10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2011

Listed as a Species of Special Concern in New York and as threatened or endangered in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, Poocetes gramineus is in trouble in the northeastern United States and, considering the decline shown in Ontario’s second breeding bird atlas, in eastern Canada as well.* What has caused the decline?

Sparrows 165

Sparrows North Dakota Downers United States 165

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2012

Of course, one Robin does not make a spring, and I told him about the hardy individuals who winter in the north, even in such a harsh north as this one. But two days ago, this Debbie Downer got her comeuppance! A week ago, a classmate eagerly told me about his sighting of an American Robin near his home. Spring, surely?

Downers 169

Downers Montana Fish Wildlife 169

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

In 1952, at least in the US, no one wanted to be a Debbie Downer. A species, wiped off the earth, never to exist again. It is correct, of course, to think of extinction this way during the Holocene Extinction, which we are living through right now. Most species go extinct. … Extinction is forever. What a horror!

California Condor 194

California Condor Guam Whales Whaling 194

10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2014

The next hour plus netted me a host of other species, including my two other targets, Virginia Rail and Common Gallinule. After Gumear Falls Road I crossed Route 209 to the Linear Park and tracked down an Alder Flycatcher that is always present there, my eighth flycatcher species of the morning.

Breeding 152

Breeding New York Downers Breeders 152