10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2014

I got to see a beautiful female and owlet on a trip to a secret nest location near Howard Prairie Lake (human-made nest structures have enhanced local breeding for these huge owls whose nest success is boosted to 83% on artificial platforms vs. 66% at natural sites). The experience, the place, and the bird combine to make this my BBOTY.

2014 188

2014 Costa Rica South Africa Birds 188

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2020

For those of us with the great good fortune to bird in Latin America, or other less-studied biological regions, my experience suggests that we are much more likely to benefit from the new species created by such splits. But you pretty much must come to Mexico to see the Mexican Duck , which I see every time I go to our nearest lake.

San Diego 175

San Diego San Francisco Mexico Baltimore 175

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2014

l-r) Brushland Tinamou ( Nothoprocta cinerascens ), Southern Cassowary ( Casuarius casuarius ), Greater Sage-Grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ), Mandarin Duck ( Aix galericulata ). Have you noticed ducks and quail replacing loons and grebes at the beginning of newer bird field guides and checklists? This is why. Jarvis et al.

Family 279

Family Birds Parrots 2014 279