Tag: Birds
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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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Working with the Canarian Houbara Bustard
In late 2011, Whitehawk began collaborating with GREFA, a Spanish NGO. We partnered with them to help carry out a population census of the Canarian Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis fuertaventurae undulata) on the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, Spain. An Endemic Subspecies of the Houbara Bustard The Canarian Houbara Bustard is an endemic subspecies. It inhabits…
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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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Crested Eagle Feeding a Young Harpy Eagle
Interspecific interactions between large forest eagle species are fascinating. Follow this link to read an interesting paper written by one of our colleagues. Learn about a Crested Eagle (Morphnus guianensis) feeding a young Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja), in Darien, Panama. These two species are among the largest raptors in the Neotropics. They are similar in…
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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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The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw
Are you planning a visit to Belize? Perhaps you’re interested in learning more about this tiny Caribbean country? Or do you simply want a good read? If you answered yes to any of these questions, The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw by Bruce Barcott, might be the book for you. It is a classic…
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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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Birding in Nepal – The Discovery of the Terai and the Adventure of the Himalayas
What is it like birding in Nepal? Thanks to the stability and security of the country in recent years, and the fascination and awe many people experience when viewing the Himalayas, Nepal is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. Currently, it is not a well-known destination for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts. But it has enormous…