10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 15, 2017

Corey decided on a mission this weekend: he would get his Nelson’s Sparrow for the year. Nelson’s Sparrows are only reliably found in Queens in mid-to-late October, when they migrate south: they are usually found in saltmarshes. So on Sunday morning he looked at Big Egg Marsh, which has a larger amount of saltmarsh habitat.

2017 100

2017 Sparrows Jamaica Birds 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2023

In the slightly frighteningly named journal “Science of The Total Environment”, there is a paper on organochlorine compounds in Purple Heron eggs nesting in sites located around a chloralkali plant (Ebro River). Summary result: relevant chemicals emitted by the plant can be found in the eggs. Bye, bye, Lesser Coucal.

Birds 130

Birds Eggs Breeders Breeding 130

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

Orange-billed Sparrow – Arremon aurantiirostris. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh.

2019 118

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 118

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

After such a mysterious bird, it is time to enjoy the simple pleasure of seeing ordinary birds such as the Eurasian Tree Sparrow. Finally, the Azure-winged Magpie raises a hen-and-egg question: What was first, the color of the bird or the color of the Tibetan prayer flag? Unfortunately, I did not manage such a photo this time.

China 168

China Mongolia Birds Russia 168

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2011

In that spirit I present some of the common birds I have seen of late, birds that I expect to see on almost every outing in my area, birds that a birder can depend on.

New York 198

New York Birds Sparrows Canada 198

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2022

Seaside Sparrows were singing on both sides and occasionally popped up to give us a view before diving deep back into the Spartina grass, hopefully getting ready to nest. Seaside Sparrow. At the end of the road, we found two Nelson’s Sparrows who quickly flew out to a tiny bit of land in the channel. Eastern Meadowlark.

Houston 201

Houston Texas Sanctuary Sparrows 201

10,000 Birds

MAY 6, 2015

Every spring I look forward to monitoring my bluebird trails when I not only get to watch Western Bluebirds develop from eggs to fledglings, but other cavity nesters as well.

Tenant 160

Tenant Farming Illinois North America 160

10,000 Birds

APRIL 18, 2021

Five hatchling House Sparrows in a Happy Meal box,” said Johanna Walton, also in Connecticut. “Apparently she found a fallen American Robin ‘s egg,” she wrote, “and kept it in there for two weeks! “Three hatchling American Robins in a plastic slice of pie container,” said Bonnie Alexander in Connecticut.

Transported 278

Transported Wildlife Rehabilitation Bats Opossums 278

10,000 Birds

MAY 16, 2011

Brown-headed Cowbirds evoke strong feelings in many birders, some of whom can’t abide a bird that lays its eggs in other birds’ nests, often to the detriment of the nest owners’ offspring. But I miss the open land with skies never ending And the challenge of laying eggs in a nest with defending.

Eggs 157

Eggs Buffalo Sparrows Humane 157

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2011

Stories abound of House Wrens going so far as to destroy other birds’ nests, even puncturing their eggs, in order to procure potential nesting locations so I really wasn’t surprised but I was entertained.

Woodpeckers 161

Woodpeckers Sparrows Eggs Birds 161

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2021

”* And then, my bird club friends started talking about alternate warbler songs and sparrow dialects and I thought, “Really? And, that sparrow I heard in California that sounded so different really is a Song Sparrow?” There’s more than one song per warbler?

North America 278

North America Research Birds Groups 278

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2017

This pair of Phainopeplas have built a beautiful nest, complete with two speckled eggs. Black-throated Sparrow. In the 45 minutes we were on the property, we identified 19 species, two of which are endemics, and located my first ever nesting pair of Phainopeplas right there on the property. Xanthus’s Hummingbird. Phainopepla.

California 100

California Pelicans Turkey Eggs 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 24, 2013

Over the years you may have learned to know better but it’s spring and you’re hopeful and maybe this time it’s an unfamiliar sparrow of some kind… but after maneuvering carefully around to a line of sight, it’s that furry little air-raid siren the Eastern chipmunk again. You sigh and move on.

Chipmunks 178

Chipmunks Squirrels Rodents Montana 178

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2015

Both Pine Warbler and Prairie Warbler were breeding in the pines for sure, with the former’s trilling song in hearing at the same time as that of the Chipping Sparrow , which was good practice for my ears. Seaside Sparrows were incredibly abundant in the saltmarsh west of Gordon Pond. It was great! I have rarely seen so many.

Delaware 170

Delaware New York Birds North Carolina 170

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2013

Corey did just this in this 2011 posting about Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus in New York State. You can see the Species Account for Henslow’s Sparrow above, in the banner photo. The most common bird in the state is the Song Sparrow, followed by Chipping Sparrow and Red-eyed Vireo, with American Robin coming in fourth.

Pennsylvania 220

Pennsylvania Breeding Birds Sparrows 220

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2013

I started the day at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge hoping for rails (I heard and saw none) and then made my way to Strack Pond on the western end of Forest Park where I was pleased to find White-crowned Sparrows and a Solitary Sandpiper. I hit my shin pretty hard on a stump on the way down. Birding, it’s dangerous !

Jamaica 168

Jamaica Eggs Baltimore Wildlife 168

10,000 Birds

APRIL 28, 2011

A Tufted Titmouse “Peter-Peter-Peter&# ed from the trees and a big flock of White-throated Sparrows made their “Oh-Canada-Canada-Canada&# sound more like a lament for a lost land then a cheerful expression of nationalism. At least it made for a sunny Easter egg hunt… Get to Esopus Bend Nature Preserve.

Canada 161

Canada Birds Zoos Louisiana 161

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2020

318 – Burrowing Owl , 16 May 2019: An unbelievable find and a thrilling chase, this bird at Big Egg Marsh was as as astonishing as it was unpredicted. But if I can get a Henslow’s Sparrow in Queens why not a Sedge Wren ? And it was only one day after the shrike, which is always nice. (4 4 out of 5!). 4 out of 6!).

2018 157

2018 2015 Birds 2019 157

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2018

But Northern Cardinal, Catbird, and White-throated Sparrow do not appear until the 270s, during a visit to Central Park while on business trip to New York City. According to eBird, the chronology of my life list includes White-Headed Woodpecker at No. 10, Mountain Quail at No. 11, Wandering Tattler at No. 41, and Black Oystercatcher at No.

San Francisco 100

San Francisco Portland United States Puerto Rico 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2014

Using ministerial connections he obtained 100 mallard eggs from the US and began to breed and distribute them. Species can arise by hybridization – the Italian Sparrow is thought to be one. Female Mallard, photo by Corey. There the matter may have remained, but for a gentleman named Cecil Whitney.

Species 165

Species New Zealand Ducks Game 165

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

With a hardiness that belies their delicate looks (but helps explain their phenomenal success), these pioneering pigeons are already sitting on eggs at at least one location in Montana. So right now I’m feeling pretty good about Eurasian Collared-doves. It’s just that the exceptions are so much more attention-grabbing.

Montana 132

Montana 2011 New York Bahamas 132

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

Speaking of pregnant snakes, do sea snakes lay their eggs ashore like sea turtles or do they keep them internally until the young are ready to hatch/ be born, like some sharks? These do lay eggs on land and are (reasonably) mobile once they hit the beach. It seems like there is great diversity in this continent.

Australia 149

Australia 2011 Sharks Deer 149

10,000 Birds

MARCH 7, 2011

This happened to me recently on a birding trip, with somewhat egg-on-the-face results. I was on a birding quest trip with my friend Geoff Heeter. We were driving up to northwestern Michigan from our homes in Ohio (me) and West ByGod Virginia (Geoff) in search of a bird species that would be a lifer for both of us: the Bohemian Waxwing.

2011 211

2011 Birds Michigan Ohio 211

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2011

For some reason Felonious Jive shared Seagull Steve’s Best Bird of the Year: One of the reasons Seagull Steve went to North Dakota last summer was to spend some time with Baird’s Sparrows. They may be drab, but their pleasant ringing song and close relationship to the prairie make for a very interesting bird.

2011 176

2011 Birds South Korea North Dakota 176

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2023

before discovering that russet means “reddish-brown in color” Takes some of the mystery out of the Russet Sparrow , I am afraid. As a consequence, even though the Verditer Flycatcher does not discriminate against foreign eggs, no cuckoo species has found a viable way to turn it into a useful stepparent.

China 168

China Birds Eggs Woodpeckers 168

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Of olde, it was known as the Hedge Sparrow to separate it from the House and Tree Sparrows. Confusion with the sparrows is understandable, given the plumage and their tendency to feed from the ground. Familiarity makes them easy to separate from the sparrows, even at a distance. Now it is classified with the Accentors.

Sparrows 165

Sparrows Eggs Raised Breeding 165

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

Of course, it is hard to resist looking at a paper titled “Host personality predicts cuckoo egg rejection in Daurian redstarts” Basically, the personality of a female redstart (bold or shy) predicts the responses to parasitic eggs – bold hosts are more likely to reject parasitic eggs.

Birds 191

Birds China Eggs Owls 191

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2023

And for the first time, I saw a Bronzed Cowbird (which lays its eggs in other birds’ nests) checking out one of these nests. Black-chested and Stripe-headed Sparrows , Yellow-winged Caciques , Northern Beardless-Tyrannulets , Thick-billed Kingbirds , Golden-cheeked Woodpeckers , Varied Buntings , they all showed up.

Mexico 144

Mexico Oregon Squirrels Science 144

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2022

While I can’t convince myself to be excited about my First-Of-Year House Sparrows , almost anything else is exciting. In spite of our proximity, it spent a good while positioned as if it had eggs there. I can’t resist loving my first week of birding each year. Was it practicing?

Falcons 177

Falcons Abandon Abandoning Abandonment 177

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2012

This led to a correspondence with Spencer Fullerton Baird, then assistant secretary of the Smithsonian, the mentor of many naturalist/scientists of Ridgway’s generation, himself a disciple of John James Audubon, and, yes, the Baird of Baird’s Sparrow. Baird, Brewer, Cory, Bicknell, and Worthen all make appearances.

Collecting 145

Collecting Illinois United States Science 145

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2015

Late March in my home borough of New York City is typically when Eastern Phoebe , Pine Warbler , American Woodcock , Osprey , and other early migrants are back but many of our wintering birds, like Snow Goose and American Tree Sparrow , are still sticking around. And, like this one, many are extremely cooperative as they focus on foraging.

Bald Eagle 178

Bald Eagle New York City Birds New York 178

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2021

This may have been partly a leftover from the Victorian fascination with egg collecting (the infamous passion known as oology), but probably more from people’s burgeoning interest in the nests and eggs found in their gardens and fields, gateway artifacts to a newer hobby called birdwatching. The Harrison guides are out of print.

Eggs 220

Eggs Birds United States Sparrows 220

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2012

The pair may have to compete for nesting cavities with several other species including native Tree Swallows and Violet-green Swallows, as well as non-native House Sparrows and European Starlings. The female alone incubates the usual 4 to 6 eggs for about two weeks beginning the day the last egg is laid.

Washington 181

Washington Eggs California 181

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

Like crows and jays, they are social, vocal, intelligent, and omnivorous (including eating eggs and nestlings). There were birds to watch but they were the gulls and ducks on the river, the sparrows in the fields, the finches that came to the feeder, the beautiful American Kestrel on the roadside wire. Yes, this bird acts like a jay.

Costa Rica 167

Costa Rica Panama Eating Eggs South America 167

10,000 Birds

MAY 18, 2013

This tiny village was very quiet and we enjoyed some local bread with scrambled eggs and coffee while birds like Varialble Hawks, Southern Lapwings, Austral Thrush, House Sparrows flew nearby. We went to Farellones town looking for breakfast and found two places that offered food. Austral Thrush.

Chile 159

Chile Argentina Nevada South America 159

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark – Eremopterix nigriceps. Rufous-winged Sparrow – Peucaea carpalis. Stripe-headed Sparrow – Peucaea ruficauda. Cassin’s Sparrow – Peucaea cassinii. Olive Sparrow – Arremonops rufivirgatus.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark – Eremopterix nigriceps. Stripe-headed Sparrow – Peucaea ruficauda. Cassin’s Sparrow – Peucaea cassinii. Grasshopper Sparrow – Ammodramus savannarum. Olive Sparrow – Arremonops rufivirgatus.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113