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The European Christmas Bird Count

10,000 Birds

These globally threatened raptors breed from Ukraine eastward through Siberia and only a few come to overwinter here. The first idea was, it is probably wounded by poachers. And I didn’t pay enough attention because one very dark eagle flew by at the same time, an adult Greater Spotted Eagle. The startled bird was looking at us.

Geese 156
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Birding the Kruger Park (3): Malelane area

10,000 Birds

These hornbills have the well-tried breeding strategy of enclosing the female in a tree hole. Breeding success in White-fronted Bee-eaters depends strongly on helpers, mainly by reducing the number of chicks dying of starvation (which at 48% of all chicks is indeed frightfully high). His music is rather bad, after all.

Swaziland 147