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What is the National Bird of Estonia?

10,000 Birds

The national bird of Estonia is the Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica. Of course, in Estonia the bird is not called Barn Swallow. Before Estonia switched over to the Euro the back of the 500-kroon note was graced by the national bird. Estonia is not the only country to have the Barn Swallow as the national bird.

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The European Christmas Bird Count

10,000 Birds

And I didn’t pay enough attention because one very dark eagle flew by at the same time, an adult Greater Spotted Eagle. Two hundred yards further, we found another Greater Spotted Eagle! Here in Serbia, in the south of the continent, this species is a proper rarity. And this one chose to fly right in front of us.

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Could have done better? Confessions of a year-lister.

10,000 Birds

My British total was a mere 172 species – not bad, but not very good. Every one of my 171 species was a bird that I found myself. It keeps a monthly record of sightings, so I can tell you that it was in February that I recorded my highest monthly species total (106), while my lowest total was in August (39).

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