10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

When Costa Rica becomes a topic of conversation, we don’t usually hear the word “extinction” being thrown around. But how about when the Costa Rica conversation involves a birder? It’s easy to bedazzle the bins with this one when birding in Costa Rica. Must be a joke, right?

Costa Rica 224

Costa Rica Species Panama Birds 224

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2014

Later, Harry Fuller, President of the Klamath Bird Observatory, led us to an open meadow where we saw a pair of Great Gray Owls hunting in a meadow. Patrick had many birds to choose from for his Best Bird of the Year but he chose a new species for him in Costa Rica, a real regional rarity: My BBOTY for 2014 goes to Hudsonian Godwit.

2014 194

2014 Costa Rica South Africa Birds 194

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2020

However, it wasn’t until the infamous year of 2020 that I finally laid eyes on it in the marshes of Las Pangas in southern Costa Rica. I’d like a beer too, please, as I have never seen a Masked Duck. This weird little skulking waterfowl is a species I had hoped to chance upon in various places for quite some time.

2020 241

2020 Birds Costa Rica Germany 241

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2017

Another surprise is the two pieces on hunting, an interesting change from the essays on bird feeding in volume one. Dorian Anderson finds a moment of connection with a duck hunter during his bicycle big year, and, despite his distaste for the sport, realizes that in hunters we have allies for conservation. In the next essay, J.

2017 147

2017 Costa Rica 2007 Hunters 147

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. Since that trip, I’ve seen Rose-throated Becard in Costa Rica, but not with the rosy throat. And, seeing a bird in Costa Rica is not the same as seeing it in the U.S. I never saw the bird.

2013 167

2013 Birds Costa Rica India 167