10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2019

When I reached the levee earlier that morning, I met an elderly hunter from whom I learned that there was an ongoing duck and pheasant hunt, but no one was shooting from, nor towards the embankment, hence I should be safe there. These handsome finches breed in the far north of Europe and come here for the winter only.

Serbia 246

Serbia Otters Boars Eagles 246

10,000 Birds

MAY 13, 2022

Lesser Whistling Ducks are “not threatened by hunting as they are not considered good to eat” ( Wikipedia ). Lucky ducks. Finally, the Yellow Bittern is one of my favorite birds in Singapore, and it is much easier to see here than in its breeding grounds in Shanghai.

Singapore 237

Singapore Birds Zebras Feral 237

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2011

Bald Eagle image is by Francois Portmann and is used with permission You know, I’ve been thinking about this whole dustup over hunting cranes in Tennessee and now Kentucky. I think it’s time to hunt Sandhill Cranes. We’ve always hunted Bald Eagles. There was a lot of hunting for Bald Eagles—it is traditionally a game species.

Bald Eagle 262

Bald Eagle Eagles Hunting Kentucky 262

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2015

And that is why the hides are where they are, not to admire the scenery (or shoot at it – hunting is prohibited in the reserve and the ban is enforced). For example, the White-headed Duck is nowadays a rarity in Europe (okay, excluding Spain, I know… that Spain …), but until some 50 years ago, it used to breed in Serbia.

Serbia 255

Serbia Birds Spain Hungary 255

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2014

Highlight species: Ferruginous Duck , Goosander , Red-breasted Merganser , Red-crested Pochard , Greater Scaup , Velvet Scoter , Black-throated Diver. While regular in winter, Pygmy Cormorants do not breed in the vicinity and are absent in spring and summer. Ducks mostly migrate in November, reaching their peak by mid-December.

Serbia 244

Serbia Birds Ducks Eagles 244

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2016

Farallon NWR , a group of islands near San Francisco, hosts the largest colonies of breeding seabirds south of Alaska. These refuges support huge numbers of swans, geese, ducks, cranes, and shorebirds as they hopscotch their way to breeding grounds in the north.

Wildlife 189

Wildlife Grizzly Bear Puerto Rico United States 189

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2014

I was chatting with Gordon about this and we discussed how drones could be a safer way to get photos of birds or document birds for breeding surveys, but he was quick to point out, “You and I already have an idea of what a safe distance would be to test that out with an active bald eagle nest.

Bald Eagle 202

Bald Eagle Mississippi Eagles Ducks 202

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2014

My Dark-eyed Juncos are trilling in preparation to retreat to quieter breeding grounds, the Black-Capped Chickadees sing their two notes, and the Song Sparrows absolutely will not shut up. Snow Geese overgrazing their breeding grounds, displacing other Arctic-breeding species and setting themselves up for a fall. The result?

Geese 184

Geese Montana Breeding Pelicans 184

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2020

Parasites penetrate the skin, travel through the blood vessels and finally (if you’re lucky) settle in the urinary tract where they happily breed, doing irreversible damage to it (and if you’re less lucky they might get confused and settle inside your spinal cord or even your brain). Knob-billed Duck 1. White-faced Whistling Duck 24.

Botswana 202

Botswana Africa 2001 Fish 202

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2014

Unfortunately we have only ever seen dead Barn Owls in the Broome area and one day it would be nice to see a bird hunting over the land. With the first rains we get mass frog breeding events and the flooded land is covered in tadpoles. Grass Owls are also present in the area, but remain off our bird list.

Barn Owls 162

Barn Owls Seals Birds Cattle 162

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2012

The Red-winged Blackbirds that were busy staking claims to breeding territory by singing from bushes, trees, and marsh plants were not groggy at all. Tree Swallows squabbled and hunted in the air overhead and spent time examining the numerous nest boxes erected for them. Needless to say, I was a bit groggy when I met up with them.

New York 166

New York Honduras Jamaica Geese 166

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2012

I quickly discovered they are vocal creatures, perhaps because it was summer time and the breeding season was just finishing up. She flew overhead glancing down from time to time as Buteos do when hunting. The landing gear came down and I ducked into my car and left the quartet in peace. Vocal when perched, and vocal when aloft.

Gophers 175

Gophers Argentina Oregon California 175

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

With the help of a captive breeding program, the Peregrine bounced back, and in 1999, they were removed from the Endangered Species List. BBC Nature has a really cool video of the Peregrine hunting a pigeon in a stoop. They were officially listed as Endangered in 1970 in the U.S. Peregrine Falcon at Delevan National Wildlife Refuge.

Falcons 139

Falcons Wildlife Sacramento Endangered Species 139

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

Marshes are the habitats with the greatest species richness in moderate zones, also significant as breeding, wintering and migratory stopover sites for birds; it therefore comes as no surprise that this one is among the 10,000 Important Bird Areas of the World (one per each bird species?). I wave my greeting; he waves back and passes on.

Greece 201

Greece Serbia Hunters Cows 201

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2014

This is evident in the introductory material, which includes sections on The Origin and Evolution of Borneo’s Birds, Conservation in Action, Vegetation and Bird Life in Borneo, Climate, Rainfall and Bird Breeding Seasons, and Bird Migration. So, we start with Megapodes (scrubfowl), Pheasants, and Partridges, then on to Ducks.

Brunei 180

Brunei Birds Asia China 180

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 12, 2013

The USA’s only truly indigenous parrot was wiped out by a combination of factors, although direct persecution through hunting seems to have been the major contributor. Well-represented exotic families include starlings, ducks and doves and there are also many more individual species that now thrive here.

Miami 142

Miami Parrots Research Birds 142

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 15, 2021

Walking to the restaurant involves routine, although reflex, ducking as a tern or noddy comes a little too close to your head. On Lady Elliot Island in our southern Barrier Reef, where I visited in late 2020, the Black Noddies began breeding recently in 1985. No-one visiting the island can ignore the birds. They are everywhere.

Sea Turtles 259

Sea Turtles Birds Marine Life Fish 259

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2024

A lone Whooper Swan on a grey January day in Norfolk As for the ducks – I’m now up to 15 species. The birds I saw were mixed in with a flock of Tufted Ducks, their European counterparts, for they are a similar size and have very similar habits and behaviour. We have had a winter with no snow, and few frosts, so no Smew.

Spain 130

Spain Eagles North America Ducks 130

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

Yes, Germans were a particularly supersticious breed in the days of old, and would not dare to use the word devil even when cursing. The origin of this expression clearly lies in the slow, dopey waddling gait of a duck on land. Hunting in Germany is a very traditional pursuit and thus has a very specific and complex code of conduct.

Germany 197

Germany Birds Hunters Owls 197

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

These birds (usually juveniles) are clearly linked to the growing breeding population in the region. Pallid Swifts were already back at their breeding sites, while the marshes provided a host of waders, including year-ticks such as Whimbrel, Curlew Sandpiper and Kentish Plover. These are Dunlins.

Estonia 237

Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 237

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

home about advertise archives birds conservation contact galleries links reviews subscribe Browse: Home / Birds / Sandhill Crane Hunt in Kentucky?! Sandhill Crane Hunt in Kentucky?! Tomorrow, MARCH 15, 2011, is the deadline for public comment on a proposal to hunt sandhill cranes in Kentucky. Kentucky Dept.

2011 256

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 256

10,000 Birds

MAY 22, 2022

Munkajarra Wetlands is always a good location for the various duck species and you can expect to observe Plumed Whistling-Ducks , Wandering Whistling-Ducks , Pacific Black Ducks , Hardheads , Grey Teal and sometimes Radjah Shelducks and Pink-eared Ducks. Ducks at Munkajarra Wetland. Purple Swamphens.

Geese 213

Geese Ducks Breeding 2015 213

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2014

I got to see a beautiful female and owlet on a trip to a secret nest location near Howard Prairie Lake (human-made nest structures have enhanced local breeding for these huge owls whose nest success is boosted to 83% on artificial platforms vs. 66% at natural sites). Larry’s BBOTY – Great Gray Owl.

2014 198

2014 Costa Rica South Africa Birds 198

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

The site serves as a breeding centre for endangered birds and animals, and you can walk around large aviaries and even a night house to see captive kiwi. Blue Ducks have been reintroduced to the streams of the mountain, and there are plenty of trails to walk along. Image by Dunedin NZ, Creative Commons.

New Zealand 157

New Zealand Penguins Sanctuary Seals 157

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2020

It didn’t occur to me till I started reading The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird that there was also a possible threat to the eagle herself: poachers, who steal raptor eggs and chicks. We are cautioned to keep the location of the eagle a secret. 2019), and now this book.

Falcons 226

Falcons United Kingdom Zimbabwe Eggs 226

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Kirtland’s Warbler is a classic niche species; they breed in only very specific conditions, which occur in only a very specific area. this species breeds. Not only were they a common bird, they were a common bird nearshore; indigenous peoples hunted them up and down the coast. That would have been awful.

Albatross 217

Albatross Endangered Species Geese Alaska 217

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2011

The haunting call of the West Indian Whistling Duck has long been a sound synonymous with the ever-shrinking wetlands of the Caribbean. The whistling duck call carries with it the crimes of big business, the failures of governments and the ignorance of irresponsible hunters. They are also the rarest. Until recently.

Antigua and Barbuda 233

Antigua and Barbuda Puerto Rico Dominican Republic Jamaica 233

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2016

“This species’ population is suspected to have decreased rapidly, owing to levels of hunting on the staging and wintering grounds, and habitat deterioration (largely as a result of land cultivation). The decrease in numbers has been accompanied by fragmentation of the breeding range and is continuing to affect all populations.

Serbia 203

Serbia Greece Montenegro Bulgaria 203

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

However, you can’t come to this small Central American country to see the following birds because they are gone: White-faced Whistling-duck : Yes, this cool looking duck used to build nests, breed, and dabble around the wetlands of Costa Rica and this is why you will see it illustrated in Stiles and Skutch.

Costa Rica 229

Costa Rica Species Panama Birds 229

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2011

Another 170 are in captivity, many of them breeding stock for reintroduction efforts. With the proposed hunting seasons on sandhill cranes being discussed in Tennessee, Kentucky and Wisconsin, we must not forget the whooping crane, which travels and winters in the big sandhill crane flocks. Another thing to consider.

2011 243

2011 Hunting Kentucky Hunters 243

10,000 Birds

APRIL 1, 2012

The Wagbachniederung is reknown for its waterfowl, shorebirds, and good breeding populations of several species that are very localized in Germany. During such a visit, one would normally just write down the numbers for the “better” duck species, for all the shorebirds, and for a few selected songbird and raptor species.

Germany 191

Germany Birds Ducks Woodpeckers 191

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2020

So, curious about which birds nest in two places, I quickly found out that it’s Phainopepla, a western bird, a relief because I was concerned that it might have implications for my data collection for the NYS Breeding Bird Atlas. copyright @2020 by David A llen Sibley. The Portfolio of Birds is comprised of 87 2-page spreads.

2020 264

2020 Birds Groups North America 264

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2012

Bang Pra is a reservoir and no-hunting area to the south east of Bangkok. Lesser Whistling Duck were flying around, and a Black-naped Oriole provided a nice flash of colour. Both are common, really common, and both are essentially indistinguishable in non-breeding plumage. Next we drove to the local bird breeding centre.

Thailand 155

Thailand New Zealand Terrapins Asia 155

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2012

This striking black and white bird is a common sight in the city, even in the central business district, but it is especially common in the park and breeds on the islands in the lakes here. The large ponds were home to great numbers of waterbirds of several kinds, many of which, like the ibis, breed on the islands in the lakes.

New Zealand 173

New Zealand Ducks Australia Japan 173

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2016

We immediately headed to an undisclosed location where Carlos had breeding Mangrove Cuckoos staked out. Sure, it was a lifer and an unexpected one because most of the hawks have moved further north to breed by late April but Carlos did nothing to ensure that it stuck around for better looks. Some guide!

Florida 125

Florida Miami Birds Owls 125

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

This ABA Code 4 bird was found hanging out with some Wood Ducks in Missoula, conveniently enough, by Radd Icenoggle. The bulk of my lifers were on a trip to India in October/November but all the birds were surpassed by watching and photographing a Snow Leopard hunting and killing a Blue Sheep , so none of them are real contenders for BBOTY.

2013 168

2013 Birds Costa Rica India 168

10,000 Birds

JULY 28, 2022

Logging roads have opened up vast areas to commercial hunting, leading to industrial-scale poaching and a more than 60 per cent drop in the region’s Forest Elephant population in less than a decade. At the same time, 50% of the Congo Basin forest has now been allocated for logging and this region loses close to 1.5

Central African Republic 303

Central African Republic Congo Gabon Gorillas 303