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The Final Days of the Danube backwaters in Belgrade: Chinese Belt and Road Initiative is coming to Serbia

10,000 Birds

And here in Europe, they are the real deal, an indigenous species and not domesticated animals gone wild. They may have been disturbed by the presence of hunters in the Danube backwaters. The only wildcat I found was illegally killed by hunters during closed season. I think all were males, at last two huge ones certainly were.

Serbia 245
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Linkwood Distillery: 15 Years Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

10,000 Birds

A somewhat more credible selection to be sure, as lions actually do exist, but one that sadly snubs the native Scottish wildcat in favor of a felid that’s been extinct in Europe since antiquity. While it has no official status – at least not yet – many Scots regard the Golden Eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ) as their national avian mascot.

Eagles 160
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Birding Hongbenghe, Yunnan

10,000 Birds

One would think that for a species as common in Europe as the Grey-headed Woodpecker , the HBW would spend some effort to update the species entry. Instead, the entry asks us to “Please bear with us while this update takes place” A few months ago, I wrote an email to my bank asking them a specific question.

Birds 147
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The Eagle Huntress–A Film Review

10,000 Birds

The Eagle Huntress is a documentary about Aisholpan, her path to becoming an eagle hunter, a cultural heritage usually taken on by males, the family that supports her, and the Mongolian Kazakh community that seeks to continue the ancient tradition with its Golden Eagle Festival. It’s constructed in three acts: Home, Festival, Hunting.

Eagles 102
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The Great Bustard Search is On (1)

10,000 Birds

What remains of their range is currently protected as the Pastures of Great Bustard Special Nature Reserve, but in the last several years there are only a dozen birds left, and only one adult male among them. Bustards are very susceptible to any kind of disturbance and, naturally, hunters like to shoot.

Serbia 104
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The Changing Fortunes of Europe’s Vultures – Part 1

10,000 Birds

In Franco’s day, a price was paid to farmers and hunters who brought evidence of having shot “vermin”. All this changed with protection. These are African, sub-Saharan, vultures that were unknown in Europe until recent times. Their numbers have gone up dramatically in recent years as a result of conservation.

Africa 243
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The Kerkini Lake, Greece: Dipped One, Got One

10,000 Birds

At first, the road is paved, but as soon as the tarmac ends, the tracks become decorated by hunters in orange vests. The soil is disturbed by foraging boars (and there is not a single shot from those hunters). I am… mesmerised by the mountain. One Grey-headed Woodpecker flies across the road – a promising start.

Greece 254