10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2018

Late Saturday afternoon a Tundra Swan was reported from the south end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. But both species of swans present had enough neck to reach something to eat on the bottom of the pond. The swan fed and preened and generally acted like you would expect a swan to act.

Jamaica 104

Jamaica Wildlife New York City Ducks 104

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 11, 2016

The best place I could come up with that was within a short drive of my in-laws’ place in Yorba Linda was the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in nearby Irvine, only a quick twenty-minute drive away. San Joaquin is renowned among wildlife photographers for the up close opportunities with shorebirds and ducks. Such a nice godwit.

Sanctuary 101

Sanctuary Wildlife California Ducks 101

10,000 Birds

JULY 23, 2022

They can’t provide the same ecosystem value as natural forest and woodland but in places intensely modifed by people, hedges are vital sanctuaries for birds and other wildlife. In pastures of the hot lowlands, they tend to be lines of stunted Gumbo-Limbo trees or some other heavily pruned species. Hoffmann’s Woodpecker.

Costa Rica 254

Costa Rica Birds Sparrows Woodpeckers 254

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2024

Given that according to the HBW, the species prefers dense primary and secondary montane forests, the note that the bird also forages among kitchen waste (in the same HBW entry) seems somewhat incongruous. Fish & Wildlife Service has a web page for this species – but it contains absolutely no information.

Burma 192

Burma India Birds Indonesia 192

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2011

I can’t wait to explore outer space at the 15th Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival from 25-30 January 2012! I don’t get to go to outer space as part of the 15th Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival ? Visiting Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. They must be very odd indeed.

Wildlife 172

Wildlife Florida 2012 Birds 172

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2020

After a week of lectures, symposia, and poster presentations, I can report that NAOC 2020 was well worth the price of admission. As one topic example, Marconi Campos-Cerqueira presented a paper entitled “Past, Current and Future Distributions of Puerto Rican Fauna: Implications from Climate Change.” Dr. Tom White of the U.S.

Puerto Rico 248

Puerto Rico Parrots Protection Ecuador 248

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2021

Birding encourages exploration and it is very satisfying to find a new location close to home that presents an unexpected bird diversity. I was asked by a new birder about the site’s potential and I remarked we should expect between 40 to 50 species for our circa two kilometre stroll. Places, too, can surprise. I was wrong.

Koalas 217

Koalas Birds Zoos Hunters 217

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

Both the female Black-tailed Godwit and Bar-tailed Godwit are larger than the male of the species. It also has a bi-coloured bill unlike the Asian Dowitcher , which is also present amongst our flocks of shorebirds. We can all enjoy and appreciate our surrounding wildlife and encourage others to do the same.

Mongolia 147

Mongolia Australia Breeding Asia 147

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2019

The Shoebill serves as the symbol of the magnificent wildlife experiences Uganda offers visitors, which may seem a bit odd. That honor goes to the Gray-crowned Crane , a very sexy species in its own right. The Shoebill does not simply present itself but rather, like any object of ardent affection, must be pursued diligently.

Uganda 256

Uganda Africa Birds Penguins 256

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2021

That’s because this fascinating part-Caribbean, part-south American country holds well over 800 species of avifauna making it without doubt one of my top three countries in all of the continent to visit. That’s quite the list of charismatic and unique wildlife to add to your potential list of sightings.

Guyana 278

Guyana Otters South America Colombia 278

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 246

Puerto Rico Alaska Protection Research 246

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2021

Broadly speaking, birders care about the environment, particularly as it relates to wildlife habitat, and many donate accordingly: “Most respondents reported having donated to birdwatching and related issues (62%), as well as conservation of other birds (55%).” This is not a surprising result. Citation: Patton, Stephanie. Paul, MN 55108.

Minnesota 264

Minnesota Research Pennsylvania Ohio 264

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 14, 2021

Geographic patterns of species richness for birds (1,558 species) in East Africa at 0.25° resolution (blue indicates low species richness, while brown indicates high species richness). At the time of writing, Uganda has 16 hotspots with 400+ so far eBirded species, of which one has almost 600 species.

Africa 193

Africa Kenya Uganda Tanzania 193

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2018

At the top of those destinations is the stretch of Gulf Coast Texas barrier islands starting at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in the north, through Padre Island National Seashore, to South Padre Island near the country’s border. Of the 300 hummingbird species across the globe, North America only sees fewer than two dozen of them.

Texas 171

Texas North America Alaska America 171

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2022

I was surprised that this species is named for its vocalization – which sounds like laughter. For example, the Diamond Dove is the world’s second-smallest species of the columbidae order ( source ). The Latin species name haematonotus (“blood-backed”) sounds a bit more exciting but not necessarily more accurate.

Australia 147

Australia Birds Parrots Ostriches 147

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 23, 2023

This is how it looks like: Or at sunset: A species I did not come for from Shanghai is the Black-crowned Night Heron. Its species name graydoni is in honor of Philip Newenham Graydon (1864-1940), a British planter in Sabah. Why that makes Mr. Graydon worthy of having a bird species named after him is a mystery to me.

Birds 210

Birds Eagles Elephants Rhinoceros 210

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2021

If presented with the opportunity, there’s other things that would eat a bird too. Jose’s deep knowledge of rainforest wildlife and ecology is reflected in his detailed paintings of Spectacled Owls, Ornate Hawk-Eagles , and other jungle wildlife. The Collared Aracari is a small toucan with a sharp beak.

Costa Rica 253

Costa Rica Investigation Shelters Illinois 253

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2017

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. The environment is currently facing some of the most massive challenges in recent human history, and for the first time we have the knowledge to do something about that.

Endangered Species 100

Endangered Species Ferrets United States Montana 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2015

We were at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, of course, which is not only home to Falcated Duck, but many other birds. 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. Do you see?

Geese 194

Geese Fowl Ducks Mississippi 194

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 172

California Condor Falcons California Birds 172

10,000 Birds

JULY 8, 2013

Yes, the earth has gone around the sun twice since the uproar from birders and other lovers of wildlife managed to convince the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to table the idea of hunting Sandhill Cranes in Tennessee for two years. Tennessee started a festival around the event, just for wildlife watchers. It’s bad PR.

Tennessee 227

Tennessee Hunting Hunters Wisconsin 227

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Motomco’s Material Safety Data Sheet for “Hawk” warns that the product “is extremely toxic to fish, birds, and other wildlife” and that “dogs and predatory and scavenging mammals and birds might be poisoned if they feed upon animals that have eaten this bait.” Thanks for your concern for wildlife, Syngenta.).

Mountain Lions 258

Mountain Lions Rats Rodents Lions 258

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2020

And, though I think you can argue that the Bronx Zoo, with its numerous buildings and landscaped wildlife areas is not purely ‘natural space,’ I have wonderful memories of traipsing through its wooded areas when I was a girl. (I Most birders will go straight to the “Species Accounts.” It’s a very mixed chapter.

New York City 147

New York City New York Birds Breeding 147

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2019

The lush understory supports a multitude of different ecological niches yet still affords good sightlines to spy the species within. And what a wealth of species the Royal Mile holds. While the species sounds delicious, the nearly tailless bird presents a very bland appearance.

Uganda 202

Uganda Africa Monkeys Birds 202

10,000 Birds

APRIL 23, 2013

Its amazing to me that there are still places on earth where wildlife is blissfully unafraid of humans. It comes as no surprise that this was one of Jacques Cousteau’s favorite places and he filmed the area and its wildlife extensively for his tv series. A Brown Booby, one of three booby species to be found on the island.

Whales 259

Whales Whaling Sharks Marine Life 259

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 25, 2014

Sunday morning was a perfect morning to get out on the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. We saw a total of fifteen species of shorebirds but four stole the show – the peeps! It apparently derives from the typical call notes of the species which, broadly speaking, can sound like “peep.”

Jamaica 179

Jamaica Rights Species Wildlife 179

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2015

Coincidentally, this species was Corey’s Best Bird exactly one year ago. Although he caught unsatisfying glimpses of his first ABA Mourning Warbler , BBOTW honors must go to a bird much better seen, like a sweet Canada Warbler. How about you? What was your best bird of the weekend?

2015 162

2015 Jamaica Canada Abandon 162

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

His obituary in The Auk describes him as “without a doubt” responsible for Texas’ laws on bird conservation, “for he was the first in the state to present the real facts concerning the importance of bird life in its relation to human welfare.” Undeveloped land absorbs water, filters salt, and slows wind.

Chickens 121

Chickens Texas Louisiana Wildlife 121

10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2014

It is also known for the 500 exotic species of animals and plants that now call the Sunshine State home. Exotic species are animals that did not historically occur in Florida. One such species is the familiar mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). The New Zealand Grey Duck is nearly extinct as species.

Florida 201

Florida Ducks New Zealand Feral 201

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2016

The nature reserve is really well managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust with numerous hides and wheelchair access to much of the reserve. The nature reserve is constantly evolving and although part of it is a former sand quarry it has been carefully developed to encourage wildlife. Well done Yorkshire Wildlife Trust!

Geese 101

Geese Wildlife 2001 Woodpeckers 101

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 22, 2016

Do you ever have those moments when you’re supposed to be paying attention to something serious, but you’re immeasurably distracted by the bird species around you? Raptors were also ever-present, perching on branches to stare solemnly down at our Swamp Buggy parade.

Birds 133

Birds Turkey Florida Experience 133

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 22, 2017

Despite the eyesore that is this mine, the wildlife continues to thrive in this harsh environment. In addition to the hundred or so species of birds I regularly find here, there are Desert Foxes, Bobcats, Mountain Lions, Desert Bighorn Sheep and Mule Deer. Here are a few of the birds we spotted last weekend.

Mountain Lions 100

Mountain Lions Mules Sheep Lions 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 24, 2017

I had never seen this species of kite before, but Guhin explained that they often hunted in the natural acres of the reserve. The ES NERR is a world-renowned biodiversity hotspot, drawing birders from around the country and around the globe, all happy to see as many of the over 200 species recorded here as possible. Life-bird for me!

Research 101

Research Birds Virginia Protection 101

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2019

If a list also shows the status for each species, birders on their way to Costa Rica would realize that they shouldn’t really expect vireos with white eyes nor blue heads (but would hopefully know that they should very much report those species on eBird so local birders can chase them!). Toucan species with new names.

Costa Rica 198

Costa Rica Birds Owls South America 198

10,000 Birds

MARCH 24, 2014

“People say there are too many crows and they eat all the crops,” says Missy Runyan, director of the Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center in nearby Hunter, NY. Runyan has no problem with hunting; she gives wildlife and gun safety presentations to Rod and Gun clubs across the state. This is baloney.

Killing 272

Killing Slaughter Slaughtered Animal Abuse 272

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

In a typical birding year, no other month will bring you that many new species as January. While scaups were present in Belgrade this whole winter, they somehow eluded me, so I got out to see them. Fish and Wildlife Service. January is sort of a birding sprint – you start fresh and, all of a sudden, head for them all.

Serbia 179

Serbia Geese 2001 Ducks 179

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2012

Fresh water crocodiles enjoying the sunshine We chose to have a wander around the area, which is actually a lagoon at this time of year and totalled 39 species in an hour even mid-morning. There were even more species present here and a perfect place for a picnic lunch.

Birds 163

Birds 2000 Investigation Geese 163