10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2011

We found a total of five species of wood-warbler, no thrushes, one vireo, no tanagers, and Clay’s bike’s front tire found a thorn, though we would not be made aware of that until later. A stop at Hidden Valley netted us several species, including our only Scarlet Tanager of the day as well as a surprise fly-by adult Bald Eagle.

New Jersey 161

New Jersey Bald Eagle Birds United States 161

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2020

The book is divided into three parts: “Introduction,” “Avifaunal Overview,” and “Species Accounts.” Not all habitat change is due to humans; there is Chestnut Blight destroying American Chestnuts in the early 1900s, and the more recent Dutch Elm disease. Most birders will go straight to the “Species Accounts.”

New York City 145

New York City New York Birds Breeding 145

10,000 Birds

MAY 9, 2016

We headed north to the George Washington Bridge, west across New Jersey, west and then north through Pennsylvania, and back into New York at Binghamton where we turned west once again. En route we talked about all the things that birders tend to do, from twitches past to who’s a stringer. All was not lost though.

New York 101

New York Bald Eagle McDonalds Fast Food 101

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 142

Fish Wildlife Hunting Game 142

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2018

New York City apartments don’t allow feeders to be hung from fire escapes (though I know certain birders that skirt that rule), and it wasn’t until I had already been birding for four-and-a-half years that I obtained a small yard in central New Jersey in which I could place a feeder or two or three.

Birds 165

Birds New York City Squirrels New York 165

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2014

I got to see a beautiful female and owlet on a trip to a secret nest location near Howard Prairie Lake (human-made nest structures have enhanced local breeding for these huge owls whose nest success is boosted to 83% on artificial platforms vs. 66% at natural sites). The experience, the place, and the bird combine to make this my BBOTY.

2014 182

2014 Costa Rica South Africa Birds 182

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

The very first thing we notice about this large member of the Galliformes is that there is a wild version and a domestic version, and although the two are rather different, they are both given the same species name, Meleagris gallopavo. Photograph of a Wild Turkey at Flatrock Brook Nature Center, in Englewood, New Jersey, by Corey.

Turkey 197

Turkey Columbus Spain Fowl 197

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

I think every naturalist in the United States knows the outlines of this urban tale: The pristine marshes of New Jersey are poisoned by pollution, toxic waste, pig farms, and probably every single way in which human beings can destroy the environment. This is the fable of the New Jersey Meadowlands and it is all true.

New Jersey 141

New Jersey Legislation Mammals Pigs 141

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2015

With almost 1200 species of birds in the Capital Region, the house and roof steadily filled with Egyptian Vultures, Barn Owls, Hornbills, Black Ibis, Cattle Egrets, Steppe Eagles , a multitude of songbirds and pigeons , as well as the occasional cobra or palm squirrel.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 260

Wildlife Rehabilitation India Rescue Wounded 260

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2019

Evening Grosbeaks are large, stunning birds, especially the males, with their distinct plumage and massive bills; I haven’t been fortunate enough to see any of the Evening Grosbeaks that have made their way south to NYC and New Jersey (yet), so I’m very happy I was able to spend time with these beauties this summer. Another sparrow!

2018 148

2018 New Jersey Michigan North Dakota 148

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2017

The Crossley ID Guide: Waterfowl covers every residential, migrating, vagrant, exotic, and introduced swan, goose, dabbling and diving duck in North America (Canada and the United States): 62 Species Accounts on four swan species and one vagrant subspecies; 15 goose species; 46 duck species; plus accounts for hybrid geese, ducks and exotics.

Ducks 114

Ducks North America Geese Hunters 114