10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2024

Starting the New Year by trying to see as many species as possible is something of a birding tradition. My diary notes that the New Year dawned grey and windy, but I rose early, walked six miles before breakfast and noted a modest 26 species of birds. The latter are great bruisers of ducks, built like a small battle ship.

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Birds Albatross Barn Owls Sparrows 226

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 12, 2019

Most of the estuaries of Puget Sound in Washington State have been developed, but one of the few that remain is the Nisqually River Delta, which was protected as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Nisqually NWR is a major staging area for migratory birds , a wintering area for many ducks and geese, and a breeding area for numerous songbirds.

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Washington Portland Birds Geese 246

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2018

Late Saturday afternoon a Tundra Swan was reported from the south end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. I set my tripod on the ice and scanned through the birds with my binoculars, ducks, ducks, ducks, two Mute Swans , ducks, gulls, gulls, gulls, ducks, two Mute Swans , ducks.

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Jamaica Wildlife New York City Ducks 107

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2014

“Here’s an idea for a blog,” wrote Donna Osburn, a wildlife rehabilitator from Kentucky. It was the height of baby season, I was insanely overworked and underslept, and I did not – I repeat, did not – do waterbirds, except for mallards and Canada geese and wood ducks and swans etc. What’s your best misidentification of a bird?”.

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Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Falcons Pit Bulls 255

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 8, 2017

Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. Nearly 800 acres of wetlands and tidal flats provide diverse habitat for the local birds, as well as large numbers of migratory species, including thousands of ducks and geese. This is not to say that there wasn’t a little birding time snuck in here and there.

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Wildlife Seattle Bald Eagle Geese 107

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2019

A while back, I wrote about an under-appreciated part of the National Wildlife Refuge System : Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). Although little-known, WPAs provide critical breeding, resting, and nesting habitat for millions of ducks, geese, and swans, as well as shorebirds and grassland species.

Nebraska 146

Nebraska Dissection Geese Ducks 146

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 11, 2016

The best place I could come up with that was within a short drive of my in-laws’ place in Yorba Linda was the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in nearby Irvine, only a quick twenty-minute drive away. The goose flies out early with a flock of Canada Geese so if you want to see it get there at or shortly after dawn!

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Sanctuary Wildlife California Ducks 101

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Cinnamon Teal ( Anas cyanoptera ) pair by Larry Jordan (click on photos for full sized images) Winter is the time to visit the National Wildlife Refuges in California. Fish and Wildlife Service; they serve as resting and feeding areas for nearly half the migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway.” million, according to the U.S.

Sacramento 178

Sacramento Wildlife United States North America 178

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2019

A while back, I wrote about an under-appreciated part of the National Wildlife Refuge System : Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). Although little-known, WPAs provide critical breeding, resting, and nesting habitat for millions of ducks, geese, and swans, as well as shorebirds and grassland species.

Nebraska 113

Nebraska Dissection Geese Ducks 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2012

Around thirty miles from Missoula in the Bitterroot Valley lies the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. Even the ride over was productive, with Eurasian Collared-Dove , plenty of Black-billed Magpie , Hooded Merganser , and my first-of-the-year Wood Ducks spotted along the road. Most welcome.

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Wildlife Montana Geese Bald Eagle 171

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2012

The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex offers four photo blinds on three of their refuges which can be reserved, two on the Sacramento Refuge, one at Colusa NWR and one at Delevan NWR. This blind in particular is usually good for ducks, geese, waders and shorebirds. Just look at this drake.

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Sacramento Wildlife North America Ducks 105

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

It is extremely unusual that we birders can still walk the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in November. By now water levels should be high and the pond should be full as ducks, both dabbling and diving, are making their way south from cooler climes. What I lacked in species diversity I made up for with good looks.

Jamaica 183

Jamaica Geese Ducks Canada 183

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2014

For all that, though, migration here is still largely a water-based show, with the most spectacular signs of springs coming in the forms of ducks, geese, and swans. The Snow Geese in particular are popular with viewers all along the flyway, inspiring much comment even in bird-rich areas like Bosque del Apache (as shown below.)

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Geese Montana Breeding Pelicans 183

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

In a typical birding year, no other month will bring you that many new species as January. The Danube River was mostly frozen, with sections of open water here and there and we were counting mostly sea ducks like Common Goldeneyes , Smews and Goosanders (aka Common Mergansers), with a few Common Pochards and Tufted Ducks.

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Serbia Geese 2001 Ducks 187

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

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. While most major estuaries in Washington state have been filled, dredged, or developed, Nisqually River’s has been set aside for wildlife.

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Fox Washington Geese Sparrows 134

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. ” and its companion question, “Why is this bird here?”

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Birds Compassion Eagles Science 263

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.

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New Zealand Seattle Qatar South Africa 117

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Covenham Reservoir is the largest stretch of inland water in Lincolnshire and although it is used for various water sport activities during the year it is also used by many species of birds. Canada Geese. We observed both of these species on both visits on cloudy overcast afternoons in October. Common Buzzard.

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Geese Ducks Canada Shelters 101

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2016

The nature reserve is really well managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust with numerous hides and wheelchair access to much of the reserve. The nature reserve is constantly evolving and although part of it is a former sand quarry it has been carefully developed to encourage wildlife. Greylag Geese in front of Wild Bird Cafe.

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Geese Wildlife 2001 Woodpeckers 101

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

Imagine waking up to the call of thousands of ducks, geese, and every kind of marsh bird you can imagine. Right, smack dad in the middle of Summer Lake Wildlife Refuge. By the time we left, I had recorded one new Lifer, 12 New Year Birds, and a total of 76 species. US species – 175. This shot was taken at 2:00 PM.

Blackbirds 123

Blackbirds Mules Beavers Wildlife 123

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'

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Falcons Eagles Meat Geese 260

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2012

Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 15 March 2009 It was at about 1:30 AM on Saturday morning that I startled awake and found myself sitting in an empty subway car in an unfamiliar location. Dabbling ducks included Green-winged Teal , Northern Pintail , American Black Duck , and Mallard. But we weren’t done yet!

New York 166

New York Honduras Jamaica Geese 166

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. If the nest was in a bird house, open the house and check the damage.

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Birds Fox Raised Ducks 266

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. How do you know when you are a little too involved with feeding birds?

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Bald Eagle Birds Deer Minnesota 253

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Two full days at Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge, three days at Dog Lake, and a short visit to Upper Cottonwood Lake brought back many great memories, in addition to a nice list of birds. Then, to finish the week, we visited the famous, and not necessarily for all the right reasons, Malhuer Wildlife Refuge. eBird Reports – 276.

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Oregon Owls Wildlife Barn Owls 115

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2016

Alkborough Flats were only formed in 2006 when the River Humber burst its banks and flooded 450 hectares of farmland and it is now a haven for wildlife. These reeds were an excellent place to observe Bearded Reedlings , though and a bird species that people come to the area to see. Greylag Geese on the move.

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Geese Australia 2006 Investigation 140

10,000 Birds

MAY 31, 2018

By the time you see this in the United States, I will have had a full week to explore this amazing area, and the wildlife that calls this home. I will try to get everything tallied as far as bird species goes tonight. I should be at about 140 African species both counted and photographed!

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Lions Buffalo United States Zebras 122

10,000 Birds

APRIL 4, 2014

Among birders, wildlife photographers, and nature enthusiasts, it is renowned for its incredible concentrations of birds at the end of the dry season. During this time, the fish trapped in the shrinking pools of water attract hordes of herons, egrets, storks, and other wetland species. I must mention one thing.

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Brazil Birds Blackbirds Paraguay 165

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2016

My first ever story for 10,000 Birds was about the wonderful city reserve of Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, here in Wellington, a city that has been my home for 9 years this week. The London Wetlands Centre was converted and is managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, founded by the famous duck and swan enthusiast Peter Scott.

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Geese New Zealand Germany Ducks 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2013

Clicking on the map will take you to an explanation of this important biome, including its climate and its plant and animal species. More than 1 million birds, including tundra swans, snow geese and countless ducks, stop to rest and gather strength in these undisturbed wetlands each autumn. National Wildlife Federation.

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Obama 2008 United States Industry 255

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2012

Fresh water crocodiles enjoying the sunshine We chose to have a wander around the area, which is actually a lagoon at this time of year and totalled 39 species in an hour even mid-morning. There were even more species present here and a perfect place for a picnic lunch.

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Birds 2000 Investigation Geese 165

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2023

I would advise allowing as much time as possible if you hope to walk all of the trails and to be able to explore the different environments and the many species of birds. Many visitors appear to do the short walks, so you can enjoy the area mostly alone other than the wildlife. The Cape Barren Geese had goslings when I visited.

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Sanctuary Kangaroos Geese Transported 130

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 11, 2014

And, as appears to be the case in most cities in Finland, wildlife and nature is only steps away! Obviously many species of birds can be quite elusive, but this may be your best bet at getting you close to where you’ll need to be. One of many signs in the park aimed at educating about wildlife. White Wagtail in Helsinki.

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Finland Estonia Birds Europe 173

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?

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2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 145

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2019

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) attempts to calculate the economic contribution of National Wildlife Refuge visitation to local communities. Rather, birding and other wildlife observation ( e.g., photography) are lumped together as “non-consumptive” uses of a refuge. Every few years, the U.S. billion for local communities.

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Wildlife Maryland San Francisco Minnesota 258

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2011

I’m not sure what the collective noun for a group of petrels is, but the vets and wildlife carers of New Zealand might be forgiven for thinking that it might be a wreck after this week. This is the largest species of prion and perhaps the one that best suits the alternative name whalebird.

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New Zealand Vet Collecting Geese 191

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2024

Late summer 2023 the lakes and ponds had been empty, presumably because the ducks and geese were moulting. Empty no more, the ponds were now brimming with ducks of all creeds and persuasions – it was spectacular. After a pleasant morning with ducks, crisp snow and sunshine, we followed the wildlife trail on our way out.

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Denver Colorado Ducks Mules 176