10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

They breed across Canada and Alaska’s boreal forest near ponds and lakes, using nest holes made by woodpeckers, almost exclusively flickers. Hes only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasnt working as a union representative or spending time with his family. Wicked, right?

2011 150

2011 Ducks Deer New York 150

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2021

Golden Vireos can also be seen near my home, while Rufous-backed Robins even visit my garden, when conditions are right. And breeding season allows me to notice certain details that I might miss during the rest of the year. Here in Michoacán, we have four different species from the Myiarchus genus of the Tyrant-Flycatcher family.

Woodpeckers 218

Woodpeckers Hunters Falcons Breeding 218

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

Nationwide, wildlife watchers now outspend hunters 6 to 1. Of the Central Flyway states, Nebraska alone holds out in protecting the cranes, having proven by its longstanding Festival of the Cranes in Kearney that a crane is worth infinitely more alive and purring in the sky with its family than thudding, broken and bleeding, into a cornfield.

2011 245

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 245

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2011

So, one might surmise, it’s OK if they get shot by hunters thinking they’re sandhill cranes? Another 170 are in captivity, many of them breeding stock for reintroduction efforts. What could motivate gunmen (I cannot call them hunters) in two states to deliberately kill North America’s tallest and most critically endangered bird?

2011 242

2011 Hunting Kentucky Hunters 242

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2011

The variety of plumages that they show and the way different individuals molt at different times is interesting to me and I have stopped being surprised at seeing a small flock of ruddies with some nearly in full breeding, or alternate plumage, while others are still in their basic, or non-breeding plumage. Wicked, right?

Ducks 142

Ducks 2011 New York New York City 142

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2011

Hes only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasnt working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy, their son, Desmond Shearwater, and their two indoor cats, Hunter and B.B. Wicked, right? Hat-tip to Stella.

Brazil 180

Brazil Wildlife 2011 Deer 180

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2011

from left to right Fred, Mike, Isaac, Andrew, Gene (in back), Tom Though it was an absurdly long trip and the ratio of birding to driving was not ideal the twitch was well worth it. Here’s hoping this bird makes it back to its home turf to breed and comes back to spend another winter in New York State! Wicked, right?

New York 191

New York Woodpeckers Jordan 2011 191

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2011

Not to mention, its brilliantly bulbous crimson throat, bloated during breeding season must be a sight! Green-and-rufous Kingfisher is the only Cholorceryle species I haven’t seen, so observing one would complete a genus in this fascinating family. Wicked, right? See who won the contest here! Get yours today!

Brazil 203

Brazil 2011 Birds Wildlife 203

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2015

We already had South Africa, Zambia and Uganda under our belts, but my clients’ request for the next year came right out of the blue: Ghana! These strange birds are two species in their own family; White-necked or Yellow-headed, endemic to the Upper Guinea forests and Grey-necked or Red-headed, restricted to Lower Guinea forests.

Ghana 191

Ghana Hunters Guinea Gambia 191

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2011

All of this leads to a longer life list, which is, after all, the entire point of bridwatching, right? Itcher birds, migratory members of the tern family. Loons hardly ever fly when they are on their breeding grounds or their winter-water, but the migration is for many loons a non-trivial distance. Specifically, Itcher Tern.

Research 191

Research Humane Compassion New York 191

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2012

Considering the bird survived a season in an area saturated with hunters and birds of prey, this facemelting rarity deserves our respect. Secretive, silent and undetectable outside of its breeding season, found only in the U.S. And, the best thing was that it did not require tapes, just the right habitat and good ears and patience.

2012 147

2012 Birds Guatemala Florida 147

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2017

This is how, I think, the “Crossley technique” works best—coverage of specific bird families that pose identification challenges to birders at all levels of skill. And Hybrids: Waterfowl tend to hybridize to a greater degree than most other bird families, and the guide does an excellent job of covering hybrids.

Ducks 117

Ducks North America Geese Hunters 117