10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2023

With my recent relocation to the central forests of Trinidad, I have been afforded the incredible opportunity of observing three oft-confused species in close proximity to one another. In reality these species are rarely in the same place at the same time, however! All the more reason to keep birding!

Trinidad 146

Trinidad Abandoning Abandonment Abandon 146

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2024

There are 154 species of cuckoos in the world, and they’re all a fascinating bunch. It’s not a species you are likely to overlook, either, as it is extremely noisy, its cackling call carrying great distances. Give it a few more years and there’s a good chance that it will be split into a full species, just like the Cyprus Scops Owl.

Cyprus 214

Cyprus Africa Europe Asia 214

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

How can something so miniscule bust out of an opaque egg and immediately commence the preparation for a thousand-mile journey – that is often made without any adult accompaniment – is completely beyond this human’s understanding. A couple days ago I paid a visit to (what was) a wetland in southwest Tobago.

Fish 237

Fish Eggs Family Humane 237

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2024

Taking inspiration from Matthiessen’s 1967 book (long out of print), which combined his natural history essays with species accounts by Ralph S. Species Profile, Black-necked Stilt, p. 57; © 2024 by Pete Dunne and Kevin T.

North America 259

North America America 2006 Delaware 259

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2014

The obvious choice was the Mallard , that plucky familiar northern hemisphere species that is the father of the even more familiar domesticated duck. In fact, as the species was quickly identified as as creating hybrids with Grey Ducks, the opinion was by the 1920s that the species shouldn’t be released further.

Species 166

Species New Zealand Ducks Game 166

10,000 Birds

APRIL 25, 2022

So, the basic idea is to show 15 species of Australian birds in each post and give you the usual trivia about them. This species has also eliminated the need for childcare – the chicks emerge from this pile on their own and never even get to see their parents. Admittedly, it is mostly grey.

Australia 184

Australia Koalas Parrots Birds 184

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

It depicted a Common Loon ( Gavia immer ) sitting on eggs on a seemingly crude nest. As I flipped through the pages I was once again amazed by the quality and lifelikeness of the birds presented. Until recently, it was considered to be the same species as the Eurasian three-toed Woodpecker (P. tridactylus).

Woodpeckers 213

Woodpeckers Birds Canada ALA 213

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2021

The text goes far beyond just those two birds, however, as Doug works his way through the puzzles presented by the incredibly wide diversity of bird behavior, even within species, citing current research and new and old theories, reasoning out the most likely and unlikely answers. The six middle chapters are my favorite reading.

Science 211

Science Albatross Research Owls 211

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2020

I am only responding to my subjective impression of a single species’ appearance here; specifically, that of the Bronzed Cowbird. Especially when I compare it with the other cowbird present in central Mexico, the Brown-headed Cowbird. In contrast, the Brown-headed Cowbird is a same-continent invasive species.

Blackbirds 154

Blackbirds Mexico Cattle Birds 154

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2023

It covers 403 species: 172 nonpasserine species and 231 passerine species in the Species Accounts, 198 species beautifully illustrated by the author in the Plates section. The scarcity of information on the young of some avian species is astounding. and three of the nine woodpeckers illustrated.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 253

Wildlife Rehabilitation Birds Family Collecting 253

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2022

In most years, that wouldn’t be all that special — the lake is normally where I can see the most species in a single day, so I usually go there first. These photos exaggerate the size difference between the two species, which is actually so minimal as to be almost useless for ID purposes.). Was it practicing?

Falcons 181

Falcons Abandon Abandoning Abandonment 181

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2021

Pough “with illustrations in color of every species” by Don Eckelberry, Doubleday, 1946. The National Audubon Society Birds of North America covers all species seen in mainland United States, Canada and Baja California. The press material says it covers over 800 species, so you know I had to do a count.

North America 278

North America America California Condor Birds 278

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2021

There was a time when I thought each bird species had its own individual song. Then I found out that there was this vocalization called a ‘call,’ so I thought each bird species had its own individual song (but just the males) and individual call. How do they know? And, that’s it.

North America 278

North America Research Birds America 278

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

In late July, I travelled a half hour north of Morelia to Lake Cuitzeo (kweet-SAY-oh) to see if our two inevitable first migratory species from up north, Baird’s Sandpiper and Wilson’s Phalarope, had begun arriving. At that point, neither species was yet present, and there wasn’t much of a lake, either.

Ducks 252

Ducks 2020 Eggs California 252

10,000 Birds

JULY 1, 2018

This year is the eighteenth year since we discovered our first Pied Oystercatcher nest on Cable Beach in Broome and it didn’t take us long to realise that they are not at all successful at raising young due to egg and chick predation. Each year we hope for anther success, but so far it has not happened. Pied Oystercatcher nest.

Breeding 100

Breeding 2018 Eggs 2008 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2019

Birds of the West: An Artist’s Guide presents both sides of the artistic equation–lovely prints and water colors of 88 (or so) North American birds of the Pacific Northwest; commentary on how the author/artist created the images; and lessons on how to draw and paint birds in various media.

Birds 147

Birds Eggs Laws Oregon 147

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

Over the last weekend, I was at Lake Kissimmee in Florida, observing Snail Kites at an area kites were not present or rare just a few years ago. Decades of land transformation and hydrological changes resulted in the decline of the only species of apple snail native to Florida and the kite population followed suit.

Florida 217

Florida South America Bolivia Eggs 217

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

Also known as the Scaly-breasted Munia , Spice Finch , or, more properly, as Lonchura punctulata , Nutmeg Mannikins have been present in California for decades, with counts in the hundreds not terribly unusual in southern California. A young or female Nutmeg Mannikin can be a confusing bird to identify for the unprepared observer.

California 195

California Los Angeles 2013 Eggs 195

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2018

Some 84 species of North American birds , excavate nesting holes, use cavities resulting from decay (natural cavities), or use holes created by other species in dead or deteriorating trees for nesting. Many species of these cavity nesting birds have declined because of habitat reduction. But you can help.

Tenant 194

Tenant Shelters Protection Eggs 194

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2013

Twenty two species are distributed among six genera, depending on what happens to be extinct, and for the most part one grebe is like another. This makes Grebes vulnerable to climate change and the predation of invasive species. It is easy to see how Minks set lose in a welcoming habitat could eat an entire species.

2010 200

2010 South America 2011 Argentina 200

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2013

Once again Pied Oystercatcher breeding season is fast approaching in Broome and we can expect the first batch of eggs to be laid within the next few weeks. We have also discovered that they are very rarely successful with the first eggs laid due to predation of either the eggs or the chicks. Sooty Oystercatcher having a shake!

Eggs 171

Eggs Breeding Australia Raised 171

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

They may be about bird eggs ( The Most Perfect Thing: The Inside (and Outside) of a Bird’s Egg , 2016), or a 17th-century ornithologist ( Virtuoso by Nature: The Scientific Worlds of Francis Willughby, 2016), or How Bullfinches learn songs from humans ( The Wisdom of Birds: An Illustrated History of Ornithology.

Dissection 216

Dissection Birds Europe Eggs 216

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

The first eggs were laid in the first week of July, which is the case each year. The eggs take 28 days to hatch and it is then at least 35 days before the chicks are developed enough to fly and there have been problems with predation as in other years. Pied Oystercatcher sitting on eggs in the nudist area of Cable Beach.

Breeding 158

Breeding Eggs Camels Shelters 158

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2014

The local Bald Eagles are getting busy, I suspect there is an egg in the nest. The birds were too far away to identify, and I know more than one species does this, but if I had to guess they were starlings. If half the Warblers go extinct, that would be a lot of species but you’d still pretty much have Warbler DNA.

Bald Eagle 178

Bald Eagle Zoos Philippines Apes 178

10,000 Birds

JULY 23, 2014

The northwestern spread of this non-native species made it to my yard a few years ago. The lightest shade of lavender coincides with a 0 – 2% frequency of sightings, the next darker shade 2 – 10%, the next 10 – 25%, the next 25 – 40% and the darkest (almost black) shade is a 40 – 100% occurrence of the species.

2002 178

2002 Breeders North America Bahamas 178

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 28, 2014

Among birds the Egyptian Vulture uses rocks to crack Ostrich eggs, the New Caledonian Crow and Woodpecker Finch (one of several Darwin Finches of the Galapagos Islands), uses sticks to extract grubs from inside a branch. This is similar to the fact that all birds, even first time breeders within a species build identical nests.

Fish 163

Fish Ostriches Woodpeckers Breeders 163

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 22, 2013

The Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacean is present in some of the ephemeral lakes around Broome in wet years, but can be absent for several years and then reappear. Once you travel further north from Broome there are numerous opportunities to observe this species and any fresh water body is worth checking.

Australia 162

Australia 2011 Eggs Species 162

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2012

Bufflehead ( Bucephala albeola ) Female at Cavity Entrance photos by Larry Jordan “Some 85 species of North American birds excavate nesting holes, use cavities resulting from decay (natural cavities), or use holes created by other species in dead or deteriorating trees. Notice the chick in the upper left corner.

North America 212

North America America Barn Owls Fur 212

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2012

All of the pairs that we monitor have lost either their eggs or juvenile birds to predation before they were fledged and are patiently sitting once again on a new clutch of eggs. This week we had large tides and there were several large flocks on Cable Beach. It doesn’t take long and they are dried discs left to blow in the wind.

Wounded 160

Wounded Eggs Rescue Breeding 160

10,000 Birds

MAY 16, 2011

Brown-headed Cowbirds evoke strong feelings in many birders, some of whom can’t abide a bird that lays its eggs in other birds’ nests, often to the detriment of the nest owners’ offspring. Now nearly ubiquitous from forests to urban centers And our young have even more bird species as mentors.

Eggs 158

Eggs Buffalo Sparrows Humane 158

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2014

We can, of course, count wild, native, species. We can count vagrant species that made it to the area we are in under their own power. We can count introduced species that have met the criteria of the “Bird Police” for the area to which they are introduced. When we eat eggs we eat chicken eggs almost exclusively.

Chickens 196

Chickens Florida Feral Eating Eggs 196

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 175

California Condor Falcons California Coyotes 175

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2018

and a visit to Big Egg Marsh (one year bird!) But both species of swans present had enough neck to reach something to eat on the bottom of the pond. I was psyched to see the one that had been reported but first I had to do some other birding on Sunday morning to keep my year list moving along. done I headed over to Jamaica Bay.

Jamaica 104

Jamaica Wildlife New York City Ducks 104

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2016

A hefty and lavish hardcover, it presents more than a hundred avian portraits by Matt Adrian, A.K.A. As The Mincing Mockingbird, Adrian has a distinctive, instantly recognizable idiom: birds (or occasionally eggs) portrayed singly or in small groups, often off-center and partially out of the frame, against stark monochromatic backgrounds.

Lovebirds 104

Lovebirds 2014 Eggs Wildlife 104

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

Ackerman surrounds each individual story with background facts and studies on other birds who mimic, play, parasitize nests, engage in complex cognitive routines, parent in unusual ways–presenting a complex mosaic of avian behaviors amongst bird families and the scientific histories of trying to understand them.

Science 220

Science Costa Rica Birds Research 220

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2013

The two dozen species are, nearly to an individual, long bodied and bicolored. Unlike most of its cogeners, Venezuelan Troupial does not build one of those hanging bag nests so well known by the other Icterus species, it’s a nest parasite. Just lazy ones.

Baltimore 176

Baltimore Broker North America Raised 176

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

It is the 100th Anniversary of the extinction of the species known as the Passenger Pigeon and writers are paying attention. Errol Fuller’s The Passenger Pigeon is a beautifully illustrated, elegantly written “celebration” of the passenger pigeon and the artists who illustrated and photographed the species.

2014 160

2014 Killing Michigan Kentucky 160