The Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a real globetrotter. She is graceful in flight and downright dainty. This makes their worldwide occurrence all the more amazing. The birds breed around the Arctic Ocean to the northern tip of Greenland at almost 84°N and still comes regularly to breed on the North Sea coast at 54°N.… Continue reading Arctic Terns, globetrotters of the planet
Category: Nature Conservation
How to photograph Hoopoes? Part II
I already discussed shortly the limits and possibilities of remote photography at the Hoopoe’s nest in the blog “How to photograph Hoopoes? Part II” described. At the beginning of June the Eurasian Hoopoes (Upupa epops) are so far advanced that 3 young are waiting begging for food in the nest. Whether you photograph the approaching… Continue reading How to photograph Hoopoes? Part II
Special Birds in Nationalpark Biogradska Gora: White-throated Dipper
A beautiful mountain stream in the Biogradska Gora National Park in eastern Montenegro. A rest on a bridge. A few minutes later we see a black bird with a white bib comes flying over the shallow but wide mountain stream. A White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) takes a seat on a fallen tree trunk. She diligently… Continue reading Special Birds in Nationalpark Biogradska Gora: White-throated Dipper
Gray-faced Woodpecker: scientific studies required
The population of the Gray-faced Woodpecker (Picus canus) in the western Palearctic has declined sharply in the last 20 years. The causes of this are largely unknown, as there are few research results on the birds ecology. While population trends of the Gray-faced Woodpecker in Eastern Europe are stable or even positive in some cases,… Continue reading Gray-faced Woodpecker: scientific studies required
White-winged Nightjar: home on burnt ground
Forest fires are generally described in the media as crises or disasters. No wonder, when material assets are to be saved with many hundreds of firefighters in action. As macabre as it may seem, fire is essential for some birds to continue living in their native habitat. One such bird is the White-winged Nightjar (Caprimulgus… Continue reading White-winged Nightjar: home on burnt ground
Great Snipe photography in Estonia
A creaky staccato. A Great Snipe (Gallinago media) shakes itself in extacy. Then the snipe jumps briefly in the air. This can last for many hours at the midnight mating court, a lek. Common Snipes (Gallinago gallinago) also perform their courtship with sounds. But these are very different from those of the Great Snipe. Loud,… Continue reading Great Snipe photography in Estonia
Save a young European Starling
A European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) tears its beak wide open and presents its orange-yellow throat. Ist mothers prey is quickly stuck in his throat. What sounds like an everyday story in the breeding season of Starlings could mean the last meal for the young European Starling. It has been raining the whole day. The blades… Continue reading Save a young European Starling
Population developments in Germany for European Bee-eater
Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster): They cover thousands of kilometers between the winter quarters and the breeding area. It is summer and most migratory birds have long returned from their winter quarters. Their breeding business is in full swing. One bird species is already thinking about the return flight: Merops apiaster, the European Bee-eater. The colorful birds… Continue reading Population developments in Germany for European Bee-eater
Magnificent Bird-of-paradise in the rainforest
Heavy rains during the last night made the path through the steep slopes of the rainforest almost impassable. Again and again I sink up to my knees in the mud while I try to follow my guide, who is carrying my luggage and using his machete to help us through the thicket of lianas and… Continue reading Magnificent Bird-of-paradise in the rainforest
Gurney’s Pitta at Khao Pra Bang Khram Park in southern Thailand
I wake up in the middle of the night to the heavy pounding of rain falling on the tin roof. It takes a good 1 hour before I can go back to sleep. Then I remember: the reason to come to Khao Pra Bang Khram Park (formerly Khao Nor Chu Chi) is the chance to… Continue reading Gurney’s Pitta at Khao Pra Bang Khram Park in southern Thailand
Prey and spectrum of food of European Bee-eater
The name already reveals part of the food spectrum of the magnificent birds. Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) lead a short, eventful life in Germany. The colorful birds only arrive in our latitudes in the second half of May. Bee-eaters feed exclusively on insects, specializing in the hunting of large and medium-sized flying insects. Bees, bumblebees, beetles,… Continue reading Prey and spectrum of food of European Bee-eater
Photographing European Bee-eater: How and Where
A thin branch in the most beautiful evening light and on it a European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster). This is an image many nature photographers want to shoot. This raises the question of course of what the Bee-eater’s habits and preferences are. If you take a closer look at Bee-eater photography, you ask yourself e.g. how… Continue reading Photographing European Bee-eater: How and Where