10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2019

Birds are singing and migrating, freshets are running, and trees are budding – yes, it’s time for all those things. And given what these birds have been through, this caution is certainly warranted. At last, it’s spring in the northern half of the world. What’s in a name?

North America 113

North America Vermont America Farming 113

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2012

Within its European range, it was heavily hunted until the late 19th century, and the Mute Swan was subsequently a very rare bird to encounter in the wild. Contradicting this relentless shooting were efforts to establish feral populations in many regions of Europe, both within and outside its natural range. Now, enjoy the pictures.

Feral 169

Feral Europe Asia North America 169

10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2019

We don’t always have especially high standards here at Birds and Booze – really, a bottle need only have a bird on it for our consideration here – but today we have a rosé that defies the style’s unfortunate reputation. Good birding and happy drinking! Château de Colombe: Bordeaux Rosé (2017).

2017 115

2017 France Lifestyle Feral 115

10,000 Birds

JULY 15, 2018

Sadly the outcome from here is often chick loss from predation, but for now we will enjoy observing the two families of Pied Oystercatchers as they wander the dunes and come down to the ocean to feed when there are less people around. Pied Oystercatcher chick sheltering under an adult bird. Pied Oystercatcher family tracks.

2018 100

2018 Eggs Feral Cats Camels 100

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 194

Trinidad Birds South America Research 194

10,000 Birds

APRIL 17, 2011

We are unsure as to what the bird population is there, but there are a lot less birds present at the old ones. With all the rain we have had the birds are spread across the whole continent and Alice Springs has had some amazing records recently. Those that had stayed had bred, though and there are a few family groups.

Feral 150

Feral Ducks Dogs Groups 150

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2013

The general public is out and about, birds and animals are raising their young, and human/wildlife interaction is at its peak. A robot that feeds baby birds so I can take a nap,” wrote Jodi in Massachusetts. “A I wish for a federal law prohibiting domestic and feral cats from roaming free outdoors. Summer is high season.

Wildlife 245

Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Oklahoma New York 245

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2011

Sadly a lot of eggs are lost to feral cats and chicks are sometimes taken by birds of prey. If the parents chase the bird they may drop the chick, but from a great height this is a fatal injury. This bird was originally banded in Roebuck Bay in 2002 and has used Cable Beach to nest for at least 12 years.

2002 166

2002 Feral Cats Eggs 2007 166

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

The subject is one that comes up a lot in this blog and other bird blogs, the subject of cats and their effect on wildlife. As most people know cats, both feral and domestic, have a pretty big impact on wild birds and other wildlife, and the effect of mammals is particularly profound in New Zealand.

New Zealand 117

New Zealand Possums SPCA Cats 117

4 The Love Of Animals

MAY 8, 2011

Half a decade ago, in a little mountain town about 60 miles northeast of San Diego, a feral kitten dragged his front left leg uselessly. Once gregarious and outgoing, she withdrew from her family and friends, from everyone except her pet cats. Would they help? Any animal group in the world can use these materials as fundraising tools.

San Diego 100

San Diego Kittens Emotional Cats 100

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

MAY 27, 2015

Mum, Dad, I’m sorry I described my childhood as feral. This time it is the Old World that has misnamed a group of birds, or in fact several groups. It all comes back to a split in one of the great bird families, the Turdidae, or thrushes. The family reunited in safety. They remain little know.

Mozambique 164

Mozambique Zambia Zimbabwe Namibia 164

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2019

The week of President’s Day this year found me, my family, and some close friends spending a week in a beach house on Tybee Island, a low-lying, barrier island just east of Savannah. Not that doing my birding on Tybee Island was some kind of horrible chore but the 5.2 Why spend money in a place that is actively destroying birds?

Georgia 178

Georgia Cats Neutering Birds 178

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 7, 2016

Years ago, I became a wildlife volunteer and advocate because of a cat who caught a bird. Back then, I didn’t know enough about birds, but I knew a lot about cats. I surprised her and she dropped the bird before vaporizing again. They simply helped me with my bird. That was my first trip to California Wildlife Center.

Cats 211

Cats Stray Cat Stray Wildlife Rehabilitation 211

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2020

I always approach the bridge slowly to see what bird species are below and around the area. There is a family of feral foxes that I often encounter near Bennison Creek. This particular tree has been excellent for a variety of bird species including Eastern Spinebills. Pacific Black Ducks. Bennison Creek Bridge.

Fox 153

Fox Feral Ducks Horses 153

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2011

I have a day in Sydney with my sister and family and then go home to Broome… hopefully not delayed by the threat of a Qantas baggage handlers strike starting Tuesday morning as I try to fly north-west. I am proud to say that I have managed to see over 60 species of birds in my 6 weeks in Busan and that is a lot more than I had expected.

Chipmunks 154

Chipmunks Eggs Feral Squirrels 154

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2018

Every single species, even the European Starlings above, count as one bird on the year’s checklist. So before the hangover kicked into overdrive I was out the door, leaving an apartment full of sleeping revelers, seeking out some good birds for my year list. Redheads , even the drab females, are always a fun bird to watch.

Ducks 101

Ducks Litter Feral 2017 101

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2012

It seems that my article last week on the dangers posed by birds struck a chord with the readers, many of whom posted their own stories of terror at the hand of this avian menace. One commenter actually said their were rooting for the birds, and, well, no offence but I’m not sure I want to go birding with you.

New Zealand 150

New Zealand Birds Australia Kangaroos 150

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! Feral bees.

Kangaroos 100

Kangaroos Feral Australia Branding 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

home about advertise archives birds conservation contact galleries links reviews subscribe Browse: Home / Birds / Finally Saw-Whet Finally Saw-Whet By Mike • March 13, 2011 • 11 comments Tweet Share Taking down a nemesis bird always takes a place of honor on any birder’s litany of triumphs.

2011 161

2011 Owls Deer New York 161

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2013

Most people have heard of Lake Eyre , which is well-known for the variety of bird life on years that it floods. It appeared that Lake Bindegolly National Park could also offer us the same birding opportunities if there was water present. We carried ample water and spent 4 hours walking and birding. Feral pigs.

Feral 147

Feral Pelicans Ducks Pigs 147

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2012

It is no secret that the large civic parks found in most large cities are great places to go birding, and it Centennial Park in Sydney is no exception. I popped in for a visit two days after Christmas in order to walk off some of the excesses of the last three days, and get a few good bird while I tried to salvage my health.

New Zealand 171

New Zealand Ducks Australia Japan 171

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 26, 2020

Over President’s Day weekend my family and I took a much-needed break in Jamaica. But when you are a pasty white dude from New York relieved to be out of a gray and gloomy winter, you take what you can get and I managed to find some interesting birds in my at the resort. Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis.

Jamaica 171

Jamaica Mongoose Dominica Pelicans 171

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2014

In a funny twist of fate, it seems that 2014 will be much the same as 2012 and 2013 have been, with family trips to somewhere in France and business trips to Indonesia and Kazakhstan. However, I really want to focus more on lifers instead of year birds, particularly in Indonesia. The Birding Diary. Outlook and goals for 2014.

2014 145

2014 France Germany Indonesia 145

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2017

There’s not always any rhyme or reason to the appearances birds make on beer labels, which makes finding the unexpected ones almost as exciting – for me, at least – as any birding tick. Good birding and happy drinking! And its challenges aren’t nearly as vexing as accipiter identification, I promise.

Penguins 100

Penguins Cooking Belgium New York 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2013

I come from a large family: five sisters, two brothers and almost everyone has kids. Most of my family lives in Indiana, but thanks to social media we can easily keep in touch. Case in point: some of my family members have become active with feral cat colony organizations. I have mixed feelings about TNR.

Feral Cats 180

Feral Cats Feral Cats Family 180

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

JANUARY 15, 2014

2013 was a strange year for me, staring in the UK, ending in Borneo and spending large tracks of the year not really seeing many birds in New Zealand. Birds simply don’t get much better than that, but then again locatins to start and end a year rarely get much better than the famous Danum Valley in Borneo. The List: Birds.

2014 150

2014 New Zealand Singapore Rhinoceros 150