10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 16, 2022

Each chapter of Clavreul’s book covers his revisitation of one of these extended Audubon trips, with a final chapter covering New York City, where Audubon first set foot on American soil, in 1803. (His Birds, mammals and other wildlife, humans and landscapes are all rendered magnificently.

Bald Eagle 147

Bald Eagle Louisville Pennsylvania Ohio 147

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 26, 2014

However, the Sunda islands span over a large region, and if the teal’s range is projected onto North America, it covers the area between Los Angeles and the panhandle of Florida. Now, for comparison’s sake, New York City has around 8 million people on 800 square kilometres, or 10,000 / km².

New York City 165

New York City Los Angeles Timor Indonesia 165

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2013

The incipient ferociousness of the hawk set against the skyscrapers, the Red-tail’s stillness against the human rush. I thought of this experience as I read Still the Same Hawk , a collection of twelve essays about nature and New York City, edited by John Waldman. This is what got me, the incongruity.

New York 106

New York New York City 2013 Collecting 106

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2020

There are owls in New York City. The two stories about New York City are personal favorites, of course. The bird names have changed some, the essay format has broadened, the authors are more diverse, but the ecstasy in writing about the intersection of human and bird remains intact. Press, 2020, 304p.

New York City 180

New York City Birds Owls Fox 180

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2019

For some reason, even though there are Mandarin Ducks in zoos throughout New York City, this escapee has become an internationally known tourist attraction, even heading the New York Times list of “Five Times the Internet Was Actually Fun in 2018.” Whooping Crane, Florida. An eBird mystery.

2018 149

2018 New Jersey Michigan North Dakota 149

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 28, 2015

“Spooked” is a bit of a strong word as I was very likely the first human this bird had ever seen and it stuck around for quite a while merely five metres away from me. 2015 was challenging, at best, on a personal level but it was a fantastic year for birds in New York City. Sounds good to me!

2015 180

2015 Costa Rica Birds Sparrows 180

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2012

It took several days in Florida for the idea that I was pretty much surrounded by giant reptiles that could kill me to sink in to my brain. As a resident of New York City the only predator I am ever concerned about while birding near my home is other people. Though alligator attacks are rare they do happen.

Alligators 166

Alligators Reptiles New York City Florida 166