s splendid open air venue made the experience even more genteel, but the performers had a hard time competing with very vocal American Robins greeting the dusk with song. What was your best bird of the weekend? The one above was spotted in Queens last year. How about you?

2015 154

2015 Kentucky Birds Experience 154

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 18, 2015

At least that means winter birds are on their way. Corey had a huge number of birds to choose from this weekend as northwest winds were continuous through New York City all weekend long. But of all the species he spotted he felt either of the two Grasshopper Sparrows at Kissena Park in Queens was his Best Bird of the Weekend.

New York City 150

New York City 2015 New York Sparrows 150

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2020

And this doesn’t mean you are obsessed or a little bit too much into birds because keeping track of a year list actually comes with some side benefits. Yeah, many of us living the birding life do so anyways because we can’t help it. I strongly suggest the experience of sharing Turquoise-browed Motmots. Go birding!

Costa Rica 262

Costa Rica 2020 Morals Farming 262

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 28, 2018

Between work and rain, I saw nothing but mundane birds this weekend, and not even in good light. Corey, on the other hand, had a wonderful weekend of fall birding whether it was doing a survey at Edgemere Landfill in the rain and wind on Saturday morning or leading a New York City Audubon field trip at the Queens Botanical Garden on Sunday.

2018 114

2018 New York City New York Birds 114

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 30, 2018

September has drawn to a close, but the birding excitement may just be getting started, depending on where you live. They must have chased the birds away! Fortunately, two White-throated Sparrows proved courageous enough to withstand the chipmunk horde. But another more common bird took the prize for Corey this weekend.

2018 113

2018 Chipmunks Birds Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 28, 2015

Hopefully you celebrated by enjoying some fine birds! Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend could have been the White-faced Ibis at Captree Island, his first of the year, but White-faced Ibis are boring. What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

2015 159

2015 Pennsylvania Sparrows Birds 159

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

In September, I had the fantastic opportunity to travel to an increasingly popular destination for birding: Honduras. Chris Lotz, the owner of the international bird tour company Birding Ecotours , invited me to join him on a familiarization trip that included several highland sites as well as Pico Bonito Lodge.

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Honduras Costa Rica El Salvador Arizona 220