10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2015

And where all those birds are? This map shows the distribution of the World’s bird species, based on overlying the breeding and wintering ranges of all known species. And it raises a question: if all the birds are having a party over there, am I in the wrong spot? I am talking 600 or 700+ bird species.

Sri Lanka 257

Sri Lanka Botswana Africa Serbia 257

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2021

10,000 Birds is running a series of articles by and about tour guides, tour companies, eco-lodges, and other birding travel organizations. We want to help the birding tourism industry come back strong from the COVID pandemic. I am a wildlife artist based in the UK, I have never had a real job! My name is Ashley Boon.

Botswana 177

Botswana Africa Elephants Angola 177

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2019

Anybody spending a few days in Shanghai for business or tourism may not think that this is a good place for birding. And yet, there are some very interesting birds here – mostly spring and autumn migrants, as Shanghai is on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. It is one of the 19 species of parrotbills.

Birds 113

Birds Protection China Factory 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2019

In mid-December, I was birding along the Beljarica levee (Beh-LYAH-ritza), my local patch north of Belgrade, when something other than birds attracted my attention: three wild boars , appearing all black because they had just swam through the swamp to reach the bottom of the levee. Beljarica lies less than 2 km/1.2

Serbia 245

Serbia Otters Boars Eagles 245

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2015

If I were to describe my long time wildlife nemesis, my ultimate dip of dips, I would reach for a nemesis cat, not a nemesis bird. For there is no species that I had more comprehensively failed to see than the Leopard. Leopards were problem species for me. The cats are, almost to a species, elusive. Camelopardus !

Cats 104

Cats Leopards South Africa Tigers 104

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2014

It took me a while to wrap my mind around the concept of Birds and People , Mark Cocker and David Tipling’s book that, in 592 pages, explores the intersection of just that—birds and us. Nor have I overlooked “sightings” of birds in movies mouthing other birds’ calls. I’m not sure why.

Birds 215

Birds Egypt Family Eagles 215

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 3, 2014

As New Zealand’s beat writer I think I’ve done an okay job of discussing the birding of an entirely different island for most of the year, so it’s only fair that I keep that winning streak going by talking about my target for the trip. It’s a species that has bedeviled and bewitched me over the years.

Sharks 173

Sharks Leopards Whales Whaling 173

10,000 Birds

APRIL 23, 2020

Having more than 1300 bird species, including over 75 endemics, it is hard to resist the lure of India – something I know from personal experience. Bikram Grewal is the author of over ten books on birds of the subcontinent and also acts as a consultant on eco-tourism. India is a huge and logistically frightening country.

India 246

India Lions 2020 Groups 246

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2013

But, from the existing data, the authors have drawn a different conclusion – there is no proof that the breeding population ever existed, that the south of Africa was beyond the species range and that that all observations were of vagrant individuals. During my lifetime, this species was rare in my native Serbia, too.

Sudan 228

Sudan Macedonia Botswana Serbia 228

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2020

Knowing that there are reserves with long lists of 600 or more species, I set my threshold at more than 600 birds… and found only a few such hotspots. Such places are clearly under-visited, under-birded or eBird isn’t that popular in those parts of the world. Other countries still have to reach the 300 birds threshold.

Asia 273

Asia Malaysia Papua New Guinea Thailand 273

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2019

The tendency of birds to alight onto the wooden posts, steel towers, and metal wires that constitute our power and communications infrastructure turns any car ride into exciting and endless game of drive-by identification. A common sight to all birders: the bird on the wire.

United States 117

United States Game North America New York City 117

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2012

There are probably more identification guides about raptors than there are for any other bird group. This is a second edition that has been rewritten, updated, and re-invented, and it will doubtlessly become the hawk identification bible of our birding era. Yes, I saw the bird and it was incredible.)

North America 225

North America Bald Eagle Birds Eagles 225

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

Thankfully the days of visiting Africa purely for slaughtering its wildlife have mostly come to a merciful end, and safari operators have adopted the Big Five term to market tours that offer sightings of the fortunate remanants of Africa’s once teeming great herds. They are large, noisy birds of drier areas of East and southern Africa.

Buffalo 204

Buffalo Rhinoceros Elephants Leopards 204

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

And reports of birds nesting – not owls, of course, those weirdo snow fetishists, but other birds nesting – light up my life. Most exotics, at least in the bird world, stick close to their point of arrival and barely hang on – or don’t – over the generations. In 1998 W. And of Wyoming.

Montana 135

Montana 2011 New York Bahamas 135

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 22, 2020

I was lucky to visit India several times, but as a keen birder I carried along only a bird book, and even upgraded it to a new edition between the trips. Beside India, Lynx Illustrated Checklist of the Mammals of South Asia covers Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. I clearly needed a mammal book.

Asia 177

Asia Mammals Sri Lanka Bhutan 177

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2015

“It is next to impossible to persuade people in India to donate money for injured raptors,” says Nadeem Shehzad, co-founder of Wildlife Rescue , a registered non-profit in the Chawri Bazar area of Old Delhi. The first injured bird Nadeem and Mohammad ever found was a Black Kite.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 262

Wildlife Rehabilitation India Rescue Wounded 262

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2019

The 125 Best Bird Watching Sites in Southeast Asia, edited by Yong Ding Li & Low Bing Wen. And now I am holding the “The 125 Best Bird Watching Sites in Southeast Asia” – an expanded and fully updated second edition of “The 100 Best Birdwatching Sites in Southeast Asia”. That is about it – I do not know much more about this region.

Asia 227

Asia Laos Myanmar Indonesia 227

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 7, 2021

When you bird afar and wander wide, you carry a field guide to the birds of the region you are exploring, a pair of binoculars, likely a camera, perhaps a spotting scope and a tripod too, plus clothing, medicines, toiletries, electronics, money and documents… Did you notice the missing item? Yet, those bird guides are hefty.

Madagascar 245

Madagascar Mammals Lemurs Seychelles 245

10,000 Birds

JUNE 11, 2013

Geladas are the sole survivors of a once abundant branch of primates that historically foraged across the grasslands of Africa, the Mediterranean and India. A harem system would indicate that the males gather and forcibly retain the affections of their females, as is the case with the savanna baboon species, but not with Geladas.

Ethiopia 160

Ethiopia Primates Mammals Fur 160

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

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?) beats have still managed to share 82 checklists and accounted for 737 species. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

2019 120

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 120

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2011

home about advertise archives birds conservation contact galleries links reviews subscribe Browse: Home / Birds / Orange-headed Thrush Orange-headed Thrush By Redgannet • March 6, 2011 • 18 comments Tweet Share The Orange-headed Thrush , Zoothera citrinus, is common across much of India and south-east Asia.

2011 183

2011 Deer India New York 183

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

This shows the top birders, by species or checklists submitted. 10,000 Birds’s collaborative list has not been entered to feature here, but if we did we choose to press our advantage of having beats strategically placed around the world, we would currently be in second place. Curu Wildlife Reserve. Curu Wildlife Reserve.

2020 159

2020 Wildlife Reserve Tigers Wildlife 159

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2013

I spent a lot of time at Viera Wetlands while at the Space Coast Festival as an 10,000 Birds attache. The birds are plentiful, diverse, and remarkably easy to see. So not only did I get to bird, I got to spread the word about one of the bird-related topics about which I am most passionate.

North Carolina 115

North Carolina Florida United States Zebras 115

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2013

Most of the people debating this issue are for conservation, they are against wild areas being destroyed and wild species being threatened with extinction. Having decided to conserve species and save them from extinction, how do you go about doing it? There’s something missing, however, the how.

Tigers 173

Tigers Hunting Game Protection 173

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2019

9 countries were visited during March by your tireless beats ( 11 of them); India, UK, USA, Serbia, Costa Rica, Japan, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. 978 species were tallied this month from 163 checklists. 978 species were tallied this month from 163 checklists. Only 123 species appear on both sides of the life list.

2019 113

2019 Ghana Australia Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2019

Whatever it was, Corey was found at his keyboard 2 hours later, covered in blood and snot and sporting a cut lip, having announced that he and Mike would rescue the failing list by taking personal responsibility for adding 300 species. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

2019 140

2019 Farming Sparrows Charlotte 140

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2014

We’ve covered so many mind-bendingly brilliant birding locations around the world this year that you may be paralyzed by the options. If you’re open to ideas, might I suggest India? While Naturalist Journeys is a long-time sponsor of 10,000 Birds, they did not ask us to promote this or any of their specific tours.

Tigers 177

Tigers India Litter Asia 177

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

In reverse order, the medals were awarded for “most species seen in a country”, to Australia with 420, USA got the silver, scoring 556 while the runaway winner was Costa Rica with 646 species. Best wishes to you all for 2019, keep safe and keep birding. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

The two most prolific contributors, Pat and Tom, have been sharing their birding space in Costa Rica. The beats have now contributed more checklists than birds. During October, 7 countries (Costa Rica, Australia, USA, India, Hong Kong, UK, Serbia) were birded by 11 beats who shared 135 checklists and noted 697 species.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

MAY 6, 2018

In fashion news this week… (since 10,000 Birds does not have, and is unlikely ever to have, a dedicated fashion section please feel free to use the comments section of this post) … according to the Sunday Times of London, next season’s must have colour is… dramatic pause… Khaki! Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

2018 100

2018 Australia Los Angeles Albatross 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2020

Will bird tour agencies, guides, eco-lodges survive? Will the threatened species make it through if there are no birding tourists to make those birds and their habitats valuable to local people just the way they are (as opposed to tropical timber)? What will be left of birding tourism? India 1341 10.

Uganda 251

Uganda Bolivia Ecuador Indonesia 251

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2018

Tom continues his odyssey around the world, bumping into birds and beats along the way. During March, 11 beats shared 122 checklists to accumulate 680 species from 8 countries; USA, Costa Rica, Serbia, India, Australia, New Zealand, UK and Japan. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Ota Ward–Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park).

2018 100

2018 Australia Los Angeles Albatross 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2017

Last year beats were being spotted way beyond their usual habitat with checklists shared from India, Puerto Rico and Israel. 146 shared checklists (an increase on last year’s 97, well done chaps) noted 664 species (ooooh, down on 826 from last February) and brought the yearly total to 1063 (1303 at this time in 2016, ouch!).

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2020

9 beats visited 9 countries (China, Costa Rica, USA, UK, India, Australia, Jamaica , Serbia and Japan) and submitted 151 checklists when they got back. Salineño Wildlife Preserve (LTC 080). Ota Ward–Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park (including Tidal Pond)). Rocklands Bird Sanctuary. Salineño Wildlife Preserve (LTC 080).

2020 155

2020 Sanctuary Australia Sparrows 155