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. The precipitous plunge of Vesper Sparrow populations has been largely because of changing land use practices. The Vesper Sparrow is named for its tendency to sing in the evening, right before the end of the day.

Sparrows 165

Sparrows North Dakota United States Downers 165

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 25, 2019

I’m hardly the first person to observe that it’s all too easy to get overwhelmed by bad environmental news, and the title Endangered and Disappearing Birds of the Midwest sounds like a pretty major downer.

Indiana 126

Indiana Downers Iowa Illinois 126

10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2014

The next hour plus netted me a host of other species, including my two other targets, Virginia Rail and Common Gallinule. After Gumear Falls Road I crossed Route 209 to the Linear Park and tracked down an Alder Flycatcher that is always present there, my eighth flycatcher species of the morning.

Breeding 152

Breeding New York Breeders Downers 152

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

In 1952, at least in the US, no one wanted to be a Debbie Downer. That was terrible for a lot of people, but especially for the Dusky Seaside Sparrow , a small streaked bird that had the dreadful temerity to dwindle and fade and finally become extinct despite the combined best efforts of the United States government and Walt Disney World.

California Condor 194

California Condor United States Guam Whales 194