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 197

Albatross Endangered Species Bald Eagle Alaska 197

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2014

For all that, though, migration here is still largely a water-based show, with the most spectacular signs of springs coming in the forms of ducks, geese, and swans. Several locations in the state, most notably Freezeout Lake, are graced with epic spring migrations of Snow Geese and Tundra Swans as they return north along the Pacific Flyway.

Geese 176

Geese Montana Pelicans Breeding 176

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2019

It’s that coastline, however, that called me to Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, an oasis drawing migrating waterfowl like a magnet. Is there anything better for a birder than when the target species are literally everywhere , with nothing to obstruct them? Louisiana, I do so love you for your birding opportunities!

Louisiana 114

Louisiana Wildlife Bald Eagle Geese 114

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2024

Birders know that some of the finest birding locations in the country are on federal land , which include national parks , wildlife refuges , forests , monuments , and seashores , among others. The eleven largest national wildlife refuges are also in Alaska, including Arctic NWR and Yukon Delta NWR , each more than 19 million acres.

Virgin Islands 199

Virgin Islands Alaska United States Nevada 199

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 12, 2019

Most of the estuaries of Puget Sound in Washington State have been developed, but one of the few that remain is the Nisqually River Delta, which was protected as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Nisqually NWR is a major staging area for migratory birds , a wintering area for many ducks and geese, and a breeding area for numerous songbirds.

Washington 226

Washington Portland Birds Geese 226

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2011

Every autumn, tens of thousands of Snow Geese arrive in California’s Sacramento Valley following their long journey from the Canadian Arctic (click on photos for full sized images). Snow and Ross’s Geese winter there in the tens of thousands. www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeCKWKGhgR8

South Dakota 152

South Dakota Sacramento Geese Arkansas 152

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 19, 2017

A few weeks ago I led a field trip to Butte Valley Wildlife Area. It was a destination I had never experienced so I made a few phone calls and got some information from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife agent who actually runs both the Butte Valley and the Shasta Valley Wildlife Areas, which are about 25 miles apart.

Wildlife 100

Wildlife Chipmunks Sparrows Blackbirds 100

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. Birds Goshawk names Northern Goshawk'

Falcons 258

Falcons Eagles Meat Geese 258

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2012

What this land-locked country lacks in endemic birds it more than makes up for in accessibility of tough species, numbers of birds and the overall wildlife experience. It is also home to the largest concentration of African Elephants on the planet and over 450 bird species. We are currently filming in Botswana.

Botswana 199

Botswana Lions Zebras Elephants 199

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2011

The male of the species has the upper portion of the head, back of neck, back and wings all glossy black. The male is the only Black-necked Stilt in the second segment of this video, along with several Greater White-fronted Geese, and the third bird that comes into view in the final segment that is larger than the other two birds.

South Dakota 180

South Dakota Sacramento Jordan North America 180

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2012

The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex offers four photo blinds on three of their refuges which can be reserved, two on the Sacramento Refuge, one at Colusa NWR and one at Delevan NWR. This blind in particular is usually good for ducks, geese, waders and shorebirds. This is what blind #2 at the Sacramento NWR looks like.

Sacramento 102

Sacramento Wildlife North America Ducks 102

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

As the tide fell, it exposed sand banks that attracted small parties of garrulous Brent Geese. A party of Dark-bellied Brent Geese , winter visitors from Siberia Brent are abundant along the Norfolk coast, invariably proclaiming their presence with their guttural chattering, so unlike the higher-pitched calls of the Pinkfeet.

Geese 174

Geese Russia Unwanted Breeding 174

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2011

Feeding birds is generally regarded as a harmless past-time, a wholesome way for people to share nature and enjoy wildlife with the family. Sometimes people find themselves the victims of ill-informed home owners associations that have a phobic view of wildlife. Do neighbors refer to you as bird species + Lady or Guy?

Bald Eagle 236

Bald Eagle Deer Minnesota 2000 236

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2019

A while back, I wrote about an under-appreciated part of the National Wildlife Refuge System : Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). Although little-known, WPAs provide critical breeding, resting, and nesting habitat for millions of ducks, geese, and swans, as well as shorebirds and grassland species.

Nebraska 146

Nebraska Dissection Geese Ducks 146

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2018

More than 50 years ago, the Hawaiian Goose (Nene) was one of the first birds listed under the Endangered Species Act, part of the inaugural “ Class of 1967 ”. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed downlisting it from “endangered” to “threatened.”. Due to substantial improvements in its population and its prospects, the U.S.

Endangered Species 101

Endangered Species Species Hawaii 2018 101

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 10, 2019

Last year, I compiled a subjective list of the Top 25 National Wildlife Refuges for Birding. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) manages the wildlife aspects of the unit while another federal agency (in this case the U.S. According to eBird , 340 species have been observed at the “ Hagerman NWR ” hotspot, which ranks as No.

Oklahoma 134

Oklahoma Texas Dallas Wildlife 134

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

In a typical birding year, no other month will bring you that many new species as January. So I walked up and down the paths through subtropical vegetation (if I remember well, with 20+ species of figs alone) looking carefully for a green, pigeon-sized bird with a purple crest and scarlet wings. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Serbia 176

Serbia 2001 Geese Ducks 176

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2018

Late Saturday afternoon a Tundra Swan was reported from the south end of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. I watched the swan for awhile, occasionally being distracted by Snow Geese flying over, a Northern Flicker calling from nearby, and other birdy distractions. I didn’t see any of the dabbling ducks dabble.

Jamaica 104

Jamaica Wildlife New York City Ducks 104

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2019

A while back, I wrote about an under-appreciated part of the National Wildlife Refuge System : Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). Although little-known, WPAs provide critical breeding, resting, and nesting habitat for millions of ducks, geese, and swans, as well as shorebirds and grassland species.

Nebraska 113

Nebraska Dissection Geese Ducks 113

10,000 Birds

APRIL 4, 2014

Among birders, wildlife photographers, and nature enthusiasts, it is renowned for its incredible concentrations of birds at the end of the dry season. During this time, the fish trapped in the shrinking pools of water attract hordes of herons, egrets, storks, and other wetland species. I must mention one thing.

Brazil 165

Brazil Paraguay Blackbirds Birds 165

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2011

I’m not sure what the collective noun for a group of petrels is, but the vets and wildlife carers of New Zealand might be forgiven for thinking that it might be a wreck after this week. This is the largest species of prion and perhaps the one that best suits the alternative name whalebird.

New Zealand 185

New Zealand Vet Collecting Geese 185

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2012

Fresh water crocodiles enjoying the sunshine We chose to have a wander around the area, which is actually a lagoon at this time of year and totalled 39 species in an hour even mid-morning. There were even more species present here and a perfect place for a picnic lunch.

Birds 163

Birds 2000 Investigation Geese 163

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2023

I tried to get a better idea of what exactly the definition of cuckoo-dove is but am still not very clear about it – Wikipedia only offers the rather formal definition “any of several species of bird in the genera Macropygia , Reinwardtoena, and Turacoena of the pigeon family.” But I may well be wrong.

Geese 147

Geese Birds Fish Sparrows 147

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 11, 2014

And, as appears to be the case in most cities in Finland, wildlife and nature is only steps away! Obviously many species of birds can be quite elusive, but this may be your best bet at getting you close to where you’ll need to be. One of many signs in the park aimed at educating about wildlife. White Wagtail in Helsinki.

Finland 161

Finland Estonia Birds Europe 161

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

Imagine waking up to the call of thousands of ducks, geese, and every kind of marsh bird you can imagine. Right, smack dad in the middle of Summer Lake Wildlife Refuge. By the time we left, I had recorded one new Lifer, 12 New Year Birds, and a total of 76 species. US species – 175. This shot was taken at 2:00 PM.

Beavers 119

Beavers Mules Blackbirds Oregon 119

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2011

Corey encountered a bunch of winners, but 24 Common Redpolls at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, in almost the exact same spot he saw them a couple of years ago, feeding on birch inflorescence by the East Pond, were easily his best birds of the weekend. On Sunday at Kissena Park I saw five species of sparrows. No time to take a picture.

2011 153

2011 New York Deer Philadelphia 153

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2016

Alkborough Flats were only formed in 2006 when the River Humber burst its banks and flooded 450 hectares of farmland and it is now a haven for wildlife. These reeds were an excellent place to observe Bearded Reedlings , though and a bird species that people come to the area to see. Greylag Geese on the move.

Geese 140

Geese 2006 Australia Investigation 140

10,000 Birds

APRIL 11, 2011

Queens, the finest borough in New York City, as I may have mentioned before, is where I have now seen a whopping 279 species! What species will be the ten to get me to 289? When last I wrote a post like this I was somewhat disappointed to discover that I only managed to correctly guess 33% of my additions correctly.

Jamaica 156

Jamaica Owls 2010 New York City 156

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 142

2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 142

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2024

Late summer 2023 the lakes and ponds had been empty, presumably because the ducks and geese were moulting. After a pleasant morning with ducks, crisp snow and sunshine, we followed the wildlife trail on our way out. My hosts could confidently tick off the species on their life list. I ticked off 9 lifers.

Denver 157

Denver Colorado Ducks Mules 157

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2017

High above the great Rift Valley, endless treeless plains stretch out as far as you can see, holding birding (and other wildlife treasures). An eclectic mix of endemics, specialties and oddly displaced species, it is one of the most memorable places I have ever birded… and I never visited it as a trip. Rouget’s Rail.

Ethiopia 100

Ethiopia Mammals Rats South America 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2017

The skies were full of thousands of Greylag Geese , Pink-footed Geese , Barnacle Geese and Brent Geese on the move and in the shallow water there were already hundreds of Bar-tailed Godwits , Eurasian Oystercatchers , Dunlin and Eurasian Curlew. Thousands of Geese on the move on dusk. Eurasian Curlew.

Seals 100

Seals Geese 2017 Ducks 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2018

We were able to find a very nice RV park, just a couple of miles from one of my all time favourite birding hotspots, Billy Frank Jr, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. In the winter this place is alive with thousand of ducks and geese. USA species – 111. Australia species – 242. Mexico species – 148.

New Zealand 110

New Zealand Seattle Qatar South Africa 110

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Two full days at Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge, three days at Dog Lake, and a short visit to Upper Cottonwood Lake brought back many great memories, in addition to a nice list of birds. Then, to finish the week, we visited the famous, and not necessarily for all the right reasons, Malhuer Wildlife Refuge. eBird Reports – 276.

Oregon 114

Oregon Owls Barn Owls Wildlife 114

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Other birds with webbed feet, including ducks and geese, have only three webbed toes; the hallux (which in birds is usually the “hind toe&# and in humans, the “big toe&# ) is free. Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) Five species of frigatebird ply the planet’s tropical skies and seas. The proposal from U.S.

2011 151

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea California 151

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

For Corey, this was a weekend without a single standout species but with many birds that were pretty darn neat. The Snow Geese at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge will soon be winging their way north, so he spent some quality time with them, his best birds of the weekend. Enjoy the details and proof here. The proposal from U.S.

2011 133

2011 Deer Owls Birds 133

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Just before I left for Italy, I took a trip to the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge for a healthy dose of migration. No Snow Geese or swans yet, and no Sandhill Cranes , but it did renew my taste for some of the simpler, homier pleasures of birding. Montana offers little in the way of flamingos, generally speaking.

Bald Eagle 106

Bald Eagle Montana Italy Owls 106