Bird Watching in Peru

Bird watching in Peru is an unbeatable experience and one that will leave even the most seasoned bird watcher awestruck. Peru is the destination of choice for many international birders, and for good reason. Peru is home to 120 endemic species of birds, with no fewer than 42 new species being recorded in the past 30 years. Over 1,800 bird species have been recorded to date – including the endemic species – and researchers believe that the list will continue to grow as they explore new areas.

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Fun at the Orlando Wetlands Park Festival

The 8th annual Orlando Wetlands Festival, which is scheduled to take place on 23 February 2008 at the Orlando Wetlands Park, is organized by the City of Orlando and the Orange Audubon Society as a joint venture. This popular event is a celebration of flora and fauna, with the emphasis on the prolific birdlife that is present in the wetlands, including migratory birds using the area as a stop-over point.

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The Bane of Brood Parasites

When we hear the word “parasites”, most of us would assume it is referring to an organism that feeds off another. In brood parasites, in the avian world, it works a little differently. To put in laymen’s terms, it is when one bird species lays their eggs in a different species‘ nest, so that the parasite species do not have to take care of their young. Over the years, host bird species became wise to the brood parasites, but as a parasite does not give up that easily, the brood parasites have come up with various devious plans to fool the hosts.

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Pet Budgies and Their Care

Up until 1840, most Europeans were familiar with the green parakeets that first arrived from Australia in 1770. It was John Gould soon introduced a new group of pet birds when be brought budgies (Melopsittacus undulates) back to England. From here, the race was on to breed some of the most colorful budgies, or budgerigars, and in 1870 a yellow budgie with red eyes was bred, even though this colour variant did not survive. Today, there are more than two hundred and fifty color variants to choose from.

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Oxpeckers – Cleaners or Parasites?

The two species of oxpecker which make up the family Buphagidae are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. The yellow-billed oxpecker (Buphagus africanus) is slightly larger and more widely found than its red-billed cousin (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) which is generally only found in the eastern part of sub-Saharan Africa.

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Florida’s Big “O” Birding Festival

The annual Big “O” Birding Festival is scheduled to take place from 25 to 27 January 2008 in Moore Haven, Florida, on the western side of Lake Okeechobee. Long time bird watchers are no doubt already aware that this area is a birder’s paradise and the activities arranged for the three day festival are sure to reinforce their love and respect for these amazing feathered creatures. The Big “O” Festival is also the perfect opportunity for new and potential bird watchers to find out what birding is all about.

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Berkshire Bird Paradise Sanctuary

The Berkshire Bird Paradise Sanctuary, a non-profit organization which is situated at 43 Red Pond Road, Petersburgh, New York, was started in 1972 by Peter Dubacher largely as a labor of love. The sanctuary is a safe haven for disabled and injured birds to rehabilitate to the extent that they are able, with about 40% of the birds living, and thriving, at the sanctuary for the rest of their lives, while others are released into their natural habitat once it has been established that they will benefit from this.

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