10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2022

The confluence of fresh and salt water creates a small, nutrient-rich hideaway that is used by various species of fish as a nursery. This in turn makes for excellent fishing opportunities. Fabulous news for those who fish, and even better news for me as a person who enjoys seeing those who fish. Specifically birds.

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Birds Fish Trinidad Hunting 224

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2011

The American White Pelican ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) is a huge bird! Large flocks of these amazing birds are sometimes seen gracefully flying overhead in formation or soaring high on thermals. I did see several American White Pelicans though, including this immature bird (click on photos for full sized images).

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Pelicans Fish California Condor North America 165

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

The system starts with a small pool bursting with Little Egrets , Pygmy and Great Cormorants , Black-headed Gulls … I am driving by it and, through the opening in the bushes, see a… Pelican! Such a large bird in such a small pool and only the first of many Dalmatian Pelicans I will see that day.

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Greece Pelicans Serbia Eagles 188

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. This is the story of the pelicans of New Zealand. So what were these Australian birds doing in New Zealand?

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New Zealand Pelicans Solomon Islands Palau 183

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2015

The other day I was exploring a new area for the first time, birding the national park that I’ve watched only in BBC documentaries, the place famous for the largest Dalmatian Pelican colony in the world – more than 1300 pairs! Checking the birds on the stork’s nest, I found both House and Spanish Sparrows. Have you heard of it?

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Greece Pelicans Geese Breeding 252

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 25, 2017

In addition to sharks, barracuda, rays, and fishes, we had also spotted Double-crested Cormorants , Brown Pelicans , and Magnificent Frigatebirds. As we pulled to a stop at the sand bar and hopped out into the hip-deep water, I literally couldn’t believe my eyes: a flock of American White Pelicans.

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Pelicans Sharks Florida Groups 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 27, 2023

The area is one of the most important in Greece for birds, comprising more than 270 species. The best birding season here is the winter when waterbirds come to overwinter in those lagoons, followed by migratory seasons and, to a lesser extent, breeding season. Previous stage: Birding Lake Kerkini Now, I am done.

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Greece Pelicans Birds Otters 198

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2014

Our bird guide, Georgos Spiridakis, is driving slowly along this dirt track, checking the mud all the time. The bird is not showing again, so we use the elimination system: the first and the last are way too different, and dealing with the other two, we ID it as a Lesser Spotted Eagle.

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Greece Pelicans Breeding Buffalo 163

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 21, 2012

With the Caspian Sea frozen over for the first time in years Russian authorities are scrambling to feed the desperate birds that have no way to get to the fish beneath the ice. Here’s hoping they manage to save the Dalmation Pelicans , the world’s largest pelican.

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Pelicans Fish Birds 162

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 11, 2011

This is the lesson that Seaside Aquaculture owner Khan Vu has hopefully learned after being charged, found guilty, and sentenced under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Seaside’s employees denied shooting any birds; however, owner Vu admitted to shooting six pelicans to prevent them from eating his fish.

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Fish Texas Farming Pelicans 211

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2019

Common Nightingales were singing, a squadron of Dalmatian Pelicans was in the air and everything was exactly where it should be, including myself. It was Thursday when we arrived and every Thursday at Chrisochorafa square is a fish-free evening at two fish taverns. Dalmatian Pelican © Dusanka Stokovic-Simic. Or the lake.

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Greece Pelicans Buffalo Fish 200

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2022

It is not particularly big but has a reported 430 bird species including migrants, though during my short stay it seems I missed most of the key attractions among them. Pel’s Fishing Owl, where were you? It goes like this: While fishing, the bird tucks its head down and uses its wings to create a shady area.

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South Africa Africa Birds Research 147

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 26, 2020

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. Brown Pelicans were always present and regularly dove for fish, as you can see in the above photo.

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Jamaica Mongoose Dominica Pelicans 180

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2015

Brown Pelicans are quite popular in Louisiana. One of the state’s nicknames is “The Pelican State,” the bird is on the state’s flag, the state seal, the state painting (yes, apparently states have official paintings), as well as on one of Louisiana’s bicentennial coins.

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Louisiana Pelicans Legislature United States 160

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2024

My previous post on birding here has received some criticism – apparently I was too harsh on the place. True to my own recipe I would arrive a day or two early to go birding. I’d go with Mexican birding buddy Mau, guided by Kingfisher Birding who also provided the bird pictures. The birds warmed us too.

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Ducks Emotional Cattle Owls 162

10,000 Birds

APRIL 23, 2023

There are plenty of birds along the edge of the highway still and also on the highway. Black-winged Stilt near and on the highway There are still over forty species of birds to be found along the highway across Roebuck Plains, but the tall vegetation can be problematic. All three species of Ibis are now present.

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Pelicans Australia Fish 2019 147

10,000 Birds

JUNE 17, 2015

Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe today announced as part of Great Outdoors Month the agency is proposing to expand fishing and hunting opportunities on 21 refuges throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Service is committed to strengthening and expanding hunting and fishing opportunities,” said Ashe. “By

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Fish Wildlife Hunting Game 145

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2020

But here is the truly tragic part: I was not birding during those years! My hosts had arranged for me to stay in a beautiful private home, high on a ridge overlooking the city, and the forested area surrounding the home attracted some very noisy (and, for me, exciting) birds. The White-throated Magpie-Jay: such a beautiful bird!

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Birds 2006 Mexico Morocco 166

10,000 Birds

MAY 21, 2023

The edges of the highway have started to dry out now and you can get off the bitumen in a few places to take in all of the bird activity. Now we have much cooler overnight temperatures the water level has remained quite constant for a few weeks, but the bird-life is constantly changing.

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Australia Fish Pelicans Geese 147

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

“The young ones are incredibly curious and playful,” says Monte Merrick, the co-Director of Bird Ally X in Arcata, California, which is almost to the border of Oregon. He’s talking about Brown Pelicans. “We He told me about last summer, when Bird Ally X received 246 Brown Pelicans covered not with petroleum, but with fish oil.

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Pelicans Fish California Massachusetts 217

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

However, I have to put it in perspective by explaining that during the year I hardly ventured out of East Anglia, and almost every bird was seen in Suffolk or Norfolk – I live on the county boundary. I’m not a twitcher, either, so I rarely, if ever, go in search of a bird, or birds, that someone else has reported.

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Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 236

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 2, 2017

Survival in the wild, has conjured up quite a few clichés, like it truly is a “Dog Eat Dog World”, with “Survival of the fittest” winning the day, and yes “The early bird does get the worm!” It helps that this is a very common bird here on the southern Baja. This is the stuff of epic nightmares!

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Pelicans Fish Dogs Birds 102

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2019

Faraaz Abdool is a freelance conservation and wildlife photographer and writer who specializes in birds and the issues they face worldwide. This is Faraaz’s first (but certainly not last) contribution to 10,000 Birds: Quiet mornings are the best, and this particular morning was decidedly sleepier than others. Everyone except me.

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Trinidad 2002 Fish Pelicans 308

10,000 Birds

MAY 30, 2021

As you can see there are now areas for birds to land in front of where we camp. The birds never appear concerned about the crocodiles and wander very close to them, especially if there is food in the shallow water. We had several birds drop in right in front of us during the afternoon. New water level of the Fitzroy River.

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Pelicans Australia Parrots Eagles 228

10,000 Birds

MAY 27, 2020

Fortunately, I live in Trinidad and Tobago – a twin-island nation that boasts the second highest density of bird species in the world. Activity was quite muted, the birds were quietly and unhurriedly going about their business. I wish them well – as the fisherfolk informed me that poaching of these birds continues.

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Trinidad Pelicans Humane Fish 242

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2017

There should be thousands of birds at this time of the year, Dimitris Michalakis from the Karla Lake management authority told me. In the northern section, the water was deep, interspersed by reed-islets, but the only birds were a few Little Egrets and Black-headed Gulls. This year, we had about 65 dead pelicans. Lesser Kestrel.

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Greece Killing Pelicans Eagles 198

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

My own trip was not an intensive birding experience, and August is clearly not the most productive month. I chalked up 132 species in a pretty relaxed eight days, during which birds shared the agenda with culture. 2 Baranda fish farm. 2 Baranda fish farm. What has changed in the meantime? eBird bar chart. #2

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Serbia Birds Bulgaria Farming 168

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2021

The birds around the spot that we camp were very active and typically noisy. In the river there were several Australasian Darters and they appeared to be fishing well with the lower water level. Australian Pelican. They were also keen to find some shade after feeding! Australasian Darter. Australian White Ibis. Sticky track.

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Pelicans Eagles Fish Species 204

10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2012

Birds in particular can become extremely preoccupied with superficialities. Some birds are just bigger than others. Instead of shying away from the blatant truth, let’s celebrate the birds blessed with the biggest beaks ( you didn’t think this was about bird penises, did you? That’s beside the point.

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Pelicans Birds Jordan Asia 174

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 22, 2015

Among the various birding walks I have made this week I have been back to Albert Park to see all of the Black Swans and other birds, with a detour to the coast at Port Phillip Bay. After almost 20 years of racing at Albert Park the birds no doubt have a plan! Australian Pelican. Common Starling.

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Birds Pelicans Sparrows Ducks 171

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2018

All of our visits since then for a holiday have been during the cooler months and it is interesting to observe which birds remain in the area all year and which arrive later in the year. The drainage channels are a good place to stop and observe a huge variety of birds as you can see in the header photo. The birds have been warned!

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Cattle Geese Birds Australia 114

10,000 Birds

JUNE 5, 2011

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be meeting on Wednesday and will be voting on the removal of sixteen species from the state’s endangered species list , including four birds – Snowy Egret , Brown Pelican , Limpkin , and White Ibis.

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Endangered Species Florida Species Pelicans 176

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 15, 2017

Travelling with just a four-wheel drive we are able to get away from the crowds and especially those towing large caravans and we could position ourselves with excellent views of Lake Corella and watch the birds from our grassy patch by the water. Australian Pelican. Australian Pelican and White-necked Heron. Straw-necked Ibis.

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Pelicans Zebras Fish Collecting 101

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2020

There are so many differences in both the weather and the birds. We usually start our bird list for the year from home, but this year it was different. Incidentally, we didn’t stay up until midnight chasing any nocturnal birds to end the year! We woke to a New Year in Fish Creek , Victoria and our birding year began.

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Fish Australia Ducks Japan 139

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2017

I was itching to get out of the car and bird. Birds were literally everywhere. A Belted Kingfisher chattered as it dive-bombed fish from the air; Willets and Spotted Sandpipers scurried amidst the mud. My binoculars were on the seat right next to me, so close and yet, so far. Marks National Wildlife Refuge just after dawn.

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Wildlife Florida Pelicans Fish 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 8, 2018

I would wake up in darkness, gather my camera and binoculars and drive to Alabama for a birding tour along a river. Blue Jays called near the boat ramp, and a lone, juvenile Brown Pelican paddled lazily in the lapping waves. There was nothing exciting about my birding as I slowly counted feathered creatures on eBird.

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Florida Alabama Kansas Pelicans 113

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2016

We still observed 45 species of birds in the reserve in about an hour and there are always raptors to observe as well as the usual water birds. The Australian Pelican obviously decided it was safe to continue on with its feeding after the incident and observed the crocodile consuming the Magpie Goose.

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Pelicans Investigation Raised Fish 156