10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2015

That place is the fabled home of shorebirds, both common and rare, the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Combined, I netted eighteen species of shorebirds in the two days, a tally that included my favorite shorebird, featured above, a juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher. I’m so glad I’m not a shorebird.

Jamaica 162

Jamaica Wildlife New York City New York 162

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2012

When you live in Queens and you only have one morning of an August weekend to go birding there is only one place to go – the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Get out to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge’s East Pond and enjoy those shorebirds. What makes it so good? Shorebirds! Was it worth it? Well, it is.

Jamaica 181

Jamaica Wildlife New York City Falcons 181

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 27, 2021

This natural space of almost a thousand acres – once a deforested area for extensive cattle ranching – has been restored for four decades, considering every detail in the aesthetics and functionality of the landscape, seeking the regeneration of bird and wildlife populations that inhabit the ecosystem.

Costa Rica 247

Costa Rica Sanctuary Bats Woodpeckers 247

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2013

In a move that’s sure to stir controversy far beyond the borders of California, federal officials have announced that h enceforth, fledgling Peregrine Falcons won’t be relocated from nests built on bridges in the state. But it also means that some baby falcons are likely to plunge into a watery grave. What do you think?

California 188

California Endangered Species Falcons Jordan 188

10,000 Birds

APRIL 28, 2017

Instead it’s one you’re likely to turn to on coming home after a long day to find out a bit more about one of the species you spotted – or to consult before a trip to learn the little quirks of a target species. Birds of Prey: Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, and Vultures of North America by Pete Dunne with Kevin T.

North America 103

North America Falcons America Eagles 103

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2013

If I had my druthers I would be birding the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge pretty much every day from July until September. That said, I might have made an embarrassing call involving those species once or twice. Isn’t Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge a great place to see them? Aren’t shorebirds awesome?

Jamaica 172

Jamaica Wildlife Falcons Family 172

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

No strangers to wildlife observation and birding, this American/Tica couple have been publishing handy pocket field guides for Costa Rica and other places since the 1990s. We did just that and were treated to a parade of species both in front of and behind the house. Gartered Trogon. King Vulture.

Costa Rica 201

Costa Rica Philadelphia Falcons Owls 201

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2019

The Shoebill serves as the symbol of the magnificent wildlife experiences Uganda offers visitors, which may seem a bit odd. That honor goes to the Gray-crowned Crane , a very sexy species in its own right. Having finally seen this iconic species, I can assure you that the experience wildly exceeds expectations.

Uganda 271

Uganda Africa Penguins 2019 271

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

These are the neighborhood raptors that make do, even thrive, by preying on the wildlife of an urban landscape. Yes, it’s the same species that so many North American birders have looked for around the San Pedro River (myself included) and like those Arizona birds, our urban Gray Hawks likewise use riparian zones.

Costa Rica 302

Costa Rica Mice Arizona Squirrels 302

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2012

Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge, Honduras, March 2009 After our trip to the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge was rained out on our first morning at The Lodge at Pico Bonito we rescheduled our visit for our second and last morning at the lodge. Not only that, but we had a train ride to look forward to! It turned out to be pretty cool.

Honduras 160

Honduras Wildlife Monkeys Transported 160

10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2015

Since we’ve covered some generalities already, once a month I’ll be exploring how a species, genus, or family of birds got its name, and how those names fit in with our larger understanding of, and relationship with, birds. Images courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Gosh-awk would be undignified.

Falcons 260

Falcons Eagles Meat Geese 260

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2015

I am inside the city of Belgrade, checking the theoretically possible Peregrine Falcon site. Yet, not a trace of a falcon. Serbia has a large number of pigeon fanciers and a long history of lack of law enforcement in the field of wildlife crime ( Newsweek on poaching in the Balkans ). One Feral Pigeon. A Great Tit.

Switzerland 198

Switzerland Serbia Feral Falcons 198

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2021

I am a wildlife artist based in the UK, I have never had a real job! Other than paint, the only other thing I do is organize and joint-lead wildlife tours, mostly in Africa and India. It teems with wildlife of every kind and is justifiably known as “The Jewel of the Kalahari”. My name is Ashley Boon.

Botswana 181

Botswana Africa Angola Elephants 181

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

My British total was a mere 172 species – not bad, but not very good. Every one of my 171 species was a bird that I found myself. It keeps a monthly record of sightings, so I can tell you that it was in February that I recorded my highest monthly species total (106), while my lowest total was in August (39).

Estonia 232

Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 232

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 262

North America America 2006 Delaware 262

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

I chalked up 132 species in a pretty relaxed eight days, during which birds shared the agenda with culture. With 154 eBirded species almost single-handedly spotted by the UK expat Geoff Laight, the Paljuvi is the latest addition to the top-5 list. With 154 eBirded species, the Beljarica shares the 4th place on the list.

Serbia 163

Serbia Bulgaria Farming Turtles 163

10,000 Birds

JULY 8, 2015

The house , along with being my home for all that time, was as fine a place to enjoy urban wildlife as any I have ever seen. I had the pleasure of having four yard birds that are globally threatened or near-threatened; the Kaka , Stitchbird , Saddlback and New Zealand Falcon.

New Zealand 157

New Zealand Sanctuary Falcons Wildlife 157

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 19, 2020

Set in an abandoned oil refinery where wildlife is slowly regaining control save for the desperate attempts of golfers to retain all eighteen holes, industrial ghosts loom over rolling freshwater lakes bordered by fifty foot tall trees. Peregrine Falcon. For the most part, vultures occupied the sky. Gradually, the bird drifted nearer.

Trinidad 212

Trinidad Birds Parrots Falcons 212

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2021

Weidensaul worked on the first research project in Argentina 24 years ago, and his memories of that time in the pampas are both a baseline for what has happened since, a mini-story in itself, and a tribute to Pete Bloom and Brian Woodbridge, the wildlife biologists who originated the study of Swainson’s Hawks in Butte Valley.

Cyprus 257

Cyprus Slaughtered Slaughter Research 257

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

For mankind to snatch away a species’ very existence is wrong on so many levels that I can’t begin to explain them. However, despite our best efforts to wipe them off the face of the earth, some of the more vulnerable species have managed to hang on. Fish and Wildlife Service. this species breeds.

Albatross 210

Albatross Endangered Species Bald Eagle Alaska 210

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2018

This area also is where I hope to fill in a few target birds, like the newly spilt Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay, Pinyon Jays and Prairie Falcons. The west end of the lake has been designated as a Watchable Wildlife Reserve, with some nice walking trails and a couple of very nice hides built overlooking some varied waterways.

Colorado 113

Colorado Texas Trinidad Albuquerque 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2019

The route Corey and I took in advance of the 2019 African Birding Expo may not be the only optimal way to go, but this approach yielded an absolute bounty of wildlife excitement in just 48 action-packed hours. What makes this destination so magnificent? Plus, the food, service, and accommodations meet the highest standards.

Uganda 195

Uganda Senegal Africa Game 195

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2021

Even so, he still knew many species and always yearned to learn about the wildlife he encountered. There were also grouse, the Ruffed Grouse , and like so many other species, it just seemed impossible that I would ever see one. The remaining four species are the most grouse-like of the bunch. Bushwacking?

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica Chickens Pennsylvania Litter 264

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2015

This small bustard is perhaps the same species as the more widespread White-bellied Bustard, but if it is separate its a rare bird to see and pretty special. And watching this from above was a Lanner Falcon. Amur Falcons are ubiquitous. A Pied Starling. We set out and quickly managed to find one of my targets. But we did.

South Africa 145

South Africa Africa Falcons Family 145

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2014

Besides the only Canvasbacks of the count, a species that I rarely see on my regular rounds, we encountered good numbers of water birds including Lesser Scaup, American Black Duck, Herring Gull , and those common but always entertaining little ducks the Bufflehead , to say nothing of our only Swamp Sparrow of the day.

Chinchillas 164

Chinchillas Ducks Lifestyle Sparrows 164

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2015

Miracle upon miracle, I actually ran into my college friend at the visitor center, and now that that logistical snafu was taken care of I could actually focus on where I was and, even better, what wildlife we could see. I have only ever seen one Peregrine Falcon, and the scoters and guillemot were lifers for me! White-crowned Sparrow.

Seals 190

Seals Elephants Whales Whaling 190

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2020

Local farmers view it as a threat to domesticated wildlife. It didn’t occur to me till I started reading The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird that there was also a possible threat to the eagle herself: poachers, who steal raptor eggs and chicks.

Falcons 218

Falcons United Kingdom Zimbabwe Eggs 218

10,000 Birds

MAY 30, 2019

That summer of 1938, when he was ten years old, Cade read of two brothers, Frank and John Craighead, who wrote of their experiences with falcons in National Geographic. I knew no falconers. ” Falcons could be taken from the nest just before they were able to fly or caught wild after maturity. The concern possessed him.

Falcons 186

Falcons California Condor Alaska Idaho 186

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2012

ALWAYS assume there is some other bird species in there that you have not found yet. Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Here is a flock of endangered species. Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota. Could a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper be mixed in with that flock of Pectorals ? Buldir Island, AK.

North Dakota 162

North Dakota LACS Oakland Iceland 162

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

Sadly, four other teams did as well, and we finished fourth with our 123 species. Every bird counted as one so common and uncommon species were all appreciated. By the time we left Fort Tilden it was not yet 9AM and we already had almost seventy species checked off the list. Blackpoll Warbler. Least Flycatcher. Bald Eagle.

Bald Eagle 100

Bald Eagle Jamaica Birds Eagles 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2013

Seeing 525 species was nice, as was the fact that I birded in four countries, nine of the fifty states in the United States, and fifty-one counties. I want to reach 500 birds in the ABA, get my Queens list to 295, see a total of at least 500 species, and get my World Life List to 1,100. But how did I see so many species this year?

2012 144

2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 144

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus ) at Delevan NWR (click on photos for full sized images). The name Peregrine means “wanderer,” and northern-nesting Peregrines are among North America’s long-distance migratory species, some moving 25,000 kilometers every year. Peregrine Falcon at Delevan National Wildlife Refuge.

Falcons 136

Falcons Wildlife Sacramento Endangered Species 136

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

Covering 1,261 species with data and taxonomy current up to August 2017, the field guide is an exciting achievement. And, then there are the more familiar birds–Wood-warblers, sandpipers, hawks–some species migrants, some species with a wide range. Can you guess which of the species cited above are endemic?

America 214

America El Salvador Costa Rica Honduras 214

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2016

Over 3,200 photographs have been used, most showing species in their habitats. There is also text, distribution maps, a dark red bar “warning” about similar looking rare species, and conservation symbols. So, how do you find the species account for Kestrel if falcons are not placed between woodpeckers and parakeet?

Ireland 147

Ireland Birds Falcons Turtles 147

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2019

They were still listed as Endangered, but wildlife management measures taken in this park were clearly working. We are entering the mixed colony of 11 species ( Grey , Squacco , Purple and Black-crowned Night Herons ; Great , Little and, recently, Cattle Egrets ; Eurasian Spoonbill (below) and Glossy Ibis ; Pygmy and Great Cormorant ).

Greece 198

Greece Pelicans Buffalo Fish 198

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2011

By age 2 she could identify over 10 species of birds in our Johannesburg, South Africa, yard by call alone. Publications like Ranger Rick and National Geographic Kids can also satisfy their curiosity through their kid-friendly articles on birds and wildlife. My 8-year old daughter got interested in birds from a VERY early stage.

Birds 279

Birds Game South Africa Wildlife 279

10,000 Birds

APRIL 19, 2023

A boat ride into this swamp turns up usual suspects like Pied Water Tyrant and Yellow-hooded Blackbird , but also (and most excitingly) three species of kingfisher: Green, American Pygmy and Ringed Kingfisher. Back in 2014 we stumbled upon a juvenile Double-toothed Kite and that was the first and only time I have ever seen that species well.

Trinidad 29

Trinidad Falcons Primates Monkeys 29