10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

According to Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the World , a handsome volume written by James Hancock, James Kushan and Philip Kohl and published by Academic Press in 1992, Geronticus eremita “once nested in the mountains of central Europe, across northern Africa and into the Middle East. But this range is now much reduced.

Morocco 217

Morocco Austria Algeria Germany 217

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2015

Some lovely and touristy cities of Western Europe are justly proud of their cathedral Peregrines (Barcelona, Norwich, Bristol), even London (which has its charms, but is far from lovely) – why not Belgrade (isn’t proud, I mean)? Conservation Peregrine Falcon poisoning Serbia Switzerland' One Feral Pigeon. A Great Tit. v=8kKoL3sdbaQ.

Switzerland 189

Switzerland Serbia Feral Falcons 189

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2015

In all, the duo compared DNA from 77 redpolls, including specimens from museums around the world, from the Museum of Vertebrates at Cornell University to the Natural History Museum of Geneva in Switzerland. Furthermore, another redpoll species found in Europe—the Lesser Redpoll—also had extremely similar DNA sequences.

Species 209

Species Switzerland Groups Europe 209

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2015

The genus Passer has several well-recognized and recognizable species in Europe, and still holds several enigmas. The Italian Sparrow is not entirely confined to Italy but – not surprisingly – also occurs in neighbouring areas of Austria and Switzerland.

Sparrows 210

Sparrows Italy Asia Austria 210

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2012

and species breeding in cavities are less affected. The Usutu Virus has spread considerably in central Europe over the last 10 years. It subsequently spread to Budapest/ Hungary (2005, 2006), Zürich/ Switzerland (2006), and north-east Italy (2008/2009).

Germany 159

Germany Blackbirds 2006 Denmark 159

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

As I mentioned last week, my wife, son, and daughter-in-law spent much of the month of October in Europe. Visiting the continent after the end of most of the autumn migration meant that the number of bird species I could see in northern France, Switzerland, southern Germany, and Austria was much reduced.

Austria 123

Austria Switzerland Europe Geese 123

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

I don’t know how many Gray Partridges there are in America, but here in Britain (and Europe, too) we wouldn’t mind if some were sent back to their home countries, as this delightful little game bird has declined catastrophically throughout much of its range during the last 50 years. There are just a few areas left where it still thrives.

Hungary 154

Hungary Eggs Fox India 154