10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

While I was at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival in January I spent most of one afternoon taking my time driving around the Viera Wetlands and digiscoping anything that crossed my path. And, when a Leopard Frog moved to escape my car, the Cattle Egret was proven correct. The frog was big but the bird was determined.

Cattle 109

Cattle Leopards Cows Wildlife 109

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. I have been to 11 countries to watch wildlife that this species lives in.

Sharks 184

Sharks Leopards Whales Whaling 184

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

They are not necessarily the biggest African animals, but represented those that were considered a real hunter’s worthy prey or “game” – the African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Black Rhinoceros, Leopard and king of the jungle, the Lion (which of course doesn’t inhabit jungle but savanna!). They live for up to 100 years.

Buffalo 228

Buffalo Rhinoceros Elephants Leopards 228

10,000 Birds

APRIL 20, 2016

This year’s awards will be handed out on April 27th, and one of the finalists has devoted himself to saving migrating birds of pray from illegal hunting. Alexander Rukhaia focuses his efforts on the “ Batumi Bottleneck ,” an Important Bird Area along the coast of the Black Sea in the Ajara region of Georgia.

Papua New Guinea 100

Papua New Guinea Snow Leopard Pakistan illegal 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2015

Further down the road, we reach a derelict building with a large veranda hidden among the trees – an abandoned hunting lodge (if I were in a situation to invest, I would choose to upgrade this into a luxury wildlife lodge). Birds included common species such as Black Drongos , Jungle Babblers and a Hoopoe.

Tigers 251

Tigers Dogs India Snow Leopard 251

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2011

I was lucky enough to get off work early the other day and thought I would head out toward Battle Creek Wildlife Area and try to get some better photos of the Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk I’ve seen on Dersch Road. A bird I seldom see in the valley. I watched the interaction of these birds for quite awhile.

Bald Eagle 184

Bald Eagle Leopards Turkey Eagles 184

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2016

So close to the pole only a handful of bird species can survive, and even so, death toll is very high, hence their populations must be huge (millions). There are 11 species of birds that breed in the Ross Sea region. As a consequence, the Ross Sea has one of the highest concentrations of seabirds in the world. Now you know.

Russia 187

Russia Penguins Whales Whaling 187

10,000 Birds

MAY 9, 2016

That made the Gray Kingbird that was found way up in Livingston County on Monday, 2 May, such an intriguing bird. By Wednesday I was thinking about the odds of the bird both sticking through the end of the day on Friday and Daisy agreeing to me taking the entire day before Mothers Day to twitch a bird that I saw last week in Florida.

New York 102

New York Bald Eagle McDonalds Fast Food 102

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 12, 2015

Tell me, what happens if we rip away hunting when hunting protects more wildlife land in Africa than national parks? There is a reason we talk about wildlife and habitat conservation, not wildlife and habitat preservation. Booking were down by half in some wildlife tourist sites. Ah, you’ve blocked me. I mean it.

Lions 233

Lions Hunting Sierra Leone Buffalo 233

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 278

Asia Malaysia Papua New Guinea Thailand 278

10,000 Birds

JUNE 17, 2015

Danum Valley is the finest birding location I have ever been to. And places I have seen more birds. But a a package, if I had to rate the best places I’ve ever been birding, the only place I can think that comes close is Mweya, in Uganda, or maybe Tikal, in Guatemala. There are, certainly, places I’ve enjoyed more.

Lemurs 160

Lemurs Family Rhinoceros Fish 160

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2015

It was Falakhe, who had dragged himself twenty kilometers on two broken legs past Hyaenas, Lions, Leopards and jackals. Support Wildlife ACT in supporting them. But the truth dawned on us as the poor thing collapsed surrounded by adoring pack-mates. We were stunned, simply stunned. Emaciated, broken but alive. No rest though.

Wolves 197

Wolves Lions Dogs Vet 197

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2011

A question I am frequently asked by birders and wildlife enthusiasts is: “ if I only visit Africa once, where should I go ?” This country boasts over 1,000 bird species, vast wildernesses, a superb network of protected areas, the greatest concentration of large game and predators on the planet, excellent lodges and friendly people.

Tanzania 240

Tanzania Africa Stud Leopards 240

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

This is the thing—no matter how devoted you are to birds and birding, once you get to Africa, you can’t resist the mammals. This means you need to pack a mammal guide in addition to your bird guide. It’s a wonder we didn’t go into a tailspin from the sudden weight re-distribution. Believe me, I tried.

Rhinos 251

Rhinos Mammals Animal White Rhinos 251

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 168

2013 Birds Costa Rica India 168

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2016

Great wildlife preserves, reserves and parks exist for a number of reasons. I was planning a trip to South Africa, I had about five days to fill, I wanted to get a bunch of desert species (particularly the Springbok – not a bird) in a way that wasn’t too hard to reach from Johannesburg. Yes, there are birds.

South Africa 174

South Africa Leopards Giraffes Africa 174

10,000 Birds

JULY 28, 2022

Hot summer days, often reaching 40C/104F, time to open another beer and dream of birding some cooler place, a place where deep shade of tall trees controls the heat… Perhaps the world’s second largest rainforest? The Congo is one of the deepest rivers in the world with depths sometimes exceeding 220 meters (720 feet).

Central African Republic 312

Central African Republic Congo Gabon Gorillas 312

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2014

When you read trip reports of birders going to remote and interesting locations to see interesting (and not so interesting birds, I’m looking at you LBJs), these accounts are typically written by people who have either gone with groups of like-minded people or those that have gone it alone.

Birds 200

Birds Bats Elephants Family 200

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 30, 2020

As Bill Oddie noticed in his foreword to ‘Wild Sri Lanka’ (2nd edition) by Gehan De Silva Wijeyeratne, this island paradise is probably the only country in the world where almost all books on wildlife were authored by a single person. Birds, butterflies, flowers, reptiles – you name it, Gehan has covered it.

Sri Lanka 232

Sri Lanka Whales Whaling Leopards 232

10,000 Birds

JUNE 30, 2022

In addition, it has over 450 bird species and more than 30 in-country endemics, of which it is possible to see every single species! Where to look for the birds? Birding agencies seem to stick to their announced plans and no news of cancelled tours had reached the bird tourism market.

Sri Lanka 147

Sri Lanka Ghana Uganda Eagles 147

10,000 Birds

JUNE 28, 2018

In 1850, the Passenger Pigeon ( Ectopistes migratorius ) was the most abundant bird in North America and possibly the world. Lacey of Iowa introduced the nation’s first wildlife-protection law, which banned the interstate shipping of unlawfully killed game. People don’t respect wildlife. A newly created U.S.

Hunting 122

Hunting Hunters Gorillas Wolves 122