InTouch Magazine Articles Archive

Issue 11, October 2007

EuroBirdwatch

By Jane Stylianou.

BirdLife Cyprus is organising several events as part of BirdLife International’s annual ‘EuroBirdwatch’. EuroBirdwatch comprises hundreds of nationally organised activities all over Europe. Its events give everyone a chance to get out, observe and enjoy Europe’s wild birds at first hand in special activities organised by BirdLife’s national partners.

As usual, last year’s events proved a great success with almost 45,000 people in 32 countries taking part. Together they observed nearly 2.25million birds! BirdLife Cyprus organised four events which were attended by 85 people who observed a total of 3085 birds from 89 different species. The most numerous birds were Spanish sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis), yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava flava) and house sparrow (Passer domesticus). The star bird of the weekend was the light phase booted eagle (Hieraetus pennatus) seen at Akrotiri Salt Lake, while those who joined the event in the Mandria area of Paphos found flocks of wheatears, pipits and wagtails in the fields there. A lesser short toed lark (Calendrella rufescens) was a notable find amongst them.

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