10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2021

I’ve already added two species to my burgeoning Queens life list , seen another for a second time ever, and the month is just over half over. Starting a month with a new species for Queens was awesome, but it was just the beginning! Sandhill Crane , species number 330 in Queens! What other species remain to be seen?

Jamaica 264

Jamaica Birds New York City New York 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2011

What I am getting at here is that I have seen lots and lots of Ruddy Ducks at Jamaica Bay but never one that looked like this particular individual. She was essentially cream-colored, much lighter than the typical female Ruddy Duck. Anyway, enjoy the images and keep an eye out for odd ducks! Go check it out! Get yours today!

Ducks 150

Ducks 2011 Jamaica Deer 150

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2020

Knowing that there are reserves with long lists of 600 or more species, I set my threshold at more than 600 birds… and found only a few such hotspots. In early November 2020, there were 15 countries with more than 1000 species eBirded so far. Other than that, there are barely a few hotspots with over 500 species.

Asia 265

Asia Malaysia Papua New Guinea Thailand 265

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2022

Gisela Kaplan has written a book about the species, and how they seem unperturbed by humans: “It’s one of their most successful defense strategies. Its only black plumage is a bold stripe that runs across the bird’s face” Scientific research has found that these ducks get together more closely if you feed them with bread.

Birds 216

Birds Australia Ducks Mountain Goats 216

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2021

Decades later, Richard Pough’s Audubon Bird Guide, Eastern Land Birds (I happily own the 1948 edition) included nest and egg descriptions for each species as well. And photographs of feathers in the species accounts, which surprised me. Text retrieved from the Hathitrust Digital Library. The first is accomplished well.

Eggs 218

Eggs Birds United States Sparrows 218

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2022

” are the big questions at the heart of Vagrancy in Birds by Alexander Lees and James Gilroy, an impressive, fascinating book about what ornithologists and wildlife biologists have found out about avian vagrancy so far and their theories explaining this phenomenon. The Family Accounts are the fun part of the book.

Birds 254

Birds Compassion Eagles Science 254

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2011

And it looks even better in my hands while I dream about a visit to regions of Brazil I had scarcely heard of before being provided with a review copy of the first volume of the Wildlife Conservation Society Birds of Brazil.* Each family of birds has a short introductory paragraph and most genera get a sentence or two of description.

Brazil 194

Brazil Wildlife 2011 Birds 194

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

The latter is half the size of the Grey, but with its stout beak and prominent eyes shows a distinct family likeness. Note the family likeness to the Grey Plover, with big head and large eyes Brancaster is always a reliable site for Black-tailed Godwits, but when I first arrived there were none to be seen. A Ringed Plover.

Geese 174

Geese Russia Breeding Unwanted 174

10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2015

Since we’ve covered some generalities already, once a month I’ll be exploring how a species, genus, or family of birds got its name, and how those names fit in with our larger understanding of, and relationship with, birds. Images courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Birds Goshawk names Northern Goshawk'

Falcons 258

Falcons Eagles Meat Geese 258

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2018

We were able to find a very nice RV park, just a couple of miles from one of my all time favourite birding hotspots, Billy Frank Jr, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. In the winter this place is alive with thousand of ducks and geese. Today, I saw a handful of Mallards , two Common Mergansers, and a Wood Duck Family.

New Zealand 110

New Zealand Seattle Qatar South Africa 110

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2017

The Crossley ID Guide: Waterfowl covers every residential, migrating, vagrant, exotic, and introduced swan, goose, dabbling and diving duck in North America (Canada and the United States): 62 Species Accounts on four swan species and one vagrant subspecies; 15 goose species; 46 duck species; plus accounts for hybrid geese, ducks and exotics.

Ducks 114

Ducks North America Geese Hunters 114

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

This is brought about by a visit to Karori Wildlife Sanctuary/Zealandia, where I was able to catch up with the ducklings that I first saw back in the spring. They are the only endemic duck species that hunting is permitted for, in fact, the other species being either too rare or outright extinct. The female.

New Zealand 156

New Zealand Sanctuary Suffering Ducks 156

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2021

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck , 11 July, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, New York (2nd Queens sighting). Fortunately for me, I came across one in a mixed-species flock while out birding one morning in the vicinity of Lake Tahoe. Doug found this bird while my whole family was sick with COVID. A first state record?

New York 249

New York Birds California Owls 249

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2011

Feeding birds is generally regarded as a harmless past-time, a wholesome way for people to share nature and enjoy wildlife with the family. Sometimes people find themselves the victims of ill-informed home owners associations that have a phobic view of wildlife. Is it the number of bird feeders? The amount spent on feed?

Bald Eagle 236

Bald Eagle Birds Deer Minnesota 236

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2014

Did I dare dip my toe into this catalog of tantalizing species? Not a great place for a family vacation, though I think Duncan will disagree. The Indexes show images of the most common birds of the area against a painted background, with page references to species accounts. Now, I’m not so sure.

Brunei 172

Brunei Birds Asia China 172

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2015

On the drive I had picked up the flamboyant Red-collared and Long-tailed Widowbirds , extraordinary members of the weaver family who’s ridiculous tails make them easy to spot even from a moving car. Longclaws are African members of the pipit and wagtail family, and unlike the rest of the family they have gorgeously-coloured throats.

South Africa 145

South Africa Africa Falcons Family 145

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 11, 2017

At the end of October, my family flew to Florida for a multi-day road trip aimed at the beautiful springs. Water quality was good that day, and we could perfectly see the waving eelgrass, the freshwater fish species, the adorable turtles. How to describe these underwater avian species? An Anhinga dries its wings.

Florida 100

Florida Fish Turtles Shelters 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

home about advertise archives birds conservation contact galleries links reviews subscribe Browse: Home / Birds / Bufflehead in Flight Bufflehead in Flight By Corey • March 13, 2011 • 8 comments Tweet Share Bufflehead are one of our most amusing ducks. Bufflehead are the smallest of North America’s diving ducks.

2011 150

2011 Ducks Deer New York 150

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

This location is great as it is close to Jeanne’s Family, as well as a very short drive to the Billy Frank Jr. This refuge came up as #4 on a recent list of the top 25 National Wildlife Refuges that were featured in a great story here by 10000 Birds own Jason Crotty. Nisqually NWR.

Fox 121

Fox Washington Geese Sparrows 121

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2016

Following on from last week’s post about Langi Crossing and all that it has to offer in the way of wildlife with an emphasis on crocodiles I thought I should now expand on the birds that you may encounter during a visit! The only ducks that we have observed on recent visits have been Pacific Black Ducks. Great Egret.

Birds 100

Birds Pelicans Eagles Ducks 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2019

I birded parks, landfills, fields, backyards, skies, oceans, lakes, ponds, and roads in 15 states–some familiar haunts and patches, some as part of family visits, some while passing through, some adventures with friends (three trips with N.J. Mandarin Duck, Central Park, NYS. Everybody wants to know about the Hot Duck.

2018 148

2018 New Jersey Michigan North Dakota 148

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

of Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett has indicated that if enough people write in protest, the proposed hunting season–due to start this December– will be reconsidered. Hunting is on a steady downturn, and nonconsumptive wildlife pursuits are on a tremendous upswing. We can fight them back in Kentucky, too.

2011 238

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 238

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2019

If a list also shows the status for each species, birders on their way to Costa Rica would realize that they shouldn’t really expect vireos with white eyes nor blue heads (but would hopefully know that they should very much report those species on eBird so local birders can chase them!). Toucan species with new names.

Costa Rica 196

Costa Rica Birds Owls South America 196

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2016

Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Northern Central America covers 827 species, including resident, migratory, and common vagrant birds. The end result is that the whole “biographic” area (NCA plus southern Mexico and northern Nicaragua) is home to 41 endemic bird species.

El Salvador 229

El Salvador America Costa Rica Honduras 229

10,000 Birds

APRIL 1, 2017

As birders, we tend to spend more time in wetlands than most of our peers, neighbors, and family members. Unless those non-birding folks happen to be duck hunters or love to go fishing, they tend to stay away from the marshes, the riparian zones, the bottom lands. Fortunately, we managed Spot-breasted Wren before taking to the river.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica Birds Ducks Pelicans 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2019

The week of President’s Day this year found me, my family, and some close friends spending a week in a beach house on Tybee Island, a low-lying, barrier island just east of Savannah. How did I find so many species? The beaches and ocean of Tybee Island had the expected species like Royal Tern , Brown Pelican , and Black Skimmer.

Georgia 170

Georgia Cats Neutering Birds 170

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2011

If it is an emergency and since I get calls and texts from all over the country (even a few out of the country), I direct people to Rehabber Search or Wildlife Rehabber. The adults of most species will still care for the chicks no matter how much you touch them. Try to get it too another family group or contact a wildlife rehabber.

Birds 264

Birds Fox Raised Ducks 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2020

Local farmers view it as a threat to domesticated wildlife. The simple answer is monetary gain, there is a global black market for these items, regardless of the species’ vulnerability for extinction. The eggs are Peregrine Falcon eggs, stolen from aeries in Wales, though Lendrum keeps insisting they’re duck eggs.

Falcons 198

Falcons United Kingdom Zimbabwe Eggs 198

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2011

Fish and Wildlife Service desperately needs your feedback as they craft a new vision for our National Wildlife Refuge System. The results will inform a vision document to be adopted in July 2011 at a national conference to guide the NWR system for wildlife protection into the next decade and beyond.

2011 140

2011 Wildlife Birds Deer 140

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2011

By age 2 she could identify over 10 species of birds in our Johannesburg, South Africa, yard by call alone. Astounding because she picked up birding before she could speak and surprising because this ability was definitely not inherited from anyone in my family, myself included. And perhaps 20 others by sight. GAMES AND APPS.

Birds 276

Birds Game Wildlife Family 276

10,000 Birds

APRIL 8, 2011

Peregrine Falcon is certainly more elegant than Duck Hawk. And the use of Long-tailed Duck for a waterfowl whose traditional name I decline to type is a small, but real, improvement in the state of civilization as a whole. photos courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Feel free to add any you know in the comments.

Hunters 178

Hunters Falcons Ducks Montana 178

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2014

There are no Atlantic Puffins on Hog Island; they live locally only on Eastern Egg Rock, a painstakingly-restored seabird nesting colony which hosts three species of tern (including the endangered Roseate Tern ), Eider Ducks , Black Guillemots , and more, as well as 120 pairs of puffins. How could you not?

Puffins 274

Puffins Eggs Wildlife Rehabilitation Bald Eagle 274

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2015

Turns out, Monday brought more than a little rain, and we got soaked as we explored the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge along the ocean. They formed their little clumps along the water, all the species mixed together until a walker approached too closely. Maritime forest.

North Carolina 168

North Carolina Alligators Wildlife Woodpeckers 168

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2011

As part of the Wildlife Conservation Society Birds of Brazil giveaway we asked readers of 10,000 Birds to name the bird in Brazil that they would like to see more than any other species. What follows are the responses that readers offered, a veritable aviary of sought after species.

Brazil 196

Brazil 2011 Birds Wildlife 196

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2013

Seeing 525 species was nice, as was the fact that I birded in four countries, nine of the fifty states in the United States, and fifty-one counties. I want to reach 500 birds in the ABA, get my Queens list to 295, see a total of at least 500 species, and get my World Life List to 1,100. But how did I see so many species this year?

2012 142

2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 142

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 23, 2011

The epicenter of large, charismatic, and often photogenic, fish-eating birds is in Florida, at places like Everglades National Park and Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the only site in the park system that could convincingly be named for an exotic dancer. Below is a family shot of at least six. Where do I sign up?

South Carolina 157

South Carolina Alligators Florida United States 157

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2011

In spite of this New Zealand does have an iconic family of birds that has served as an emblem for the country for over a century, the kiwi. There are are presently thought to be five species of kiwi with a possible sixth extinct species, all of which have suffered varying degrees of range contraction since the arrival of humans.

New Zealand 142

New Zealand 2011 Deer New York 142