10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2015

New York, I can say with certainty that you have chosen the perfect bird to represent your state. Still, the bill passed in 1970 with only one voice in opposition: Assemblyman Posner of the Bronx, who pointed out that most New York City inhabitants had never seen an Eastern Bluebird, and probably never will.

New York 160

New York New York City United States 2010 160

10,000 Birds

APRIL 29, 2014

All we do is complain about the lack of migrating birds so far and in New York City if southeast winds are blowing we are nearly despondent because southeast winds mean that the birds are moving north but the easterly component of the winds keep usually keep the bulk of birds to our west.

New York 265

New York United States New York City Louisiana 265

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2012

The Red-winged Blackbirds that were busy staking claims to breeding territory by singing from bushes, trees, and marsh plants were not groggy at all. By the end of our circumnavigation of the West Pond we had totalled 38 species, a decent haul for mid-March and I hadn’t come close to exhausting my store of Honduras anecdotes.

New York 215

New York Honduras Jamaica Geese 215

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Like any birder visiting a new place, I had a target species list I was hoping to seek out during the one day I had available between business commitments. And this bird won’t be able to expand into new areas either — its expansion potential totals only 1 percent of its current range.

Species 230

Species Los Angeles Science 2000 230

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2014

Every spring they totally steal the show in the northeast and you really can’t blame birders for abandoning their jobs, their families, and their sanity as they rush to New York City’s abundant and amazing parks to see the show live and in technicolor. … Birds migration New York City wood-warblers'

New York City 172

New York City New York Kentucky Abandoning 172

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2012

Queens, New York, May 2009 May is the month of migration in North America. My spring has been pretty amazing so far with 146 species spotted since April 1 and Cerulean , Worm-eating , and Yellow-throated Warblers and a host of other species spotted before May even arrived, but the first couple of days in May have been even better.

New York City 194

New York City New York Litter 2009 194

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2012

Nassau County, New York, March 2009 After having fully explored the trail around the West Pond at Jamaica Bay , we four bird bloggers agreed to load up Patrick’s car and head over to Jones Beach to see what kind of birds we could find there and some other locations in Nassau County. And what a look at a life bird!

New York 160

New York Butcher Geese 2009 160

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2021

What I enjoy–almost more than any other moment of my birding year–is that special spring day when White-Crowned Sparrows deign to visit my humble home en route to their boreal breeding grounds. Of all the species he saw he had one that was easily his Best Bird of the Weekend, as it was a new bird for him in New York State.

New York 264

New York Sparrows Birds Breeding 264

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2014

Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the “Rufa” population of Red Knot ( Calidris canutus rufa ) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The other sub-species, Calidris canutus roselaari , migrates along the Pacific Coast and breeds in Alaska and the Wrangel Island in Russia. Photo: Ron Knight.

Endangered Species 160

Endangered Species Protection Delaware Species 160

10,000 Birds

JUNE 13, 2016

On Sunday, 5 June, word of Jay McGowan finding a Gargeney at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in western New York State hit the listservs. So we set to scanning, adding species and birders at a roughly two-to-one ratio. Lots of birders got to see it that day, the next day, and all week long.

New York 100

New York Bald Eagle New York City Kazakhstan 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2013

The Montana Field Guide, a helpful online compendium provided by the state government, lists seven species. Three of those — the Black-chinned , Calliope , and Rufous Hummingbirds — breed in the Missoula area. The feeder is new, the red bits shiny, the nectar fresh. It breeds into Alaska.

Montana 257

Montana Alaska Stray Cats 257

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

The Eastern Kingbirds I knew from the fields of upstate New York were smartly dressed birds that perched on fences and chased Red-tailed Hawks. This being an uncommon species in upstate New York, I appreciate having an abundance of Cliff Swallows to look at. Eastern Kingbirds Form Flocks. Swallows Everywhere.

Costa Rica 338

Costa Rica West Virginia New York South America 338

10,000 Birds

JULY 17, 2020

This is not to say that you won’t find great birds where you are, but only that they will likely be the resident breeders or wintering species you’ve already grown accustomed to. Do not allow familiarity to breed contempt… seek out something fascinating while birding this weekend and share your finds with us!

2020 229

2020 Breeders New York Birds 229

10,000 Birds

JULY 1, 2011

The first time I saw a Western Tanager , it was in New York. 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.

New York 217

New York Montana Breeding Fish 217

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2012

In New York, as is the case across most of the area where the “eastern” wood-warblers migrate, there are four species that are almost always the first to appear. All of the images in this post were taken over the last week with my digiscoping rig in New York and New Jersey.

New Jersey 241

New Jersey New York Louisiana United States 241

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

” The fact that they are monogamous and pair up by November, 4 to 5 months before breeding, probably endears them to some. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. I found this pair among the Northern Shovelers at Delevan National Wildlife Refuge and watched as they perched atop a log for awhile, preening and scratching.

2006 259

2006 Ducks Wildlife New York 259

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 18, 2012

The Yellow-throated Warbler is a wood-warbler that breeds almost exclusively in the southeastern United States. In New York City we get them as migratory overshoots though they do stick around and attempt to find a mate on occasion (and there has been documented breeding of the species in the state).

Florida 231

Florida New York City Dominica United States 231

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2015

Small numbers of migrant wood-warblers were around, with Magnolia Warbler , Wilson’s Warbler , and Ovenbird being the highlights, though perhaps Ovenbird breeds there. And then there were the birds that made me remember for sure that I was in Delaware and not in New York. I wish we got more of them in New York.

Delaware 233

Delaware New York North Carolina Birds 233

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2011

Its population actually fluctuates in response to the availability of Spruce Budworm and though it nests on the ground it is entirely inseparable from the forests of the north during breeding season. I hope you enjoy the digiscoped shots in this post that were taken at Jacob Riis Park in Queens, New York. … a.

Tennessee 247

Tennessee Ecuador South America United States 247

10,000 Birds

APRIL 16, 2012

By the time urban and suburban sprawl started to reach New Jersey’s pine barrens they were largely protected and today over 1.1 millions acres are protected as the Pinelands National Reserve where development is controlled by an agency called the New Jersey Pinelands Commission.

New Jersey 237

New Jersey New York City Leopards New York 237

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2018

To get there we would need to get out of New York, through New Jersey into Delaware, and then on through Maryland and Virginia until finally reaching our destination. We broke the drive down into two segments: from New York to Delaware on 31 March and from Delaware to North Carolina on 1 April.

North Carolina 100

North Carolina New York Delaware Puerto Rico 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 29, 2012

Every place has a different dawn chorus and the gradual crescendo as the sky lightens and more species join their voices to the earliest singers is an experience that every single person should experience at least once. All of the birds are breed in Queens and I look forward to seeing them until they leave again in the fall.

New York City 235

New York City Birds New York Breeding 235

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2015

The Western Kingbird is one of eight species of tyrant flycatchers that breed in North America. Many Kingbirds and other species that regularly hawk prey in the air have a large, broad bill that maximizes their chances of seizing at least some part of an airborne insect when they snap their bill shut. New York, NY: Alfred A.

2001 224

2001 North America New York America 224

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

Seven birders, a boat for hire, and a cruise around lower New York Harbor and vicinity looking for good birds. A surprise was a Common Merganser , a bird we don’t see much in New York City and especially not flying over the coast in Brooklyn. It seemed liked an innocuous idea. What could possibly go wrong?

New York City 217

New York City New York Jamaica Seals 217

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2017

Now that I can travel, I have perversely discovered the charms of really working over one spot of habitat across the seasons and the years; as such I’m on a mission to find 100 species of bird in Socrates Sculpture Park, a bit of Queens between the East River and Vernon Boulevard where artists create open-air displays. Why an asterisk?

New York 150

New York New York City Illinois Wisconsin 150

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2014

Will Raup is a birder from upstate New York who helped Corey learn a lot about birds when Corey was first starting out as a birder. Other species have certainly expanded their ranges, but never in such a rapid and global scale. For reasons that are not quite clear, this species underwent a massive range expansion.

Cattle 193

Cattle South Korea Suriname Seychelles 193

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Though Ron is based in Ontario his reports are eagerly anticipated by birders across the northeastern United States and eastern Canada because it takes into account a vast array of data to figure out which irruptive species might show up where. Photo illustrations by yours truly have been added. GENERAL FORECAST. HOARY REDPOLL.

2014 264

2014 2015 Alaska New Hampshire 264

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2011

I was worried that I may not have a post for this weekend until I noted Corey’s submission about the Gray-hooded Gull at Coney Island, New York. ’ These were found in Cape Town, South Africa and appeared oblivious to the excitement that their cousin was causing in New York.

South Africa 232

South Africa Pedigree Africa New York 232

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2011

Getting to know the subtleties in differences between closely related species takes years of dedication and practice. Thirdly, many species of shorebirds display such vast differences in their summer and winter plumages that it is always interesting to note how some birds in the same flock are in contrasting stages of plumage.

Florida 238

Florida South Africa 2011 Africa 238

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2011

Any day of birding in New York State that includes a sighting of a Vesper Sparrow is a better-then-average day. Fortunately, they are still common across the Great Plains and the species as a whole does not seem to be in trouble, just the eastern populations. What has caused the decline? … a.

Sparrows 165

Sparrows North Dakota Downers United States 165

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2011

Over the next few days, the Alpine Accentors ( Prunella collaris ) will arrive on their high-Alpine breeding grounds – it is time to start singing, despite that the treeless Alpine landscape is still under metres of snow. all Alpine Accetor photos digiscoped (c) Dale Forbes. all Alpine Accetor photos digiscoped (c) Dale Forbes.

2011 235

2011 Breeders Deer Breeding 235

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2015

Third, observing and photographing breeding birds and their young have become acts of ethical confusion as birders, photographers, and organizational representatives debate the impact of our human presence on the nesting process. Some chapters focus on one species (Yellow Warbler), some on several related species (Chickadees and Nuthatches).

Eggs 263

Eggs Family 2006 New York 263

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Though Ron is based in Ontario his reports are eagerly anticipated by birders across the northeastern United States and eastern Canada because it takes into account a vast array of data to figure out which irruptive species might show up where. See individual species forecasts for details.

2012 261

2012 2013 Canada United States 261

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2014

And, sometimes, I use chip notes to try to lure a bird in, using just a couple of notes and only if I was sure it would not be interfering with a breeding bird or other birder’s enjoyment. You can easily scroll through the 940 species of bird included, which covers the United States (including Hawaii) and Canada.

New York 233

New York Battery Hawaii Woodpeckers 233

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2012

We had both failed at checking off Eastern Screech-Owl or Great Horned Owl on our New York lists so far in 2007 so we figured we’d take a shot at tracking down either silent nocturnal killer. Will and I had spoken on Sunday and agreed to go owling on Tuesday night. Before Will picked me up I prepared. Lousy list-makers!

Owls 189

Owls 2007 New York Fox 189

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 23, 2011

One obvious reason is that most have plumage variations between their breeding plumage and non-breeding plumage. Take a look at these range maps for the two species. ” Once you hear the calls of these two species, you will have no problem telling them apart. Why are they seemingly so difficult to identify?

San Francisco 165

San Francisco Delaware Jordan New York 165

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2013

Corey had an absurd array of avians to choose from as his Best Bird of the Weekend considering that between Friday and Sunday he saw 148 species in his journeys around Queens, the Bronx, and Sullivan, Ulster, and Orange Counties.

New York City 208

New York City 2013 New York Birds 208