You are browsing the archives of 2006 November.

Birding, like so many other activities which must be committed to completely to be experienced fully, requires passion. One must be passionate to stand on a barren seashore facing a howling winter wind just to glimpse the silhouette of a distant alcid or to wade waist-deep in a fetid swamp in pursuit of a bird [...]

Seth, online bookseller extraordinaire and ally to the Core Team, brought to my attention a while back the writings of an ardent conservationist better known for his modest success in politics. I’m talking, of course, about Theodore Roosevelt. A chapter in his 1916 work, A Book-Lover’s Holidays in the Open is titled “Bird Reserves At [...]

You’ve had an extra week to polish and hone your best bird-bloggery. Now is the time to see if you put it to good use. To be a part of Thursday’s edition of I and the Bird, send a link and summary to me (mike AT 10000birds-dot-com) or our next host, Mary Ann (FiveWells AT [...]

(with thanks to Rurality for inspiring this title) November in Potter County, PA is usually a sodden, grim affair, replete with blistering cold and sloppy roads. This Thanksgiving was a welcome departure from the norm. The birds seemed to be as surprised as I was, frolicking as they were about the grounds of my father-in-law’s [...]

assuming you bring your A-game. Submit your finest 500 words for December’s First Friday by Wednesday! And yes, of course I’m talking about that Clare.

and the 67th edition of the Tangled Bank hosted by Newton’s Binomium.

that the domain name “birdblogs.com” is on sale for only $100. Domain name speculation has clearly hit a new low. Here’s a word to the wise for any avian-minded entrepreneur angling for a quick buck – there’s just not that much money in this niche.

I’ve noticed an interesting trend in inscrutable comments lately. These messages tend to be complimentary in a diffuse way, never addressing my site’s specific topicality but instead offering an overall positive assesment like, “I enjoy your articles. The good content is the key. I hope you have countless visitors.” Yes, I hope so too, but [...]

Found myself at Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers this weekend. Actually, I was there twice, as Mason loved the park, especially the small waterfall, so much the first time that he dragged me back the next day. The birding was painfully slow there. I’ve had decent success from spring to fall at Tibbetts Brook, but [...]

November visits upon New York dank, leaden chill and multitudes of ducks. I vastly prefer the latter, particularly those species that don’t frequent this area during the warmer months. One beloved bird to keep an eye out for is the Bufflehead, a beauty in black and white. Bufflehead are fascinating little creatures. They are exceptional [...]