10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2014

The 18th Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival is less than a month away and while we don’t have snow down yet here in New York City I am pretty sick of cold weather and could use some warmth and Florida sunshine! John’s National Wildlife Refuge” trip. I can’t wait to be in Florida!

Wildlife 157

Wildlife 2015 Bald Eagle New York City 157

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2021

The survey also sought to identify “the key attributes important to birding experiences” and learn more about “decisions to participate in birdwatching and level of identity as birdwatcher.”. Nationally, most birdwatching occurred in California (9%), followed by New York (6%), Texas (5%), Pennsylvania (5%), Florida (5%), and Ohio (4%).

Minnesota 264

Minnesota Research Pennsylvania Ohio 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2011

After several minutes of this deep water foraging behavior, this White-faced Ibis made its way toward me into more shallow water Posed for a little while, and then began to preen I’m glad I took the time to visit Colusa National Wildlife Refuge on this day. You never know what you might see! Get yours today! Beautiful bird.

Wildlife 155

Wildlife 2011 Sacramento Jordan 155

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2011

And it looks even better in my hands while I dream about a visit to regions of Brazil I had scarcely heard of before being provided with a review copy of the first volume of the Wildlife Conservation Society Birds of Brazil.* Talk about a win-win!

Brazil 195

Brazil Wildlife 2011 Birds 195

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2015

Our travels this weekend took us on the New York State Thruway, which passes through Montezuma NWR. Corey had quite a few species to choose from this weekend but decided that his Best Bird of the Weekend was the simple Tree Swallow. This time, we spotted two shaggy cranes flying across the wetlands. Spring is here!

2015 179

2015 Jamaica New York Birds 179

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 30, 2015

As feared, work kept me from appreciating the richness of avian diversity in western New York, but luckily a juvenile Baltimore Oriole crossed my path to provide something fun to observe. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend could have been any of a multitude of species spotted on the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

2015 145

2015 Baltimore Jamaica New York 145

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2018

Not only did I bag the beautiful bird I expected, but I also encountered a tasty species I never expect there until I see it every year: Olive-sided Flycatcher. Speaking of OSFL, Corey had quite a haul of species to choose from this weekend after leading two walks for New York City Audubon and doing a ton of birding on his own on Sunday.

New York City 100

New York City 2018 Jamaica New York 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 16, 2019

So we made our way to the grounds of the Uganda Wildlife Education Center , a former zoo that now rehabilitates injured animals. Fortunately, we had a crack team of birders on hand and we quickly ruled out any other species that the bird could possibly be – like Sharp-tailed Sandpiper – and got quite a few photos to boot.

Uganda 222

Uganda Zoos New York Experience 222

10,000 Birds

JULY 13, 2014

I’ve only been in Virginia Beach for a few days and I’ve already knocked down most of my targets, including Blue Grosbeak and Yellow-breasted Chat at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It is the first record of this invasive species for New York City and it served as a nice contrast to the hordes of pigeons in the neighborhood.

New York City 162

New York City 2014 Breeders Virginia 162

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Myers, a professional birding guide in “real life,” summarizes the etymology and history of all common bird names (of bird families and groups, not all 10,000-plus species). The guide covers 265 of Maine’s 461 bird species: common nesting species, common migrants, and wintering birds.

Sri Lanka 216

Sri Lanka Malaysia Birds Suriname 216

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2016

Even though I only had an hour before work, I racked up just about all the warblers I wanted; any weekend I see a Blackburnian Warbler , I know which species is my favorite. Corey had a host of birds to choose from this weekend what with it being the middle of May, the peak of spring migration in New York. How about you?

2016 100

2016 Jamaica New York Birds 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2017

If your CBC experience is anything like mine here in eastern New York, you’ll be counting an awful lot of crows. And I think it’s safe to say the other two North American crow species aren’t showing up in New York any time soon.

New York 124

New York Portland Washington Geese 124

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2012

My weekend was devoted to a seemingly endless celebration of my son’s 8th birthday, which meant that my best bird was bound to be a backyard species. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was his first Osprey in New York State this year, seen perched on a nesting platform at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in early morning fog on Saturday.

2012 171

2012 Jamaica New York Birds 171

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2019

I saw 863 species of birds, bringing my life list to 1,820. Such travel brings a lot of birds and the 863 species I saw this year is the most species I have ever seen. How can I narrow down the eight-hundred-sixty-three species to ten? How can I, by listing only ten, call eight-hundred-fifty-three species not worthy?

2019 137

2019 Barbados Uganda Costa Rica 137

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. But it’s a very fluid definition, as the book makes very clear.

Birds 255

Birds Compassion Eagles Science 255

10,000 Birds

JULY 1, 2011

The first time I saw a Western Tanager , it was in New York. Moreover, at the time I had no inkling that I’d be moving to Montana in two and a half years – in fact, it would be nearly a year before I decided to go to grad school and entertained the notion of leaving New York at all.

New York 165

New York Montana Breeding Fish 165

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Newly surrounded by wildlife, he found his love of birds reignited. In my experience non-birders connect with the travel, visiting beautiful places and spectacle of birding and hawkwatching often entails all three. In many states the best chance you have of seeing many of these and other bird species are at a hawkwatch.

Bald Eagle 232

Bald Eagle Los Angeles Connecticut Eagles 232

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

Mostly the ducks were Red-breasted Merganser and Greater Scaup , the two most prevalent species on the pond, but there were a few other birds mixed in as well. It is my belief that the birds were migrating, though one New York birder suggested that they might have been flying out for some crepuscular feeding.

Ducks 168

Ducks 2011 Jamaica New York 168

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2011

This cruel, cruel fate we endure in western New York torments man and beast alike. Corey encountered a bunch of winners, but 24 Common Redpolls at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, in almost the exact same spot he saw them a couple of years ago, feeding on birch inflorescence by the East Pond, were easily his best birds of the weekend.

2011 153

2011 New York Deer Birds 153

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2018

New York City apartments don’t allow feeders to be hung from fire escapes (though I know certain birders that skirt that rule), and it wasn’t until I had already been birding for four-and-a-half years that I obtained a small yard in central New Jersey in which I could place a feeder or two or three. I came late to bird feeding.

Birds 166

Birds New York City Squirrels New York 166

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2015

.* So, it’s a good thing that Ediciones Nuevos Mundo, the publishing arm of The Friendship Association, published Endemic Birds of Cuba: A Comprehensive Guide by Nils Navarro, Cuban wildlife artist and naturalist , earlier this year. Navarro’s exceptional drawings illustrate the species accounts. Forty-eight species.

Cuba 224

Cuba Birds United States 2000 224

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2011

Getting to know the subtleties in differences between closely related species takes years of dedication and practice. Thirdly, many species of shorebirds display such vast differences in their summer and winter plumages that it is always interesting to note how some birds in the same flock are in contrasting stages of plumage.

Florida 183

Florida South Africa 2011 Africa 183

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 2, 2019

It’s often said that the native wild grape varieties of the New World– of the species Vitis riparia , Vitis labrusca , Vitis aestivalis , and Vitis rupestris – are ill-suited to winemaking in the European tradition. Even though they’re from my home state, I really don’t have much experience with Finger Lakes wines.

Ohio 128

Ohio Philadelphia Fox Blackbirds 128

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2011

In fact Punta Cana is a shining example of how large hotels can conduct their operations in a sustainable manner whilst contributing significantly to the preservation of birds, wildlife and habitats. The Punta Cana Ecological Foundation has been specifically set up to ensure that the business is run on ecological and sustainable principles.

Dominican Republic 180

Dominican Republic 2011 Birds Deer 180

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2011

The countryside too is full of signature European species like European Bee-eaters, European Rollers and Great-spotted Cuckoos … Within a shortish drive of the lodge is an unusual birding spot called Pulo do Lobo or The wolf’s Leap. This is worthwhile to pick up some rocky terrain species and the scenery is stunning.

Portugal 169

Portugal 2011 Deer Birds 169

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2014

Finally, the Similan Islands are perhaps one of the most beautiful islands in the world and form a stunning backdrop to this species, one of the loveliest pigeons in the world. The experience, the place, and the bird combine to make this my BBOTY. Carlos’s BBOTY – the Nicobar Pigeon. I also blogged about that dreamy day.

2014 183

2014 Costa Rica South Africa Birds 183

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2013

Many years of experience have been lost. There have been 221 species recorded on the count, including goodies like Gyrfalcon , King Rail , Western Tanager , Ash-throated Flycatcher , Sedge Wren and Black-throated Gray Warbler. The New York City area’s Christmas Bird Count density is absurd.

Birds 163

Birds New York City New York New Jersey 163

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2011

Turkeys, 3 or 4 species of woodpeckers, all kinds of song birds grace our view constantly. Jochen the swallows have arrived at NYC at Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge too. Stop by our blog for some nice shots and share the experience!! Though it is certainly bad news that the U.S. As I said, we are blessed.

2011 150

2011 Deer Birds South Dakota 150

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

But meanwhile, let’s look at the four avian families that comprise the brand new order Suliformes. Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) Five species of frigatebird ply the planet’s tropical skies and seas. Brown Pelicans , and the northernmost Brown Booby breeding colony on this side of the Pacific.

2011 151

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 151

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2013

The story of the cahow, a “Lazurus species” that was thought to be extinct for over 300 years and then discovered to be breeding on a tiny remote island in Bermuda, is part of modern birding legend. But, it’s a new story to me, one that reads like a fairy tale. These are magical experiences.

Birds 164

Birds Rats Breeding 2012 164

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

I’m sure many of you have had similar experiences. Jennifer Ackerman points out in the introduction to What the Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds , that we don’t know much, but that very soon we may know a lot more. But what do we know beyond these commonly seen and heard behaviors?

Owls 200

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 200

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2019

This week offers the ideal opportunity to look back at your most recent wildlife watching adventures; next weekend, the game begins anew. I recently despaired of ending this calendar year without seeing a single Wild Turkey when that species used to be so reliable in my part of New York.

2019 136

2019 Nevada Turkey New York 136

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2011

As part of the Wildlife Conservation Society Birds of Brazil giveaway we asked readers of 10,000 Birds to name the bird in Brazil that they would like to see more than any other species. What follows are the responses that readers offered, a veritable aviary of sought after species.

Brazil 197

Brazil 2011 Birds Wildlife 197

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2021

The book is organized into ten chapters, framed by a Prologue and Epilogue focused on Weidensaul’s banding experience in Denali National Park. His participant observations connect to his own research experiences, providing history and perspective. Weidensaul traveled to each location to witness the research in process.

Cyprus 244

Cyprus Slaughter Slaughtered Research 244

10,000 Birds

APRIL 29, 2012

Though birds sing because it is a biological imperative I find it hard to believe that they don’t get some basic enjoyment out of the experience as well. For example, the Brown Thrasher at right is one of several singing from the bushes and trees around the West Pond at Jamica Bay Wildlife Refuge. I know I do!

New York City 172

New York City Birds New York Experience 172

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2011

One such controversial bird is the Veraguan Mango , a small hummingbird species that was, until very recently, believed to be a Panamanian endemic. Veraguan Mango by Carlos Bethancourt Although the Neotropical region supports fewer bird families than Africa, there are considerably more bird species here than anywhere else on earth.

Panama 199

Panama Costa Rica 2011 Cleveland 199

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

For Corey, this was a weekend without a single standout species but with many birds that were pretty darn neat. The Snow Geese at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge will soon be winging their way north, so he spent some quality time with them, his best birds of the weekend. Share Your Thoughts « Nate Makes the News!

2011 133

2011 Deer Birds Owls 133