10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 23, 2016

Who doesn’t love a good owl? There are few families of birds where despite a cosmopolitan distribution I’m always so pleased to see any species of the family. owls aren’t rare, but they are seldom easy. This was only the second time I had ever seen this species in all my time on the continent.

Owls 222

Owls Somalia Gambia Sudan 222

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2017

When he reached out to ask if he could contribute a piece to 10,000 Birds about about the ethics around the current Snowy Owl irruption in the central and eastern United States we were all for it! “In In support of the Snowys I will not be liking any more Snowy Owl photos.”. Snowy Owls have value. Species have value.

Ethics 147

Ethics Owls New York North America 147

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 17, 2019

October is a good month to see owls in Shanghai, where these birds are rare in most other months. Two species can be seen quite regularly – Northern Boobook and Oriental Scops Owl. In contrast, Oriental Scops Owls seem to often migrate in slightly larger groups of maybe 10 or so.

Owls 109

Owls Cats Eagles Groups 109

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2013

Broward County has one of the highest densities of Burrowing Owls in Florida. Not surprisingly, this brings Burrowing Owls into close contact with humans across the county. The Florida sub-species of Burrowing Owl is now classified as a threatened species in Florida and it is one of the rarest sub-species of Burrowing Owls.

Owls 239

Owls Florida Raised Coyotes 239

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 26, 2019

Whatever the reason for getting involved with this massive day of birding, every GBD has been a success where literally thousands of species are found by thousands of birders. I have been able to do that in Costa Rica because literally hundreds of bird species can be accessed in a question of hours.

Costa Rica 214

Costa Rica Species West Virginia New York 214

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2019

Although Bobolinks are a very rare migrant, lots of other birds are possible, more than enough to rack up hundreds of species over the course of the year. Each January, I hope to identify at least 600 species over the next 12 months, this year, I’m hoping that Marilen and I (aka Team Tyto ) will find 700.

Costa Rica 201

Costa Rica Species Birds New York 201

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

What is your favorite bird species? This is a real hard one, but I would have to say the stunning Pel’s Fishing Owl as this was my Spark bird-it’s the bird that got me into birding. Pel’s Fishing Owl What is your name, and where do you live? Marc Cronje.

Uganda 199

Uganda Africa Fish Owls 199

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 2, 2015

There are few places in the United States where simply driving around can leave you with a list of 30+ species, many of them large and spectacular. Cape Coral has a remarkable population of Burrowing Owls , cute little stilt-legged beasts we usually associate with the western part of the continent.

Owls 205

Owls Tenant Florida United States 205

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2018

There are an additional 1,200 acres of surrounding protected refuge, supporting a documented 525 bird species! In the park proper, 358 species have been recorded. One of the highlights of birding in this Texas state park is the chance to see five owl species that breed here. Eastern Screech-Owl. Mottled Owl.

Texas 157

Texas Owls Barn Owls Hunting 157

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2021

Smith’s Longspurs, Vermillion Flycatchers, Burrowing Owls, Long-billed Curlews, Virginia Rails, Black Terns, Crested Caracaras–there’s a bird here for every taste. Adventures of a Louisiana Birder: One Year, Two Wings, Three Hundred Species. Map by Lynn Hathaway. Copyright @2019 by Louisiana State University Press.

Louisiana 264

Louisiana Species Mississippi Alabama 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2019

This species was discovered (shot, actually) in the 19th century, only to be lost through the entire 20th century. The Forest Owlet is an endemic species of this mountain range. It is thought that this owl has always been rare. The post THE QUEST FOR THE RAREST OWL OF INDIA appeared first on 10,000 Birds. Let’s go.”.

India 180

India Owls Tigers Cows 180

10,000 Birds

JUNE 13, 2024

Since I’m not exactly an ornithological expert, this ranking is purely based on my personal thoughts and impressions of these species. Finally: my favorite bird of all time definitely is the owl. I’m absolutely smitten with owls, regardless of their species. Their mysterious allure never fails to captivate me.

Birds 196

Birds Owls Hunting Germany 196

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 24, 2024

Peregrine Falcon Peregrine Falcon Another highlight was when another birder informed us of a Eurasian Eagle-Owl that roosted in a vine on the cliff. The owl could be observed extremely well, and again I was very happy to get my best sighting of this species, which I’ve seen a few times before but usually at a distance or at dusk.

Falcons 211

Falcons Owls Eagles Breeding 211

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 24, 2014

There are birds more prized by North American birders than the Great Gray Owl , but not many*. Like many cold-weather creatures, the Great Gray Owl can to some extent trade altitude for latitude. We made our way to the spot that the owl had, according to our guides, last been seen. The owl wasn’t there.

Owls 231

Owls Minnesota Montana 2014 231

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2012

These adaptations for avoiding predators has allowed most species of owls to flourish in their own habitat albeit, with reclusive habits. Finding an owl excites the unexcitable and even the most seasoned birders. I can speak for myself and say that finding any owl makes me stop in my tracks.

Owls 209

Owls Colorado Breeding Sparrows 209

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2014

We are lucky enough here in Broome to have a pair of Barking Owls that have chosen to roost in town. Over the years there have been Barking Owls observed in the Town Beach area and the Courthouse gardens and we have heard them “barking” at home as well. Barking Owls. Barking Owls -puffed out throat!

Owls 168

Owls Australia Hunting Species 168

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2018

managed to see it, his largest owl ever. I had just a split-second glimpse of this species – my only second ever – yet immediately knew what is it, but I was driving through a snowbound countryside and had another car behind me, therefore I stopped a good 50 metres later to eBird it. Ural Owl – Strix uralensis.

Owls 106

Owls Greece Serbia Woodpeckers 106

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 11, 2018

We had not observed a Powerful Owl since we were living in Portland, Victoria for a few months in 2009, so once the opportunity arose to go looking for one at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney we took it! We had found a fresh owl pellet, but that did not produce an owl of any sort and was only evidence of owls in the area!

Owls 113

Owls Portland Australia Transported 113

10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2017

While I don’t consider myself an inattentive driver, I mean it’s not like I am texting, or looking up a bird species on my phone app. But I even surprised myself when I spotted two owls in a tree, on the passenger side of the road, doing nearly 70 MPH. I never did see an adult bird, but figured they were not to far away.

Owls 120

Owls Eagles Rights Birds 120

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 30, 2013

I have to say that pretty much every time that I see a great photo of an owl in flight, swooping down from a perch or low to the ground, in invariably think to myself “that was baited” I might be wrong, but I’m willing to bet that I am right far more often than I am wrong. Today she found her owl. I know where I do.

Owls 197

Owls Mice Tethering Chickens 197

10,000 Birds

JULY 26, 2014

One wonders how innocent the Spotted Owl finds the rampant range expansion of the Barred Owl. Perhaps our outrage at invasive species can be a bit hypocritical at times. The rapid proliferation of the European Starling is, on the species level, equivalent to incalculable fortunes of billionaire moguls.

Species 160

Species Feral Cats Feral Miami 160

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 24, 2013

An Imposing Great Gray Owl, by Carlos Sanchez. Great Gray Owl , Northern Hawk Owl , Snowy Owl – this trinity captures the imagination of most birders with their imposing presence, unique adaptations, and beauty as among the most desired species of bird to see in the world.

Minnesota 189

Minnesota Owls Bald Eagle Hoarding 189

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2013

.” My question that I hope you can help me with is what would be considered a safe distance to photograph Northern Saw-what Owls? Would this be considered a threat to these owls?” First I applaud the photographer for actually asking the question of how close to get to a Saw-whet Owl. Six feet from a saw-whet?

Owls 266

Owls Barn Owls Agenda Zoos 266

10,000 Birds

JUNE 5, 2012

For many birders, the Pel’s Fishing Owl roosts in a lofty position on just such a list. One of the most highly desirable birds in the world, the Pel’s Fishing Owl is a true phantom. Found patchily in sub-Saharan Africa, this large, ginger-colored owl can never be guaranteed on a trip to the continent.

Fish 251

Fish Owls Botswana Barn Owls 251

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2012

Will and I had spoken on Sunday and agreed to go owling on Tuesday night. We had both failed at checking off Eastern Screech-Owl or Great Horned Owl on our New York lists so far in 2007 so we figured we’d take a shot at tracking down either silent nocturnal killer. Not exactly good owling weather but we pressed on anyway.

Owls 166

Owls 2007 New York Fox 166

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2013

We’re particularly interested in recognizing bird species that were of significant conservation interest in 2013, but that also had a compelling story and rallied the public around it.” If this bird doesn’t deserve this conservation award, I don’t know what species does. Click on photos for full sized images.

California 214

California Owls 2013 Factory 214

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2011

When our local driver asked me in Patois, an English-lexified creole language unique to Jamaica, if we would like to go and see Jamaican Owl , I had no idea what he was talking about. Over 20 of the 28 endemic bird species have been recorded within the hotel grounds. But I remember hearing the owl in my sleep.

Owls 184

Owls Jamaica Cats Rights 184

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2013

Sunday morning dawned clear and cool, perfect weather in which to find some owls. Sunrise found me in a car with Rich Kelly and Seth Ausubel, on our way to Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx where we would be joined by Bob Dieterich and Gene Herskovics for an owl prowl. One owl down, two to go! We still needed Barred Owl !

Owls 169

Owls Skunks Hunting New York City 169

10,000 Birds

APRIL 20, 2024

I could imagine that timing the earlier emergence of insect prey at the breeding grounds is particularly problematic for insectivorous species. I was rewarded with nice scope views of Eurasian Eagle-Owls – by no means a surprise sighting as these birds breed here.

Soreing 180

Soreing Owls Eagles Woodpeckers 180

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2012

We had scheduled one of our afternoons to go and look for Barred Owls in the Palm Bay area of Brevard County. But the suburbs, with their substantial stands of oak trees, are home to a healthy population of these beautiful owls. Amazing that they named their restaurants for these lovely owls.

Owls 219

Owls Florida United States North America 219

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 19, 2015

I think everyone can readily admit that owls are cool. Yet, these very qualities are what make them so difficult to see as birders, and in my years of birding I had managed to spot just two: the Snowy Owl (which is active during the daytime) and the Barred Owl. One particular family of owls had particularly evaded me.

Owls 150

Owls Florida Raised Family 150

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2012

There is an International Festival of Owls. They give out a “Champion of Owls” award. Holt founded the Owl Research Institute , an organization that focuses on long-term studies of a variety of species of owls, as well as their prey species and environments. Saw-whet Owl photo by Todd Zino a.

Montana 159

Montana Owls Denver Barn Owls 159

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

The post title is intentionally hyperbolic but Gawker does have the information on the plan to help the Spotted Owl – which is basically killing lots of Barred Owls. What do people think of killing a population of one species to save another?

Owls 154

Owls Killing Species 154

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 10, 2016

Few things can spell out “winter birding” as poetically as the sighting of a rare northern owl that has more or less unexpectedly found its way to southern, more balmy environs. A “winter owl” however has little meaning to German birders for two simple reasons (and male smew aren’t one of them).

Germany 103

Germany Owls 2013 2006 103

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2016

As I opined in my post back in 2010 (and continue to preach) the Western Burrowing Owl needs a conservation plan. A pair of Burrowing Owls fledged six young! After all, the Western Burrowing Owl is listed as “ Climate Endangered ” by the Audubon Society. In the summer of 2015 our investment paid off.

Owls 101

Owls California Colorado 2010 101

10,000 Birds

MARCH 28, 2013

On my amazingly slow slog to 300 species in Queens there are some birds that I just can’t believe that I had never seen in my home borough. Long-eared Owl was not one of them. Enigmatic, reclusive, and camouflaged are three adjectives that work especially well with Long-eared Owl. Finally, my chance! Number 298 in Queens

Owls 163

Owls New York City New York Species 163

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2012

This post comes courtesy of Mrs Gannet who became rather taken with the Little Owl when we found him in Mote Park last month. There has been a Little Owl living in this hollow branch for at least 3 years as documented in Simon’s Mote Park Blog and it is assumed to be the same individual though I am not sure whether it is a she or a he.

Owls 179

Owls New Zealand Europe Mammals 179