10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2018

I am preparing for the new census of one of the rarest birds of Serbia, the globally threatened Great Bustard , taking place two days from now. Habitat destruction combined with hunting has pushed them away from their former breeding grounds. m–8 ft 10 in).

Serbia 104

Serbia Romania Hungary Hunting 104

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

I was canoeing the Danube backwaters inside Belgrade, Serbia, on a warm and sunny November day when a Northern Goshawk tried to catch one of two Pygmy Cormorants. Yet, one other hunting attempt in the same area I do remember. The next memorable hunt came from winter 2006/07. Northern Goshawk in Serbia, (c) Szekeres Levente.

Serbia 247

Serbia 2004 Eagles Chickens 247

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2015

I have asked myself that same question many times over the last six months, until last week, when I was involved in an opening ceremony of five new bird hides at the Palic Lake, by the town of Subotica in the very north of Serbia, along the border with Hungary (all photos are from that area).

Serbia 243

Serbia Birds Spain Hungary 243

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2016

A shot or two coming from the opposite bank, but they do not sound like geese shooting – more like boar hunting. A goose hunt sounds like a WWII battle. This section of the river is known as the Labudovo okno reserve, a Ramsar site and the most important waterbird wintering area in the whole of Serbia.

Geese 175

Geese Hunting Boars Birds 175

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2014

While there are some two dozen birding spots in Belgrade, Serbia, that stand out, in this guideblog I will focus on the river Danube and its floodplain, inside the Important Bird Area “Confluence of the Sava and the Danube Rivers”. Trips birdfinder Europe Serbia' In March and November, Common Cranes are a possibility.

Serbia 233

Serbia Birds Ducks Eagles 233

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2016

After the Common Starling , my second bird of the morning becomes the largest eagle of Europe, the White-tailed Eagle , this one with a fairly white tail, yet still dark beak, that I estimate to be in its 3rd calendar year. Looking miserable with its feathers soaked, one yellow and blue European Bee-eater sits on a dead branch.

Serbia 128

Serbia Sheep Birds Eagles 128

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2017

Actually, I am not waiting for them, but for the Eastern Imperial Eagle to come here to hunt Susliks – an eagle from one of the last two remaining nests in Serbia. On some earlier occasion I observed an Imperial Eagle hunting. No Susliks are to be seen – they are waiting for the sun. Alas, there is no eagle to be seen either.

Eagles 104

Eagles Squirrels Cattle Serbia 104

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2016

Late April / early May is the best birding season in the south of Europe and wherever you go, you will have 50% to 100% more species than in any other season. Pity, it is the sleeping hours and not the hunting (morning/evening), but at least they are not forced to socialise with people all day. Fanatical – from dawn till dusk.

Birds 112

Birds India Africa Serbia 112

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2016

Out of just under 200 bird species I observed this year in SE Europe, there are 6 threatened species. The Lesser White-fronted Goose is not only rare in Serbia, but also overlooked among numerous Greater White-fronted Geese. There are many reasons for their decrease and yet, all of them (but one?) Disturbance on breeding grounds (e.g.

Serbia 201

Serbia Greece Montenegro Bulgaria 201

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

Ackerman understands how to set a scene, fill it with charismatic real-life characters, and top it off with magic–the hoot of a distant Great Gray Owl, a Burrowing Owl evading capture, an old barn sheltering young Barn Owls, a tree full of Long-eared Owls in the middle of a small town in northern Serbia. They are also hunted.

Owls 210

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 210

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2014

The next site is grazing pastureland called Mali Pesak and there, while having coffee among the snowy dunes, we observe the hunting attempt of one beautiful Hen Harrier male. Trips Europe Serbia wetlands' After that, birds gradually thin out and winter drowsiness overtakes me.

Killing 230

Killing Mali Geese Serbia 230

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2014

More of a hunt? Birding Europe Serbia wetlands' Being a birder redefines ones travel views and arrangements – unlike old churches, birding tourist attractions have wings and tend to use them, which makes locating them more of a game. Satisfying the most ancient need in one hunter-gatherer’s mind? To be… alive?

Farming 236

Farming Serbia Europe India 236