10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2018

It is a fascinating world of swampy forests of willow and poplar, inhabited by Black Storks , White-tailed Eagles , Eastern Olivaceous and Icterine Warblers (above), among more than 200 other species. But, published in 1921 in Budapest, Hungary, it was written in Hungarian. Locations, dates, species and numbers, right?

Beavers 120

Beavers Serbia Eagles Hungary 120

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 143

2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 143

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2012

This thrush is extremely common in urban and suburban Germany and one of the most conspicuous bird species here, comparable to the American Robin in North America. Because this was such a common species, we lacked quantitative data to be certain that this lack was an actual “situation” and not just the ordinary seasonal variation.

Germany 160

Germany Blackbirds 2006 Denmark 160

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2015

I have asked myself that same question many times over the last six months, until last week, when I was involved in an opening ceremony of five new bird hides at the Palic Lake, by the town of Subotica in the very north of Serbia, along the border with Hungary (all photos are from that area).

Serbia 244

Serbia Birds Spain Hungary 244

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2012

They are a European species of plover that rarely, when the winds are right, make their way to North America, usually putting down in the first place that they see land. While the Northern Lapwing wasn’t a year bird for me (I was lucky enough to see a couple in Hungary ) it was a new bird for my ABA list , number 495.

North America 136

North America Hungary New York America 136

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2016

I am not entirely sure whether most birders outside Germany know or realize that Germany still has a decent population of one of Europe’s most attractive and desired bird species: the Great Bustard Otis tarda. All other harrier species may also be around, including Pallid Harriers which are recorded each year as (semi-)vagrants.

Germany 101

Germany Abandon Abandoning Abandonment 101

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2012

Attila Steiner, who I was lucky enough to meet while I was in Hungary , was ecstatic to see a rare rail in Ghana: It was my last afternoon in Ankasa Reserve, Ghana. I even managed to shoot a video with hands trembling of excitement, probably a first of the species. It was a mythical bird I didn’t ever expect to see.

2012 133

2012 Ghana Ireland Birds 133

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2022

It’s a unique bird, even its scientific name is wonderful, so it’s not surprising that Gerard Gorman, Woodpecker Expert Supreme, has written a book all about the species. I was surprised to learn that there are two Wryneck species in the Jynx genus: Eurasian Wryneck, Jynx torquilla, and Red-throated Wryneck, Jynx ruficollis.

Woodpeckers 235

Woodpeckers Hungary Thailand 2014 235

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2022

The one bird I did not see here, however, was the Bateleur Eagle … One highlight in the area is the Saddle-billed Stork , likely to be the tallest species in the stork family. The African Spoonbill is one of the six global spoonbill species, and the main African one (there are also some Eurasian Spoonbills in Africa).

Ostriches 147

Ostriches Parrots Birds Eggs 147

10,000 Birds

JUNE 30, 2012

White-backed Woodpecker was one of the major target birds of the Bükk Hills portion of the trip to Hungary and though I would probably have preferred seeing what I now believe to be the mythical Black Woodpecker , the White-backed Woodpecker was a nice consolation prize. Not only that but I managed to get more horrible photos!

Woodpeckers 178

Woodpeckers Hungary Europe Japan 178

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2012

The Barred Warbler , otherwise known as Sylvia nisoria , is one of those species that is aptly named if you only ever see an adult male. Should you have the misfortune, or rather, good fortune (they are rather skulky) to see a female or an immature you might wonder why they are called Barred Warbler rather than Bland Warbler.

Hungary 169

Hungary Eggs Abandon Abandoning 169

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 25, 2012

Sure, their field guide, The Collins Guide , claims six species but two, the Corsican Nuthatch and the Algerian Nuthatch , have extremely limited ranges and one of those two isn’t actually found in Europe. That leaves only two species with a decent range and a distinct look.

Hungary 127

Hungary Europe Portugal Georgia 127

4 The Love Of Animals

NOVEMBER 24, 2009

Understanding a pointed finger may seem easy, but consider this: while humans and canines can do it naturally, no other known species in the animal kingdom can. It’s no coincidence that the two species that pass Hare’s pointing test also share a profound cross-species bond.

Wolves 100

Wolves Fox Dogs Puppies 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2014

But I had seen one in 2006 and I have since seen them twice more so the species never rose to the level of nemesis bird for me. I mean, sure, I’ve had my share of dips but none of them were multiple attempts at a single species that did not end up in victory within three attempts.

Costa Rica 195

Costa Rica Hungary Honduras Birds 195

10,000 Birds

MAY 30, 2013

In other words, this globally threatened species barely made it in Serbia. In the same period, neighbouring Hungary had more than 60 pairs of them. Today, Serbia’s population has risen to 4 to 5 pairs, while Hungary’s went up to 130+ pairs! We must be doing something wrong?

Serbia 204

Serbia Eagles Hungary Cooking 204

10,000 Birds

MARCH 29, 2011

In the Scandinavian countries where Pine and Spruce take up the greater part of the forests, several Crossbill species have managed to answer two of life’s most pressing questions: how to get food and avoid direct competition. It is used like scissors to cut open pine cones and eat the seeds that are unobtainable for other birds.

Poland 185

Poland Transported Hungary France 185

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

Conversely, many American hunters refer to the gray/grey bird as the Hun, a shortened version of Hungarian, for Hungary was the source of many of the birds introduced to the Americas. The two species are only distantly related, for Grey Francolins are true francolins, hence the name Francolinus pondicerianus.

Hungary 158

Hungary Eggs Fox India 158

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2018

Yet, it takes great logistical effort to organize the census all the way from Germany to Austria, Hungary and Serbia in the same day, to count on numerous volunteers and hope for the best February weather. I feel that there must be some more good looking girls to attract some boys from Hungary, but I no longer dare to hope.

Hungary 146

Hungary Serbia Austria Eggs 146