10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2011

UNLESS that is you get yourself down to the internationally-renowned Tambopata Research Centre in southern Peru where literally hundreds of macaws (and other parrots) congregate around a 50 meter high clay bank. That’s right – birds eating clay. Chestnut-fronted Macaws Ara severa.

Peru 255

Peru Parrots 2011 Research Center 255

10,000 Birds

MARCH 7, 2011

Checking for moult limits on a female Band-tailed Manakin to determine her age Imagine learn or improving your mist-netting, bird banding, handling, aging, and Neotropical bird ID skills in one of the most exuberantly natural surroundings ( 599 bird species recorded at Explorer’s Inn and Sachavacayoc Centre!) Wicked, right?

Peru 197

Peru 2011 Deer Birds 197

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

For my new book, due out in 2012 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, I’ve been researching sandhill crane hunting. Hunting sandhill cranes in Kentucky is a bad idea from a public relations standpoint, considering the growing cadre of birders and nature enthusiasts for whom cranes are a touchstone species.

2011 247

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 247

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2016

In the northern hemisphere, the combination of migrants, resident species, and higher frequency of bird song makes it much easier to identify more birds, compared to say, August, so if you want to get really crazy and go for a Big Day record, spring is the time to go for it. They got all three potoo species in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica Birds Species 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2011

I missed some very common species. Some were glaring misses since I started the year with a goal of 600 species (while working). In 1998, there were only 918 species on the ABA Checklist. Today, in 2011, there are 956 or is it 957 species? Have back up plans ahead of time for species that may give you more difficulty.

New York City 157

New York City New York New Hampshire Research Center 157