10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 21, 2012

Some of the most prolific killing fields were in the marshes of the American West (I knew about Florida but was surprised at how widespread it was), where men shot birds such as grebes, terns, pelicans, snowy egrets, and great egrets. In 1903, pluming was so lucrative that an ounce of feathers fetched almost twice as much an ounce of gold.

Hunters 189

Hunters Oregon San Francisco Portland 189

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 15, 2015

The next one, the lagoon of Vatatsa (at the eastern side of the Valtos Bay), offered a lot more egrets, one Squacco Heron , two distant Dalmatian Pelicans and quite a few little things chirping from their hiding places in the tamarisk bushes by the road. Yet, beside a few Little and one Great Egret , a raft of Eurasian Coots , no birds.

Greece 226

Greece Dogs Pelicans Fish 226

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2016

Here and there, spits of pale sand became playgrounds for families and dogs, or hunting areas for Great Blue Herons. Brown Pelicans were the most numerous birds, flapping against the wind, diving for lunch, or floating along on the gentle waves. A view of East Bay.

Bald Eagle 154

Bald Eagle Florida Alligators Fish 154

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2014

Rarities and other goodies — a Ross’s Goose , a first-of-season White Pelican — also turn up, but the main attraction at Freezeout is sheer numbers, and these numbers, this spectacle, draw a fair number of non-birders to the scene as well as the dedicated bird nerds.

Geese 176

Geese Montana Breeding Pelicans 176

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

At some stage, a salmon-hunting bear at a shingle beach came too close, mere 9 steps. Pelican, Pelecanus spp. Now, you should know Lucky, he’s no taller than my wife, who is of average height for a woman, and that bear was at least 4-5 times heavier than him. Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica. Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus.

Animal 114

Animal Bears Stray Dog Blackbirds 114

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 16, 2022

The various national versions of Ducks Unlimited are mostly an outgrowth of sports hunting. I have the photos of a standing White-faced Ibis next to wading Northern Pintails , Northern Shovelers , and American White Pelicans , to prove this.) and Canada, but also in Latin American wintering grounds. (It But I did both.

Pelicans 205

Pelicans Blackbirds Ducks Hunting 205

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 9, 2017

Watching my first Brown Pelicans , I am inhaling deeply and commenting to Sergio Arias how strong the scent is. Working with the local jaguar conservancy, he learned that there are 10 or 11 different animals hunting peccaries and other prey at Selva Bananito. He answers: “Maybe the ganja those guys are smoking makes it that strong.”.

Costa Rica 131

Costa Rica Reptiles Farming Mississippi 131

10,000 Birds

APRIL 11, 2011

It was hunting around the edges of the West Pond of Jamaica Bay back at the beginning of March, a day that I saw both the individual in Queens and one in Brooklyn. Brown Pelican – With all of that seawatching one of these birds is bound to show up! Short-eared Owl – Finally, a bird that I saw! Snow Bunting – Yes!

Jamaica 156

Jamaica Owls 2010 New York City 156

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2022

Multitudes, hundreds of Brown Pelicans and Terns–Least, Common, Foster’s, Sandwich, Royal, and Caspian. Houston Audubon instituted a ‘no hunting’ policy and by July 1995, there were 50 heron nests on the island, protected from mammalian predators by the large alligators in the waterways.

Houston 200

Houston Texas Sanctuary Sparrows 200

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2013

We reached the edge of the hillside and a large group of ground birds flushed in front of us making lots of noise which attracted the hunting hawks; they flew over our heads looking to catch something in this chicken-run type of escape. Here is my first shot at this Chilean Hawk with my 840 mm set up. Chilean Hawk Juvenile. Kelp Gull.

Chile 159

Chile California Argentina Chickens 159

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2022

As it got a little brighter, the terns took flight and began hunting in the shallows. They seemed to be waiting to capitalize on any bungled attempts to snag a fish by some juvenile Brown Pelicans. Observing them hunt was almost as thrilling as being on the mission myself. The gulls, opportunistic as ever, sat in place.

Birds 198

Birds Fish Trinidad Hunting 198

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2020

” I’m down as the observer of a White Pelican at the Whitestone Bridge on Dec. It’s a very mixed chapter. The authors’ detailed delineation of problems with the accuracy of NYC breeding bird surveys or with the limits of historical writings may test a reader’s patience. Which is true.

New York City 145

New York City New York Birds Breeding 145

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2016

It’s the boar hunting season. Among them are Dalmatian Pelicans , so big and lazy. We are approaching a large mudbar with some more Dalmatian Pelicans… and a flock of geese… dark, round-headed and short-billed, elongated white blaze on their faces – threatened and declining Lesser White-fronted Geese !

Greece 247

Greece Woodpeckers Boars Eagles 247

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

In the northern winter, the bulk of the European and North African population migrate down into Africa, as far as South Africa, where large numbers frequent fields where they hunt for insects and rodents. This colossal bird is now placed in its own family Balaenicipitidae and it forms an ancient link between storks and pelicans.

Africa 232

Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 232

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2016

This species’ population is suspected to have decreased rapidly, owing to levels of hunting on the staging and wintering grounds, and habitat deterioration (largely as a result of land cultivation). In the Western Palearctic at least 20-30% of the population are shot each year, often accidentally during hunting of other species.”

Serbia 198

Serbia Greece Montenegro Bulgaria 198

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

I always undertake a number of short timed surveys for the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Big Farmland Bird Count in February, and though the counts didn’t add anything to the year list, they were memorable for finding big flocks of finches and buntings, while a daylight-hunting Barn Owl was a pleasing sight.

Estonia 215

Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 215

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 19, 2017

Like many “wildlife areas” it is open to waterfowl hunting during the season. We stopped at the entrance to the wildlife area (see the sign above) where there is a small kiosk with bird lists and hunting regulations as well as maps of the facility.

Wildlife 100

Wildlife Chipmunks Sparrows Blackbirds 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Not only were they a common bird, they were a common bird nearshore; indigenous peoples hunted them up and down the coast. Brown Pelicans are not an unusual sight on the California coast. Raptors and other predatory birds have largely rebounded, and there seems to be be no shortage of Brown Pelicans, Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles.

Albatross 197

Albatross Endangered Species Geese Alaska 197

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2013

The cover designs, like the parent book, are cheerily colorful; the Eastern guide is green, featuring a photo of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, the Western guide is blue, featuring a White Pelican just landing onto the water. Both guides measure 5.5 inches wide by 8.5 inches in height, with the Eastern guide.8-inch

Birds 152

Birds North America Groups Falcons 152

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 5, 2014

Wildfowl hunting season has recently started in the Northern Territory and no doubt there are a few Magpie Geese that have decided to move here rather than get shot at in the hunting reserves. There was only the one Australian Pelican present and a pair of Royal Spoonbills and the constant annoying racket from the Masked Lapwings! .

Geese 160

Geese Pelicans Ducks Hunting 160

10,000 Birds

MAY 22, 2022

Quite often there are Australian Pelicans , Brolga and Royal Spoonbills present and the egret species often include Great Egret , Intermediate Egret , Little Egret and Cattle Egret. If they are hunting you will undoubtedly find out if there are Nankeen Night-herons in the area when they take off. Purple Swamphens. Black-necked Stork.

Geese 188

Geese Ducks Breeding 2015 188

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2012

The waterbird concentrations can be stupendous at times and flocks of hundreds of Roseatte Spoonbill, White Pelicans and Long-billed Curlew respectively are not uncommon. I was sitting at the lodge pool watching a steady stream of White Pelicans and raptors kettling and soaring overhead when I saw Bill Schmoker running and shouting.

Owls 144

Owls Texas Arizona Pigs 144

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2012

Bang Pra is a reservoir and no-hunting area to the south east of Bangkok. These large storks, along with the Painted Storks and Spot-billed Pelicans, have been released here and at a nearby zoo and have set up breeding colonies (as evidenced by the young bird I saw with the adult). Next we drove to the local bird breeding centre.

Thailand 153

Thailand New Zealand Terrapins Asia 153

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Resident birds, such as this Gray Ghost (Northern Harrier) photographed hunting near Disposal Road one winter by Ron Shields, are well represented, as are migrants and rarities. The New Jersey Meadowlands covers parts of 14 municipalities in Bergen and Hudson Counties, in northern New Jersey, including nine parks and natural areas.

New Jersey 141

New Jersey Legislation Mammals Pigs 141

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2012

The grassy areas were also patrolled by Laughing Kookaburras , which engaged in the typical watch and wait hunting methods of the kingfisher family, and the engaging Willie Wagtail. Rounding off the waterbirds were Australian Pelicans, Eurasian Coots , the iconic Black Swans and feral geese.

New Zealand 170

New Zealand Ducks Australia Japan 170

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2023

I have a strong hunting instinct, and digiscoping gave me the satisfaction of bagging my quarry. Flying birds may not have been impossible – I managed to take some reasonable pictures of Dalmatian Pelicans in flight, while the glossy ibises ( below ) are OK – but was exceedingly challenging.

Birds 222

Birds Cyprus Portugal Estonia 222

10,000 Birds

APRIL 20, 2011

This association belies the advanced and highly sophisticated adaptations the family has evolved for a life of wandering, hunting and, yes, piracy on the high seas. The etymological disconnect between the common name (Great) and the specific name ( minor ) is due to the species originally being described as Pelecanus minor , little pelican.

Albatross 155

Albatross Pelicans Family Hunting 155