10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

Oh, cheeky me left out another alternative for both cases, which brings us right to the origin of these sayings: the devil. This model was very popular in Germany in the 1970s and 1980s and it was commonly called “Ente“ (duck) due to its round hood. You know, cavity breeders.

Germany 190

Germany Birds Hunters Owls 190

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2024

Then again, why would anyone name a bird after a botanist, let alone one I only just made up right now? In the right light, the male Common Pheasant can look ridiculously attractive. I should also point out that contrary to popular belief, the Common Starling is not named after Edward Common (1858-1892), the English botanist.

Birds 199

Birds Research Science Europe 199

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2020

Common Cuckoo is a fascinating bird, an obligate parasitic breeder that employs numerous strategies, including fraud and murder, to survive. Predictably, it contained few surprises (and no lifers either) as Germany took lock-down regulations seriously and travel, even locally, was next to impossible throughout most of the year.

2020 241

2020 Birds Costa Rica Germany 241

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2016

Quite recently, it has started to expand inland, along the river Rhone and to the South of Germany, where it is now an uncommon but conspicious breeder. A different form ( atlantis ) which may or may not constitute a separate species, is found on the Azores, Fuerteventura, and the Canary Islands.

Europe 127

Europe Spain Italy Ireland 127

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2011

The Common Swifts have left Germany behind as their journey South has begun. They are the first of our migrant breeders to go, and they are gone by the beginning of August. The theatre of the evening sky that soothes the mind and brings to rest the hot summer days is over. That is early.

Elephants 168

Elephants Neglecting Europe Birds 168

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2012

It also used to be a rather common bird in the South of Germany, but the German population has crashed and collapsed (almost?) If it still breeds in Germany at all, which it might do, it is so rare by now that pairs do not get reported to anywhere except to the relevant nature conservation authorities. For more than an hour.

Cattle 119

Cattle Germany Iran Breeders 119