10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2015

Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it sometimes takes a “village” of rehabbers to save threatened wildlife. What turned out to be an epic journey began in Nova Scotia, one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces. Pilots ‘n Paws Canada stepped up to the plate and volunteered to fly the little birds to Quebec.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 213

Wildlife Rehabilitation Canada Wildlife South America 213

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2022

Next stops offered White-crowned Parrot and Barred Parakeets , Chestnut-sided and Canada Warblers , Collared Aracari , half a dozen Purple-throated Fruitcrows … I heard a strong double-nock of a huge Pale-billed Woodpecker , but the bird didn’t present itself to our eyes. Next goal: 1100 species, to cover about 10% of the total.

Costa Rica 244

Costa Rica Nicaragua 2019 Farming 244

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2022

I’ve never known quite what to do with the two Cardinal sightings I have had near our church in Morelia, since that species is not supposed to be seen there, or to be migratory, but both sightings occurred in winter. I have seen two Godwit species at Lake Cuitzeo. These images may not be a big deal to many of our readers.

Mexico 229

Mexico 2018 Ducks Breeding 229

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 9, 2013

On a Big Year, every species counts equally, even the lowly House Sparrow. As of my writing this he is off to a roaring start with 169 species recorded already. Rangel Diaz is doing a big year in Miami-Dade County, Florida, hoping to reach 300 species, and keeping a blog about it. Matt Timpf is doing a Canada Big Year.

2013 204

2013 New Jersey Los Angeles North Carolina 204

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2012

Josh Vandermeulen is sitting pretty at 317 species for the year in Ontario, only 21 off the province’s record of 338, set by Glen Coady in 1996. Blake and Holly Wright are hoping to photograph 400 species in the lower 48 this year and have managed to make it to 351 thus far. It’s quite a list! Let us know in the comments.

South Dakota 206

South Dakota Houston Mammals Birds 206

10,000 Birds

APRIL 16, 2013

Mark Kirk and Alisha Belo are doing a southern Africa big year, trying to see 800 species. As of the end of March they had already reached a whopping 652 species ! Ali Iyoob is sitting pretty at 230 species in his North Carolina big year during which he is trying to break the state record of 351.

2013 191

2013 New Jersey North Carolina Canada 191

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2011

There are three species of waterfowl that birders in most of the eastern United States are going to encounter on almost any birding outing that includes a pond, lake, or other body of water – The Usual Waterfowl. Pity the hen Mallard that gets abandoned by her mate and left to raise a nest full of ducklings completely on her own.

Canada 165

Canada Geese United States Abandon 165

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2016

There are three species of ptarmigan, all found in Alaska. The Willow Ptarmigan, which is the most numerous, can also be found in Russia, Finland, Scandinavia, and Canada. Unlike other grouse species, the male Willow Ptarmigan remains with the female throughout the breeding season to help raise the chicks.

Alaska 103

Alaska Finland Indiana Russia 103

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2013

A new Australian Big Year Record was set by John Weigel, who did his big year to raise money for Tasmanian Devil conservation. As of 15 December he had seen 744 species and it is unclear if that was his final total or if he added more since. Perhaps the biggest big year of 2012 was in Australia.

2012 160

2012 South Dakota Costa Rica Houston 160

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

These vestiges of forgotten species, some solitary, others joined in sad little troupes, are the work of sculptor Todd McGrain. Raised among birders, he was once sculpting an abstract duck figure when he happened upon Hope Is the Thing With Feathers , Christopher Cokinos’ elegy for extinct birds. What a horror! What a disaster!

Birds 210

Birds Ducks DC Jordan 210

10,000 Birds

APRIL 25, 2015

I just flew nonstop from Canada to South America and boy, are my arms tired.” Indiana teacher raises the bar for newbie birders everywhere by finding the state’s first record of a Black-tailed Godwit. Help them rack up 4,000 species in 24 hours on eBird!). Even more thought-provoking is the original article from which it sprang.)

Malta 187

Malta Barn Owls Cyprus Fowl 187

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2014

The American tropics surely have their share of orioles, warblers, doves, jays, and other types of birds that birders as far north as Canada or even the Arctic Circle might encounter. Sometimes, they even have the same species… I’m looking at you, House Wren !

Colombia 197

Colombia South America Argentina Ecuador 197

10,000 Birds

MAY 23, 2023

Birders often venture into various habitats, such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, or coastal areas, to encounter different bird species. The primary objective of birding is to identify bird species based on their physical characteristics, behavior, and vocalizations.

United States 147

United States North America Birds America 147

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2019

Unlike several other gamebird species commonly raised and released for hunting in North America, the Northern Bobwhite ( Collinus virginianus ) is, of course, a native of the continent, though its natural range lies mostly in the southeastern quarter of the continent, and south into Mexico and the Caribbean. What’s in a name?

North America 113

North America Vermont America Farming 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2011

The adults of most species will still care for the chicks no matter how much you touch them. If you cannot find the nest or it’s too destroyed, do not try and raise a chick this young. It’s illegal to raise wild birds (even orphaned ones) without state and federal permits. Above are Canada Goose goslings.

Birds 266

Birds Fox Raised Ducks 266

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

We are familiar with the story, birds flying north in the boreal summer, taking advantage of the warmth, long days, and abundant insect life, to raise their young. In the High Arctic we find several migrating species that break that mould. Birds Africa Arctic Canada migration Northern Wheatear' Male with one of the fledglings.

Africa 201

Africa Somalia North America Nigeria 201

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2021

Pough “with illustrations in color of every species” by Don Eckelberry, Doubleday, 1946. If you remember that the first edition of Sibley was published with “National Audubon Society” on the cover, raise your hand. The press material says it covers over 800 species, so you know I had to do a count.

North America 279

North America America Birds California Condor 279

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 5, 2018

After looking for different species every day for the first six months of the year, lately I can’t manage to actively search for any kind of bird unless I’m traveling. I haven’t had much time to bird. The usual excuses apply: I’ve been sick, tired, busy with work, etc., but it still sucks. Happy bird-knitting!

Birds 116

Birds Puffins Alaska Canada 116

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

If the home birding patch is in Canada or the United States of America, it’s not really that far. We just had to stop on the way, even if briefly, at Cinchona, Cinchona- always an easy place for in your face views of hummingbirds and species that visit the fruit feeders. We raised bins, and voila, Collared Forest-falcon !

Costa Rica 129

Costa Rica Falcons Birds North Carolina 129

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

A beautiful series of raised boardwalks have been constructed, allowing year round access to the area, thru the marsh area, all the way out nearly a half mile into the tidal flats. Over 200 species of birds can be found on the refuge, depending on the time of year. Here are a few scenics from my last few days on the refuge.

Fox 131

Fox Washington Geese Sparrows 131

10,000 Birds

MAY 14, 2016

It was organized to boost eBird use, raise funds for bird conservation, and just get more people out birding. How can we say that magic is a farce when the May blossoms are backdropping bright, breeding plumaged Canadas , Magnolias , Chestnut-sideds , chocolate Bay-breasteds , and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks ?

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica 2016 2001 Battery 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2015

So, the 49 subject species include birds with interesting family behaviors that we might not see every day (Cedar Waxwing, Great Blue Heron, Peregrine Falcon), migrant songbirds (Tree and Barn Swallows, House Wren), and common, everyday birds (Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, and, yes, Rock Pigeon). Egg biology, from Part I.

Eggs 263

Eggs Family 2006 New York 263

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2022

FLAP is the Fatal Light Awareness Program, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and this is how they raise awareness. But, yes, there are photographs of dead birds and x-ray images of the damage done to individual birds and photographs of the annual FLAP display, as shown below.

New York City 259

New York City Birds Illinois Science 259

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2017

The guide covers 520 species of birds regularly found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, including, interestingly, a number of exotic species. There is also a traditional index to bird species, by common and scientific name. Species Accounts are arranged taxonomically, grouped by family.

North America 175

North America America Birds New York 175

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2012

You can argue that large waders of Florida are flashier or that the secretive Bachman’s Sparrow elicit more respect, and sure, Pine Warblers nest as far north as southern Canada so how can they really be southeastern, but if you raise these points I think you fail to realize how truly prolific Pine Warblers are in the south.

North Carolina 145

North Carolina Jordan Raised North America 145

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 17, 2013

08–20 Many bird species are in trouble, but the Hooded Grebe is really really in trouble. Birds are raised from the egg to follow a certain migration timing, but that timing shifts when the egg hatches later or earlier due to changes in conditions. But there was this one in Australia.

Science 191

Science 2013 Elephants Birds 191

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2012

Although designed as a field guide, it is a hefty book, 376 pages long, covering 336 species. The specific geographic area covered is “east of the western boundaries of Ontario, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana”; the eastern United States and Canada is known for its diversity of odonates. Yes, 675 photographs.

United States 238

United States Costa Rica Massachusetts North America 238

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

Kills in Canada, Alaska and Mexico are not included in the count. Hunting sandhill cranes in Kentucky is a bad idea from a public relations standpoint, considering the growing cadre of birders and nature enthusiasts for whom cranes are a touchstone species. Nationwide, wildlife watchers now outspend hunters 6 to 1.

2011 252

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 252

Animal Ethics

JUNE 7, 2016

This horrible incident has raised some tough questions indeed. Michelle Nadon, Aurora, Canada To the editor: Bars? Further, did those who reacted so strongly to Harambe’s killing go home and serve meat to their children? In my opinion, neither Harambe nor the child should ever have been at the zoo.

Los Angeles 40

Los Angeles Gorillas Zoos Non Human 40

10,000 Birds

MAY 30, 2019

Raised in and around the West Texas steppe country where temperatures reached 100 degrees with regularity, he began life as the Dust Bowl and Great Depression converged. Between 1974 and 2005, more than 7000 young Peregrines were hacked in the United States and Canada. He came for the hawks. And grow they did.

Falcons 186

Falcons California Condor Alaska Texas 186

10,000 Birds

JUNE 24, 2012

Which these days involves a frenzy to breed and raise a brood. In the last couple of weeks I’ve seen over 20 new species. Birds arrive, and immediately start the business of breeding, so they can raise a family and be gone before winter arrives. We’re about 3 days past midway through three months of 24 hour sun.

Bald Eagle 172

Bald Eagle Breeding Raised Whales 172

10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2012

Predators that rely on lemmings, like the Snowy Owl , took advantage of the bounty and had great breeding success, raising large broods which, after the lemming population crashes, dispersed far and wide. Females become less likely to rebuff male advances, and copulation takes place quickly without much fanfare.

Rabbits 216

Rabbits Breeding Litter Raised 216

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2012

Right now we’re pretty much a three species town, Ravens with a chance of Hoary Redpolls and a sprinkling of Rock Ptarmigan. (I I smashed the High Arctic Christmas Bird Count record this January 2nd by managing to find all three species here in town. I’ve family to raise and no time for modeling.”

South America 161

South America Eggs Family Raised 161

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2011

Where I live, there are two species of lemmings, the Brown Lemming ( Lemmus trimucronatus ) and the Collared Lemming ( Dicrostonyx groenlandicus ). If they each raised nine owlets, the owlets alone would have eaten over 25,000 lemmings from that valley. A Collared Lemming on a Beat Writer’s hand.

Owls 242

Owls Fox Oklahoma Soreing 242

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 26, 2012

There are at least three species of wildflowers clinging to this cliff by the way. It watched me, calmly, until I sat down about 7 feet away (almost at minimum focusing distance) and we both regarded each other, and I occasionally raised the camera and snapped off another frame. “That nest?”

Falcons 168

Falcons Killing Fur Owls 168

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2017

In fact, we saw two species of monkey, our only sloths, lots of coatis, and my rarest ever mammal sighting—a Jaguarundi —right on site. Seriously, Panama raises the art of under-communication to new, deplorable heights. Thus, I arrived in Panama with 204 species on my country list and low expectations for more than a handful of lifers.

Panama 100

Panama 2017 Monkeys Family 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2019

He raised his binoculars above his head and cried out with courage and clarity, “I am Sparticus!” Canada Goose – Branta canadensis. Something needed to be done. Somebody had to take one for the team. Mike fixed me with his cold, steely, gray-eyed stare. He rose slowly from his seat, bronzed torso glistening.

2019 141

2019 Farming Sparrows Charlotte 141