10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2021

I found myself fully immersed in marine species while boating, fishing, and birding coastal Virginia with family this weekend. The best of a bunch of birds I see all too rarely was, quite fittingly, Virginia Rail showing well in a saltmarsh.

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Virginia Birds Fish Experience 263

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2013

Here in New York State Snowy Owls have been reported in more than ten counties, with most of those counties having birds being seen in multiple locations.

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Owls Rhode Island North Carolina New Hampshire 278

10,000 Birds

JULY 23, 2011

Out on the Big Meadow in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, the ranger (that is Virginia the state, not Virginia the ranger) drew our attention to an unmistakeable bird call. This section, in Virginia, is known as the Blue Ridge Mountains, I am sure we all know the song! ps There’s bears!

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Bears Virginia DC Washington 177

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2021

There are several states with 100-199 species: North Carolina (172, unchanged), Washington (171, up from 144), Michigan (159, unchanged), Virginia (147, up from 122), North Dakota (141, unchanged), Idaho (129, up from 57); New Mexico (112, unchanged); Massachusetts (110, up from 81); Colorado (106, unchanged), and Pennsylvania (109, up from 102).

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West Virginia United States Puerto Rico Minnesota 235

10,000 Birds

JULY 17, 2014

Keep your eyes to the skies for brilliant sunrises, like the one my buddy Beau Walsburger snapped in Virginia Beach this morning. I’ll be finishing up my Virginia Beach vacation and admiring birds on the Chesapeake Bridge Bay Tunnel on the way back to Rochester this weekend.

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Virginia 2014 Birds 195

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2018

North Bend State Park, West Virginia. Strong populations of birds reside in the hardwood forests and dense understories in this north-eastern location of West Virginia. Sky Meadows State Park, Virginia. Known as a warbler haven, 30+ species visit this bi-state park near the Kentucky and Virginia southern border.

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West Virginia Virginia Kentucky South Carolina 199

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2021

But a small colony of them have made an exception for Elton Reed, who has fished off Chincoteague Island, Virginia for almost five decades. He found it in Gay Frazee , a skilled wildlife rehabber who runs Wildlife ER on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Over time, he learned to recognize individuals.

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Virginia Wildlife Transported Fish 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2021

A Barred Owl called from the woods near his aunt and uncle’s house, Corey spotted several Virginia Rails in a wetland, and he saw hordes of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds coming to feeders.

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New York Virginia Birds Family 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2021

During migration, they occur in more places, I bet that golden-hooded bird with a rainforest mixed flock was on its way to Virginia or Alabama or wooded swamp in some other part of its ancient range that used to bear witness to the double knocks of Ivory-billeds. Typically, in Costa Rica, this swamp beauty is a bird of wetlands and mangroves.

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Costa Rica West Virginia Baltimore Virginia 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 9, 2014

“Mine are always found near the local funeral home,” says Maureen Eiger, in Virginia. “I asked Gay Frazee, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, referring to the time Pope Francis released two white doves as a symbol of peace, and they were immediately attacked by a gull and a crow. And weddings?

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Wildlife Rehabilitation Ethics Virginia Atlanta 259

10,000 Birds

JUNE 13, 2021

I was especially pleased that a Virginia Rail (pictured above) was hanging out by a puddle right at the edge of the road when I arrived. I spent the weekend visiting my folks in the Hudson Valley and visited one of my favorite June birding spots, the Great Vly, on the border of Greene and Ulster Counties.

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10,000 Birds

APRIL 28, 2015

In addition to North Carolina, six other states have named the cardinal their state bird, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio. I’m not the only one who appreciates the Northern Cardinal. ” That same sentiment is probably true for us all!

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North Carolina West Virginia Legislature Virginia 198

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 27, 2020

On Friday morning he unsuccessfully chased a LeConte’s Sparrow and a Connecticut Warbler in Queens but had his second ever encounter with Virginia Rail in Queens as well as a Yellow-breasted Chat. Corey had a few really good birds this weekend.

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2020 Connecticut Virginia New York 236

10,000 Birds

MAY 29, 2013

My friend Virginia texted me the other day with the message with an MP4: “What is making this high pitched sound in my yard??” If you get too close to an American Robin’s nest or if a cat or crow is lurking, you might hear this call. But there’s another that can be really handy if you learn to listen for it.

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Virginia Cats Species Birds 232

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2014

Proving that cruelty knows no bounds, some (language unsuitable for a family blog) in Virginia Beach is shooting blow darts at birds. Meanwhile, an Oregon farmer caught a beating from a neighbor irritated by his loud “bird cannons.” (Who Who knew there was such a thing?).

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Israel Science Hawaii South America 217

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2013

I don’t want to be too hasty in my response,” wrote Gay in Virginia. I want all of the above,” wrote Gay in Virginia. Two days ago I went on Facebook and queried some of my exhausted compatriots: if you could have one wish right now – anything in the world – what would it be? “I Creative muscle. “I

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Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Oklahoma Michigan 254

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2022

Virginia Warbler: The Virginia Warbler is a common species in the thorn forest of the Balsas River Basin, so I had seen it often. My Mexican birder friends reported the same over most of the country. I already used this photo, from the area of our church, in a post last spring. I don’t care.

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Mexico Virginia Barn Owls Birds 253

10,000 Birds

JULY 8, 2014

Imagine my joy, however, as on my walk to the tower a Virginia Rail sauntered past almost within touching distance. Sure, a birder had reported a cooperative Virginia Rail the day before but I didn’t expect lightening to strike twice! The last one were breeders also, at Massapequa Preserve. ).

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Virginia Breeders Fish New York 197

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2024

In March, it was the American and Chilean Flamingo pair that Jorge saw in the distance, and the Virginia Rail that everyone managed to see before me. The same month, Jorge called me excitedly after our church service, for me to run and see my first Zone-tailed Hawk in the highlands.

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Virginia Mexico California Species 240

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2014

While it was neither the rarest or most interesting bird I saw this weekend, the Eastern Bluebird that flew over my car as I drove through Virginia has to take Best Bird of the Weekend honors just because it will be my third blue bird in a row. The trick is to make sure your path crosses those of the right birds at the right time.

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New Jersey 2014 Virginia Birds 198

Critter News

NOVEMBER 29, 2008

Overlooked this one. Another nasty farm animal abuse story. Whatever you think about PETA, I admire them for exposing this crap. It's even got Chuck Jolley from the Cattle Network riled up. Bottom line: If you’re running a business where you allow the kinds of shortcuts that let animal abuse happen, please sell it and leave the industry now.

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West Virginia Turkey Virginia Animal Abuse 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 24, 2021

Which may be why the photo here shows two Clay-colored Sparrows , one Yellow-rumped Warbler , and one lovely Virginia’s Warbler , all hiding among many vicious huizache thorns. We humans need protection from thorns, while for birds, thorns often provide protection.

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Sparrows Birds Virginia Protection 257

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2014

The reason I mention vacation birding is that I’m headed down to Virginia Beach this weekend for sun, sand, and who knows what else. I’ve always loved traveling, but never as much as now when I can truly understand a place by learning about its birds and how they connect to other avifauna across the world.

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2014 Breeders United States Virginia 188

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 14, 2014

The Common Grackle pictured at left was a patient at Wildlife Care Alliance in Virginia. “I “I’d check my bank statements anyway,” cracked Michele Wellard, of Pennsylvania’s Schuylkill Center Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic , during one of our frequent Rehabber FaceBook Free-For-Alls. Hats are a big draw.

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Wildlife Rehabilitation Wildlife Barn Owls Oklahoma 250

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2014

He’d heard reports of Virginia Rail being present there in winter but was amazed when one responded to a recording! Curse my rotten owl luck, I didn’t see a single one, but did manage a pale Rough-legged Hawk.

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2014 Virginia Owls Birds 179

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2012

You can imagine my excitement when Eric Miller, a fellow Queens birder, found a Virginia Warbler in Alley Pond Park in, yes, you guessed it, Queens, on 31 October, two days after Hurricane Sandy made landfall. That’s right, I was out looking for the Virginia’s Warbler with a whole big bunch of other birders.

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Virginia Colorado New York Zoos 131

10,000 Birds

JUNE 10, 2011

My real goal is to talk to the local people, and to let them know how much we love coming to their part of the world—whether that’s Woodworth, Nort Dakooootah, or Muddlety, West Virginia or Moose Jaw, Maine, or Salmon Shin, Alaska. They need to know that their local birds are special and worth protecting.

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North Dakota West Virginia Farming Alaska 250

10,000 Birds

JULY 13, 2014

I’ve only been in Virginia Beach for a few days and I’ve already knocked down most of my targets, including Blue Grosbeak and Yellow-breasted Chat at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Traveling really rejuvenates the passion when local breeders become banal.

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New York City 2014 Breeders Virginia 176

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 28, 2012

If 10 birders all tell you this is a Sora , and you think it’s a Virginia Rail , I suggest you take the possibility that this is a Sora into consideration. Birders have the capacity to be bafflingly anal (its all part of the nerd persona I guess), but this is evident online more than anyplace else. It is both funny, frustrating and sad.

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Tucson Endangered Species Virginia illegal 228

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2022

Birdability was founded by Virginia Rose and she is thePresident. As I recently wrote , after hearing an interview with Virginia and Freya, I realized that I knew little about the accessibility of my regular birding locations. Freya McGregor is the Director of Programs and Outreach.

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Virginia Portland Oregon Sanctuary 260

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2015

My travels with family to the coast of Virginia have already yielded a bevy of birds I usually only see once a year. Summer often means vacation. Vacations mean travel. Travel means new ecosystems. New ecosystems mean new birds. See why I love summer?

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2015 Virginia Birds Family 157

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2013

Corey’s BBOTW was a Virginia Rail in the Great Vly in his hometown. Believe it or not, I hadn’t seen one all summer. Also, we all know that hummers in the woods are more exciting than ones in the backyard, right? Not bad as a year bird on September 1. How about you? What was your best bird of the weekend?

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2013 Virginia Birds Owls 156

10,000 Birds

JULY 14, 2021

Yes, Virginia, those Elegant Euphonia colors are real. For the taxonomy fans out there, the American Ornithological Society just announce that this species should be moved to the Chlorophonia genus. Blue Mockingbird. Gray Silky-Flycatchers are common throughout the central Mexican highlands.

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Mexico Sparrows United States Virginia 256

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

If they don’t feel like it, they can just keep going and fly over a place the size of West Virginia in a day. I think this is one of the reasons why we see so few Upland Sandpipers , might be why we see few numbers of Veery , and also explains why we don’t see large numbers of Baird’s and Buff-breasted Sandpipers.

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Costa Rica West Virginia New York South America 337

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2017

One particular resting place brought me to familiar birding territory: Pleasure House Point, Virginia Beach. When I was first learning to bird in the summer of 2013, I spent a summer living with my fiance in Virginia Beach. During my three days in Virginia Beach, I knew I had to walk that path again.

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Virginia Blackbirds 2013 Protection 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 9, 2012

The Virginia’s Warbler that has eluded birders since Eric Miller first found it on 31 October has been refound – and photographed – by Andrew Baksh. This is the first documented record of this southwestern wood-warbler in New York State.

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New York Virginia Birds 134

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2019

Despite getting good looks at Virginia Rail , lots of Eastern Kingbirds , and a host of other birds he decided to stick by his old standby as his Best Bird of the Weekend, a Green Heron. How about you? What was your best bird of the weekend?

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2019 New York City Virginia New York 156