10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2019

During the decade, I submitted 1,219 checklists and observed 555 bird species, all in the U.S. After an initial period when all species are new, the lifers begin to follow a pattern. Thus, I can pinpoint my first pelagic trip, as it added 13 new species. Birding trips to Florida , New Mexico , and Texas are obvious too.

Puerto Rico 146

Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Michigan Washington 146

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 9, 2015

(I checked Scissor-tailed Flycatcher as well and the same held, although that species did have a handful of summer records that the kingbirds lacked.). You do, however, see them in January in places like Florida and North Carolina. Images courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

New York 183

New York North Carolina Florida Fish 183

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2015

Turns out, Monday brought more than a little rain, and we got soaked as we explored the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge along the ocean. They formed their little clumps along the water, all the species mixed together until a walker approached too closely.

North Carolina 171

North Carolina Wildlife Alligators Woodpeckers 171

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2011

Many winter in Florida, admittedly something of a freak state when it comes to overwintering passerines, but a few Orioles can be found up the coast as far north as North Carolina, and the odd bird finds its way into the Piedmont, the part of the state, well inland mind you, where I live.

North Carolina 140

North Carolina 2011 St. Louis Baltimore 140

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

As of mid-October 2018, the Collaborative had submitted more than 1,700 checklists and observed 618 species in the United States. The heat map is revealing: Unsurprisingly for a site founded and run by two New Yorkers (one of whom literally wrote the book on birding New York), the Empire State boasts the highest number of species (316).

Rhode Island 114

Rhode Island United States West Virginia Puerto Rico 114

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2013

There are few places in Florida – heck, in the United States – that are as fun to hang out at as this water treatment facility. I turned, as I do from time to time, to the butterflies, particularly those species that I can’t see in North Carolina. One of my favorites is Zebra Longwing.

North Carolina 115

North Carolina Florida United States Zebras 115

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 13, 2021

By their very name, most would assume you can’t spot Snow Geese in Florida. Marks National Wildlife refuge in search of water birds – ducks and mergansers in particular. Both bore the darker colorations of the Blue Morph gene, but it was impossible to mistake the species for anything other than a Snow Goose.

Geese 167

Geese Florida Tampa New Mexico 167

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2018

Not long ago, I posted a list of the 25 best National Wildlife Refuges for birding. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has published a list of NWRs that have been created or expanded with Duck Stamp funds. as to number of species). Aransas NWR (368 species and 42.7% Ding Darling NWR (Florida): 7.4%. And the U.S.

Ducks 203

Ducks Wildlife Texas Hawaii 203