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The Cry of the Curlew

10,000 Birds

Here in the Brecks – an area of poor, sandy soils on the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk – we have a small but important breeding population. They favour the old heaths, but a number of pairs also breed on farmland. Brettenham Heath National Nature Reserve holds the highest density of nesting Curlews in the Brecks.

Fox 189
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Where have they gone?

10,000 Birds

Counting the Birds I was in my teens when I undertook my first bird-survey: it was field work for the British Trust for Ornithology’s The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. The breeding and wintering birds of Britain and Ireland. Published in 1976, The Atlas was, I believe, the very first work of its kind.

Ireland 211
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Dreaming of Congo rainforest: Gabon, Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic

10,000 Birds

The region also provides food, fresh water and shelter to more than 75 million people of nearly 150 distinct ethnic groups. Ngaga Camp’s (above) main draw is tracking the Western Lowland Gorilla (2 habituated groups out of 20 living in the area, time limited to 1 hour). Game viewing on foot, by 4×4 or by motorboat.

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For Pheasants, Mo’ Women = Mo’ Problems

10,000 Birds

But this breeding and social arrangement has its risks. And for wild pheasants ( Common , in Europe; or Ring-necked , stateside), a bigger group may actually present an existential danger. Having a harem sounds like a pretty sweet deal. After all, variety is the spice of life, no? For humans, you have the drama of sister wives.

Game 100
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Martin Mania

10,000 Birds

In the light of all this, I needed to up my game. Assuming that several of the observers involved had made multiple observations, that probably represents only around one hundred people having ever reported this species, even though it breeds in a country bordering the United States. Some of the group from site # 2.

Mexico 147
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Welcome Back

10,000 Birds

And when I say bird migration I’m referring to a specific group of birds – shorebirds. Many of these were still in their breeding plumage, a special treat for us here in the tropics as they would soon shed their richly patterned exterior for a drab and more mundane outfit. For my eBird list , I estimated 150 birds.

Trinidad 175
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Thrilling Turkey Facts

10,000 Birds

Yes, the Wild Turkey is North America’s largest game bird. However, Meleagris gallopavo has a lot more going for it than tasty, tryptophan-laced flesh: Turkeys are social birds and in winter often separate into three distinct groups: adult males (toms), young males (jakes), and females (hens) of all ages. During U.S.

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