WHitehawk Birding blog
Welcome to the Whitehawk Birding Blog! Here we share fun birding and nature facts and news in posts that we hope you find of interest. We hope you enjoy!
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Collaborating with eBird
Since early 2013 Whitehawk has been actively collaborating with eBird, a project developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It is a simple tool you can use to track the birds you have seen anywhere in the world, and store and retrieve your observations at anytime. The eBird database can be used by: You: Keeping…
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Ornitherapy
I recently came across a print ad by the US Fish and Wildlife Service showing beautiful snow-capped mountains against an orange sky and a foreground of wetlands filled with what look like hundreds of snow geese resting on the water. The ad reads “There is no wi-fi out here, but we promise you will find…
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Banding Lesser Kestrels in the Strait of Gibraltar
As they do every year, the Tumbabuey banding crew arrived in the village of Los Barrios, in Campo de Gibraltar, right on time to band kestrel chicks. This town, in the province of Cadiz, southern Spain, is home to one of the most important colonies of Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni). This small colonial falcon saw…
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Whitehawk Partners with Snow Leopard Trust
In November, Whitehawk has planned a wonderful trip to the Himalayas in search of the Snow leopard (Panthera uncia), led by the amazing biologist Pat Benson. As part of efforts to promote conservation in the countries in which we work, we are proud to announce that we have recently partnered with Snow Leopard Trust so…
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Birding with the Belize Raptor Research Institute
After three years of trying, I was finally able to participate in the Belize Raptor Research Institute’s (BRRI) Belize Bird-a-thon – this is an annual event in which teams across the country race to see as many bird species as possible in a 24 hour period. It is a wonderful fundraiser for this fledgling NGO…
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Burbayar: a refuge for Panama’s biodiversity
Not too long ago we were checking out some interesting birding sites in Panama. More and more I have come to realize how amazing the birding is in this country. Many great birding sites are easily accessible and it is easy to get around. Panama also offers great hotel options. The country has excellent guides…
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Senegal Part III: Raptor Haven and Dense Mangroves
As our tale of birding in Senegal continued and one of the spectacles we most wanted to see was the gathering of Lesser Kestrels and Scissor-tailed Kites. A roost site was discovered less than ten years ago. These birds gather in overwhelming numbers, over 15,000 kites and almost 30,000 kestrels have been counted in this…
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Senegal Part II: From Sahel to the Jungle
Senegal’s biodiversity is incredible. The road from Saint Louis to Wassadou produced some very attractive species, even without making frequent stops. In fact, our long drive couldn’t have started better. We spotted a carcass alongside the road which had attracted Rüppell’s Vulture, African White-backed Vulture, Eurasian Griffon and Hooded Vulture. The nearby acacias were covered with…
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Senegal: Africa’s Best Kept Secret
My first visit to Senegal left me wanting more. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself in such a friendly and extraordinarily diverse country. Senegal is extremely rich in wildlife. Thus it is an attractive destination for anyone ready to experience the natural wonders Africa has to offer. The Democratic Republic of Senegal makes up…