10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2018

Autumn in New York blazes with abundant charms, but the flaming foliage and delicious fall harvest comes with some downsides, at least for those with evil seasonal allergies. It was an incredibly easy twitch with the only downer being the bird’s tendency to stay deep in the reeds. So, great looks but no photos.

2018 125

2018 Downers New York Birds 125

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2013

Above, Snow Geese approach the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. Both images by John Downer Productions and courtesy of PBS/Nature. The result appears to be a chance to birdwatch as you never have before—namely, from the perspective of fellow birds. How cool is that?

Downers 187

Downers France South America North America 187

10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2014

On Saturday I awakened at 3:30 AM, tiptoed out of the house as quietly as I could, and headed north and west to Sullivan County, the first of three counties I planned to visit in a series of surgical birding strikes to see (or hear) the birds I had thus far missed this year as they migrated through New York City.

Breeding 153

Breeding New York Breeders Downers 153

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2011

Any day of birding in New York State that includes a sighting of a Vesper Sparrow is a better-then-average day. But I, of course, live in the east and the lack of Vesper Sparrows is a downer because when any species is in decline it is depressing but also because they are pretty darn neat sparrows. What has caused the decline?

Sparrows 165

Sparrows North Dakota United States Downers 165

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2011

Steve Walter is a New York nature photographer, birder, and long-time member of the New York City Butterfly Club. It also brought back memories of a Fork-tailed Flycatcher that I found in Queens, New York in 2000. To be honest, this was actually a bit of a downer for me.

Florida 169

Florida New York Downers New York City 169

Animal Ethics

MARCH 15, 2008

To the Editor: Re “ A Case of Abuse, Heightened ,” by Joe Nocera (Talking Business column, March 8): Mr. Nocera tells us that most slaughterhouses don’t mistreat animals or funnel sick downer cows into the food chain. Oh, really?

New York Times 40

New York Times Wayne Pacelle Humane Society Of The United States New York 40

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2016

The chapter titles, one for each year, thankfully change from downers like “The Bluebirds of Unhappiness” to the knowingly corny (“Winning the Booby Prize” wins the prize). By the end of February, Hayward has seen 294 birds in five states and two provinces. On April 25, with 492 birds on his year list, he finally commits to doing a Big Year!

2013 107

2013 Arizona Birds San Diego 107