Birding Asia

Breeding Spoon-billed Sandpiper found in Chukotka

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.

Bustard and Bastard are not the same words

In 1960, the International Council for Bird Preservation met in Tokyo to encourage governments around the world to designate a national bird, particularly among species in the greatest need of protection in each country. Great Indian Bustard was one of the most threatened species on the Indian Sub-continent. An obvious choice to any conservationist. However, in the end, the Indian government decided to place the title to the peacock. The bustard was passed over because its name was similar to a pejorative term for an illegitimate child. Now the species is Critically Endangered.

Finding Gurney’s Pittas

Crouched in the undergrowth of a mosquito and leech-filled tropical forest I waited quietly, and patiently, for yet another view of the Gurney’s Pitta. I knew his ritual: every 35-55 […]

The final 50 Best Birds in Asia!

So here is the final list of ten to make up the fifty. The process of putting it together has been, if totally random. Sadly, I didn’t receive any suggestions […]

The Fifty Best Birds in Asia: Part 3

The list goes on! The list continues and as I put it together I realize perhaps fifty isn’t enough!  It’s very hard to choose and I probably should apologize for […]

The Fifty Best Birds in Asia!

Top 50 Asian birds, part 1 OK, I’m mainly doing this to see if anyone’s listening! Oh, and I like to be controversial… These 50-type lists seem to be all […]

Flores Scops-Owl photographed .

Rare Indonesian owl photographed by Danes News from BirdLife International today – accompanied by the splendid photographed of a Flores Scops-Owl featured above – tells about a Danish funded conservation […]