Tag: birding
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La Janda, a Magical Place
Without a doubt, the loss of La Janda Lagoon was an environmental catastrophe for southern Spain. Those who made the decision to drain the largest lagoon in southern Europe for its use as farmland cared little for the fact that it was a refuge for millions of resident and passing birds and located in a…
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The Solitary Eagle
The Solitary Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus solitarius) is one of the least known raptors in the Neotropics. In fact, prior to the Belize Raptor Research Institute’s (BRRI) 2011 discovery of an active nest for this species, only two other nests had been found. Both more than fifty years ago! Luckily, BRRI researchers discovered this nest before the…
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Morocco – Migration from the Other Shore
Right after we picked up our first guests, Kitty and Marshal, in Malaga, we headed to the Strait of Gibraltar. Here, we would begin our Morocco Migration from the Other Shore Tour. During the tour, we would be able to see one of Nature’s greatest shows, the migration of hundreds of thousands of raptors and…
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Stygian Owl Research by BRRI Team
In general, diurnal raptor species tend to be greater studied than their nocturnal counterparts. However one organization, the Belize Raptor Research Institute, is changing all that. They are focusing a large part of their efforts on learning more about the Stygian Owl (Asio stygius). It is one of the largest Neotropical owls and little known.…
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Hope is the Thing with Feathers
Hope is the thing with feathers; so begins a poem by Emily Dickinson. This line served as inspiration for the title of Christopher Cokinos’ book of the same name. This tome recounts the stories of six bird species that have gone extinct in recent times. The Carolina Parakeet, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, the Heath Hen, the…
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A Top Predator in Belize: The Harpy Eagle
In general, it is not easy to see forest raptors. Observing the Harpy Eagle, a low density species, can be more difficult still. But for many bird watchers this eagle is one of the “most wanted” species on their life lists. And it is no surprise why. It is the largest raptor in the Americas,…
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Birdwatching Morocco – Mountains, Sea, Marshes and Wind-swept Dunes
While birdwatching in Morocco, I don’t know what hit me first – the hypnotic music, the bustling voices in the marketplace, or the smells of spiced vegetables and meat grilling on open barbecues in the Djemaa el Fna Square in Marrakesh. This was the first stop on our week-long, winter, Morocco birding extravaganza and we…