You are browsing the archives of January.

This may read like something of a non sequitur, but have you ever seen a Rainbow Eucalyptus? Eucalyptus deglupta is a psychedelic beauty, with stunning, striated bark that spans nearly every color of the rainbow. Take a moment to check out how trippy this tree is. When you’re done, come back and we’ll talk birds. [...]

So here we are in the latter half of the first month of the year, and I’ve run out of things to talk about. Not really, but I’m trying to avoid talking about the weather. Are you really into small talk anyway? What’s your sign? Enough chit chat! Regarding the critical topic of birding and [...]

Three weekends into this new year, I still can’t make sense of it. If you live in the northeastern United States, you may be wondering if you’ll ever see winter again. If you live along the coast of Alaska’s Prince William Sound, on the other hand, you may wonder if you’ll make it to spring! [...]

Coming into the second weekend of this new year, we’ve all added a few birds — possibly very few birds — to our year lists. Don’t feel obliged to start a formal list if listing isn’t your style. I gave up year listing a couple of annums back even though I’ve rung up some banner [...]

The first day of January offers some of the most exciting birding of the year; for just a moment, every bird is new and ready to be plucked for the year list. Too bad New Year’s Day has to directly follow New Year’s Eve… many a promising year of birding has to be postponed a [...]

One of my favorite holidays of the year is Super Bowl Sunday, the day the championship of the National Football League is decided. Why this is exactly I don’t know. I’m far from a sports fanatic, but as readers know I do love my football. To the outside observer, sports offer perspective on how deeply [...]

Jimmy Buffett has it right… a change in latitude can bring a change in attitude. The burden of a long winter and feet upon feet of snow may have dampened my enthusiasm for consistent birding, but a little time on the Space Coast of Florida is doing wonders for my attitude. Breaking out of your [...]

Oh no… the winter doldrums have overtaken me. I cannot abide the idea of bundling up and dragging my carcass through the snow in hopes of seeing something better than robins and starlings. I think Corey may feel the same way, since he’s not planning any ambitious birding this weekend either. How about you? Who’s [...]

We’re a couple of weeks into 2011 now, so take a moment to reassess. Have you lived the last two weeks like you’d like to live this year? For example, have you spent as much time enjoying nature (shoveling snow may or may not count depending on your attitude!) as you should? As all great [...]

Have you embarked yet upon your first true birding excursion of 2011? I haven’t, and my avian inactivity is pissing me off! If you consider yourself a nature lover, use the new calendar year as an excuse to do what we all need to do from time to time anyway: get out there and look [...]

We’ve almost done it, friends… almost made it through another year! And while dire situations and snowpocalypses may afflict humanity across the globe, the safe money says we’ll see this year through to the next. So how will you be ringing in the New Year and will you be birding? Share your plans in the [...]

The first month of the year is coming to an end. Have you established a foundation for health, happiness, and success in 2010? If not, make this the weekend you turn over a new leaf by getting outside and having some fun! Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Share your [...]

I’d love to wax philosophic about January and weekends and nature, but I’m too busy packing. So let’s cut to the chase… I can’t tell you my plans until I’ve asked about yours. What are you doing this weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in the comments below. Now that we’re done [...]

We’re three weekends into the new decade and I’m wondering how many well-intentioned resolutions have already been cast by the wayside. How many of you have become the healthier, happier selves you imagined you could be? Are you at least sticking with your pledge to enjoy nature more? If you haven’t yet, you should consider [...]

The holiday season has finally passed and now our new year lies before us, fraught with the potential for health, happiness, and success. Will you squander this weekend, only the second of 2010? How will you make it meaningful? Will you be birding? Please share your plans in the comments below! While I’m eager to [...]

This weekend sees the end of the first twelfth of the Gregorian calendar year 2009. It also marks the beginning of the Chinese calendar year 4706. Whether you follow a lunar, solar, or liturgical calendar, you only get so many weekends a year. Don’t squander a single one! What are your plans for this weekend [...]

This is the first weekend of the Age of Obama. No matter where in the world you live or what you believe in, this simple yet radical shift in American leadership must mean something to you. How will the new U.S. administration impact your weekend. Will you be watching birds? Comment below on the excitement you have [...]

We’re midway through the first month of the year. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere and you haven’t had at least one excellent winter birding experience yet, you’re not trying hard enough. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, I’m extremely jealous as around here, we’re contending with an evil blast of super-chilled Canadian [...]

Have you internalized the new year yet or are you still writing ’2008′ on your checks? Frankly, I could care less what the year is… as long as the month is January, I’m freezing! What are you doing this weekend and will you be watching birds? Comment below on the excitement you have planned! In [...]

Happy New Year! How’s your head feeling this morning? Are you as thrilled about what 2009 holds in store as we here at 10,000 Birds are? New years present new opportunities if you’re willing to seize them.  Are you? What are you doing this first weekend of 2009 and will you be watching birds? Comment [...]