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I am on a quick trip to the Lisbon area in Portugal and – I must admit – I was taken completely by surprise about how this conglomeration of people, water and nature are put togerther. In preparation for this trip I had spent some time with my friend the google machine and he (she? [...]

I had the good fortune to be asked to represent one of the UK’s national birding magazines ‘Birdwatching’ on a press trip to Southern Portugal earlier this month. Co-funded by two of the regional tourist boards, Alentejo and Algarve, we were led by one of the very best birders in Portugal João Jara who as [...]

The United Kingdom fosters what may be the most vibrant and fully-developed birding community on the planet, and there is at least one or two Germans out there who love nature deeply and truly. So why is illegal killing of birds such a widespread practice throughout Europe? “Birds are shot, trapped, caught with nets, glued [...]

The following picture will show you a landscape feature you may find attractive or even peaceful and nice. A landscape form you will want to visit from time to time specifically for your enjoyment and for a few quiet hours in the fine outdoors. This landscape feature will provide recreation and a rest from a working day’s hustle [...]

In a shocking development, some European birders have finally admitted what some clued-in American birders have suspected for quite some time; the Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla does not actually exist.  Apparently, the entire idea of the heretofore presumed (by Americans) extant species was developed during a drunken weekend sometime late in the 19th century,* when [...]

I’ve spent quite a few hours lately reading and paging through my recently arrived field guide, Birds of Europe. With a planned trip to Germany in October I want to be prepared to identify everything I see and hear…which isn’t too likely but I can dream, can’t I? Having never birded outside of the U.S. [...]