10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

In June, I visited North Dakota for the first time. The list of most-threatened birds continues; all of these birds could lose more than 99 percent of their current range in at least one season by 2080: Baird’s Sparrow. I’ve discussed Chestnut-collared Longspur at some length already. Black Rosy-Finch.

Species 230

Species Los Angeles Science 2000 230

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2011

We were walking through a field of dry grass in a Hamilton County park, looking for sparrows and pursuing three Bobolinks when we flushed a Yellow Rail , literally right at our feet.

2011 185

2011 Ohio North Dakota Bald Eagle 185

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

After those five, there are relative handful with over 100 species: North Carolina (172), Michigan (159), Arizona (155), Washington (144), North Dakota (141!), California (297) is next, followed by Florida (227), Oregon (209), and New Jersey (199). Even the nation’s capital has been ignored.

Rhode Island 127

Rhode Island United States West Virginia Puerto Rico 127

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2018

Even more than warbler, shorebird, and sparrow identification, this is a field that tests our endurance (gull watching is too often done in bitter cold, windy conditions), patience (even getting one good photo can take hours as you try to separate the ‘interesting gull’ from the flock), observational skills (so many plumages!)

North America 214

North America El Salvador America Nicaragua 214

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2011

This sighting came at the end of five days at the Potholes & Prairie Birding Festival in Jamestown, North Dakota. And when I found I could not fly out of Fargo, North Dakota on Sunday (nothing affordable available) I picked a Monday afternoon flight and promptly set my sights on breaking this birding curse.

Connecticut 231

Connecticut North Dakota Ohio Owls 231

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2011

For some reason Felonious Jive shared Seagull Steve’s Best Bird of the Year: One of the reasons Seagull Steve went to North Dakota last summer was to spend some time with Baird’s Sparrows. They may be drab, but their pleasant ringing song and close relationship to the prairie make for a very interesting bird.

2011 233

2011 Birds South Korea North Dakota 233

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

Photographed at White Lake, North Dakota. Lincoln’s Sparrows are now returning to much of the country after a tortuous absence of many months. I highly recommend attempting this tactic of bird identification sometime, preferably on a boat crowded with other birders… In parts of the U.S.,

San Francisco 211

San Francisco North Dakota Albatross California 211

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

Texas and North Dakota together account for 88% of the total yearly kill of sandhill cranes. Initiating a hunting season on a large, charismatic species like a crane is no way to resuscitate hunting. It is, however, an excellent way to alienate nonconsumptive wildlife enthusiasts, and further polarize the camps.

2011 263

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 263

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2018

Donna was first amongst beats to reach North Dakota and brought the number of Lower 48s to 32, adding Sharp-tailed Grouse , Sprague’s Pipit and LeConte’s Sparrow to the life list. LeConte’s Sparrow – Ammodramus leconteii. Baird’s Sparrow – Ammodramus bairdii. 13 Jul 2018.

2018 124

2018 Australia Los Angeles Albatross 124

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2019

Harris’s Sparrow, Central Park, NYC. Now, if you know NYC geography and its transit system, you will know that it isn’t always easy to get from the East side to the West side, where the Harris’s Sparrow was located. Baird’s Sparrow, North Dakota. Another sparrow! This bird was a wonderful surprise.

2018 202

2018 Michigan North Dakota New Jersey 202