10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

Each time, a small notebook tagged along with me, and I would note the bird species I spotted, then put it away. And it’s true, I know that the Pied-billed Grebes show up around the same time the Mississippi Kites leave, because I make a note of both and it sticks in my memory. Otherwise I would never remember.”

Florida 263

Florida Birds Mississippi Laws 263

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2021

As of mid-November 2021, the Collaborative had submitted more than 4,200 checklists (up from 1,700 in 2018) and has observed 691 species in the United States (up from 618). Thus, there are now seven states with 200+ observed species. The state with the largest increase was Arizona , with 139 species added.

United States 209

United States West Virginia Puerto Rico Minnesota 209

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2016

Sandhill Cranes , ancient and currently abundant – the most abundant species of crane in the world – are nevertheless almost miraculous to me every time I see them. The five subspecies – Greater, Lesser, Mississippi, Florida, Cuban – show the genetic marks of what the species has had to do to survive.

California Condor 161

California Condor Mississippi Florida Montana 161

10,000 Birds

APRIL 11, 2020

It’s all good, as of April 6, my yard list has more than 60 species and will certainly grow in the coming days. More likely are a suite of sparkling hummingbirds, the eye-catching Flame-colored Tanager , acrobatic Red-faced Spinetails , and various other species. Barred Antshrike. Flame-colored Tanager. The Caribbean Lowlands.

Costa Rica 259

Costa Rica Birds Mississippi Woodpeckers 259

10,000 Birds

MARCH 26, 2014

million years old, over one and a half times older than the earliest remains of most living species of birds. The Cuban Sandhill Crane , Grus canadensis nesiotes and the Mississippi Sandhill Crane , Grus canadensis pulla are listed as endangered species. The oldest unequivocal Sandhill Crane fossil is 2.5

Mississippi 170

Mississippi Endangered Species Florida Wildlife 170

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 26, 2014

There’s no species of bird more associated with the North American desert than Greater Roadrunner. But Warner Brothers cartoons aside, Greater Roadrunner is a much more adaptable species that we give it credit for. But Warner Brothers cartoons aside, Greater Roadrunner is a much more adaptable species that we give it credit for.

Missouri 212

Missouri Mississippi Agenda Rodents 212

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2014

There’s a new proposal before the American Ornithologists’ Union’s North American Classification Committee to split Painted Bunting into two species (yay! — maybe, more later) and to name the new species “Eastern Painted Bunting” and “Western Painted Bunting” (no!).

Mississippi 274

Mississippi Mexico Alabama North Carolina 274

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

There are 35 raptor species that have a presence in the United States and Canada, 56 (more or less) if you count by subspecies, and they are all covered in admirable, exhausting, unbelievable detail in B irds of Prey of the East: A Field Guide and Birds of Prey of the West: A Field Guide by Brian K. Species Accounts.

North America 197

North America Birds Mississippi Bald Eagle 197

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 11, 2019

I generally wait until I have at least a dozen species on my year list before having my first drink of the year. But which species of crow is our Old Crow – Fish or American? By my reckoning, 500 miles up the Mississippi River as the steamboat goes only gets you as far as the Mississippi-Louisiana-Arkansas tripoint.

Mississippi 117

Mississippi Kentucky New York Tennessee 117

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 28, 2016

Swallow-tailed Kite is an enigmatic species in North Carolina. Swallow-tailed Kites, and their equally graceful but less ostentatious cousins from Mississippi, have been found in at least a half-dozen fields in North Carolina in the last couple weeks, including a field not more than an hour from my home.

North Carolina 101

North Carolina Mississippi 2016 Charlotte 101

10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2013

How are seasons like species? Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was a Mississippi Kite , though 17-year cicadas came a close second. In both instances, we can have trouble telling where one ends and the other begins. How about you? What was your best bird of the weekend?

2013 160

2013 Mississippi Birds Experience 160

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2019

During the decade, I submitted 1,219 checklists and observed 555 bird species, all in the U.S. After an initial period when all species are new, the lifers begin to follow a pattern. Thus, I can pinpoint my first pelagic trip, as it added 13 new species. and Canada. I’ve submitted 448 such checklists.

Puerto Rico 152

Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Michigan Washington 152

10,000 Birds

APRIL 14, 2015

The official Florida checklist counts over 500 species, and thus Florida citizens had a wealth of State Bird candidates to choose from when they named the Florida state bird in 1927. This common bird is also the state bird for Arkansas, Texas (another avian hot spot), Tennessee, and Mississippi, so Florida even misses points for originality.

Florida 167

Florida Legislature Arkansas Mississippi 167

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

The species is said to have never been common, a description I’ve always thought is applied too liberally to long-gone species almost as a convenient declaration of helplessness or shrug of the shoulders toss off in the face of its eventual demise. Mississippi in 1949. Photo by Jerry Payne, Charleston Co, SC, 1958.

South Carolina 181

South Carolina Cuba Missouri Mississippi 181

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2014

I was happy to read that the wood stork ( Mycteria Americana ), a bird near and dear to me, was down-sited from the status of endangered to threatened species. Fish and Wildlife Service is down-listing the wood stork from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As a biologist working for the U.S. Photo: U.S.

North Carolina 204

North Carolina Bald Eagle South Carolina Florida 204

10,000 Birds

MAY 26, 2018

It has been my privilege to bird in the ‘Glades – the largest US wilderness east of the Mississippi River. This fragile ecosystem is home to 344 feathered species, 300 fish species (salt- and freshwater), 50 species of reptiles, 40 mammal species, and 36 listed species (threatened and/or protected).

Miami 146

Miami Las Vegas Alligators Minnesota 146

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

As of mid-October 2018, the Collaborative had submitted more than 1,700 checklists and observed 618 species in the United States. The heat map is revealing: Unsurprisingly for a site founded and run by two New Yorkers (one of whom literally wrote the book on birding New York), the Empire State boasts the highest number of species (316).

Rhode Island 114

Rhode Island United States West Virginia Puerto Rico 114

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2015

Along with Snows, Greater White-fronted Goose are one of the most abundant species here. Geese, of course, are known to be down to get down with other species, because they’re kinky like that. A handful of “blue” Snow Geese can be expected as well.

Geese 206

Geese Fowl Ducks Mississippi 206

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2012

Today, the species has all but disappeared east of the Mississippi River and has declined in western parts of its range, most likely caused by the expansion of the House Wren which destroys and removes their eggs from nest sites 1. A century ago, the Bewick’s Wren was beloved as the “house wren” of the Appalachians and the Midwest.

Mississippi 173

Mississippi North America Eggs America 173

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 174

Birds Mississippi Vermont Texas 174

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

falcinellus ) in Mississippi © David J. The other two living species, the Andean Puna Ibis and the White-faced Ibis occur in the Americas. The other two living species, the Andean Puna Ibis and the White-faced Ibis occur in the Americas. A cryptic species? White-faced and Glossy ibises ( Plegadis chihi and P.

Louisiana 204

Louisiana Mississippi America Pelicans 204

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2014

I work part-time for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and here are some stunning views of our very urban park along the Mississippi River through the Twin Cities in Minnesota: This video is not only remarkable for the views, but also the places they take the small drone–behind waterfalls, are you kidding me?

Bald Eagle 199

Bald Eagle Mississippi Eagles Ducks 199

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 16, 2020

I am shocked to be writing this post already, and doubly shocked that I’ve seen six new species for Queens since I guessed what my next five Queens birds would be just eight months ago, back in March. Eastern Whip-Poor-Will : It’s kind of amazing how rarely this species is reported in Queens. I’ll make it three!

New York City 152

New York City Birds New York Blackbirds 152

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2013

Fortunately, the folks at Princeton University Press agreed, and the person who correctly guesses my 300th species of bird in Queens will get a free copy of The Warbler Guide ( which Donna reviewed ). Write a comment in the comment section of the blog with the name of the species you think that will be my 300th. How do you enter?

Pelicans 162

Pelicans Mississippi Virginia Game 162

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2020

Sedge Wren – There are records of this species in Queens, generally along the coast in fall. Great Shearwater – At this point, seabirds are my weakest family in Queens with the most species having reported in the borough that I have not seen. It leaves Barnacle Goose as the last remotely possible goose species for me to add. (0

2018 163

2018 2015 Birds 2019 163

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2015

Though I have been birding for a few years now, I had only birded west of the Mississippi once before my recent trip to Austin, Texas. I didn’t realize how many new species I would see within the city itself! Given how far west I found myself, I was hoping for at least a handful of new birds.

Austin 113

Austin Texas Birds Non Human 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2017

The 7th edition of the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America covers 1,023 species that reside, migrate, or have been documented as accidentals or exotics in North America. Species Accounts: With 1,023 species, National Geographic 7 continues to cover the most species of any North American field guide.

North America 187

North America America 2017 Birds 187

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2015

In February of 2013, I wrote a piece outlining my thoughts on which exotic bird species should be added to the American Bird Association (ABA) checklist. In 2014, the Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee (FOSRC) voted to add this species to the Florida state list. The ABA Checklist Committee quickly followed suit.

Los Angeles 154

Los Angeles Miami San Francisco Florida 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

In New York and Connecticut spending hours of my time hawkwatching in all kinds of conditions has allowed me to see some amazing species: Golden Eagle, Sandhill Crane , Mississippi Kite , Gyrfalcon , Yellow-headed Blackbird , Bridled Tern , American White Pelican and White-winged Dove.

Bald Eagle 245

Bald Eagle Los Angeles Connecticut Eagles 245

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 29, 2016

The proximity of both slopes also facilitates seeing a lot of different species in a short span because the montane barrier has resulted in differences in terms of species and habitats. This small antbird species is common in Panama to Ecuador but rare in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica 166

Costa Rica San Jose Panama Birds 166

10,000 Birds

MAY 22, 2012

Sure, the AOU has the final say in whats a species, whats not, yadda yadda yadda… but who tells them what to say? After all, there are some epic splits coming your way… what do you think about new species of storm-petrel and murrelet that can be found in the United States? But I digress.

San Diego 158

San Diego Mississippi Mexico Science 158

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2014

Sure, Miami and the Florida Keys do not boast any endemics ( ‘Cape Sable’ Seaside Sparrow is close) at the species level. Many visitors who come through Orlando or Tampa see maybe eight or ten species on a winter trip. However, few realize how unique and how good the birding can be here.

Florida 172

Florida Miami United States Stray 172

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

It is one of several species in the Mallard -complex of ducks, along with American Black Duck , Mexican Duck , and quite a few others. You find them in the south from Florida to Texas and down into Mexico, occasionally as far north as the Carolinas in the east and up the Mississippi River as far north as Illinois.

Ducks 169

Ducks Florida Illinois Mississippi 169

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 23, 2015

The justification was ridiculously laughable: in order to further study the species. The unique behaviors this mysterious species might exhibit? Researchers observing (live) Mississippi Kites provide very useful information on the timing, paths, and correlation with fronts that I use when releasing my kites.

Collecting 240

Collecting Wildlife Rehabilitation Solomon Islands Texas 240

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2013

states and thirty-seven counties, and added a whopping ninety-two species to my life list. Despite that, I managed to see 511 species in 2013 , which is not half-bad. Hopefully I will see at least that many species in 2014! Finally seeing my 300th species in Queens. a 17-Year Cicada. You will not be disappointed.

2013 178

2013 New York City New York Trinidad 178

10,000 Birds

APRIL 19, 2012

So, this pair (I assume there are two, though I only saw one today) of eagles has a territory including small dogs and stray children, baby coyotes, crows, but mainly squirrels and marmots right around its nest, and a major river backed up by a large dam about a mile or two away (the Mississippi) and several lakes.

Eagles 178

Eagles Bald Eagle Coyotes Mississippi 178

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2013

It wasn’t until we stopped for good looks at an American Kestrel (a target species for both the poets) that we realized we had taken a wrong turn at the National Bison Range, and were now some sixty miles from our destination. A cruise by the shore revealed some Canada Geese , Common Goldeneye , and Bufflehead.

Bald Eagle 154

Bald Eagle Montana Owls Eagles 154