Tag: Travel

  • Birding with the Belize Raptor Research Institute

    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…

  • Burbayar: a refuge for Panama’s biodiversity

    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…

  • Senegal Part III: Raptor Haven and Dense Mangroves

    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…

  • Senegal Part II: From Sahel to the Jungle

    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…

  • Senegal: Africa’s Best Kept Secret

    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…

  • Watching Barbary Macaques in northern Morocco

    Watching Barbary Macaques in northern Morocco

    Barbary Macaques (Macaca sylvanus) can be found in Morocco and Algeria. There is a small population in Gibraltar as well. They are the only species of primate to inhabit Europe beside humans. Barbary Macaque numbers have shrunk over the years due to habitat loss and persecution. Today, most of them survive in small and increasingly…