10,000 Birds

MARCH 29, 2015

(This photo is actually of a TK seen a few days later, but it was at our favorite birding gas station pit stop that we also stopped at on our first day. Excellent 10,000 Birds posts have been written about Pico Bonito and Honduras by Corey and Carlos , so I’m going to focus on some of my most memorable experiences.

Honduras 263

Honduras Birds Costa Rica South Africa 263

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

Valentine’s Day on a Sunday delivers the perfect weekend for everyone who identifies as both a bird lover and a lovebird. I thought for sure that Wild Turkeys on the wing would be the highlight of my birding weekend, but that we before I came upon a Barred Owl in broad daylight perched on a power line in Alma, NY. How about you?

Lovebirds 262

Lovebirds Turkey 2015 2013 262

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2023

Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia, offers several great birding spots and here are some recommendations for areas to go birding in and around the city, how to get there by public transport, and some of the bird species you might expect to see. It is home to almost a hundred bird species, including woodpeckers and songbirds.

Transported 279

Transported Woodpeckers Serbia Birds 279

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 19, 2020

This was actually the place where the late Richard ffrench spent much of his time as a music teacher, amassing countless observations of birds that would later form the basis of one of the essential birding guides for Trinidad and Tobago. The subtle white edging to the gape of this bird indicates it is near breeding time.

Trinidad 260

Trinidad Birds Parrots Falcons 260

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2024

Hours of available hunting are low and temperatures are extremely low. The birds that live here are tough and belong mainly to particular families of birds. Owls do particularly well here, the long nights actually working in their favour by increasing hunting time. That said… Source

Hunting 246

Hunting Owls Family Birds 246

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2022

How high is birding on your list of activities – is it the very first or merely one of? These are the types I recognise: Coffee Break Birding – 10-15 minutes, usually not planned ahead but squeezed out of your schedule. It is a good option if you know that there is that one special bird. My kind of birding.

India 286

India Africa Birds Laws 286

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2019

Not all birds are created equal. These are the kinds of birds even those barely cognizant of nature recognize, appreciate, and aspire to. These are the kinds of birds even those barely cognizant of nature recognize, appreciate, and aspire to. Central Africa has one of those birds.

Uganda 298

Uganda Africa Penguins 2019 298

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 13, 2024

While I have visited a few birding sites around the Netherlands during the course of my Bachelor studies, I did not go birding a lot around the city where I lived, Maastricht. On the bird recording site Waarneming, I saw that a Great Northern Diver ( Common Loon ) was found on a lake just south of the city.

Netherlands 246

Netherlands Birds Ducks Hunting 246

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

The number of people who hunt waterfowl in the US has declined since the mid 1990s. Eventually, the pigeons, as it were, may come home to roost and the waterfowl and other wildlife, as well as hunters and bird watchers, will be sitting ducks. And, of course, bird watchers are in a sense free-loading on the duck stamps as well.

Ducks 254

Ducks Hunters Hunting Wildlife 254

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2023

Perhaps a little more shock-inducing and paradoxical than concepts of birding at sewage ponds or graveyards, an oil refinery seems to be the antithesis of a desirable place for a birder. From Yellow-hooded Blackbirds to Purple and Common Gallinules , there are almost too many birds to focus on!

Trinidad 264

Trinidad Birds Ducks Fish 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 23, 2014

As has often been said in these quarters, in general us bird bloggers don’t have many quarrels with hunters. And responsible hunting practices seldom pose a threat to birders’ quarry. Note, I said responsible hunting practices. These bustards are protected by international agreements and hunting them is banned in India.

Pakistan 229

Pakistan Hunters Hunting India 229

10,000 Birds

JUNE 11, 2020

One of the many things I did not know about Delhi is that it is the capital city with the second-largest number of bird species (after Nairobi). So when I went there for work last year, I added three days of birding to the trip. Not the most exciting bird in the world, I guess, but still worth showing in a democracy. Black Ibis.

Cattle 259

Cattle India Sanctuary Birds 259

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2019

These reports (called “ Banking on Nature “) are relevant to birders because they are among the few comprehensive analyses that relate to the economic impact of birders on national wildlife refuges, which are among the more popular birding locations. A number of these NWRs appear on my list of the Top 25 NWRs for Birding.).

Wildlife 279

Wildlife Maryland San Francisco Minnesota 279

10,000 Birds

MAY 31, 2012

Do you toss the bird your leftovers? Do you feed the birds then? It seems like the people that run an awful lot of parks don’t want you feeding the birds. Regular feeding can cause: Unnatural Behavior – There is no doubt that feeding birds causes unnatural behavior. If so, please share it in the comments.

Birds 263

Birds New York City Geese Fast Food 263

10,000 Birds

MARCH 28, 2013

We won’t be leaving town until after the weekend, but plan to celebrate Easter the way we always do: egg hunt, baskets, and a nice hike. Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Also be sure to come back Monday to share your best bird of the weekend ! How about you? Share your plans in the comments below.

2013 235

2013 Blackbirds New York Eggs 235

10,000 Birds

JULY 17, 2013

The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act , which went into effect seventy-nine years ago on July 1, 1934, authorized the annual issuance of what is popularly known as the Duck Stamp. In 1976, Congress changed the official name to the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp , presumably to broaden its appeal to non-hunters.

Ducks 262

Ducks Wildlife Hunters Hunting 262

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2016

In front of us, the river is two miles wide… and it is paved with birds: smaller groups of Greater White-fronted and Greylag Geese , numerous Mute Swans and Mallards , plus Eurasian Teals , Gadwalls , Common Pochards , a few Ferruginous and Tufted Ducks , Common Goldeneyes and several Smews. A goose hunt sounds like a WWII battle.

Geese 189

Geese Boars Hunting Serbia 189

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2024

The sea is frothing with Great Cormorant and Herring Gull , with more than 100 birds diving into the water. They are probably hunting for herring or some other hapless little fish. I park the car and walk through a cacophony of bird song to the viewpoint. But where’s the bird? What’s that? A fin, another one.

Sweden 234

Sweden Birds Porpoises Deer 234

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2012

I am so sick of the feral cat colonies that infest so many locations that I like to bird. Mr Kerridge says it is a misconception that cats kill a huge number of birds. Birds are a long way down a cat’s food chain so well-fed cats tend not to hunt at all, he says. Feral cats kill huge numbers of birds.

Feral Cats 253

Feral Cats Feral Cats Coyotes 253

10,000 Birds

MAY 13, 2022

The only bird-related activity I can think of is looking at bird photos I took in Singapore in 2015, and adding some irrelevant comments to them. Presumably, birds living in Singapore do not understand German. Lesser Whistling Ducks are “not threatened by hunting as they are not considered good to eat” ( Wikipedia ).

Singapore 264

Singapore Birds Zebras Feral 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 28, 2014

The subject was not hunting; it was contest killing. At the end of the day, however, no one from the club’s side ever addressed the actual issue: that people who have no problem with hunting do have a problem with mass slaughter, especially when it is being taught to children. As a group, yes, we are anti-hunting,” she said.

Killing 260

Killing Hunting Possums Hunters 260

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2023

The Point-tailed Palmcreeper is a strange bird in all senses. It was almost as if the bird was made for the tree. Point-tailed Palmcreeper Another bird I had seen many photos of and consequently really wanted to see was Black-capped Donacobius – a name which I embarrassingly would often mispronounce.

Farming 246

Farming Guyana Birds South America 246

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2014

I reached two of my personal North Carolina birding goals this year. All the pelagic trips I could want and all I have to do is find birds, chat with people on board, and try not to throw up or fall asleep. These birds are small and delicate looking, but they’re no shrinking violets. It’s a dream come true.

North Carolina 225

North Carolina Birds Hunting Albatross 225

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 10, 2012

The family Picathartidae consists of two very unusual birds; White-necked or Yellow-headed Picathartes , endemic to the Upper Guinea forests of West Africa; and Gray-necked or Red-headed , restricted to Lower Guinea forests of Central Africa. White-necked or Yellow-headed Picathartes, Bonkro, Ghana.

Sierra Leone 274

Sierra Leone Ghana Equatorial Guinea Cameroon 274

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 26, 2014

What good, though, is a polar vortex if it doesn’t come attended by polar birds? Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was a Bald Eagle that he watched (and photographed) hunting and eating a Blue-winged Teal at Viera Wetlands. What was your best bird of the weekend? Birding best bird weekend'

Bald Eagle 214

Bald Eagle 2014 Eagles Hunting 214

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2020

In Costa Rica, our July birding news usually consists of interesting sightings during the mid-summer tours. These and other important birding related questions come to mind and during a normal July, I would be personally and actively helping answer them. Which tours saw the most roosting owls?

Costa Rica 263

Costa Rica Birds Thailand Farming 263

10,000 Birds

JUNE 26, 2014

Keep your eyes to the skies for hunting falcons ! Is it that time already, when a young birder’s fancy turns to, um, non-birds ? Indeed, those long hot stretches between migratory periods can try a bird watcher’s soul as surely as a cold, dark, birdless winter. Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding?

2014 218

2014 New York Falcons Hunting 218

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 15, 2013

Also providing advice were Dr. Jamie Lindstrom of the VCA Northview Animal Hospital in Pittsburgh, and Dr. Erica Miller, formerly of Tri-State Bird Rescue in Delaware. If all her other toes eventually function perfectly, she could still hunt without that one non-essential talon. She is a medicine bird. Will she be releasable?

Wildlife Rehabilitation 242

Wildlife Rehabilitation Delaware Wildlife Raccoons 242

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2015

What do you think makes for a good bird hide? I have asked myself that same question many times over the last six months, until last week, when I was involved in an opening ceremony of five new bird hides at the Palic Lake, by the town of Subotica in the very north of Serbia, along the border with Hungary (all photos are from that area).

Serbia 268

Serbia Spain Birds Hungary 268

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2014

Near the bridge is a lagoon, there should be some birds, although it is an awful spot to stop the car – the only possibility is in the middle of the lane. The next site is grazing pastureland called Mali Pesak and there, while having coffee among the snowy dunes, we observe the hunting attempt of one beautiful Hen Harrier male.

Killing 250

Killing Mali Serbia Geese 250

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2021

Have you ever birded a place so young that birds still have no names ? … – part 2 – Once I finish this writing, with a strange mix of emotions I will put the Lynx field guide Birds of Colombia to the bookshelf for the first time, more than half a year after I received it. Cerros de Mavecure, photo by Juan Carlos.

Dolphins 264

Dolphins Colombia Otters Monkeys 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2015

Dominic Couzens is a prolific writer who has published tens of books on birds and birding in addition to his magazine work, but Tales of Remarkable Birds is the first of his titles that I have read. Tales of Remarkable Birds is available now from Bloomsbury Publishing. Reviews Bird Behavior book review cassowary'

Morals 231

Morals Birds Hunting Sparrows 231

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

Marshes are the habitats with the greatest species richness in moderate zones, also significant as breeding, wintering and migratory stopover sites for birds; it therefore comes as no surprise that this one is among the 10,000 Important Bird Areas of the World (one per each bird species?). Saxicola rubetra.

Greece 237

Greece Serbia Hunters Cows 237

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 16, 2011

I travel for birding. I’m about to head out to the Hula Valley Bird Festival and as I’m packing, I thought I would share with you some essentials I think any birder should plan to have in their suitcase–no matter where they are visiting. I’ve never regretted any of these items being in my suitcase.

North Dakota 260

North Dakota Florida Soreing Birds 260

10,000 Birds

MARCH 24, 2014

I am not anti-hunting. The “Crow Down” is a “hunting contest” where both adults and children slaughter as many crows as they possibly can in two days. Obviously killing contests have nothing to do with traditional hunting, and “animal abuse” is normally used when describing domestic animals. This is baloney.

Killing 272

Killing Animal Abuse Slaughtered Slaughter 272

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2024

All birds have value. Let’s face it, some birds are more popular than others. There are bird species with the power of personality and feathered friends with super migratory prowess. In a lot of places, this backyard beauty is the most popular bird on the block! I wonder which birds are most popular in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica 246

Costa Rica Birds Parrots New York 246

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2022

It may seem like an unnecessarily recurring theme in my posts about birding within Trinidad & Tobago, but the more I write on the subject the more it becomes apparent that the number three must have some significance, somewhere. Its inaccessibility has led to it not being birded often. Broad-winged Hawk. Slowly, we continued.

Trinidad 264

Trinidad Birds Tigers Monkeys 264