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Urban Birding in San Diego

10,000 Birds

There are beautiful beaches, a plethora of amazing food and drinks, a multitude of family fun locations, a world-renowned zoo, and one of the biggest birding festivals in the US. My family visited San Diego every year as part of a Disneyland-SoCal Road trip to escape the rainy Christmases at home near Portland, Oregon.

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Searching for Shorebirds on the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

10,000 Birds

That place is the fabled home of shorebirds, both common and rare, the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. This year, what with family plans and other commitments, I didn’t get out on the pond until later than usual but it was worth the wait. American Avocet on Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge’s East Pond.

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Nisqually Delta Wildlife Refuge

10,000 Birds

The last weekend of January found me in the frosty Pacific Northwest, meeting some long over due work and family obligations. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. At one point, standing in the middle of one of the first dikes, I was able to spot 17 Bald Eagles , a Peregrine Falcon , two American Kestrels , and Northern Harrier.

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What’s in a Name: Northern Goshawk

10,000 Birds

Since we’ve covered some generalities already, once a month I’ll be exploring how a species, genus, or family of birds got its name, and how those names fit in with our larger understanding of, and relationship with, birds. Images courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Gosh-awk would be undignified.

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The Falcon Thief: A Book Review

10,000 Birds

Local farmers view it as a threat to domesticated wildlife. It didn’t occur to me till I started reading The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird that there was also a possible threat to the eagle herself: poachers, who steal raptor eggs and chicks.

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Restore the West Pond!

10,000 Birds

You are also probably aware that Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, one of the best urban birding sites in the world, is on my regular list of spots that I like to stop by and visit. I have seen some absolutely amazing birds at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. I can’t abide the thought of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge without a West Pond.

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Wakkerstroom, South Africa: It’s a Lark

10,000 Birds

On the drive I had picked up the flamboyant Red-collared and Long-tailed Widowbirds , extraordinary members of the weaver family who’s ridiculous tails make them easy to spot even from a moving car. Longclaws are African members of the pipit and wagtail family, and unlike the rest of the family they have gorgeously-coloured throats.