10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2024

I was high and happy, not from “420” drugs but from the altitude and the anticipation of seeing woodpeckers and owls I had never seen before. Late summer 2023 the lakes and ponds had been empty, presumably because the ducks and geese were moulting. My hosts could confidently tick off the species on their life list.

Denver 176

Denver Colorado Ducks Mules 176

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2012

Around thirty miles from Missoula in the Bitterroot Valley lies the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. My specific goal was to see Trumpeter Swans , which, let’s just say it’s lucky that they’re not my new nemesis species – we spotted a group of three from the parking lot as soon as we got out of our cars.

Wildlife 171

Wildlife Montana Geese Bald Eagle 171

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

This refuge came up as #4 on a recent list of the top 25 National Wildlife Refuges that were featured in a great story here by 10000 Birds own Jason Crotty. While most major estuaries in Washington state have been filled, dredged, or developed, Nisqually River’s has been set aside for wildlife.

Fox 134

Fox Washington Geese Sparrows 134

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Two full days at Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge, three days at Dog Lake, and a short visit to Upper Cottonwood Lake brought back many great memories, in addition to a nice list of birds. Then, to finish the week, we visited the famous, and not necessarily for all the right reasons, Malhuer Wildlife Refuge.

Oregon 115

Oregon Owls Wildlife Barn Owls 115

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2012

What this land-locked country lacks in endemic birds it more than makes up for in accessibility of tough species, numbers of birds and the overall wildlife experience. It is also home to the largest concentration of African Elephants on the planet and over 450 bird species. We are currently filming in Botswana.

Botswana 215

Botswana Zebras Lions Elephants 215

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

Imagine waking up to the call of thousands of ducks, geese, and every kind of marsh bird you can imagine. Right, smack dad in the middle of Summer Lake Wildlife Refuge. Not another person for miles, and a pair of friendly, well, almost, Great Horned Owls living in the tree right above us. US species – 175.

Blackbirds 123

Blackbirds Mules Beavers Wildlife 123

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2011

If it is an emergency and since I get calls and texts from all over the country (even a few out of the country), I direct people to Rehabber Search or Wildlife Rehabber. The adults of most species will still care for the chicks no matter how much you touch them. Owls are a little different. Leave it be.

Birds 266

Birds Fox Raised Ducks 266

10,000 Birds

MAY 31, 2018

By the time you see this in the United States, I will have had a full week to explore this amazing area, and the wildlife that calls this home. I have managed to find two owls, the first was this pair of Verreaux’s Eagle-owls. I will try to get everything tallied as far as bird species goes tonight.

Lions 122

Lions Buffalo United States Zebras 122

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

Yes, it’s vital to leash your dog and teach him to be respectful of wildlife, but if you can manage that, he will make a phenologist out of you. There’s some excitement in putting up feeders and in discovering which species are gracing us with big invasions this year (2011, Montana: Snowy Owls ) but much of the time its a slog.

Bald Eagle 158

Bald Eagle Montana Owls Dogs 158

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Just before I left for Italy, I took a trip to the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge for a healthy dose of migration. No Snow Geese or swans yet, and no Sandhill Cranes , but it did renew my taste for some of the simpler, homier pleasures of birding. Will a Northern Hawk Owl come perch on my roof? Stay tuned to find out.

Bald Eagle 111

Bald Eagle Montana Owls Italy 111

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2012

Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 15 March 2009 It was at about 1:30 AM on Saturday morning that I startled awake and found myself sitting in an empty subway car in an unfamiliar location. John from A DC Birding Blog , and Patrick from The Hawk Owl’s Nest at Jamaica Bay at 8 AM Saturday morning for some birding.

New York 166

New York Honduras Jamaica Geese 166

10,000 Birds

APRIL 4, 2014

Among birders, wildlife photographers, and nature enthusiasts, it is renowned for its incredible concentrations of birds at the end of the dry season. During this time, the fish trapped in the shrinking pools of water attract hordes of herons, egrets, storks, and other wetland species. I must mention one thing.

Brazil 165

Brazil Birds Blackbirds Paraguay 165

10,000 Birds

APRIL 11, 2011

Queens, the finest borough in New York City, as I may have mentioned before, is where I have now seen a whopping 279 species! What species will be the ten to get me to 289? Snowy Owl – This winter turned out to be horrible for birders hoping to see Bubo scandiacus but pretty good for the birds themselves.

Jamaica 158

Jamaica Owls 2010 New York City 158

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

of Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett has indicated that if enough people write in protest, the proposed hunting season–due to start this December– will be reconsidered. Hunting is on a steady downturn, and nonconsumptive wildlife pursuits are on a tremendous upswing. We can fight them back in Kentucky, too.

2011 254

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 254

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2012

It’s a real shame, though, because these battlefields can be a real haven for wildlife and are often located in parts of the country that don’t otherwise have a lot of preserved land. 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!

Birds 175

Birds Mississippi Vermont Texas 175

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 6, 2011

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. When I first saw it I thought it might be a snowy or a barn owl because it was almost white.

2011 156

2011 New York Deer Birds 156

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

I spooked three Barn Owls out of a dense scrub row, just as the sun was setting. This did open up the area to a few new species, like this Wilson’s Warbler. Jeanne has long desired top photograph the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiestas ( You can see her photos here )and I wanted to visit the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge.

Albuquerque 125

Albuquerque New Mexico Mexico Sparrows 125

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

Moved by an unseasonable bout of optimism, I went owl-chasing this weekend and actually encountered what has been a true nemesis bird for me: Northern Saw-whet Owl ! For Corey, this was a weekend without a single standout species but with many birds that were pretty darn neat. Enjoy the details and proof here. Wicked, right?

2011 133

2011 Deer Birds Owls 133

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2011

Very interesting species. Share Your Thoughts « A long way from nowhere Domestic or Ganky Geese » To learn more about 10,000 Birds, Mike, Corey, or the many marvelous Beat Writers, please click here. Fish & Wildlife comes in response to a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity. Married to a Canon?

2011 191

2011 Deer India New York 191

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

MAY 31, 2015

Now it is perfect weather for camping in the bush and enjoying the wildlife and for this reason we took two days to explore the bush between Broome and Derby. One species we are more likely to find in this area than others is the Varied Sittella. Although there were not a lot of individual species there was a great variety.

Birds 157

Birds Ducks Species Zebras 157