Birding News
General birding news, not related specifically to BUBO Listing.
Collins Bird Guide!
11 January 2010
The excellent Collins Bird Guide has finally released its second edition. This book, subtitled "The Most Complete Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe" and authored by Lars Svensson with illustrations by Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterstrom, is widely regarded as the best European field guide ever published. No self-respecting birder can afford to be without it; whether Europe-based or not everyone with an interest in birds will benefit from it. In fact, if any BUBO Lister does not already own it they should be embarrassed! And anyone who does have it should immediately buy this update, with additional text and illustrations!
You can also help support BUBO Listing by buying it through the BUBO Store. You can browse the BUBO Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada or NHBS stores directly, but for quick ordering just click on the appropriate book and store below (check for the best price!).
Stop Press: now published by Princeton University Press and available from Amazon USA
Rare Birds Where and When
06 June 2009
Rare Birds, Where and When: An analysis of status and distribution in Britain and Ireland. Volume 1: sandgrouse to New World orioles, by Russell Slack with historical perspectives by Ian Wallace, is due for publication in mid June 2009. This book will surely be the definitive reference work for anyone interested in rare birds in Britain and Ireland. Russ has provided BUBO Listing with the following background and information about the book...
Pittas of the World
19 January 2009
Since most of us listers can be considered to be obsessive to a certain degree, we're happy to give a bit of publicity to another obsessive lister with a particular listing quest...
.jpg "Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura)")
UK birdwatcher Chris Gooddie is attempting to see all the world's species of pitta in a single year. Following conservative taxonomy (and as per Clements), there are 32 different species of pitta Pittidae known to science, and no-one has ever attempted to see all the species in a year. So far as is known, only two or three birders have managed to see all 32 species during a lifetime.
Pittas are amongst the beautiful birds in the world, and as a result were originally called "Jewel-Thrushes" in many parts of Asia. They live in the rainforests of SE Asia, Australia and Africa, and are a highly secretive, terrestrial family. Despite their gorgeous colours, almost all pitta species are elusive, and finding them requires experience, detailed site and species knowledge, and precise field skills. A number of species are migratory, many are endangered, and a few species, such as Gurney's Pitta (Pitta gurneyi, known only from one site in Southern Thailand and one site in Tenasserim, Southern Myanmar) are on the verge of extinction. Having already run the London Marathon twice to raise funds to protect the remaining forests in which Gurney's Pitta survives, Chris is now looking forward to returning to the Thai forest in an attempt to see Gurney's Pitta again.
.jpg "Eared Pitta (Pitta phayrei)")
Chris's journey will begin on February 2nd 2009 in Southern Thailand, and during the following twelve months he will be travelling extensively in Thailand, Malaysia, Sabah, Vietnam, The Philippines, (Northern Luzon and Eastern Mindanao), Taiwan, Indonesia (Sumatra, Bali, Sulawesi, Halmahera, The Sula Islands, Flores, Sumba and Tanimbar), Northern Australia, Sri Lanka, Manus Island, The Solomon Islands, Uganda and Zambia.
We wish Chris all the best with his 'pitta-listing'. To follow his progress check out www.pittasworld.com.
