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 204

10,000 Birds

JUNE 30, 2015

A beautiful country on Central America’s coast, Belize boasts spectacular diving and snorkeling, immense cave systems, beautiful rivers, dense jungles, and of course, hundreds and hundreds of birds. We were all set for a full day of combining our two loves: fishing and birding. The birding was relatively easy.

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Belize Fish Birds Pelicans 158

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2017

Today, the vast tract of land is protected, managed for science and conservation. At dawn, my feet hit one of the protected beaches with Wendy Allen, the manager of the North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of the science and outreach organizations working within Hobcaw. Allen’s turtle transect was 2.5

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South Carolina Turtles Costa Rica Belize 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2018

If you like birds on posts, if seeing “little brown jobs” posing nicely in the distance as you drive or walk along a dirt road only to have it fly away as you approach makes you deliriously happy, then North Dakota is the place for you. I wanted to see prairie birds and I wanted to experience a new state. Scott Barnes, N.J.

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North Dakota Birds Sparrows Blackbirds 138

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2022

It stops those thousands of migrating birds flying across the Gulf of Mexico and directs them right onto the trees, fields, sanctuaries, beaches along the Bolivar Peninsula, where they hopefully find food and fresh water. And us, the birders who travel here from March to May to worship the birds as they seek to survive.

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Houston Texas Sanctuary Sparrows 209

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2016

There is very little fresh water, at least to be found year round, but the bird populations all seem to do just fine. Exploring one of the rugged, 4×4 side roads, my wife and I ran across a very nicely treed little valley that ended up against some steep protective rocks.

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Zebras Birds Sparrows Mexico 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2016

Unlike many other estuaries in this part of Florida, Rookery Bay is protected by the Estuarine Research Reserve system, and remains almost entirely undeveloped. Rookery Bay is dominated by mangrove, a mix of Red, White, and Black varieties. Fed by the freshwater of Henderson Creek, the bay eventually flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

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Florida Mexico Protection Pelicans 142

10,000 Birds

APRIL 18, 2017

Small, delicate, graceful, the Least Tern embodies all we love about birds and then some. Taking my usual route along Okaloosa Island’s Beasley Park, I noted Laughing Gulls , Brown Pelicans , a Snowy Plover or two, and the usual packs of Sanderlings. Have you seen their chicks? For me, that moment came last week.

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South America United States Protection Pelicans 102

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 2, 2015

Birding in Florida is unique in that so much of that state’s plenty is evident even to the casual observer. It’s a family vacation, sure, but there’s always time for birding and in Florida, the birding often finds you. One had a cluster of recently fledged birds and their nonplussed parent.

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Owls Florida Tenant United States 200

10,000 Birds

JUNE 16, 2015

I was left with most of the day to explore and look for birds. hardly early by birding standards but early enough to beat the crowds of beach goers to my destination: Folly Beach County Park. hardly early by birding standards but early enough to beat the crowds of beach goers to my destination: Folly Beach County Park.

South Carolina 154

South Carolina Bats Pelicans Fish 154

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Brown Pelicans , and the northernmost Brown Booby breeding colony on this side of the Pacific. And, the birds are awesome. Ringer Anhingas and darters , cormorants and shags , frigatebirds , gannets and boobies , pelicans , and the tropicbirds all share a characteristic found in no other living bird: Their feet are totipalmate.

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2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 152

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2014

A range of hills protects the cove from the eastern wind, yet, the bushes are swaying in the rythm of it. We come closer to it, but I cannot find the bird with binoculars. Nick finds a bird-shaped protrusion at the top of the rock – Black-eared Wheatear , not exactly a species I expect to observe from a boat deck.

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Greece Malta Croatia Birds 232

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2020

Happy New Year, 10,000 Birds readers and writers! Everyone is looking back on their best birds of 2019, so I thought it would be a good idea to look at a book that looks back a little further: Urban Ornithology: 150 Years of Birds in New York City , by P. The Bronx also has a special place in birding history.

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New York City New York Birds Breeding 149

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 23, 2017

Yet, as a team participating in a bird race, we had our schedule, to appear at the lodge at 6.30 Not many birds, two Ruddy Turnstones , one Willet , a fishing boat in front of the beach with a small flock of Brown Pelicans surrounding it, several Magnificent Frigatebirds above it… and several smaller flocks of noisy Scarlet Macaws above us.

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Costa Rica Pelicans Owls Woodpeckers 155

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 27, 2017

With shore side access limited to the northern end of the lake, that protection allows for a large population of water based birds. This is a bird that I have no memory of when I was a kid growing up here. In a 3 mile stretch of grassland, with sprinklers flowing, I counted well over 100 of these dark birds.

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Dogs Mules Deer Oregon 103

10,000 Birds

JUNE 15, 2011

The order Suliformes holds a lot of special birds from anhingas and darters to cormorants and shags as well as frigatebirds, pelicans, and tropicbirds. As is often the case in birds, teenagers, and other living creatures, these charismatic colors play a prominent role in the booby’s breeding rituals.

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Ecuador Peru Hunters Pelicans 182

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 21, 2012

In this captivating book, Thompson explores the motivation behind hunters who shot birds to sell feathers for women’s hats at the turn of the nineteenth century. What compelled these men, beyond desire for money, to kill birds? I’ve just finished reading THE PLUME HUNTER (Torrey House Press, December 2011) by Renée Thompson.

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Hunters Oregon San Francisco Portland 194

10,000 Birds

JUNE 17, 2015

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge : Open to migratory bird hunting (youth only). The Refuge is now home to nearly 200 species of birds, over 50 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles and amphibians, and a wide variety of insects, fish and plants. This is an Urban Refuge ! Why would you open it up to hunting?

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Fish Wildlife Hunting Game 143

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 30, 2015

Redgannet, the blog, has taken a back seat while 10,000 Birds does most of the driving and Mrs Gannet does the navigating, so it has slightly lost its way over the last year or so. Thus it is easy to organise yourself and visit a few sites to catch your target birds. Bring gloves and a coat to protect you from the wind.

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San Francisco Seals Transported Ducks 133

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

A lot has happened since I’ve made an appearance on 10,000 Birds. Last month I accompanied Seagull Steve to South Florida for two weeks, which yielded some excellent birds…we missed the Fork-tailed Flycatcher on Big Pine Key, but that’s because we were on the Dry Tortugas, so we aren’t complaining.

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United States Colorado Virginia Pelicans 103

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. At mid-day, we took a boat tour of the heronries and the pelican islands with Nikos. Dalmatian Pelican © Dusanka Stokovic-Simic. In that count, my wife and I passed for locals.

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Greece Pelicans Buffalo Fish 193

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2011

I didn’t really have time to stop, but as I was passing by, I saw hundreds of American White Pelicans fly up and thought I’d better take a drive through and see what else was there. • Explore These Related Posts Another California Bird? It was foraging in breast deep water. You never know what you might see!

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Wildlife 2011 Sacramento Jordan 155

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2013

By the time we had dinner and arrived to our hotel we were so exhausted that it became impossible to go search for this endemic bird. The next morning we began a slow climb through the brushy trails of the park, I was unfamiliar with most of the bird calls, so we proceeded with caution making sure we looked at everything.

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Chile California Argentina Chickens 161

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2016

Afraid that their ideas for the development of the area, including a ski centre, might be restricted by the nature protection regime, the officials rejected the idea. Dalmatian Pelican – Pelecanus crispus. My tour list (late September… also, birders were a minority within a group): 1. Mute Swan – Cygnus olor.

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Bears Greece Europe Slovenia 269

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

Furthermore we have another very special stork-like bird, the regal Shoebill , previously known as the Whale-headed Stork but now placed in its own family. Sometimes they have to protect their catches from piratic African Fish Eagles who swoop down as soon as they that see a Saddle-bill has successfully caught a fish.

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Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 239

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 227

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2016

I dipped a bird recently – possibly a lifer. First I noticed a red cap – a male, then striped flanks and pale-red undertail, but couldn’t see its wing because some part of the bird remained hidden by a branch at any given time. I opt for the bird richest section of the lake, visible from the eastern dyke. What to say?

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Greece Woodpeckers Boars Eagles 252

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. What has changed in the meantime? eBird bar chart. #2 2 Baranda fish farm.

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Serbia Birds Bulgaria Farming 156

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2016

Out of just under 200 bird species I observed this year in SE Europe, there are 6 threatened species. Some of them were always uncommon in the region, others are highly localised, some are hard to notice among thousands of similar birds, but others were abundant recently and one of them still is, despite the decrease in numbers.

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Serbia Greece Montenegro Bulgaria 201

10,000 Birds

MAY 30, 2021

As you can see there are now areas for birds to land in front of where we camp. There is a substantial drop-off, so we are protected from crocodiles too. The birds never appear concerned about the crocodiles and wander very close to them, especially if there is food in the shallow water. New water level of the Fitzroy River.

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Pelicans Australia Parrots Eagles 212

10,000 Birds

APRIL 8, 2016

Wildlife rehabilitators have an arsenal of equipment and techniques we use to protect ourselves. My parrots have nailed me harder than any wild bird,” said Jodi Swenson. I was wearing the lead x-ray apron and heavy raptor gloves, so I thought I was protected. Most of them think we’re trying to eat them, not help them.

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Wildlife Rehabilitation Wounded Wildlife Opossums 165

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 5, 2014

When you are able to find a lagoon that is land-locked and offers great birding and you are able to walk around the edge it is a delight. The view from Sayer Road used to be very open and offered little protection many years ago and we contributed to the planting of small native trees in 1998 when we lived in Palmerston. Pied Herons.

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Geese Pelicans Ducks Hunting 161

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2013

It is always an interesting exercise to make a list of birds that you see in one day. It is amazing how a common bird can elude you all day and just shows you the vagaries of birding. Whenever possible we make Christmas Day a day to bird together all day and make a list. It actually eluded us until 4pm!! Striated Heron.

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Ducks Birds Parrots Australia 154

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

With help from federal grants, state agencies, supportive legislators, and a devoted, knowledgeable staff, the Meadowlands slowly becomes a habitable place for birds, mammals, and other wildlife, a place where people can go to enjoy beauty in the middle of the densest populated area in the country.

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New Jersey Legislation Mammals Pigs 147

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2012

It is also a fantastic place to watch birds, and to get an introduction to birding in Australia. Plenty of parks and forests have been protected even as the city grew. Even in the most built up parts of the CBD the most commonly seen bird after the pigeon and myna is the native Australian White Ibis.

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Australia Albatross Birds Pelicans 163

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2015

With only a few days to bird together before we came home we had to ignore the weather and head out wrapped up and hope the promised wet weather would not catch us out! The birds were roosting on what rocky outcrops were available and were not keen to leave the protection of the taller rocks. Inclement weather! Mordialloc pier.

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Pelicans Shelters Tigers Protection 155

10,000 Birds

MARCH 28, 2012

Mareeba Wetlands Just north of the town of Mareeba are the Mareeba Wetlands , a large lake reserve that protects both wetlands and northern savannah. One of Australia’s largest and most magnificent flying birds, this was a real treat for me. The swamp was certainly worth a visit though.

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Geese Ducks Australia Pelicans 167