10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2021

“Gamebirds” to some, cool, cryptic understory birds to the birding people, grouse crouch protected as unfettered winds sway the top of the tall prairie grass. Then there are the ones that live in PA , the state bird, “the grouse” that a great many non-birders are aware of, my Uncle Fred was one of them.

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica Chickens Pennsylvania Litter 264

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2015

So instead let’s talk about South Africa’s best kept birding secret (at least outside of the country) Wakkerstroom. I have 10,000 Birds contributor Adam Riley to thank for telling me I had to add it to my list, and a quick bit of research showed that he was right on. A terrible shot of Barrow’s Korhaan.

South Africa 145

South Africa Africa Falcons Family 145

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2020

The proprietor of our ecolodge guides my small group of birders up a steep slope where we see, just at the point where a scope view deteriorates into pixels, a huge bird—a Chaco Eagle, also known as a Crowned Eagle—on a huge nest. Local farmers view it as a threat to domesticated wildlife.

Falcons 208

Falcons United Kingdom Zimbabwe Eggs 208

10,000 Birds

MAY 21, 2013

The Spring Wings Festival , held this past weekend, was the perfect way for a birding-festival newbie like me to get into the swing of things. Its small size, laid-back nature, and ample opportunities to get up close and personal with birds make it a good fit for experienced birders, but also for people looking to get their feet wet.

Nevada 170

Nevada Birds Barn Owls Cows 170

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2013

Two-thousand-twelve was a pretty darn good year for me birding-wise and otherwise. Seeing 525 species was nice, as was the fact that I birded in four countries, nine of the fifty states in the United States, and fifty-one counties. I went to the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival in Titusville, Florida.

2012 143

2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 143

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2019

It’s never too late or too early to buy a children’s book about birds. It’s been a few years since my last roundup of children’s bird books, and children’s book writers, illustrators and publishers continue to produce picture books that feature avian protagonists. First, the board books.

New York City 147

New York City Pelicans Birds New York 147

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Despite all this red tape stuff, I am still making some time for birding. This location is great as it is close to Jeanne’s Family, as well as a very short drive to the Billy Frank Jr. While most major estuaries in Washington state have been filled, dredged, or developed, Nisqually River’s has been set aside for wildlife.

Fox 125

Fox Washington Geese Sparrows 125

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2014

The danger of reviewing a field guide to the birds of an exotic country you’ve never been to is that you become obsessed with visiting that country, no matter how far away and how expensive it may be. I’m already looking up birding tours of Borneo and pricing airfares. Borneo, the authors say, is under-birded.

Brunei 174

Brunei Birds Asia China 174

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 143

Ireland Birds Groups Falcons 143

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2011

home about advertise archives birds conservation contact galleries links reviews subscribe Browse: Home / Asides / More Habitat for Snowy Plover? Fish & Wildlife comes in response to a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity. Or These Blasts From The Past Cool Green Heron Man Saves Falcon from Pigeons?!?

2011 145

2011 Deer Fish Cows 145

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

The trend at this time of year is a downturn in shared lists and birds reported, nevertheless, 12 (is this a record?) Our two newest contributors have shared from Mexico and China, bringing the countries birded this month (also including; Costa Rica, Greece, Serbia, USA, UK, India, UAE and New Zealand) to 10. 02 Jun 2019. 02 Jun 2019.

2019 119

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 119

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 213

America El Salvador Costa Rica Honduras 213

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2013

If I had my druthers I would be birding the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge pretty much every day from July until September. Can you tell which of the birds in the two photos above is the Long-billed Dowitcher ? If you can’t figure it out you have to turn your binoculars in and give up birding.

Jamaica 170

Jamaica Wildlife Falcons Family 170

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

As 2013 draws to a close we here at 10,000 Birds thought that it would be a great idea if we, like we did in 2010 , 2011 , and 2012 , shared our Best Birds of the Year. We also want to know what YOUR Best Bird of the Year was. Now on to the Best Birds of the Year for those who write on 10,000 Birds! Sound good?

2013 167

2013 Birds Costa Rica India 167

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2019

Its crown was so thick, I could spot the movement, but only rarely the bird itself and never the whole bird, once it would be only its back, once its head, once just legs… slowly, I was putting this puzzle together. The first birds to spot from the boat were Common Terns furiously defending their newly built nests on floating logs.

Greece 193

Greece Pelicans Buffalo Fish 193

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2012

Bird first, metaphor second. When I wish to entertain people with the eccentricity of my book collection, I don’t point out that I own As I Lay Dying AND Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , even though that’s a bit like keeping Prairie Falcons and Rock Pigeons in the same aviary.

Denver 166

Denver Birds 2000 Collecting 166

10,000 Birds

APRIL 8, 2011

In the birding community, standardization of common names has followed, and is an on-going project (with mixed success.) In some cases, this has increased beauty and precision, saving us from a morass in which every red bird is a Redbird and every blue jay is a Blue Jay. Peregrine Falcon is certainly more elegant than Duck Hawk.

Hunters 181

Hunters Falcons Ducks Montana 181

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2016

Following on from last week’s post about Langi Crossing and all that it has to offer in the way of wildlife with an emphasis on crocodiles I thought I should now expand on the birds that you may encounter during a visit! There is ample shade along the banks of the Fitzroy River to sit and enjoy the environment or go for a walk.

Birds 100

Birds Pelicans Eagles Ducks 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 1, 2018

After arranging to meet up with my sister and her family in Kalbarri earlier this year we had looked for a suitable camping area in between Geraldton and Perth and came across the Shire of Carnamah’s website that had information on Lake Indoon. Most of the birds in the area were well above ground level! Galah above our camp.

Kangaroos 100

Kangaroos Feral Australia Branding 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 10, 2011

Of all the dangerous sports birders risk their necks in in the pursuit of birds, birding while driving is perhaps the most common threat to the life of a birder of all. So, inspired by a similar article on road birding in Thailand, I present road birding in New Zealand.

New Zealand 174

New Zealand Birds Thailand Falcons 174

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2014

In birding, we like to think that we don’t need much ‘stuff’. Another book, maybe a bird finding guide. Our ‘stuff’ allows us to bird more, better, further. It defines our birding lives when it’s not threatening to overwhelm our cars and homes. Maybe a spotting scope. And a long lens camera. You get the idea.

Mauritius 172

Mauritius Collecting Egypt Cyprus 172

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

I am really excited to say I’ll be heading down to Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival in Titusville, Florida, next month as a correspondent for 10,000 Birds. This will, however, be the first time I will have been able to devote myself apologetically to the birds of this amazing state for an entire week.

Florida 130

Florida North Carolina Miami Family 130

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

Is it wrong of me to go birding to get away from the kids now that they are at home all day? Can the whole family live together in harmony during the school holidays? Happy birding if you suddenly find yourself single. 458 birds were seen by 7 beats in 8 countries. 458 birds were seen by 7 beats in 8 countries.

2018 100

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2021

As sad as I am to say it, I must: 2021 was one of my worst years for birding since I started looking at feathered creatures with intent in 2006. COVID kept me from traveling internationally, and my only major domestic trip of the year was to California where I have birded quite a bit already. All that said, 2021 was not a total loss.

New York 256

New York Birds California Owls 256