10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2012

Colusa National Wildlife Refuge is part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex in California’s Central Valley. This complex consists of five national wildlife refuges (NWR) and three wildlife management areas (WMA) that comprise over 35,000 acres of wetlands and uplands. www.youtube.com/watch?

Geese 170

Geese Wildlife Sacramento South Dakota 170

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2021

At more than 15 million acres, California is the only other state with more than 5 million acres of wilderness. Wilderness areas are managed by one of four federal agencies: the Forest Service (FS); the National Park Service (NPS); the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS); and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Puerto Rico 263

Puerto Rico Alaska Protection Research 263

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2022

For example, in reading about the re-introduction of the California Condor into the Pacific Northwest, the press releases referred to a “non-essential experimental” group of condors. The post entitled “ Top 25 National Wildlife Refuges for Birding ” is likely second. The answer sometimes result in a post.

Puerto Rico 177

Puerto Rico California Condor Virgin Islands Laws 177

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2021

COVID kept me from traveling internationally, and my only major domestic trip of the year was to California where I have birded quite a bit already. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck , 11 July, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, New York (2nd Queens sighting). Ruff , 21 August, Upper Santa Ana River, California (really cool bird).

New York 260

New York Birds California Owls 260

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2022

For example, in reading about the re-introduction of the California Condor into the Pacific Northwest, the press releases referred to a “non-essential experimental” group of condors. The post entitled “ Top 25 National Wildlife Refuges for Birding ” is likely second. The answer sometimes result in a post.

Puerto Rico 130

Puerto Rico California Condor Virgin Islands Laws 130

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 30, 2013

The North American Tundra Swan ( Cygnus columbianus columbianus ) migrates in flocks of family groups… leaving their Arctic breeding grounds in late September and arriving in their wintering grounds in November and December 1 (click on photos for full sized images). Range map courtesy of Terri Sohl of South Dakota Birds and Birding.

California 108

California South Dakota Sacramento North America 108

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2012

Around thirty miles from Missoula in the Bitterroot Valley lies the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. In company with a fine group of folks from the Five Valleys Audubon Society, I made the trip to Lee Metcalf that day. An additional fly-over by more Trumpeter Swans got the group charged up. Fish and Wildlife Service a.

Wildlife 170

Wildlife Montana Geese Bald Eagle 170

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2019

For me, there was the Limpkin in Loxahatchee NWR in Florida, the Atlantic Puffin at Petit Manan NWR in Maine, the Falcated Duck at Colusa NWR in California. In just a few clicks I can determine that my 442nd Mallard sighting was a group of 50 at Steigerwald Lake NWR on October 25, 2019, that the checklist was started at 9:46 a.m

Puerto Rico 151

Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Michigan Washington 151

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2020

More than 800 organizations signed a letter supporting the Great American Outdoors Act, including many conservation organizations, as well as groups representing hikers, fly fishers, hunters, bikers, off-roaders, and RVers, among others. Find your state via this link , and here are California , Texas , New York , and Florida.).

Oregon 279

Oregon Arizona Research Washington 279

10,000 Birds

JUNE 16, 2020

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is in the midst of overhauling its interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and it recently issued a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on its proposed interpretation. The public can comment until July 20, 2020. The image at the top (via Wikipedia ) is a U.S.

Industry 328

Industry Birds Laws Maryland 328

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2021

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently finalized a rule regarding its narrowing interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). However, it is unlikely that this rule will stand long enough for it to be implemented on its effective date of February 8, 2021.

Maryland 222

Maryland New York Birds New Jersey 222

10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2012

Over a hundred organizations have again petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to ban lead in hunting – a move opposed by many hunting groups. At issue is that millions of birds each year end up eating the lead and dying.

Hunting 214

Hunting California Condor Hunters California 214

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2014

The rodents eat the bait, stagger out of the building looking for water, and are easy prey for whatever carnivore happens to be passing by, be it wildlife or someone’s pet. Three companies refused to comply: Reckitt Benckiser, Liphatech, and Spectrum Group. as well as a rare mammal, the California fisher. What to do?

Rats 246

Rats Barn Owls Rodents San Francisco 246

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

Right, smack dad in the middle of Summer Lake Wildlife Refuge. Hundreds of Black-necked Stilts were around the refuge, this group passed right by me on a short morning walk. There is a 12 mile Wildlife Viewing Loop that can be driven, and is a great way to get a feel for the layout of the refuge. This shot was taken at 2:00 PM.

Blackbirds 122

Blackbirds Mules Beavers Wildlife 122

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2012

Birders in Northern California have been treated to rare sightings of several species, sending avid twitchers from all over the west in our direction. Personally, I’m waiting for the irruption of Snowy Owls to reach northern California! We do hear them call though, especially this time of year.

Owls 182

Owls California Jordan Sparrows 182

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2014

This was more than 30 years after these types of anti-coagulants had first been implicated in the deaths of protected wildlife and pets, as well as the sickening of children. Activists and environmental groups went into overdrive, and in March 2014 the State of California approved a ban on the sale of the worst types of anti-coagulants.

Rats 264

Rats Rodents 2014 Pets 264

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 9, 2021

Based on his own experiences teaching ornithology to high school students in California, he believes that high school student often just need the spark of an interesting elective class that fills a graduation requirement. In other words, a “spark class” rather than a “spark bird.” And many become birders.

2018 264

2018 Agenda Science Eggs 264

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Let me introduce my guest blogger, Lisa Owens Viani, co-founder of the California-based group RATS ( Raptors Are The Solution ), which educates people about the dangers of rat poisons. Syngenta warns that “Talon” is “hazardous to dogs, cats, pigs, poultry and other wildlife.” Thanks for your concern for wildlife, Syngenta.).

Mountain Lions 265

Mountain Lions Rats Rodents Lions 265

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2019

I also spent a week in northwestern Costa Rica on a family vacation, a long weekend in Barbados, a week in Georgia, and two week-plus-long trips to visit relatives in southern California. For fifteen years, ever since I started visiting California as a birder, I’ve been hoping to see a Mountain Plover.

2019 141

2019 Barbados Uganda Costa Rica 141

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2015

California is big. I only had a few days in California while visiting my brother at Berkeley, but we couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to visit one of the most famous birding sites in the country: Point Reyes National Seashore. Trips Birding California lighthouse point reyes' Migrating Gray Whales.

Seals 191

Seals Elephants Whales Whaling 191

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2021

Birders seem to be a fairly modest group: “Respondents rated themselves as somewhat skilled in identifying birds. Nationally, most birdwatching occurred in California (9%), followed by New York (6%), Texas (5%), Pennsylvania (5%), Florida (5%), and Ohio (4%). Citation: Patton, Stephanie. Paul, MN 55108. The post A Survey of U.S.

Minnesota 264

Minnesota Research Pennsylvania Ohio 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 9, 2014

Wildlife rehabilitators constantly receive lost racing pigeons who are starving, riddled with lice, and suffering from coccidia, trichinosis, or worms. Rehabbers can be a touchy group, and for good reason. Animals aren’t metaphors for people or their plans,” says Monte Merrick, a rehabber in California. Why do this?”.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 258

Wildlife Rehabilitation Ethics Virginia Atlanta 258

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2012

In responding to Suzie’s post defending wildlife rehabilitation I began to think again about the areas in which animal rights and animal welfare overlap with the field of conservation, and the ways in which they don’t. People would often express surprise that I, someone that cared about wildlife conservation, would eat meat.

Animal Rights 266

Animal Rights Rights New Zealand Animal 266

Critter News

FEBRUARY 1, 2012

Washington wildlife officials say eight sea lions have been found dead in the Puget Sound region in recent weeks — all apparently shot. KING-TV reports that both the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are investigating the deaths.

Sea Lions 100

Sea Lions Lions Wounded Washington 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 9, 2017

Although some of the most popular Pacific pelagic trips depart from Monterey Bay in California, there are also regular trips out of Half Moon Bay, California; Newport, Oregon; and Westport, Washington. Channel Islands NP , also in California, supports most of the other 50%. The target birds tend to be similar.

Albatross 139

Albatross Hawaii Alaska Puerto Rico 139

10,000 Birds

MARCH 24, 2014

“People say there are too many crows and they eat all the crops,” says Missy Runyan, director of the Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center in nearby Hunter, NY. Runyan has no problem with hunting; she gives wildlife and gun safety presentations to Rod and Gun clubs across the state. This is baloney.

Killing 272

Killing Slaughter Slaughtered Animal Abuse 272

10,000 Birds

JUNE 15, 2011

Many avid fans even wear bracelets… But then again, boobies as a group are pretty spectacular and first among equals must be the booby with the blue feet. Blue-footed Booby by Toni Darton One may find Blue-footed Boobies at various locations along the eastern Pacific Coast from California south to Peru.

Ecuador 187

Ecuador Peru Hunters Pelicans 187

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2014

So I asked seven wildlife rehabilitators, “Tell me your favorite (or one of your favorites) release story – the kind that makes you keep going, in spite of everything.”. “A But lets see … I’d say one of my most memorable releases is that of a Purple Martin , a species of special concern in California.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 229

Wildlife Rehabilitation Ohio Tulsa West Virginia 229

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2011

Birders who have been to California might be familiar with the latter two, indeed we would be close to the Poor Knights Islands later in the day, the site of the only breeding colony of Buller’s Shearwaters in the whole world. The first to cruise past in a hurry were the stunning Cook’s Petrels.

New Zealand 175

New Zealand Albatross 2011 Cooking 175

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2018

The resulting spilt added the California Scrub Jay as the other half, and a bird that was much more common for the west coast where I have been frequenting. The west end of the lake has been designated as a Watchable Wildlife Reserve, with some nice walking trails and a couple of very nice hides built overlooking some varied waterways.

Colorado 113

Colorado Texas Trinidad Albuquerque 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2011

I have witnessed small groups of these gorgeous aerial acrobats twice, from an excellent vantage point, engage in what seems to be a courtship or pair bonding display. His recent focus is on bringing the Western Burrowing Owl back to life in California where he also monitors several bluebird trails. Does anyone know for sure?

2011 205

2011 Jordan Deer New York 205

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2015

” The birds appear to be starving to death, so experts don’t believe a toxin is the culprit, said Julia Burco, a wildlife veterinarian for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. One of the birds most affected by this is Cassin’s Auklets. Since then the deaths haven’t stopped. Ifrasound waves are cool.

Science 151

Science Iraq Research Birds 151

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2011

The snow stayed overnight, helped by further falls, and the following morning I went up to the path the runs along Karori Wildlife Sanctuary (or Zealandia) to see how it looked and how the birds were doing. On the grass at the edge of the fence was a large group of California Quail. A nearby playground.

New Zealand 113

New Zealand Sanctuary North America Guinea 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Brown Boobies ( Sula leucogaster ), Islas Coronado, Baja California © David J. In 1903, the distinguished Elliott Coues declared , “This is a definite and perfectly natural group, which will be immediately recognized by the foregoing characters, one of which, complete webbing of hallux, is not elsewhere observed among birds.&#

2011 154

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 154

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2013

The reason Kaikoura is such a great place to see albatrosses and whales is one and the same, and the same reason indeed that Monterrey in California is a great place to watch whales and albatross. Our check in time was 7:45 and as we arrived the group before us was being prepped, and they weren’t even the first group.

Whales 208

Whales Whaling Albatross New Zealand 208

10,000 Birds

MAY 24, 2017

The impressive trail network makes the ecosystem accessible not only to birders and walkers, but also school groups of all ages and sizes. Supporting NERR sites like Elkhorn Slough means protecting these incredible landscapes for the public’s education and, of course, native wildlife.

Research 101

Research Birds Virginia Protection 101

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

’ So, we learn that the gulls in one grouping are all rare, and the gulls in another grouping are part of a “large, cosmopolitan group,” that must be identified through studying structure, upper-wing pattern, and head pattern. SPECIES ACCOUNTS–TEXT.

America 214

America El Salvador Costa Rica Honduras 214