10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2019

Although Bobolinks are a very rare migrant, lots of other birds are possible, more than enough to rack up hundreds of species over the course of the year. Each January, I hope to identify at least 600 species over the next 12 months, this year, I’m hoping that Marilen and I (aka Team Tyto ) will find 700.

Costa Rica 202

Costa Rica Species Birds New York 202

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 26, 2018

At last count, there are 25 species of birds named for U.S. But only two states have more than one bird named for them: Hawaii and California, with nine and seven extant and eponymous species, respectively. Sand Point Family Vineyards: Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (Lodi Appellation). Good birding and happy drinking!

2015 113

2015 San Diego Family California Condor 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 17, 2015

Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe today announced as part of Great Outdoors Month the agency is proposing to expand fishing and hunting opportunities on 21 refuges throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System. National wildlife refuges provide premier outdoor recreational opportunities across the Nation.

Fish 144

Fish Wildlife Hunting Game 144

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2017

Birds of Kruger National Park covers the 259 species most frequently seen in the park, about half of the total number of birds documented there. This still leaves the user flipping through sections, looking for the species in question, though I don’t think there are many species with this habitat overlap.

Ecuador 179

Ecuador Wildlife Reptiles Birds 179

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2024

This is the home of the Rusty-naped Pitta , admittedly one of the less glamorous of the family, particularly the subspecies found in Yunnan, but still a nice sight and still a pitta. The scientific species name of the Rusty-naped Pitta oatesi honors Eugene William Oates (1845-1911), an English civil servant in India and naturalist.

Burma 211

Burma India Birds Indonesia 211

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 8, 2017

The last weekend of January found me in the frosty Pacific Northwest, meeting some long over due work and family obligations. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. Nearly 800 acres of wetlands and tidal flats provide diverse habitat for the local birds, as well as large numbers of migratory species, including thousands of ducks and geese.

Wildlife 106

Wildlife Seattle Bald Eagle Geese 106

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2024

The proximity to the Myanmar border is reflected in the presence of Burmese Shrikes here – on the wrong side of the border, but it is well known that this species has never been particularly good at geography. This photo explains the scientific species name haemacephalus (bloodheaded).

Myanmar 130

Myanmar Sri Lanka Nepal Birds 130

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2015

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.

Jamaica 162

Jamaica New York City Wildlife New York 162

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2023

This year we have had high numbers of Magpie Geese once again in the Broome area and this last weekend we observed our first family groups for the season. The Magpie Geese families are on the move and the family groups that we saw last weekend all consisted of three adults and ten or more goslings.

Geese 147

Geese Breeding Australia 2017 147

10,000 Birds

JULY 23, 2022

They can’t provide the same ecosystem value as natural forest and woodland but in places intensely modifed by people, hedges are vital sanctuaries for birds and other wildlife. In pastures of the hot lowlands, they tend to be lines of stunted Gumbo-Limbo trees or some other heavily pruned species. Hoffmann’s Woodpecker.

Costa Rica 268

Costa Rica Birds Sparrows Woodpeckers 268

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021

Insects and a host of other invertebrate life have evolved with these plant species, and thus depend on them. A White-browed Scrubwren ; one of the insectivorous passserines in my yard that will benefit from more native plant species. Locally native plants are the base part of the local ecology. The sad part of the story? POST SCRIPT.

Wildlife 264

Wildlife North America Mammals Breeding 264

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.* Each family of birds has a short introductory paragraph and most genera get a sentence or two of description.

Brazil 209

Brazil Wildlife 2011 Birds 209

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2022

.): Springtime Birding with David Sibley (“A great migration is underway in the northern hemisphere, as migratory birds head north to start a family. Throughout their journeys these long-distance travelers rely on well-stocked pit-stops, like Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Concord, Massachusetts.

Zoos 222

Zoos 2020 Massachusetts 2015 222

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2018

Through multi-partnerships, cooperation, federal funding, and the private conservation efforts of one family, 616 acres were officially added to the Cherokee National Forest in September 2018. In the area live 15 species from Tennessee’s threatened and endangered list, as well as 11 aquatic species from the federally endangered list.

Georgia 210

Georgia Bald Eagle Tennessee 2018 210

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2021

I was asked by a new birder about the site’s potential and I remarked we should expect between 40 to 50 species for our circa two kilometre stroll. A crop of Eucalypt trees had been planted and clearly coppiced, apparently to feed recovering koalas from Steve Irwin’s [he of Crocodile Hunter fame] family’s zoo and wildlife hospital.

Koalas 235

Koalas Birds Zoos Hunters 235

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. The Family Accounts are the fun part of the book.

Birds 263

Birds Compassion Eagles Science 263

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 26, 2021

Family-owned since 1972, the property’s first guests were volcanologists from the Smithsonian Institute. When the researchers returned home during their time off, they would tell their friends and family about the magic of this place, and year after year more and more people began arriving.

Costa Rica 155

Costa Rica Reptiles Research Industry 155

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Whether you are traveling with your family, in a small group, or alone, our tours are customizable to suit your every need and wish. Our certified tour guides are local professionals who specialize in wildlife and are eager to share their passion for birdwatching and the wonders of their home countries’ natural heritage with you.

Guatemala 255

Guatemala El Salvador Belize Honduras 255

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2021

That’s because this fascinating part-Caribbean, part-south American country holds well over 800 species of avifauna making it without doubt one of my top three countries in all of the continent to visit. That’s quite the list of charismatic and unique wildlife to add to your potential list of sightings.

Guyana 278

Guyana Otters South America Colombia 278

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Lees and Gilroy delineate vagrancy status and trends for every bird family worldwide, highlighting examples, synthesizing research, and framing it all with their own thoughts and conclusions. The guide covers 265 of Maine’s 461 bird species: common nesting species, common migrants, and wintering birds.

Sri Lanka 238

Sri Lanka Malaysia Birds Suriname 238

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2022

This spurred her to pursue a career in environmental education and wildlife nature tourism as a park ranger in Texas and as the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail Coordinator with Florida Fish and Wildlife. Marion has a fascinating history with invasive species.

South Africa 264

South Africa Mice Albatross Africa 264

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 28, 2019

In addition to spotting exciting new species in Florida, including the rare Snail Kite, travel across the country brought me into contact with birds in Oregon, California, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Alabama, and more. Marks National Wildlife Refuge replenished by naturalist spirit, but remained all I could manage.

Bald Eagle 152

Bald Eagle Alabama Kansas Florida 152

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2019

I saw 863 species of birds, bringing my life list to 1,820. I also spent a week in northwestern Costa Rica on a family vacation, a long weekend in Barbados, a week in Georgia, and two week-plus-long trips to visit relatives in southern California. How can I narrow down the eight-hundred-sixty-three species to ten?

2019 142

2019 Barbados Uganda Costa Rica 142

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2021

Just last year, 5 new bird species and 5 new subspecies were discovered in a few short weeks of fieldwork on the islands of Taliabu, Peleng and Batudaka. In recent years Indonesia has been competing with the Andes as the region giving rise to the biggest number of undescribed bird species (naturally, all of them endemics).

Indonesia 264

Indonesia Timor Brunei Guinea 264

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

The Juniper Titmouse ( Baeolophus ridgwayi ) is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. One of my favorite bird species living by my house is the Juniper Titmouse. Although the Juniper Titmouse is not officially a threatened species, its numbers have been declining due to loss of habitat.

2017 161

2017 New Mexico Groups Abandon 161

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2021

Even so, he still knew many species and always yearned to learn about the wildlife he encountered. Groups them by family too and by their shape” His extra long arm extended and passed me that precious book. The remaining four species are the most grouse-like of the bunch. “Check it out!”

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica Chickens Pennsylvania Litter 264

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

While much of the attention that Africa’s tourism industry gets is for its (deservedly) popular national parks and game reserves, a lot of wildlife viewing is possible away from the big name places. Red-crested Korhaans are attractive members of the bustard family. Southern White-faced Scops Owl or African Scops Owl? You decide.

Zimbabwe 100

Zimbabwe Botswana South Africa Endangered Species 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2015

Actually, signs that winter won’t release its icy grip so readily are also apparent… my traditional Easter family hike was canceled on account of snow. 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. Spring is here! How about you?

2015 189

2015 Jamaica New York Birds 189

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2015

He yelled a relatively unintelligible explanation as he ran to the car, abandoning his family, and sped to Jamaica Bay where he parked and ran out to the breach of the West Pond where he relied upon the kindness of other birders, who let him use their scopes while he got his breath back. How about you? What was your best bird of the weekend?

2015 162

2015 Jamaica Canada Abandon 162

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2016

In the days leading up to the Expo we’ve been touring the small East African nation, primarily visiting the big national parks in the south and west of the country looking for birds and other amazing wildlife. In the relatively brief period, my group had something on the order of 450 species. I, personally, had around 430.

Uganda 166

Uganda Africa Squirrels Tanzania 166

10,000 Birds

MAY 6, 2016

I asked a group of wildlife rehabilitators: “What are some of the Worst Bird Myths? Rehabbers are very responsive, although constantly living under the gun makes us sometimes vent about species that aren’t necessarily the ones in question. Three: Why would anyone , no matter what their species, want to become tangled in human hair?

Wildlife Rehabilitation 184

Wildlife Rehabilitation Porcupines Raccoons Birds 184

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 28, 2017

The World’s biggest citizen science wildlife count takes place this weekend. Their Big Garden Birdwatch was instigated 37 years ago and is now reputed to be the World’s biggest wildlife survey. Very little effort is involved and the birds are likely to be familiar garden species, easily recognised. How easy is that?

Birds 100

Birds Wildlife Science Protection 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2015

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. Birds Goshawk names Northern Goshawk'

Falcons 260

Falcons Eagles Meat Geese 260

10,000 Birds

JUNE 12, 2012

Namibia is politically stable and a safe country to visit offering spectacular scenery, untouched wildernesses, vast game reserves, superb wildlife and fascinating cultural experiences. Over 700 bird species occur in Namibia, many of them range-restricted and highly desirable southern arid zone species.

Namibia 259

Namibia Angola Lovebirds South Africa 259

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2020

And, though I think you can argue that the Bronx Zoo, with its numerous buildings and landscaped wildlife areas is not purely ‘natural space,’ I have wonderful memories of traipsing through its wooded areas when I was a girl. (I Most birders will go straight to the “Species Accounts.” It’s a very mixed chapter.

New York City 155

New York City New York Birds Breeding 155

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2022

I was surprised that this species is named for its vocalization – which sounds like laughter. For example, the Diamond Dove is the world’s second-smallest species of the columbidae order ( source ). The Latin species name haematonotus (“blood-backed”) sounds a bit more exciting but not necessarily more accurate.

Australia 147

Australia Birds Parrots Ostriches 147

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 237

Cuba Birds United States 2000 237