10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2011

I photographed this Guianan Cock-of-the-rock at a lek site near Surama, deep in the rainforest zone of Guyana, and my incredible experience with Andean Cock-of-the-rocks was at a display lek on the edge of the town of Jardin, in the coffee-belt of Colombia, both just incredible birds that make the heart soar with joy!

2011 175

2011 Birds South Korea North Dakota 175

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2012

It’s the warbler that is often the last unchecked species on birders’ life lists and, whether you list or not, for most of us observing it is a once in a lifetime experience. A nest wasn’t found until 1903, which set off a craze for Kirtland’s Warbler skins, nests, and eggs.

Michigan 220

Michigan Bahamas Endangered Species Research 220

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2013

In addition to longtails and rats, Wingate battles developers (of course), a rare Snowy Owl that kills 5% of the cahow population (Wingate shoots the owl, to the dismay of many), and the U.S. These are magical experiences. The fate of the Bermuda Petrel, the cahow, is still in question.

Birds 164

Birds Rats Breeding 2012 164

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2013

The Second Atlas’s logo, designed by bird carver Larry Barth, with its perched Scarlet Tanager, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Ruffed Grouse, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Common Raven, and Eastern Bluebird, gives a good idea of the diversity of birds that can be found in Pennsylvania. Images courtesy of Pennsylvania State University Press.

Pennsylvania 219

Pennsylvania Breeding Birds Sparrows 219

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

According to Wikipedia, “A l owl ife is a term for a person who is considered morally unacceptable by their community” The local Nanhui shrikes are well aware that the word “lowlife” has an owl hidden inside, and mark the appearance of owls in their territory with harsh protests. Not this one though.

Birds 190

Birds China Eggs Owls 190

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2023

I’ll still probably try again next June, as this June has been the driest and hottest in memory, and in my experience, summer rains make it much more likely that one will see the Sinaloa Martin. And for the first time, I saw a Bronzed Cowbird (which lays its eggs in other birds’ nests) checking out one of these nests.

Mexico 144

Mexico Oregon Squirrels Science 144

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2020

Penguins are cartoons, emoticons, animated films, children’s books (though owls really take first place here), sports teams, a book publisher, and a Batman villain (a rare example of penguin negativity, though Burgess Meredith did bring an endearing attitude to his 1960’s TV portrayal). Press, 2011).

Penguins 277

Penguins Georgia New Zealand Albatross 277

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2023

In an interesting experiment featuring a stuffed model of a Collared Scops Owl , Crested Goshawks arrived when hearing the mobbing call of Light-vented Bulbuls that they use when encountering such a scops owl, but not when hearing other mobbing calls.

China 147

China Vietnam Birds Monkeys 147

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2011

How do I know of their Gothic moods when they have hidden them so well in an egg-white shell of conformity? And I haven’t even started to write about ageing them … What are your experiences, and what is the colour of the claws on your local gull species? The eagle owl is still sitting tight on the nest.

2011 158

2011 Birds Deer Europe 158

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2012

It was a heart-pounding scene straight out of Jurassic Park, an odd experience for a laid-back pursuit like birding. Red Junglefowl by Mike Bergin Clare Kines chose an egg as his Best Bird of the Year. I wrote about the experience here. And, no, I am not kidding. What is it that makes a bird the best or the year?

2012 143

2012 Birds Guatemala Florida 143

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2015

So, it is strange that while books have been written about owls and hawks, and the semi-charismatic seabirds and shorebirds, there have been few books written about woodpeckers. Picidae, Woodpecker, is one of those charismatic bird families that everybody gets excited about.

Woodpeckers 233

Woodpeckers 2002 Europe Research 233