10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2012

The bird was a sparrow, that much was clear, but it didn’t seem to fit any of the easily boxes the other North American sparrows can be fairly easily sorted into. Superficially, it resembled the Black-chinned Sparrow of the southwestern United States with its gray chest and chestnut streaked with black back.

New Jersey 233

New Jersey North Carolina Sparrows Connecticut 233

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2022

Over the next few days, I found increasing numbers, goldfinches, juncos, white-throated sparrows. I was shocked when I found the first body, a female Towhee. I hoped it was an anomaly. Were they always there and I just never noticed? There are far fewer photographs of dead birds than I expected. Did the model work?

New York City 261

New York City Birds Illinois Science 261

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

It seems the ones I got decent photos of are all juveniles – it generally seems to be easier to get photos of juveniles as they have not quite learned to avoid humans. And yes, sparrows in areas with polluted air are less healthy. Thank god that this does not apply to humans. Not this one though.

Birds 208

Birds China Eggs Owls 208

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 225

Houston Texas Sanctuary Sparrows 225

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2020

Harris’s Sparrows denote dominance by the amount of black on the head, the adult male birds with the most black ranking highest. This includes current research (up to about 2016, but mostly earlier) on how climate change and human change are affecting the birds’ ecology and behavior.

Research 176

Research Birds Hoarding Sweden 176

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2020

It is written in English, mostly, or a form of English anyway, and on first encounter the book and its language is weird, intriguing, puzzling, and beautiful in a way outside the normal realm of experience. To humans, birdsong is akin to Joycean language, isn’t it?

Virginia 254

Virginia Boston North America 2020 254

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2020

The longer Introduction lists and briefly summarizes topics covered in the Portfolio (evolution feathers, coloration, variation, senses, movement, physiology, migration, food and foraging, survival, social behavior, birds and humans, threats). More narrative, more dense, maybe a little less fun.

2020 264

2020 Birds Groups North America 264

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2018

Those of us who chase rare birds for our counties, states, or other human-made geographical distinctions watch birds for more reasons than the twitch. For example, we might just enjoy the calls and antics of those White-throated Sparrows while searching for a Harris’s. Birds can be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways.

Costa Rica 194

Costa Rica Species San Jose Birds 194

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2011

The modal bird song is a song, but not all ‘songs’ are song-like, in the sense that we expect song to come out of the ‘mouth’ (bill) and to consist of modulated air currents (like human voice). Drawing of bower birds from Darwin’s 1871 volume on sexual selection. The top two are individuals with normal song.

Zebras 261

Zebras Birds Humane Raised 261

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2012

Despite, or maybe because of the active human intervention, quite a few species can be seen in a couple hours in the morning. (I I am accustomed to seeing a Coyote or two on each visit I make to the park in the early morning before bikers, dog-walkers, joggers, and humanity in general get out and about.

Coyotes 101

Coyotes California Mammals Sparrows 101

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2012

Birding the Dry Tortugas in late April has always been high on my bucket-list of the best birding experiences in North America. Day-trips to the Dry Tortugas are of course possible but the best way to experience the islands is on an extended 3-day guided tour. That means I used to be very young. Almost infantile.

Florida 248

Florida Kentucky France North America 248

10,000 Birds

JUNE 14, 2011

During the filming of this production, I got to experience “dirt hawking&#. But in the case of Harris Hawks , this mentality jumps the species barrier and they form a strong bond with their human partners, readily accepting their non-avian hunting companions as members of their pack. Take lions, wolves, hyenas to name a few.

League Against Cruel Sports 270

League Against Cruel Sports Rabbits Falcons Hunting 270

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2014

Sure, Miami and the Florida Keys do not boast any endemics ( ‘Cape Sable’ Seaside Sparrow is close) at the species level. Coupled with its geologic youth, this makes the southern tip of the state function as a bit of an island experiment. However, few realize how unique and how good the birding can be here.

Florida 172

Florida Miami United States Stray 172

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2013

The general public is out and about, birds and animals are raising their young, and human/wildlife interaction is at its peak. That more rehab centers would accept non-natives, like pigeons house sparrows, and starlings,” wrote Charis in Oregon. It’s August, and first on the menu is: Fried Rehabber. Summer is high season.

Wildlife 251

Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Oklahoma New York 251

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2013

Even people with no other interest in wildlife, who couldn’t tell a sparrow from an ostrich (or even a dolphin from a fish) love dolphins. I had my first swim with Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins in Northland’s Bay of Islands back in 2000, and it was a tripy experience. Which has always mystified me slightly.

Dolphins 157

Dolphins Sharks New Zealand Albatross 157

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2011

Kirby Adams had a magical experience with his Best Bird of the Year and he blogged about it on his blog, Sharp Tern. We were walking through a field of dry grass in a Hamilton County park, looking for sparrows and pursuing three Bobolinks when we flushed a Yellow Rail , literally right at our feet.

2011 162

2011 Birds Ohio North Dakota 162

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2011

However, the Stresemann’s Bristlefront is one of those birds that is simply enigmatic and rare and recently discovered, with many aspects of its life history unknown to humanity. They really appeared to enjoy this, because as soon as they swam back to the rocks they would line up again to repeat the experience.

Brazil 216

Brazil 2011 Birds Wildlife 216

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 192

2011 Birds South Korea North Dakota 192

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2015

The vast majority of you reading this accept it is happening, and for the time being it is caused by humans. Conversely, parts of the world that have traditionally been quite dry may experience more rainfall. Climate Change. As deserts expand, birds suited to arid climates may be just fine.

North America 226

North America Birds San Francisco Suffering 226

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2014

Flying around in an airplane or taking a sprawling roadtrip is absolutely the exact opposite of “green” birding, but as a bird junkie, you gotta get around if you want to experience new places and new things. Wintering birds and migrants may certainly appreciate it, even if there is too much human disturbance for nesting birds.

Birds 212

Birds Portland Oregon 2015 212

10,000 Birds

APRIL 28, 2012

There are makeover programmes, cosmetics and figure enhancing support garments for those of us humans that need a little extra help, but where do birds turn when they need advice and guidance on the rutted road to ‘bird love’? Raymond’s problem; Hey you! Yeah you with the problems! Can you help please? What’s that smell?

New York 195

New York Game Birds Raised 195

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2018

He brings to this book an academic background in biology and horticulture and, more importantly, decades of experience developing strategies for the best backyard bird feeding practices. Jim Carpenter is the founder of Wild Birds Unlimited, the popular bird feeder and seed franchise. Places for the birds to perch near the feeders?

Birds 182

Birds New York City Squirrels New York 182

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2013

Sometimes, I’ll reply with a story about the sparrows found in a local grasslands preserve. I’m not going to try to explain why people are fascinated by hawks; human-to-avian psychology is not my specialty. I look forward to hearing about your experiences with the Crossley ID Guides, both for Eastern Birds and Raptors.

North America 222

North America Bald Eagle Falcons Owls 222

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2011

The experience is one of the ornithological highlights in the world. Geophagy, the intentional consumption of soil by vertebrates, has long been documented in a number of bird and mammal species – including wide-spread use by humans – which consume soil to increase absorption of certain minerals not naturally occurring in the local diet.

Peru 255

Peru Parrots 2011 South America 255

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2011

There are also a number of Takahe , one of which, named Greg, has learnt that humans equal food, and will hang around the day visitors in the hope of a snack. Duncan Mar 10th, 2011 at 3:01 am I know from experience that Saddlebacks are tricky little guys to catch. A week spent on Kapiti only got us 3 of them!

New Zealand 149

New Zealand 2011 Deer Cats 149

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Other birds with webbed feet, including ducks and geese, have only three webbed toes; the hallux (which in birds is usually the “hind toe&# and in humans, the “big toe&# ) is free. For all of recorded history, humans have classified other living things by their physical characteristics.

2011 155

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 155

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2011

.’ Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning – little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door - Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as `Nevermore.’

2011 249

2011 Fowl Deer Cats 249