10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2024

Birders know that some of the finest birding locations in the country are on federal land , which include national parks , wildlife refuges , forests , monuments , and seashores , among others. For example, the federal government owns less than 1% in Connecticut but nearly 80% in Nevada. But what else should birders know?

Virgin Islands 200

Virgin Islands Alaska United States Endangered Species 200

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 30, 2018

There are more than 550 national wildlife refuges in the United States, with at least one in every state and one within an hour drive of almost every major American city. Both birds and birders flock to national wildlife refuges. Nisqually NWR (Washington). Desert NWR (Nevada). Fish & Wildlife Service.

Wildlife 214

Wildlife Las Vegas Texas Minnesota 214

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2021

There are several states with 100-199 species: North Carolina (172, unchanged), Washington (171, up from 144), Michigan (159, unchanged), Virginia (147, up from 122), North Dakota (141, unchanged), Idaho (129, up from 57); New Mexico (112, unchanged); Massachusetts (110, up from 81); Colorado (106, unchanged), and Pennsylvania (109, up from 102).

United States 190

United States West Virginia Puerto Rico Minnesota 190

10,000 Birds

JUNE 11, 2019

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently proposed reintroducing California Condors in the Pacific Northwest. In 1806, Lewis and Clark saw condors near the Columbia River, which makes up much of the Washington-Oregon border.

California Condor 214

California Condor California Endangered Species Oregon 214

Critter News

JANUARY 4, 2012

Federal wildlife managers are fighting in court to take the unprecedented step of castrating 200 wild stallions in Nevada, in an effort to control surging populations of wild horses across the West. In response, the agency agreed to postpone the castration until a federal court in Washington, D.C., Read the whole story here.

Horse Population 100

Horse Population Horses Nevada Washington 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

After those five, there are relative handful with over 100 species: North Carolina (172), Michigan (159), Arizona (155), Washington (144), North Dakota (141!), out of 51, including Washington, D.C.), California (297) is next, followed by Florida (227), Oregon (209), and New Jersey (199).

Rhode Island 114

Rhode Island United States West Virginia Puerto Rico 114

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

I was fortunate to rack up a number of lifers in 2013, both at home and abroad ( Varied Thrush in Washington, Brewer’s Blackbirds in California, Burrowing Owl in the Nevada desert). But by far the best was witnessing the autumn migration of Sandhill Cranes.

2013 167

2013 Birds Costa Rica India 167