10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2015

There are hordes of fowl here (fowl of the water) in winter, with geese having the most prominent presence. Snow, Ross’s, Greater White-fronted (all pictured above) and Cackling Geese can all be easily seen, very conveniently, at Colusa. A handful of “blue” Snow Geese can be expected as well. Do you see?

Geese 208

Geese Fowl Ducks Mississippi 208

10,000 Birds

JUNE 13, 2021

Here’s a quote about bird lungs from Britannica: “Himalayan geese have been observed not only to fly over human climbers struggling to reach the top of Mount Everest, but to honk as they do so.” The bird is a captive-bred Peregrine/Gyrfalcon hybrid owned by people with an Exotic Species Permit.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 264

Wildlife Rehabilitation Tethering Giraffes Alabama 264

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2011

She lived on a stretch of the Mississippi River near a power plant that keeps the river open all winter long (even when it’s below zero). She started feeding the ducks and geese that used the open water in the 1980s. Do neighbors refer to you as bird species + Lady or Guy? Are you the local Goose Lady? Grackle Guy?

Bald Eagle 253

Bald Eagle Birds Deer Minnesota 253

10,000 Birds

JUNE 17, 2015

The Refuge is now home to nearly 200 species of birds, over 50 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles and amphibians, and a wide variety of insects, fish and plants. The Louisiana black bear’s threatened status warrants protection under sections 7 and 9 of the Endangered Species Act.

Fish 145

Fish Wildlife Hunting Game 145

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2013

Seeing 525 species was nice, as was the fact that I birded in four countries, nine of the fifty states in the United States, and fifty-one counties. I want to reach 500 birds in the ABA, get my Queens list to 295, see a total of at least 500 species, and get my World Life List to 1,100. But how did I see so many species this year?

2012 145

2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 145

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. Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) Five species of frigatebird ply the planet’s tropical skies and seas.

2011 155

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 155

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2012

Before the counts, I was hoping to break 100 species, but after 21 parks reported data back to me we’re up to 183 species! found 36 species, including Killdeer (in December!), I underestimated how much the wide geographic distribution of Civil War-related parks would affect the count totals.

Birds 175

Birds Mississippi Vermont Texas 175