The Natural World Birds

Birding on holiday is a great way to pass the time in a relaxing and fun way, or you could go whole hog and book a specialist tour. If you are on a group tour remember they have come to see “something” else so move on when they do. People who spot birds are not twitchers, but birders.

Some Bird Facts - There are over 10000 species of birds on the planet - some of our most common friends are now critically at risk due to predation (domestic cats play a big role) loss of habitat and global warming (prey species hatching early or rains coming at the wrong time). One of the most numerous species is the House Sparrow with an estimated 5 billion globally, whilst the once common Tree Sparrow has had a population crash and is now critically endangered.

Difficult Birds Some of the most difficult birds to identify are BOPs, LBJ’s and Gulls and of course the Bugger Birds, which you will find on almost every trip. BOPs = Birds of Prey - LBJ’s = Little Brown Jobs - any small passerine type bird, and Bugger Birds = I am buggered if I know what that is! usually after several frustrating hours of internet and book searching. Are personal bête noire are gulls. Gulls drive us mad, 1st year plumage, 2nd year plumage, adult, juvenile, summer, winter, breeding, - honestly is it really necessary? Other ones we personally find difficult are Swifts, Swallows and Martins - if only they would stay still for a moment.

Resources Good websites are Avibase - it isn’t always the best but it is cheap and free and best of all you can download every bird in every country in the world. RSPB for factual information in the UK and for recording / tracking / projects we use the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) and for Books on any natural subject look no further than the NHBS on line, if they haven't got it it then it probably doesn't exist. Our go to guides are the HELM Field Guides - they are the best. Collins is ok if you can’t find one in HELM. The Lynx Seabirds - The New Identification Guide is the best for Gulls - but we still can’t identify them half the time even with it - not the books fault - just stupid birds - who said its was relaxing?