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Birding Southeastern Washington (McNary NWR)

10,000 Birds

However, the region’s dominant river — the Columbia River — which serves as the border for much of Oregon and Washington, also flows through these rangelands. As the image shows, it is an island of protected habitat in a sea of urban sprawl and agriculture. Plus, they offer excellent birding.

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The Gas Station Bird

10,000 Birds

The bird is just chilling out, waiting for the urge to fly. The bird below is also waiting, but not to fly. One might assume this is a falconry bird, but it’s not. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of birds knows the efficiency and delicacy of their respiratory systems. Now imagine you have the lungs of a bird.

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Top 25 National Wildlife Refuges for Birding

10,000 Birds

Many were specifically established for migratory birds and are strategically positioned along one of the four major North American migration flyways. Others were established to protect specific bird species or subspecies. But they primary protect land, an essential but dwindling avian resource. Malheur NWR (Oregon).

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A Birder’s Guide to U.S. Federal Public Lands

10,000 Birds

Birders know that some of the finest birding locations in the country are on federal land , which include national parks , wildlife refuges , forests , monuments , and seashores , among others. These lands support countless birds, either year-round, as migratory stopovers, or as breeding grounds. But what else should birders know?

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Greater Sage-grouse v. Wind Turbines in Oregon

10,000 Birds

Crotty is a birder and lawyer living in Portland, Oregon who has been sharing some thought-provoking pieces with 10,000 Birds readers. Wind energy is an alternative to burning fossil fuels to generate electricity, but there are consequences to the environment and, in particular, to birds.

Oregon 101
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Birding Shanghai in February 2022

10,000 Birds

If you think it is rather pretentious to start a birding blog post with a Kafka story, I fully agree with you. Anyway, the story is not quite how I remembered it, to be honest, but fitting enough to describe the almost claustrophobic birding experience in ever-shrinking Nanhui. I just want to point out it could be much worse.

Raccoons 221
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What is a “Nonessential Experimental” California Condor?

10,000 Birds

Although sometimes thought of a bird of the Southwest, the condor’s historical range reaches as far north as British Columbia. In 1806, Lewis and Clark saw condors near the Columbia River, which makes up much of the Washington-Oregon border. But that does not necessarily mean there are no protections.