July 2011

Darwinian Thinking From The Birds

Thumbnail image for Darwinian Thinking From The Birds by GregLaden 29 July 2011

In Darwin’s time explorers had converted the European view of the world by their observations, much like travelers of today convert their own view of the world, from a simple binary to a mosaic. Before experience, information, exploration, learning and reflection, the world is something of an “us and them” or a “here and everywhere [...]

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Are you going to the birdfair?

Thumbnail image for Are you going to the birdfair? by Gunnar 28 July 2011

The BIG British BirdFair Meet-up. It might be a surprise to some that I am actually going to the British Birdfair this year. Last year about this time I was promoting the Virtual Birdfair on my blog- an idea that the resources at the birdfair would be better sought on-line on a central portal which [...]

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Top 10 birds of Turkey

Thumbnail image for Top 10 birds of Turkey by GuestPost-TristanReid 25 July 2011

Turkey gives fabulous birding with Northern Bald Ibis, Caspian Snowcock, Spur-winged Plover and many more. Tristan Reid presents the 10 best birds and the key birdwatching areas. In fact, Tristan made a pledge to raise money for BirdLife Turkey by tattooing his right arm with the same 10 birds.

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Birds Feared Darwin

Thumbnail image for Birds Feared Darwin by GregLaden 22 July 2011

If Darwin was alive today he would be a bird watcher. But he would do his bird watching differently, using a nice set of binoculars rather than a shotgun. In his autobiography, Darwin reminisces In the latter part of my school life I became passionately fond of shooting, and I do not believe that anyone [...]

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Pathetic pelagics in Peru

Thumbnail image for Pathetic pelagics in Peru by Gunnar 22 July 2011

Steve Howell, Hadoram Shirihai and Peter Harrison comment on the fabulous pelagics from Peru run by Kolibri Expeditions. Now there is only one problem. There is no boat. But there may well be one – if you can help it. In fact it is a very good offer. You gotta check it out.

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How to niche an eco-lodge into a birding-lodge

Thumbnail image for How to niche an eco-lodge into a birding-lodge by Gunnar 18 July 2011

Gunnar Engblom has visited Amazon Refuge on the Yanayacu river near Iquitos. Here Gunnar presents a manual how an eco-lodge should cater to birders with an example Amazon Refuge as an example. A birding lodge is easier to market than an eco-lodge especially if there are some good birds that birders would do a detour to see. A birding lodge targets a very specific niche and makes marketing much easier.

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The mocking bird mocks ironically

Thumbnail image for The mocking bird mocks ironically by GregLaden 15 July 2011

Most people think of Darwin and Birds in relation to Darwin’s Finches. Unless, of course, you’ve heard a bit more about Darwin than the first-order mythology we tend to attach to our scientific leaders and know that Darwin ignored the finches and the whole bird evolution thing was figured out later by someone else. But [...]

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Rich Hoyer’s Scouting Trip to Peru’s Satipo Road

Thumbnail image for Rich Hoyer’s Scouting Trip to Peru’s Satipo Road by Rich Hoyer 12 July 2011

Rich Hoyer reports from Peru’s Satipo River Valley – The Colibri Trail – with photos of the endemic Eye-ringed Thistletail and several other species from the cloud forest.

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Breeding Spoon-billed Sandpiper found in Chukotka

Thumbnail image for Breeding Spoon-billed Sandpiper found in Chukotka by Gunnar 10 July 2011

Breeding Spoon-billed Sandpiper has been found by a unique conservation collaboration between BirdLife International and Heritage Expeditions – a BirdLife Species Champion in far eastern Russia at the Chukotka coast.

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The 50 best birds in Africa (part 1)

Thumbnail image for The 50 best birds in Africa (part 1) by DaleForbes 10 July 2011

Africa has tons of great birds to offer, from the reclusive Grey-necked Rockfowl, to the super-DIY Weavers, and the powerful and enigmatic Martial Eagle. But what qualifies a bird to be on a “best birds” list. In Susan Myer’s “ 50 best birds of Asia“, she focused on the birds that moved her in some [...]

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Where the abyss touches the sky: a Booby and Noddy ecosystem

Thumbnail image for Where the abyss touches the sky: a Booby and Noddy ecosystem by GregLaden 8 July 2011

An entire ecosystem based on a bird? Apparently so.

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Journal Club: American crows: the ultimate angry birds?

Thumbnail image for Journal Club: American crows: the ultimate angry birds? by Grrlscientist 6 July 2011

Newly published research shows that crows remember the faces of humans who have threatened or harmed them, and these memories probably last for the bird’s lifetime. Not only do crows scold dangerous people, but they include family members — and even strangers — into their mob. The hostile behaviour of crows within mobs allows naïve [...]

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The Brush-Finches of Central Peru

Thumbnail image for The Brush-Finches of Central Peru by Rich Hoyer 5 July 2011

Rich Hoyer has just completed a quick scout of the central Peruvian Andes and enjoyed the diversity of Atlapetes Brush-Finches in the region.

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Good start to Digiscoper of the Year 2011

Thumbnail image for Good start to Digiscoper of the Year 2011 by DaleForbes 4 July 2011

The Digiscoper of the Year 2011 competition started on 1 June, and being still early days, there have only been 41 entrants so far. Having said that, there are some wonderful photos amongst the first few. As with last year, you an follow the progress of the competition online, see all the photos that have [...]

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Some stuff I did last weekend, like watching a Bonelli’s Warbler

Thumbnail image for Some stuff I did last weekend, like watching a Bonelli’s Warbler by TomMckinney 4 July 2011

Wednesday 29/6 We go out in the evening and we look for birds. We see young Merlins at undisclosed locations (because you rotten bastards will no doubt go out and chuck bricks at them). We watch them learn to fly and crash into the heather. Back on the roadside we get shouted at by a [...]

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Darwin on the Andean Condor

Thumbnail image for Darwin on the Andean Condor by GregLaden 1 July 2011

Darwin demonstrates his approach to doing science in his description of the Andean Condor, which was used in the monograph on birds that came out of the famous voyage of the Beagle.

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