Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but what he really aspires to be is a naturalist. Besides founding 10,000 Birds and I and the Bird, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining sites and resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network.

One essential way to heighten the pleasure of a special bird sighting is to brag about it later. Step right up and share your best bird of the weekend.
Of all the excellent early spring birds I saw at Montezuma NWR this weekend, my favorites were probably Snow Geese and Swamp Sparrows, though all those ducks were [...]

If one were to draw a distinction between birders and bird watchers — and I don’t necessarily agree that such a separation must be devised — a clear divide between the camps would be a love of listing. The general consensus is that birding and listing, like Snow Buntings and Horned Larks feeding on a [...]

How cool is this? Adventures with Birdman: Ecuador-Jocotoco Antpitta has been chosen as an official selection of the 2010 Going Green Film Festival, one of only 30 out of more than 500 film submissions. If you’ll be in the Beverly Hills area from April 2–4, you should consider supporting Birdman Tim Barksdale and the inclusion [...]

Feel that change in the air? All around the world, we are moving from one season to another. This transformation is attended by an endless array of enthralling natural phenomena. Get outside and see what I mean!  Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in the comments below.
Exciting birds [...]

If you’ve been following this blog for the last few months, you know that I really enjoyed birding in Jamaica and loved staying at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill. Believe it or not, you can enjoy the same sublime experiences for FREE! My friends at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill are running a competition for a 4-day [...]

One certain way to heighten the pleasure of a special bird sighting is to brag about it later. Step right up and share your best bird of the weekend.
My best birds this weekend were a matched pair of Northern Cardinals, the male singing in the sun. Corey’s best bird of the weekend is, by his admission, a [...]

The thaw may not have fully arrived where you live but rest assured it is coming. Unless, that is, you live in the Southern Hemisphere, in which case you can celebrate the return of cooler temperatures. Unless, that is, you live in an equatorial region, in which case March remains business as usual! Regardless of [...]

We all, from pole to pole, share the same progression of days, weeks, and months that comprise a year. Yet my months in the upper latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere play out rather differently from those of my compatriots down below the equator. I only share this as a warning to readers who may not [...]

While we’re on the subject of truly sensational hummingbirds, I’d like to introduce one of the finest specimens to be found in the Greater Antilles…

Enter the Black-billed Streamertail! Of course, the bird’s stately silhouette proves the provenance of its name but only suggests its brilliant emerald raiment…

The Black-billed Streamertail (Trochilus scitulus) is a Jamaican endemic, either conspecific or closely [...]

One certain way to heighten the pleasure of a special bird sighting is to brag about it later. Step right up and share your best bird of the weekend.
My best birds this weekend were American Tree Sparrows and Mourning Doves, both roosting in large flocks. Regrettably, I observed these birds while at a party and consequently [...]

So there I was at Refugio Paz de Las Aves, teetering on the edge of sanity after a barrage of insane Ecuadorean avifauna. First came the famed feeder birds, a parade of preposterous birds including but certainly not limited to guans, toucanets, barbets, pihas, and mountain-tanagers. Next were the star attractions, the amazing antpittas of Paz de Las [...]

The shortest month of the year is coming to a close and I feel like, for me, February will vanish without a trace. Too much of the mundane has been separating me from the sublime. Don’t make my mistakes! Get out there and enjoy nature. Where will you be enjoying nature this weekend and will [...]

As I was saying (see Part I),  I, David, Renato & Paola, and birders from four different continents had just been treated to one of the most spectacular feeder bird displays imaginable. Spotting an Andean Cock-of-the-Rock is cool enough but one simply does not expect to get so close to toucanets, pihas, barbets, or mountain-tanagers.  Yet, the main event [...]

One certain way to heighten the pleasure of a special bird sighting is to brag about it later. Step right up and share your best bird of the weekend.
My best birds this weekend were Ravens, honking through the icy valleys of Potter County, PA. I’d rather be bragging about the Northern Shrike I spotted at [...]

Legendary among birders who have enjoyed the best of the Americas is the man who speaks to antpittas. Long before I ever traveled to Ecuador, I heard tales of Angel Paz, of how he has trained special, secretive birds to come when he calls. The absurdity of antpittas, these large, charismatic underbrush-lurking antbirds, putting on [...]

At long last, beetles have their own carnival and, man, it’s a good one. Ted MacRae rolls up an excellent inaugural edition of An Inordinate Fondness. Check it out.

I and the Bird has really been getting around lately, hopping from one hemisphere to the next with admirable ease and not a moment of jet lag.  Unless you actually examine the list of scheduled hosts, you’ll really have no idea from where in the world our peripatetic publication will be posted next. For example, [...]

How are you feeling these days? If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, a long winter may finally be getting to you. Even folks as far south as Florida have been dealing with lower temperatures than they’re accustomed to. Winter is wearing me down but, like everyone else, I’m pressing on. Getting out definitely helps! So [...]

We at 10,000 Birds don’t like to brag (or at least, Charlie and Corey don’t) but certain milestones are worth sharing. For example, earlier today, Sitemeter logged our 3 millionth page view! I can’t recall when I installed Sitemeter (still one of the best free traffic trackers in the world) but it has probably been [...]

At last, I believe I’ve found an ID challenge too diabolical for even the crack cadre of avian savants that tend to respond to our cruel offerings. If this turns out to be true, though, I’ll actually be disappointed because this ID may, for once, matter (as opposed to certain futile attempts to identify imaginary [...]