10,000 Birds

APRIL 20, 2011

O beautiful for whistling ducks! Even in the Brazilian Amazon, I’ve never seen this many whistling ducks together–there were sixty at a manmade lake behind the Brevard Community College near Titusville, Florida. Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. a tropical delight! What a sight. the marvelous birds that await.

Florida 145

Florida Tail Banding Ducks Ohio 145

10,000 Birds

APRIL 14, 2021

But as we kicked off 2021, I found myself far from my current home in North Florida, surrounded by a plethora of Maine birds! You’d think I could have begun my 2021 year list with something less familiar in Florida. I literally fist-pumped the air when I spotted Long-tailed Ducks and a Surf Scoter. A Hairy Woodpecker ?

Florida 198

Florida ALA Birds Woodpeckers 198

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2021

Note: Erika is the Communications Director for Audubon Florida. Spring has already sprung in North Florida. A pair of gorgeous Wood Ducks spooked by something I couldn’t see, flying to another part of the lake before settling down once more. Still, the bird community still reflects our winter residents. The highlights?

Florida 251

Florida Birds Pelicans Geese 251

10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2020

Note: Erika is the Communications Director for Audubon Florida. At Audubon Florida, we opted to change a typical Birdathon to bring not only our staff together, but our whole Florida birding community. At the same time, our Audubon Florida community would bird for a week, still staying at home. The covid-19 alteration?

Florida 176

Florida 2020 Shelters Species 176

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2014

As it turned out the month of October brings some of the common migratory waterfowl to our local water treatment plant ponds in Indian River County, Florida. Other ducks such as American Wigeons , Northern Pintails , and Northern Shovelers are as common at the ponds as the frequency and duration of each cold front. Northern Shoveler.

Florida 173

Florida Ducks Birds 173

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 29, 2014

That will be the opening day of the 18th Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival in Titusville, Florida. Florida is a great place to bird in January because in addition to the year-round species there are a host of birds that winter in the relatively balmy climate that Florida has in winter. Have I missed anything?

2015 197

2015 Wildlife Florida Birds 197

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2023

Why did the duck become a detective? Here are five birding jokes for you: Why don’t birds make good comedians? Because their jokes always “fly” over our heads! What do you call a bird that can fix anything? A “repairrot”! It always quacked the case! What do you call a bird that’s afraid to fly?

United States 162

United States Michigan Texas Virginia 162

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2020

The bird family that got his attention was originally the herons, egrets and other wading birds, but as time went on New World warblers, woodpeckers and ducks fueled the passion further. Luis is an avid eBirder and he likes to keep a good record of his lists, photograph as many species as he can, and he encourages others to do the same.

Canada 165

Canada Cuba Miami Florida 165

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 3, 2014

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Titusville, Florida, is an amazing destination to see a wide variety of wildlife including, of course, birds! Florida Scrub-Jays are, of course, endemic to Florida. Roseate Spoonbills are one of my favorite Florida birds. That is one sexy duck. They were nearly tame.

Wildlife 228

Wildlife Florida Birds Ducks 228

Animal Person

MAY 12, 2009

It wasn't much--clusters of mushroom-like townhouses that are ubiquitous in Florida--but it was on a lake. I've written about the much-maligned Muscovy ducks before , and at our old house this time of year I was usually inundated with rescue situations and of course my patio often had images like this. And a dead end.

Geese 100

Geese Ducks Feral Cats Vermont 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 30, 2019

After being “officially” closed during the government shutdown, Florida’s Gulf Islands National Seashore didn’t look too worse for wear when my husband and I visited over the weekend. As a duck hunter, he had seen Redheads and scaups and mergansers throughout the winter, but as I did not relish getting up at 3:30 a.m.

Bald Eagle 113

Bald Eagle 2019 Florida Hunters 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2013

What’s not to like about amazingly cooperative birds , fascinating bird behavior , and a bird that is impossible to find outside of Florida ? Oh, and Mottled Ducks ! Who can resist the Mottled Duck ? ……… Birding festivals Florida Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival'

2014 154

2014 Bald Eagle Florida Wildlife 154

10,000 Birds

APRIL 1, 2014

It’s a treatment plant on the Florida model, a vast manmade wetland through which treated water circulates for several weeks before passively flowing into the St. As with most watery, natury, places in Florida, the birding is always good and often spectacular. Florida has a number of flashy raptors. Johns River.

Florida 174

Florida Rattlesnake North Carolina Ducks 174

10,000 Birds

MAY 29, 2012

In early May, I reluctantly accepted my parental obligation to bring my children to Orlando, Florida. At least, thought I, Florida would produce some superior birds. Orlando, Florida is an ecological blight. The Magic Kingdom featured Donald, Daisy, and a few Mallards … we all know how much Disney likes ducks!

Florida 172

Florida Birds Alligators Turtles 172

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2016

The five subspecies – Greater, Lesser, Mississippi, Florida, Cuban – show the genetic marks of what the species has had to do to survive. Among the most famous of these is the Sandhill Crane – with its oldest confirmed remains dating back 2.5 million years to the Lower Paleolithic. I’ve never seen a crane dance.

California Condor 157

California Condor Mississippi Florida Montana 157

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2019

Birding trips to Florida , New Mexico , and Texas are obvious too. For me, there was the Limpkin in Loxahatchee NWR in Florida, the Atlantic Puffin at Petit Manan NWR in Maine, the Falcated Duck at Colusa NWR in California. Texas and Florida round out the Top 5. Thomas ) was good for 26 lifers.

Puerto Rico 146

Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Michigan Washington 146

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2013

“Out West” to most Floridians might mean California or Arizona or might even refer to the Gulf Coast of Florida. These two water management wetlands are amongst the very best birding and photography locations in south Florida. And this is where magic happens from time to time. If not THE best.

North America 221

North America Factory Alligators Trafficking 221

10,000 Birds

APRIL 8, 2019

In the spring (when they look like they do — the males, that is — in the photo on the left, above) they fly more than six thousand miles from the Amazon Basin to the Arctic, via Florida and Ohio. Kaufman knows that duck hunters can be ardent, loving conservationists, too.

Ohio 197

Ohio Bats Legislature Ducks 197

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2021

“This beautiful and singular bird, although a constant resident in the southern extremities of the peninsula of Florida, seldom extends its journeys in an eastern direction beyond the State of North Carolina.

New York 263

New York South Carolina North Carolina Massachusetts 263

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. We had an ambitious itinerary planned: six springs within eight Florida State Parks. An Anhinga busily sought prey, periodically ducking down into the grasses and completely disappearing from view.

Florida 100

Florida Fish Turtles Shelters 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 26, 2014

The Sunda Teal is a brown duck. 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. Birds dabbling ducks Indonesia waterfowl' 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

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Back in January, when I was enjoying my attendance at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival down in Florida, I had an enchanting encounter with our national bird , the Bald Eagle. Only watch the video if you want to see a duck decapitation.). Also, note the eagle’s nictating membranes protecting its eyes from damage.

Bald Eagle 234

Bald Eagle Eagles Wildlife Florida 234

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2021

Nationally, most birdwatching occurred in California (9%), followed by New York (6%), Texas (5%), Pennsylvania (5%), Florida (5%), and Ohio (4%). But only 13% purchased a Duck Stamp. “A Thus, birders like natural areas close to home with rare species, and perhaps some ducks. This is not a surprising result.

Minnesota 264

Minnesota Research Pennsylvania Ohio 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2013

The Liberty University Flames, represented by their American Bald Eagle mascot, Sparky, were also bounced from the tournament, while the Marquette Golden Eagles, Oregon Ducks, and Louisville Cardinals advanced from their first-round matches. For the record, here are all the bird-related teams who made it to the tournament: Oregon Ducks.

Louisville 158

Louisville Bald Eagle Kansas Oregon 158

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

So it was with Alafia State Park in Florida. We fell asleep to the laugh-like sounds of Common Gallinules making their presence known on a nearby pond, as well as the tell-tale whistling of the aptly named Whistling Ducks. That’s why camping is good for me: I am already out and about so the second I wake up I can begin birding.

Blackbirds 154

Blackbirds Birds Owls Florida 154

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 16, 2012

As a result, animals like the Florida panther and diminishing habitats like the prairie grasslands stand a fighting chance. Proposal: Creation of a Federal Wildlife Conservation Stamp A birder, wildlife watcher, photographer and non-hunter version of the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (aka Federal Duck Stamp).

Wildlife 199

Wildlife Hunters Ducks Hunting 199

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

As I hopped in my car to head home, I pondered the Florida birds I had yet to see. I am an odd duck sometimes, and I have strict rules for my own personal birding. Nothing new or unexpected, but pleasant nonetheless. 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

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 11, 2016

Dabbling ducks, diving ducks, grebes, woodpeckers, shorebirds, waders, songbirds, raptors, flycatchers, hummingbirds: this gem of a sanctuary has it all! San Joaquin is renowned among wildlife photographers for the up close opportunities with shorebirds and ducks. San Joaquin was the perfect choice! Especially not like this.

Sanctuary 101

Sanctuary Wildlife California Ducks 101

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2013

January – Starting Off and Florida. I went to the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival in Titusville, Florida. It was my first Florida birding so I had quite a few easy birds to check out and check off my ABA life list. Florida Scrub Jay ? Mottled Duck ? But how did I see so many species this year?

2012 143

2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 143

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

But one thing is REALLY good for both and there is no shortage of them during the fall in Florida. Hurricane Sandy that brushed up the east coast of Florida was one such example. Noticing a black bird beyond the breaking waves that looked unusual, I paddled over for a closer look.

Birds 147

Birds Florida Bahamas 2005 147

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. Where do I sign up? Is there a more elegant heron in the entire world?

South Carolina 157

South Carolina Alligators Florida United States 157

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 13, 2014

Herons and raptors and rails and gulls and ducks and cranes and jays and owls and alligators are all awaiting me – and you – at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival. Destinations Florida Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival' I can’t wait until Space Coast! You are going, right?

Wildlife 172

Wildlife Tampa Alligators 2012 172

10,000 Birds

JUNE 25, 2018

Snowy Owl irruptions are relatively predictable and often huge, with birds arriving as far south of their normal breeding range as Florida and the Bahamas. Speaking of which, Snowy Owls go after a wide variety of prey, with perhaps their most impressive being sea ducks taken in the dead of night as the ducks roost out on the open ocean.

Owls 155

Owls Barn Owls Woodpeckers Bahamas 155

10,000 Birds

MAY 14, 2013

The most famous of these is Cattle Egret , but Masked Duck looked like it might make things interesting for a while and Antillean Nighthawk has more or less staked out a little niche for itself in extreme southern Florida. Cattle Tyrant is one of those species folks are predicting will show up in Florida not if, but when.

Cattle 157

Cattle South America Florida Colorado 157

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 23, 2013

I got my new set up about 2 weeks before heading to Florida and tried to work in as much practice as I could. I didn’t wait for a rare bird show up, I just went to a local duck pond where the townsfolk feed the waterfowl ample amounts of bread and corn and kept my finger on the shutter button.

Florida 197

Florida 2000 Ducks Canada 197

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

The year list remains sluggish at 1489 , but the life list received a boost from the eBird taxonomy reshuffle and now includes 4076 species. The year list remains sluggish at 1489 , but the life list received a boost from the eBird taxonomy reshuffle and now includes 4076 species.

Woodpeckers 198

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds California 198

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 9, 2012

It was outsold by their other major plastic lawn ornament, a duck. The duck was based on live models, but the flamingo had to be drawn from photographs, since Union Products was based in Massachusetts.

Cuba 142

Cuba Miami Massachusetts Ducks 142