10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2021

Watching this rhythmic group behavior was actually quite hypnotic. Las Mesas is not my best hummingbird spot, but it’s definitely in my top 3. I say “she” because females of this species are much larger than males, and this one was definitely One Big Momma.). We especially enjoyed this odd-looking one.

Laws 200

Laws Mexico Bears Turkey 200

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2021

A Facebook group was recently formed here in Mexico, called ¿Cuál es esta ave? Definitely learn to trim your photos, to where the bird or birds take center stage, and look large enough to show details. The photos I have held onto over the years can be divided chronologically into two groups. What bird is this?).

Birds 248

Birds Branding Groups Rescue 248

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2020

” a popular group in Facebook where novice birders can post photos of the birds they see and hope others will identify the birds for them. Seriously though, the “ Western Flycatcher ” in Central Park in 2015 was only definitively identified as a Pacific-slope Flycatcher after its poop was collected and the DNA analyzed.

Birds 234

Birds Collecting 2015 Species 234

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2021

One family of Yellow-billed Spoonbills all lined up together on the one branch over the river and made for an impressive group of birds. Discovering this breeding colony of Yellow-billed Spoonbills was definitely the highlight of our walk. Yellow-billed Spoonbill family. Adult breeding plumage in Yellow-billed Spoonbills.

Breeding 238

Breeding Australia Cattle Family 238

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

But it turns out a Tufted Flycatcher can be even cuter, with just a little hop: Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireos are actually true Vireos, but of a group that is physically larger than the Vireos that reach the U.S. Mexican birder friends assure me that is definitely not the case in other parts of their range.). and Canada.

Colombia 222

Colombia ALA Canada Mexico 222

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2021

Wood-Wrens, which like to live close to the ground in deep brush, definitely follow this rule; they are not at all colorful, but their song sure does ring. You truly cannot experience the Gray-barred Wren without hearing the raucous calls shared among group members of this highly-social species.

Trinidad 180

Trinidad Emotional Transported Mexico 180

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

And a double-hyphenate, well, that would definitely involve a trip. (Oh, Among our bird groups with many such species are the Wood-Partridges, Quail-Doves, Ant-Tanagers, Forest-Falcons, and Tody-Flycatchers. Except that all those are tropical jungle groups, found mostly on the other side of Mexico from where I live.

Sparrows 134

Sparrows Mexico United States Groups 134

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 28, 2020

If it’s any consolation for my extra nerdy friends, a sequel to this post is definitely possible. I can’t say that the rest of the group shared my commitment. Clearly I don’t discriminate – I had to work hard to whittle it down to a reasonable selection to share here.

Sparrows 191

Sparrows Mammals Game Parrots 191

10,000 Birds

APRIL 27, 2022

While preparing an article this week for a local newspaper on the nighttime denizens of Tobago, it crossed my mind that I never considered owls as a group, far less target species for any particular outing (except for a select few, upon which I shall expound here). It wasn’t yet light, the sky was still a dark blue.

Trinidad 273

Trinidad Owls Barn Owls Abandon 273

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2020

The challenge is the definition of “birder,” particularly when the underlying survey data was generated for a different purpose. Organizations : There is a group dedicated to birding, the American Birding Association. But even if new or better survey questions could be created, what would the criteria be?

2016 261

2016 North America 2020 2019 261

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2022

A group of kayakers were riding in a vehicle along the main road near the village of Boca Tapada when one of them noticed a massive bird in a roadside tree. A group of local birders went to the site as quick as they could but since the trip still took two to three hours, the bird was long gone.

Costa Rica 189

Costa Rica Eagles West Virginia Albatross 189

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2021

It is the only federal research group dedicated to studies needed to manage the National Wilderness Preservation System. There is also a research institute dedicated to wilderness: the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute is an interagency facility located at the University of Montana.

Puerto Rico 251

Puerto Rico Alaska Protection Research 251

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2019

Rather, I am speaking of what a certain group of birds must experience every day. And those species that like to hang upside-down definitely amuse me. And yet, the non-birder’s eyes started glazing over at the mere mention of the bird’s call. These are the few species who prefer to spend their lives hanging upside-down.

Mexico 139

Mexico Horses Species Groups 139

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2022

Thank you, goddess of birding luck and text group people).* The book is richly illustrated with contributions from a group of birders/photographers who were fortunate to see and document many of the vagrants covered. But it’s a very fluid definition, as the book makes very clear.

Birds 259

Birds Compassion Eagles Science 259

10,000 Birds

APRIL 24, 2021

At first, the birds were absent, it was just that one shearwater, a sad lost Eastern Kingbird flying low over the waves, and groups of Brown Boobies making a beeline to feeding grounds. It didn’t have a galley, nor a bathroom but with possible pelagic madness less than an hour’s ride from shore, it was packed with potential.

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica Dolphins Sea Turtles Turtles 264

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

He should not be confused with Stewart Traill (1936–2018), the founder of a cult-like group of evangelical Christians, the Church of Bible Understanding. According to his Wikipedia entry, he was a strong but unsuccessful supporter of women attending the university, so he is one of the better people to name a bird species after.

Nepal 160

Nepal Birds Owls Fish 160

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

(My region, thankfully, only seems to host migratory Hermit Thrushes from this group. Catharus Thrushes are small forest-dwelling Thrushes, and the Nightingale-Thrushes are the members of this group that have never become migratory. Having said all of this, I must say that the Nightingale-Thrushes are a charming little group.

Mexico 138

Mexico Argentina Experience Experiments 138

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2017

My reasons for not liking a strict taxonomic order were essentially twofold: Similar species are not grouped together making identification harder than it should be. The pittas ( Garnet Pitta seen above) are just such a sacred group of birds that even taxonomists dare not screw them over.

Brunei 154

Brunei 2009 2016 2014 154

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2015

It’s simple, with a deck of sixty cards divided into five habitat groupings, and each card depicting birds that are either common, uncommon, rare, raptor, or ace. Each player plays a card and can count any species from the same habitat group as the card played. It’s fun, fast, and easy to learn.

Game 197

Game Family Birds Groups 197

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2021

Laziness definitely played a part in the decision but truth be told we were happy to simply be in the presence of the forest as it has been many moons since that happened. One of a small group of Yellow-legged Thrushes we spotted feeding in the trees. For us on a casual Sunday drive however, we chose to stick to the road.

Woodpeckers 244

Woodpeckers Trinidad Battery Hunting 244

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

Each of the following trees are from that original group of seedlings; they have all survived 3 brushfires, and only the Ocote Pine has yet made it beyond waist-high: This Michoacán Pine is one year younger, and has survived one less brushfire. Afforestation is, at least here in Michoacán, a definite long-term project.

ALA 191

ALA 2016 Free Range Livestock 191

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

Los bebés (the babys), Gustavo and Alberto, are the youngest members of the group, and only recently got their degrees. As I recall, Amy and Yuca are also biologists, and they are definitely professional birding guides. Rubén, the group’s moderator (and founder, I believe), is a retired amateur birder from Monterrey.

Birds 165

Birds Mexico California Spain 165

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2013

If there’s one group of birds that just won’t let you be miserable it would have to be the Grey-crowned Babbler. They are usually in a group and our garden regularly has a family group of eight visit it. It could then re-join the family group and continue to enjoy the insects and grubs that our garden has to offer.

Australia 157

Australia Groups Family Experience 157

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2021

The 48 color plates of photographs are grouped together in one glossy paper section These are field photographs, some by the author, others by friends, colleagues, and tour leaders, and they aptly illustrate many of the anecdotes, research accounts, and bird examples given in the text. 70) is adorable as well as educational.

Science 213

Science Albatross Research Birds 213

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2020

But if you really want to rack up the numbers on each and every outing, you should definitely come here in the winter. Followed by the intriguing sight of a large group of Violet-green Swallows , which all dive-bombed the reservoir at once. This resident Great Blue Heron gave me my first action shot of the day.

Game 156

Game Lions Africa Family 156

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 26, 2020

But it definitely spends time in Paso Ancho, on its way to wherever. This one is a female, although there was more than one male present in the group of some 10 that I saw. EBird, for example, has a total of only 134 observations recorded (5 of them mine), and has only received 9 lists with photos of the species (4 of them mine).

Owls 154

Owls Woodpeckers Mexico Falcons 154

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2023

People of all ages and backgrounds brighten the ride and the book as they welcome Dorian to their homes (his blog asked for shelter and people responded, he also used a biking home-share group and motels) and help him find elusive birds (although Dorian is mostly on his own, there are occasions when help is crucial).

Birds 213

Birds Los Angeles Massachusetts New York City 213

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2016

The report even stated that it was using a “conservative definition” of “birder,” suggesting that there were perhaps more than 47 million birders generating even greater economic impact. Organizations : There is a group dedicated to birding, the American Birding Association. That’s a lot of birding.

Wildlife 170

Wildlife Portland 2002 Collecting 170

10,000 Birds

JUNE 16, 2011

But that is because we often have the relationship between dinosaurs and birds reversed in our little primate minds; Much of what is bird-like is not exclusive to birds, but rather, to a larger group of dinosaurs. Facultative (occasional, used when needed) bipedalism occurs in one group of carnivores.

Birds 269

Birds Primates Marsupials Whales 269

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2019

Uganda definitely delivers all the fancy forest kingfishers you could want. I expected fleeting glimpses of chimps if we saw any at all, but my first encounter with these amazing primates in the wild lasted many minutes as our respective groups peered at each other from opposite ends of the road. Chocolate-backed Kingfisher.

Uganda 207

Uganda Africa Monkeys Birds 207

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2020

For those of you who are wondering why I’m talking about self-isolation and using “we”; my party consists of myself and my wife – who insists she is definitely not a birder. A female American Redstart showed up, but all attention was quickly diverted to a group of Channel-billed Toucans that had just arrived.

Trinidad 216

Trinidad Battery Industry Bats 216

10,000 Birds

JUNE 17, 2012

My life list has increased by 33 which, considering I tallied 137 species during the trip (out of the 160 that the group got), is a pretty significant total. If you ever get the chance to visit Hungary you should take it: you definitely won’t regret that choice. My year list also jumped by a whopping 122 species!

Hungary 174

Hungary Hedgehogs Birds Blackbirds 174

10,000 Birds

APRIL 19, 2016

After leaving the group, I pulled into a boat launch with a great view of a marshy, mud flat area near the beach. The group had clearly spotted prey, and they swooped high in the air only to come crashing down on the unsuspecting fish, pausing in the water to gulp down their meal before taking to the air again.

Research 100

Research Jacksonville Pelicans Belize 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 18, 2022

I saw a few of each group, with the obvious exception of the second one. Finally, we are getting to the definite endemics. I spent a few hours on Mauritius flying from Shanghai to Cape Town, South Africa, and decided to use this time for a short trip to a nature reserve on Mauritius, the Black River Gorges National Park.

Mauritius 223

Mauritius Birds 2000 South Africa 223

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 26, 2014

This may make it very popular amongst European birders who can relate, but it doesn’t make it much of a deal within such an illustrous group as the dabbling ducks. No, definitely not the birding. The Sunda Teal is a brown duck. Muara Angke – the place where you get to scan THIS for Black Bitterns and rails.

New York City 165

New York City Los Angeles Timor Indonesia 165

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2016

This is a very different book from what I expected, less of a handbook and more of a comprehensive identification text on 24 groups of birds, presented in words and photographs. These are bird groups that have been covered extensively by other guides. Armistead and Brian L. It is an intriguing choice of species.

Birds 190

Birds Groups 2015 North America 190

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

I was about 90% sure I had seen a group of Gray Kingbirds at the Emerald Coast Visitor’s Center on Okaloosa Island. Since then, I have had fleeting glimpses of other birds that could have been Gray Kingbirds, but nothing definitive. Some I had never even come close to, like the Reddish Egret , but others I had almost seen.

Sea Turtles 158

Sea Turtles Dolphins Turtles Birds 158