Tag: Whitehawk Birding
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La Janda, a Magical Place
Without a doubt, the loss of La Janda Lagoon was an environmental catastrophe for southern Spain. Those who made the decision to drain the largest lagoon in southern Europe for its use as farmland cared little for the fact that it was a refuge for millions of resident and passing birds and located in a…
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Working with the Canarian Houbara Bustard
In late 2011, Whitehawk began collaborating with GREFA, a Spanish NGO. We partnered with them to help carry out a population census of the Canarian Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis fuertaventurae undulata) on the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, Spain. An Endemic Subspecies of the Houbara Bustard The Canarian Houbara Bustard is an endemic subspecies. It inhabits…
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Underwater Adventure in Caye Caulker, Belize
The water is the blue found in dreams. It is warm and so clear that we can see to the white sand bottom of the sea. Fish of all colors swim languidly beneath the ripples our boat creates on the otherwise still sea. Today, we are not in search of birds. Today, we are heading…
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The Solitary Eagle
The Solitary Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus solitarius) is one of the least known raptors in the Neotropics. In fact, prior to the Belize Raptor Research Institute’s (BRRI) 2011 discovery of an active nest for this species, only two other nests had been found. Both more than fifty years ago! Luckily, BRRI researchers discovered this nest before the…
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New Snow Leopard population discovered
We live in an age when most of the news we get on T.V. and in the papers is bad news. This is often particularly true when it comes to the environment. We hear about another species becoming extinct in the wild. Or read about how climate change could be wreaking havoc on the planet. …
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Morocco – Migration from the Other Shore
Right after we picked up our first guests, Kitty and Marshal, in Malaga, we headed to the Strait of Gibraltar. Here, we would begin our Morocco Migration from the Other Shore Tour. During the tour, we would be able to see one of Nature’s greatest shows, the migration of hundreds of thousands of raptors and…
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Birding in Nepal – The Discovery of the Terai and the Adventure of the Himalayas
What is it like birding in Nepal? Thanks to the stability and security of the country in recent years, and the fascination and awe many people experience when viewing the Himalayas, Nepal is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. Currently, it is not a well-known destination for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts. But it has enormous…
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A Top Predator in Belize: The Harpy Eagle
In general, it is not easy to see forest raptors. Observing the Harpy Eagle, a low density species, can be more difficult still. But for many bird watchers this eagle is one of the “most wanted” species on their life lists. And it is no surprise why. It is the largest raptor in the Americas,…
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Birdwatching Morocco – Mountains, Sea, Marshes and Wind-swept Dunes
While birdwatching in Morocco, I don’t know what hit me first – the hypnotic music, the bustling voices in the marketplace, or the smells of spiced vegetables and meat grilling on open barbecues in the Djemaa el Fna Square in Marrakesh. This was the first stop on our week-long, winter, Morocco birding extravaganza and we…