10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

With a hardiness that belies their delicate looks (but helps explain their phenomenal success), these pioneering pigeons are already sitting on eggs at at least one location in Montana. Hochachka noted that one had spent the winter “as far north as eastern Montana&#. Whatever they used to be, they are now a bird of Montana.

Montana 133

Montana 2011 New York Bahamas 133

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 192

United States West Virginia Puerto Rico Minnesota 192

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 166

Wildlife Montana Geese Bald Eagle 166

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2021

Wilderness areas are managed by one of four federal agencies: the Forest Service (FS); the National Park Service (NPS); the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS); and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). At more than 15 million acres, California is the only other state with more than 5 million acres of wilderness.

Puerto Rico 245

Puerto Rico Alaska Protection Research 245

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

Jennifer Ackerman brings a sense of curiosity and wonder to her material, whether she’s interviewing evolutionary ecologist Christopher Clark about the mechanics of an owl’s silent flight or looking for Northern Pygmy Owl nests in Montana with a team from the Owl Research Institute.

Owls 203

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 203

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2017

Last night I lay awake from 4 am til almost 5, worrying about the black-footed ferrets I met in Montana and the humans who had devoted their lives to helping them. As my fellow blogger Meredith Mann pointed out last summer, the Endangered Species Act in particular has been a massive success for birds. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Endangered Species 100

Endangered Species Ferrets United States Montana 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2024

Osborn, a passionate field biologist who participates to the core of her being three re-introduction projects aimed at saving three very different, endangered species: Peregrine Falcon, Hawaiian Crow (‘Alala)*, and California Condor. Sophie Osborn’s stories are personal and inspiring, but this is more than a personal memoir.

California Condor 171

California Condor Falcons California Birds 171

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 156

California Condor Mississippi Florida Montana 156

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2020

Lately (in the last month or so) he’s been through the Dakotas, Montana, and Canada, up to the Northwest Territories. And in April, he sees the return of the many species he has seen in that month in years past – but, also, weirdly, a Virginia Rail, a reclusive marsh bird, flopping around the sidewalk in downtown D.C. (the

New Hampshire 217

New Hampshire Washington Virginia United States 217

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 18, 2015

National parks like Rocky Mountain, the Grand Canyon, and the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as national wildlife refuges, national forests, rivers and lakes, community parks, trails, and ball fields in every one of our 50 states were set aside for Americans to enjoy thanks to federal funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

Legislation 173

Legislation Montana America Wyoming 173

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2014

And yet, perhaps ironically, the biggest sign of spring in a Montana March is when the skies fill with white. Snow Geese overgrazing their breeding grounds, displacing other Arctic-breeding species and setting themselves up for a fall. The result?

Geese 177

Geese Montana Breeding Pelicans 177

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2017

Birders are familiar with the National Wildlife Refuge System, which consists of more than 550 units distributed through all fifty states. National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs), which are managed by the U.S. FWS calls WPAs the “Prairie Jewels of the National Wildlife Refuge System.”. Ding” Darling NWR in Florida. million acres.

Factory 116

Factory Ducks North Dakota Nebraska 116

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

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

During the weekend that I was there, it was announced that there were over 1300 fires burning just within the state of Oregon, not to mention California, Washington, Montana and British Columbia, Canada. It was to latter area that I was traveling. The smoke that had settled everywhere within the state was incredible.

Oregon 100

Oregon Birds Montana California 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 24, 2017

Swanson Wildlife Health Center received an adult male Red-tailed Hawk that had been found on Cornell University’s campus. A few days later the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology contacted the Wildlife Health Center to ask if they’d received any red-tails recently. Last Saturday, the Janet L. Their fears were confirmed.

Feral Cats 106

Feral Cats Suffering Montana 2006 106

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. With all my traipsing about this year I’ve actually been shamefully lax on birding Montana. Montana offers little in the way of flamingos, generally speaking.

Bald Eagle 106

Bald Eagle Montana Owls Italy 106

Critter News

JANUARY 30, 2009

Wildlife conservationists say the freeze will delay and possibly prevent the removal of gray wolves from the federal endangered species list in Montana, Idaho, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, and also in portions of Washington, Oregon, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.

Obama 100

Obama Wolves South Dakota North Dakota 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2012

It was the most of either species I can remember seeing in one place, and they were hyped about the berries that the mountain ash still bore. I haven’t lived in Montana long enough to feel jaded about Bohemian Waxwings, so I concentrated on them at first. Robin photo courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Dr. Thomas G.

Downers 169

Downers Montana Fish Wildlife 169

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 156

Bald Eagle Montana Owls Dogs 156

10,000 Birds

JULY 1, 2011

Moreover, at the time I had no inkling that I’d be moving to Montana in two and a half years – in fact, it would be nearly a year before I decided to go to grad school and entertained the notion of leaving New York at all. In Central Park , to be exact. It was exciting — to a degree. And every time, it was exciting.

New York 165

New York Montana Breeding Fish 165

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2012

Last week was spring break at the University of Montana, and so, for me, a chance for a brief flying visit back east. Fish and Wildlife Service. Yesterday, there were none. Today, Tree Swallows are here, flashing light and dark above the river. Now, let’s back up. C’mon, guys. The latter was the more ambitious plan.

Chicago 173

Chicago Litter Louisiana Montana 173

10,000 Birds

MAY 26, 2011

I imagine these explorers had the same reaction as the Lewis and Clark expedition as they moved from the tallgrass prairies of North Dakota and Montana into the northern Rockies of western Montana. Views like this offer specialty niches for many high-altitude species. This species is an athletic and patient one.

Colorado 134

Colorado North Dakota Montana Owls 134

10,000 Birds

APRIL 8, 2011

Gray Jay : This drab but charismatic species demonstrates that the more a bird interacts with humans, the more colloquial names it will tend to pick up. Northern Flicker : And then there are the times when officialdom changes not only the name, but the whole species, away from the former conventional wisdom.

Hunters 179

Hunters Falcons Ducks Montana 179

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2018

We spent two blissful days exploring both the waders and wildlife of Lake Yojoa and the tropical splendor of PANACAM Lodge. Since he first started walking his property, he’s located a slew of species so exciting that birders are starting to turn up at his doorstep. MONTANA DE VIDA. White-necked Puffbird © José A.

Honduras 133

Honduras Birds Farming America 133

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

But some species remain elusive when they shouldn’t be. Even a big trip to Canada, though it turned up many other delightful species ( Boreal Owl , anyone?) Moving to Montana would surely make a difference, because Evening Grosbeaks aren’t “irruptive” here, they’re just birds, living their lives.

Pythons 180

Pythons Litter Montana 2006 180

10,000 Birds

JUNE 17, 2011

To my disappointment the biggest and most visible species I saw was the introduced Common (Ring-necked) Pheasant , and my first lifer was the equally introduced Gray Partridge. And a more determined birder could have come away with far more, especially earlier in the spring: the park’s checklist numbers over 200 species.

Rattlesnake 164

Rattlesnake Bald Eagle Mules Mammals 164

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

My best bird of the year is based on the sighting rather than the species. My best bird of the year was without a doubt the Montana Baikal Teal , a bird that combined rarity, beauty, and the good grace to stick around long enough for me to actually see it. Montana’s Baikal Teal by suneko. Rock Warbler by Clare Morton.

2013 167

2013 Birds Costa Rica India 167

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. Bund Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Bund Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2011

We took a trip a couple of weeks ago to Montana – Pablo Reservoir just south of Flathead Lake had 2 Snowies for awhile, but (of course) they left about a week before we got there. Corey: I’m shooting for the numbers of species and number of lists I had in 2008! Calif.) @ VRinA2 – where are you looking for Snowy Owls?

2011 145

2011 Los Angeles Deer Birds 145

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2016

Despite recording 370 species during the month, the list total has advanced by just 45. Just to confuse things a little, only 14 new species were recorded since June 1 st. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Ruddy Quail-Dove – Geotrygon montana. Bund Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary. Bund Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary.

2016 100

2016 Sanctuary Ghana Australia 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2016

All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. Bund Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Bund Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary.

2016 100

2016 Sanctuary Ghana Australia 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2016

All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Bund Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Big Egg Marsh.

2016 100

2016 Sanctuary Ghana Australia 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2017

Last year they shared over 1200 checklists and managed to achieve a stunning total of 2647 species from 32 countries. Last year’s magnificent total of 2647 species is the target to beat, but other results could prove interesting. 1499 species were seen in the eastern hemisphere in 2016. The year stretches ahead.

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2016

All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. Bund Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Bund Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary.

2016 100

2016 Sanctuary Ghana Australia 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. Bund Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Bund Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary.

2016 101

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 101

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

beats have still managed to share 82 checklists and accounted for 737 species. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. 02 Jun 2019.

2019 119

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 119

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2017

146 shared checklists (an increase on last year’s 97, well done chaps) noted 664 species (ooooh, down on 826 from last February) and brought the yearly total to 1063 (1303 at this time in 2016, ouch!). Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Merritt Island NWR–Black Point Wildlife Dr. 08 Jan 2017. Dorney Wetlands.

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100