10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2019

It’s that coastline, however, that called me to Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, an oasis drawing migrating waterfowl like a magnet. American Coot and Common Gallinules paddled serenely in the canals nearest the road, occasionally mixing with flocks of Ring-necked Ducks and Northern Shovelers.

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Louisiana Wildlife Bald Eagle Geese 114

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2016

He has visited more than 40 National Wildlife Refuges in 20 states and frequently visits NWRs in his travels, most recently Buenos Aires NWR in southern Arizona. The focus on Malheur is and was appropriate, but we should not lose sight of the significance of the entire National Wildlife Refuge System. The combination is potent.

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Wildlife Grizzly Bear Puerto Rico United States 189

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2011

Most of the world’s domestic geese can be traced back thousands of years to the wild Greylag Goose ( Anser anser ) although domestic geese were also bred from Swan Goose ( A. Feral geese run the gamut from pure white to almost entirely gray or brown. cygnoides ) ancestors. cygnoides ) ancestors. Get yours today!

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Geese 2011 Deer New York 145

Animal Person

MAY 12, 2009

Reading Deb's post about the goslings at Poplar and getting Jenny 's request to sign a petition to save the Canada geese of Ballwin, Missouri from mass extermination reminded me how much I miss the wildlife at the neighborhood we lived in from 2002-early 2005. Not to be confused with Little Girl, of course.

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Geese Ducks Feral Cats Vermont 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 4, 2015

As I always do on the way home, following a short visit to the San Francisco Bay Area, I take in at least one of the National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) found in the Sacramento Valley. California is blessed with 51 NWRs and Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), second only to North Dakota with 77. Click on photos for full sized images.

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Wildlife San Francisco Sacramento North Dakota 158

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 244

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 104

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. The last weekend of January found me in the frosty Pacific Northwest, meeting some long over due work and family obligations.

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Wildlife Seattle Bald Eagle Geese 104

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 227

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

But if you want herons and ducks and shorebirds and geese and egrets and swans and rails the best bet is the famed Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge along State Route 2 in Oak Harbor, Ohio. When in northwest Ohio there are many options from which to choose a birding site. It is well worth the visit!

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Wildlife Ohio 2013 Boston 193

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.

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Sacramento Wildlife United States North America 165

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

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.

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Nebraska Dissection Geese Ducks 146

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2012

I get one called The Wildlife Professional for the Wildlife Society, that’s put out for wildlife technicians who work in the field. And can I point out how weird it is to see the word “weapon” applied to wildlife sciences. So, I was excited to go through my new job’s trade publications.

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Industry Wildlife Coyotes Battery 164

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.

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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 165

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 102

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2024

My pre-breakfast list was wildfowl dominated, the 10 species I saw ranging from Black-necked Swans to the endemic Falkland Islands Flightless Steamer Duck. The latter are great bruisers of ducks, built like a small battle ship. With bulk like that, it’s no wonder that they gave up flying long ago.

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Birds Albatross Barn Owls Sparrows 202

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2011

It took long enough but I have finally seen an Eurasian Wigeon in my home borough, at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge’s East Pond to be exact. It was nice to add bird number 284 to my Queens life list , though it seems kind of absurd that it has taken so long to see one of the most common of the uncommon ducks in Queens.

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Jamaica Ducks Geese Wildlife 178

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.

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Jamaica Geese Ducks Canada 176

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 176

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

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. Fish and Wildlife Service. Iron Gates National Park in eastern Serbia. And I felt alive again!

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Serbia Geese 2001 Ducks 176

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 121

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 10, 2017

The reservoir offered Tufted Ducks , Eurasian Wigeon , Gadwall , Northern Shoveler , Common Pochard , Eurasian Teal , Eurasian Coots , Great Crested Grebes , Little Grebes , Canada Geese and Greylag Geese. Canada Geese. Common Goldeneyes , Tufted Duck and Eurasian Coots. Birds at the edge of Covenham Reservoir.

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Geese Ducks Canada Shelters 101

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. Use the wildlife rahbber links at the top of this page to find a licensed pro near you. The first few years for female ducks and geese are kind of practice rounds.

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Birds Fox Raised Ducks 264

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

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.

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New York Honduras Jamaica Geese 162

10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2015

And yet, as an accipiter, the Northern Goshawk is not a waterfowl specialist – it will take a tree-nesting duck if it finds one, but dines mainly on various grouse, crows, hares, and the like. Images courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Birds Goshawk names Northern Goshawk'

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Falcons Eagles Meat Geese 258

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 255

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. There is a 12 mile Wildlife Viewing Loop that can be driven, and is a great way to get a feel for the layout of the refuge.

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Blackbirds Mules Beavers Wildlife 119

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 237

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 110

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.

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Oregon Owls Wildlife Barn Owls 114

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2018

I haven’t even been to all of the best national wildlife refuges for birding. Lifers includes Gambel’s Quail and Neotropic Cormorant, but the real highlights were the morning fly-out of Sandhill Cranes and the evening fly-in of Snow Geese. I am a westerner who has lived in San Francisco and Portland my entire birding life.

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San Francisco Portland United States Puerto Rico 100

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. Greylag Geese on the move. Bird hides have been built and two small car-parks and one of these has wheelchair access to the trails.

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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. The schedule is a bit daunting, as we are up before 5 AM to get to the gate for the 6AM opening. We are on the go until usually around 1:30 give or take a herd of zebras blocking the road.

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Lions Buffalo United States Zebras 118

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