10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

Seychelles’ small landmass combined with geographic isolation results in few species. For example, the main islands are the world’s only granitic ocean islands and at 750M years of age are also the world’s oldest ocean islands. That antiquity produces a high level of endemism, e.g. 19% of 62 breeding birds are endemic to the islands!

Seychelles 225

Seychelles Wildlife Tortoises Fish 225

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2024

The proximity to the Myanmar border is reflected in the presence of Burmese Shrikes here – on the wrong side of the border, but it is well known that this species has never been particularly good at geography. This photo explains the scientific species name haemacephalus (bloodheaded).

Myanmar 171

Myanmar Sri Lanka Nepal Birds 171

10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2021

You can’t say the same about migration: you can’t say that every book about birds is necessarily about migration, for the simple reason that only about 4,000 bird species migrate (with some 1,800 of those traveling long distances). (Well, purely physical attributes play a part, too: they’re pretty good looking.).

Alaska 200

Alaska Breeding Kenya Africa 200

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021

Insects and a host of other invertebrate life have evolved with these plant species, and thus depend on them. The latter figure very significant when you remember that many breeding passerines depend on the humble caterpillar to feed themselves and their offspring. Locally native plants are the base part of the local ecology.

Wildlife 262

Wildlife North America Mammals Breeding 262

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

An associated issue is that the Belize and Costa Rica guides share many of the same descriptions of species, written by Howell. Similarly, descriptions of species repeated across volumes do not lose their accuracy with each publication. Other species are splits and lumped and have had their names changed. Why are these issues?

Costa Rica 206

Costa Rica Belize El Salvador Birds 206

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2022

The scolding alarm call of the Spectacled Thrush for example is something that I grew extremely tired of – the birds would sit on our window and glare at our indoor cat and yell (what I presume to be some form of obscene insult) at him. Wise creatures. First on the trail was a very vocal (albeit not yet melodious) Yellow-legged Thrush.

Trinidad 147

Trinidad Emotional Breeding Cats 147

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2023

The official Ontario bird checklist, produced by Ontario Field Ornithologists , June 2022 listed 506 bird species**, putting it in the top tier of U.S. Small Species Accounts: Each species is allotted one page (with certain exceptions) offering basics–bird names and size, one or two photographs, and a one-paragraph description.

North America 203

North America Birds Owls Canada 203

10,000 Birds

MARCH 19, 2022

One such example is “pewee” Pewee sounds like something small, something seemingly insignificant but with a certain degree of charm. In Costa Rica, we have our pewees, 6 species of them. A common bird of hot, tropical habitats, it is very much an edge species. This appropriately named bird is just what its name says.

Costa Rica 257

Costa Rica Pennsylvania South America Panama 257

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

While these birds are very much liked by Chinese birders, the species could unfortunately not be named the National Bird of China as the Latin species name of the bird is Grus Japonicus. It is not quite clear why they do this as it apparently does not affect breeding success. A nice example of gender equality of sorts.

Birds 195

Birds Eggs Bald Eagle Owls 195

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Black Drongos must be breeding here – this juvenile was terrorizing his parents with constant calls for food. For example, one cat is named “damao” (“big cat” in Chinese) while another was named “xiaomao” (“little cat”). Black-tailed Gulls , I think.

Cats 211

Cats Birds Kittens Transported 211

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

For example, when Corey gets the thrill of seeing a Black-throated Gray Warbler in Queens County, New York, he can be almost 100% sure that he is seeing a one-time vagrant, and not a previously undiscovered population. These are only a few examples of the many I could mention. They were probably not preparing to go south.

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Mexico Science Breeders United States 297

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2022

It’s a long drive, at least an hour of steadily climbing twists and turns; but there are high-altitude species I can only see there. I was not disappointed, as four FOY (First Of Year) species turned up. So why am I focusing on that species in this post? So eventually, the pilgrimage must be made.

Mexico 185

Mexico South America Species America 185

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2021

Just last year, 5 new bird species and 5 new subspecies were discovered in a few short weeks of fieldwork on the islands of Taliabu, Peleng and Batudaka. In recent years Indonesia has been competing with the Andes as the region giving rise to the biggest number of undescribed bird species (naturally, all of them endemics).

Indonesia 263

Indonesia Timor Brunei Guinea 263

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2021

Similarly, the Alpine Leaf Warbler is one of the more attractive species in an otherwise almost indistinguishable family of identical leaf warblers. (“But the difference in wing bars, Kai!”). For some reason, the HBW specifically mentions that this species also breeds in a city park in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea.

Birds 231

Birds North Korea China Woodpeckers 231

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2020

The book is divided into three parts: “Introduction,” “Avifaunal Overview,” and “Species Accounts.” The authors’ detailed delineation of problems with the accuracy of NYC breeding bird surveys or with the limits of historical writings may test a reader’s patience. Most birders will go straight to the “Species Accounts.”

New York City 147

New York City New York Birds Breeding 147

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2021

I pointed at the bird shown below but he insisted it could not be that species – no long tail … For people of a certain age, gender and background, at some point The Smiths were the most important band in the world. Other species, such as this juvenile Light-vented Bulbul , seem to have more ambiguous feelings about molting.

Birds 221

Birds LACS France Japan 221

10,000 Birds

JUNE 24, 2020

This sort of biozone mixing can create a tremendous richness of species. Each of these habitats attracts its own group of species. Blue-black Grassquits , for example, depend entirely on the brushy grassland shown above. Among those are Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers , a species I love. This one was a true lifer for me.

Mexico 235

Mexico Lamb Nicaragua Sparrows 235

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2021

Mid-May to Mid-Jun is the best time to see some of the most exciting species here, as this is the prime breeding time. For another species, the Firethroat , it meant I only got acceptable views rather than the really good ones reportedly possible a few weeks earlier.

China 261

China Birds Vietnam Fast Food 261

10,000 Birds

JUNE 11, 2019

Of course, the California Condor is listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and it has been famously subject to some of the most ambitious conservation efforts (including litigation ) ever undertaken for a bird. One management tool used by FWS is reintroduction of an endangered species into its former range.

California Condor 216

California Condor California Endangered Species Oregon 216

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2019

Between our many residents and migratory species, birding in central Mexico is a joy. For example, I have commented before on how common names in English may make sense up north, but do not down south. But in the winter, both species head for Mexico. But it can also be a challenge.

Mexico 137

Mexico United States North America Ethics 137

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2019

Our big month of bird movements in Costa Rica, the 10th month of the year, is when most of the swallows, Scarlet Tanagers , thrushes, and other species on the South American express push through. How do they compete with resident species? In October, it’s what’s happening in Costa Rica. What do they eat?

Costa Rica 258

Costa Rica Nicaragua Birds Panama 258

10,000 Birds

MAY 14, 2019

The endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler breeds only in Texas Hill Country near Austin and San Antonio, but much of its nesting grounds have cleared in favor of subdivisions. First, some background regarding the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the listing of the Golden-cheeked Warbler is required. What is a conservation bank? # # #.

San Antonio 124

San Antonio Endangered Species Texas Austin 124

10,000 Birds

MAY 13, 2022

For once, eBird gives a good description of the Asian Glossy Starling, calling it a “Fierce-looking, large songbird” As are humans, this species is fairly urbanized – it “sometimes enters urban areas to roost, e.g. in Singapore” (HBW). “Odd, me?”

Singapore 212

Singapore Birds Zebras Feral 212

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 17, 2018

How loyal are the thrushes to a particular location when they are not breeding? There was no breeding behaviour evident amongst the thrushes on any of the 4 sightings over a 4-week spread from the last week of August to the last week of September, though other species were gearing up for the season, with a Southern Lapwing seen on eggs.

Eggs 113

Eggs Breeding Species Birds 113

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2022

According to Tim Low (in “Where Song began”), “so easy were they to breed that by 1859 they cost less to buy in London than in Sydney.” ” Funny how the difficulty of breeding a species can be illustrated in simple monetary terms. We even had some chicks – not that this was a big achievement.

Birds 147

Birds Australia Sheep Zebras 147

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2018

During the final stages of the Pan-European bird-atlassing work last year, computer models of Serbian ranges for some 150 bird species were produced for the first time ever. New target species for the next spring field trip. The consequences were amusing.

Serbia 101

Serbia Breeders Breeding Woodpeckers 101

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2021

Pough “with illustrations in color of every species” by Don Eckelberry, Doubleday, 1946. The National Audubon Society Birds of North America covers all species seen in mainland United States, Canada and Baja California. The press material says it covers over 800 species, so you know I had to do a count.

North America 278

North America America Birds California Condor 278

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2022

I was surprised that this species is named for its vocalization – which sounds like laughter. For example, the Diamond Dove is the world’s second-smallest species of the columbidae order ( source ). As one of the more common Australian bird species, it is the natural subject of the occasional scientific paper.

Australia 147

Australia Birds Parrots Ostriches 147

10,000 Birds

JULY 8, 2020

One of the ways I could describe the unique mix of birds I can see here in southwestern Mexico, would be to divide our species into five categories. The invasive species are few, but, unfortunately, very numerous. But there is a final group of species here, about which I have not written very much.

Mexico 187

Mexico Birds Honduras United States 187

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2019

There, breeding Amur Paradise Flycatchers have become an attraction for Chinese bird photographers, and the source of some tourism income for the locals. Conveniently, one pair is breeding just about 100 meters away from a place renting out rooms and also providing meals. hours away from Shanghai by high-speed train.

China 139

China Breeding Owls Groups 139

10,000 Birds

APRIL 19, 2016

For example, years ago, Eiton Tchenrov postulated that the wild progenitor of the domestic dog, some subspecies or another of wolf, could benefit from overlapping its breeding territory with human hunters. It turns out that there is an example of this with wading birds in the Florida Everglades.

Alligators 114

Alligators Protection Leopards Birds 114

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 23, 2023

This is how it looks like: Or at sunset: A species I did not come for from Shanghai is the Black-crowned Night Heron. Its species name graydoni is in honor of Philip Newenham Graydon (1864-1940), a British planter in Sabah. Why that makes Mr. Graydon worthy of having a bird species named after him is a mystery to me.

Birds 209

Birds Eagles Elephants Rhinoceros 209

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2022

For example, the Brown Honeyeater visits more than 300 different flowers. Wikipedia seems not too impressed with the species, stating that “the brown honeyeater is a medium-small, plain grey-brown honeyeater” The Latin species name indistincta (indistinct, obscure) sounds similarly underwhelming. chocolate-bird (??),

Birds 147

Birds Australia Parrots Memphis 147

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2023

Such programs are somewhat inefficient anyway – in one study , the breeding success of wild male pheasants was 2-5 times higher than for hand-reared and released ones while for females, hand-reared birds were 3 times as vulnerable to predation as the wild ones. Apparently, there is a website just showing stamps depicting bird species.

Birds 189

Birds Blackbirds Indonesia Bhutan 189

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2019

The striking Golden-cheeked Warbler nests only in the hills of central Texas near Austin but a substantial part of those breeding grounds have leveled in favor of development. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) declared the Golden-cheeked Warbler “ endangered ” under the Endangered Species Act. On December 27, 1990 , the U.S.

Austin 167

Austin Texas Endangered Species Birds 167

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2017

Now that I can travel, I have perversely discovered the charms of really working over one spot of habitat across the seasons and the years; as such I’m on a mission to find 100 species of bird in Socrates Sculpture Park, a bit of Queens between the East River and Vernon Boulevard where artists create open-air displays. Why an asterisk?

New York 103

New York New York City Illinois Wisconsin 103

10,000 Birds

JUNE 17, 2023

The Majestic Wetlands: Within Shanghai’s boundaries lie several pristine wetland habitats that serve as vital sanctuaries for a plethora of bird species. This expansive marshland is home to rare and endangered species such as the charismatic Black-faced Spoonbill, Saunders’s Gull, and the elegant Oriental Stork.

China 160

China Endangered Species Sanctuary Protection 160