article thumbnail

You Never Know What You’ll Find in Kansas

10,000 Birds

The sun was setting fast as my mom and I left Council Grove, Kansas, after a delicious steak dinner and a three hour expedition across the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. We felt in high spirits after a gorgeous afternoon in the grassland, tallying up over 20 species of birds, including three lifers for me. We thought.

Kansas 123
article thumbnail

Crimson-rumped Toucanet

10,000 Birds

Toucans tell you that you aren’t in Kansas anymore. And while I’ve seen a number of different toucan species, every one is a thrill, even the toucanets! Aulacorhynchus species are considered the green toucanets , which suits this bird pretty well besides its blue-tinged breast and ruby-red rump.

Kansas 222
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

10,000 Birds goes eBirding – Part II

10,000 Birds

As of mid-November 2021, the Collaborative had submitted more than 4,200 checklists (up from 1,700 in 2018) and has observed 691 species in the United States (up from 618). Thus, there are now seven states with 200+ observed species. The state with the largest increase was Arizona , with 139 species added.

article thumbnail

I Get Back

10,000 Birds

Four moments (and species) stand out in my own personal birding renaissance: I put an improvised birdbath in my yard to see if I can get the House Sparrows to stop munching on my lettuce plants, and a stunning Black-vented Oriole arrives to bathe. I realize I’m not in Kansas (well, California) anymore. I have birding buddies!

Kansas 259
article thumbnail

Reflecting on a Year of Less Birding

10,000 Birds

In addition to spotting exciting new species in Florida, including the rare Snail Kite, travel across the country brought me into contact with birds in Oregon, California, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Alabama, and more. With my new job, I feel privileged to work towards protecting vulnerable species each and very day.

article thumbnail

My Personal Favorites

10,000 Birds

These species are not only beautiful or charming, but have a personal resonance for me. But suffice it to say that when a Black-vented Oriole turned up for a drink, I realized I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. (Or, I now suspect that this species is often a possibility for Lake Cuitzeo during the month of May.

Squirrels 246
article thumbnail

The Blood Pheasant

10,000 Birds

The Latin species name cruentus , “blood-stained” has the same background Blood Pheasants mainly feed on mosses – not many bird species do this as mosses are not very nutritious. But an excerpt from “Train to Kansas City”, a song also covered by the Shop Assistants. This song mentions R.E.M.,