Splotch Watch: Mamma Knows Best When It Comes To Choosing The Nest… Offer a Japanese quail hen a choice of four substrates on which to lay her eggs and she will invariably choose the type that provides the best camouflage for said eggs. Depending on the degree of maculation (that’s splotches, to you and me!) of the eggs, the bird will opt for either a substrate that matches the base colour of the egg (little splotching on these eggs) or that matches the shade of the maculation (lots of big splotches on these eggs). Personally, what I find most impressive about this experiment is that it shows not just that the birds have an awareness of camouflage techniques, but that they make their nest choices prior to laying, suggesting that they know and remember from previous lays what their own individual egg patterning looks like. Amazeballs!  Read the rest of the story from National Geographic here 
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Splotch Watch: Mamma Knows Best When It Comes To Choosing The Nest…

Offer a Japanese quail hen a choice of four substrates on which to lay her eggs and she will invariably choose the type that provides the best camouflage for said eggs. Depending on the degree of maculation (that’s splotches, to you and me!) of the eggs, the bird will opt for either a substrate that matches the base colour of the egg (little splotching on these eggs) or that matches the shade of the maculation (lots of big splotches on these eggs). Personally, what I find most impressive about this experiment is that it shows not just that the birds have an awareness of camouflage techniques, but that they make their nest choices prior to laying, suggesting that they know and remember from previous lays what their own individual egg patterning looks like. Amazeballs! 

Read the rest of the story from National Geographic here 

Source: National Geographic

Sleepless To The Sextreme: Polygynous Snoozers Make Reproductive Losers…  The phrase “You snooze, you lose” takes on a whole new magnitude when it comes to male Pectoral Sandpipers (Calidris melanotos). These polygynous birds, who mate and nest on the barren tundra of Alaska during the almost 24-hour daylight days of May and June, have been found to have much greater luck with the ladies if they downgrade their dozing times. Researchers from the Avian Sleep Group at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, after noticing unexpectedly high levels of activity among the males of their study group near Barrow, conducted DNA analysis of the chicks to determine, essentially, who’s the daddy? The data showed that the individuals that were the most active - up to 95% of 24 hours - sired the most young, despite getting hardly any sleep over a period of weeks. Oh well, no rest for the wicked, eh? ***Sigh***… Read the BBC report on these sandpiper shenanigans here Read the New Scientist report here Who’s the Daddy? Really wanna know? Find out here
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Sleepless To The Sextreme: Polygynous Snoozers Make Reproductive Losers…  The phrase “You snooze, you lose” takes on a whole new magnitude when it comes to male Pectoral Sandpipers (Calidris melanotos). These polygynous birds, who mate and nest on the barren tundra of Alaska during the almost 24-hour daylight days of May and June, have been found to have much greater luck with the ladies if they downgrade their dozing times. Researchers from the Avian Sleep Group at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, after noticing unexpectedly high levels of activity among the males of their study group near Barrow, conducted DNA analysis of the chicks to determine, essentially, who’s the daddy? The data showed that the individuals that were the most active - up to 95% of 24 hours - sired the most young, despite getting hardly any sleep over a period of weeks. Oh well, no rest for the wicked, eh? ***Sigh***… Read the BBC report on these sandpiper shenanigans here Read the New Scientist report here Who’s the Daddy? Really wanna know? Find out here
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Sleepless To The Sextreme: Polygynous Snoozers Make Reproductive Losers…  The phrase “You snooze, you lose” takes on a whole new magnitude when it comes to male Pectoral Sandpipers (Calidris melanotos). These polygynous birds, who mate and nest on the barren tundra of Alaska during the almost 24-hour daylight days of May and June, have been found to have much greater luck with the ladies if they downgrade their dozing times. Researchers from the Avian Sleep Group at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, after noticing unexpectedly high levels of activity among the males of their study group near Barrow, conducted DNA analysis of the chicks to determine, essentially, who’s the daddy? The data showed that the individuals that were the most active - up to 95% of 24 hours - sired the most young, despite getting hardly any sleep over a period of weeks. Oh well, no rest for the wicked, eh? ***Sigh***… Read the BBC report on these sandpiper shenanigans here Read the New Scientist report here Who’s the Daddy? Really wanna know? Find out here
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Sleepless To The Sextreme: Polygynous Snoozers Make Reproductive Losers… 

The phrase “You snooze, you lose” takes on a whole new magnitude when it comes to male Pectoral Sandpipers (Calidris melanotos). These polygynous birds, who mate and nest on the barren tundra of Alaska during the almost 24-hour daylight days of May and June, have been found to have much greater luck with the ladies if they downgrade their dozing times.

Researchers from the Avian Sleep Group at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, after noticing unexpectedly high levels of activity among the males of their study group near Barrow, conducted DNA analysis of the chicks to determine, essentially, who’s the daddy? The data showed that the individuals that were the most active - up to 95% of 24 hours - sired the most young, despite getting hardly any sleep over a period of weeks.

Oh well, no rest for the wicked, eh? ***Sigh***…


  • Read the BBC report on these sandpiper shenanigans here
  • Read the New Scientist report here
  • Who’s the Daddy? Really wanna know? Find out here
The Loony Bin: A Collection of Loons in Honour of Canada Day… The Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the Common Loon in North America and the Great Northern Diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee. The Great Northern Loon breeds in Canada, parts of the northern United States, Greenland, and Alaska. There is a smaller population (ca. 3,000 pairs) in Iceland. On isolated occasions they have bred in the far north of Scotland. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs on a hollowed-out mound of dirt and vegetation very close to water. Both parents build the nest, sit on the egg or eggs, and feed the young. This species winters on sea coasts or on large lakes over a much wider range in Europe and the British Isles as well as in North America. These birds have disappeared from some lakes in eastern North America due to the effects of acid rain and pollution, as well as lead poisoning from fishing sinkers and mercury contamination from industrial waste. Artificial floating nesting platforms have been provided for loons in some lakes to reduce the impact of changing water levels due to dams and other human activities. This diver is well known in Canada, appearing on the “loonie” coin and the previous series of $20 bill, and is the provincial bird of Ontario. Also, it is the state bird of Minnesota.
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The Loony Bin: A Collection of Loons in Honour of Canada Day… The Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the Common Loon in North America and the Great Northern Diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee. The Great Northern Loon breeds in Canada, parts of the northern United States, Greenland, and Alaska. There is a smaller population (ca. 3,000 pairs) in Iceland. On isolated occasions they have bred in the far north of Scotland. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs on a hollowed-out mound of dirt and vegetation very close to water. Both parents build the nest, sit on the egg or eggs, and feed the young. This species winters on sea coasts or on large lakes over a much wider range in Europe and the British Isles as well as in North America. These birds have disappeared from some lakes in eastern North America due to the effects of acid rain and pollution, as well as lead poisoning from fishing sinkers and mercury contamination from industrial waste. Artificial floating nesting platforms have been provided for loons in some lakes to reduce the impact of changing water levels due to dams and other human activities. This diver is well known in Canada, appearing on the “loonie” coin and the previous series of $20 bill, and is the provincial bird of Ontario. Also, it is the state bird of Minnesota.
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The Loony Bin: A Collection of Loons in Honour of Canada Day… The Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the Common Loon in North America and the Great Northern Diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee. The Great Northern Loon breeds in Canada, parts of the northern United States, Greenland, and Alaska. There is a smaller population (ca. 3,000 pairs) in Iceland. On isolated occasions they have bred in the far north of Scotland. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs on a hollowed-out mound of dirt and vegetation very close to water. Both parents build the nest, sit on the egg or eggs, and feed the young. This species winters on sea coasts or on large lakes over a much wider range in Europe and the British Isles as well as in North America. These birds have disappeared from some lakes in eastern North America due to the effects of acid rain and pollution, as well as lead poisoning from fishing sinkers and mercury contamination from industrial waste. Artificial floating nesting platforms have been provided for loons in some lakes to reduce the impact of changing water levels due to dams and other human activities. This diver is well known in Canada, appearing on the “loonie” coin and the previous series of $20 bill, and is the provincial bird of Ontario. Also, it is the state bird of Minnesota.
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The Loony Bin: A Collection of Loons in Honour of Canada Day… The Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the Common Loon in North America and the Great Northern Diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee. The Great Northern Loon breeds in Canada, parts of the northern United States, Greenland, and Alaska. There is a smaller population (ca. 3,000 pairs) in Iceland. On isolated occasions they have bred in the far north of Scotland. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs on a hollowed-out mound of dirt and vegetation very close to water. Both parents build the nest, sit on the egg or eggs, and feed the young. This species winters on sea coasts or on large lakes over a much wider range in Europe and the British Isles as well as in North America. These birds have disappeared from some lakes in eastern North America due to the effects of acid rain and pollution, as well as lead poisoning from fishing sinkers and mercury contamination from industrial waste. Artificial floating nesting platforms have been provided for loons in some lakes to reduce the impact of changing water levels due to dams and other human activities. This diver is well known in Canada, appearing on the “loonie” coin and the previous series of $20 bill, and is the provincial bird of Ontario. Also, it is the state bird of Minnesota.
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The Loony Bin: A Collection of Loons in Honour of Canada Day… The Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the Common Loon in North America and the Great Northern Diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee. The Great Northern Loon breeds in Canada, parts of the northern United States, Greenland, and Alaska. There is a smaller population (ca. 3,000 pairs) in Iceland. On isolated occasions they have bred in the far north of Scotland. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs on a hollowed-out mound of dirt and vegetation very close to water. Both parents build the nest, sit on the egg or eggs, and feed the young. This species winters on sea coasts or on large lakes over a much wider range in Europe and the British Isles as well as in North America. These birds have disappeared from some lakes in eastern North America due to the effects of acid rain and pollution, as well as lead poisoning from fishing sinkers and mercury contamination from industrial waste. Artificial floating nesting platforms have been provided for loons in some lakes to reduce the impact of changing water levels due to dams and other human activities. This diver is well known in Canada, appearing on the “loonie” coin and the previous series of $20 bill, and is the provincial bird of Ontario. Also, it is the state bird of Minnesota.
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The Loony Bin: A Collection of Loons in Honour of Canada Day… The Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the Common Loon in North America and the Great Northern Diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee. The Great Northern Loon breeds in Canada, parts of the northern United States, Greenland, and Alaska. There is a smaller population (ca. 3,000 pairs) in Iceland. On isolated occasions they have bred in the far north of Scotland. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs on a hollowed-out mound of dirt and vegetation very close to water. Both parents build the nest, sit on the egg or eggs, and feed the young. This species winters on sea coasts or on large lakes over a much wider range in Europe and the British Isles as well as in North America. These birds have disappeared from some lakes in eastern North America due to the effects of acid rain and pollution, as well as lead poisoning from fishing sinkers and mercury contamination from industrial waste. Artificial floating nesting platforms have been provided for loons in some lakes to reduce the impact of changing water levels due to dams and other human activities. This diver is well known in Canada, appearing on the “loonie” coin and the previous series of $20 bill, and is the provincial bird of Ontario. Also, it is the state bird of Minnesota.
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The Loony Bin: A Collection of Loons in Honour of Canada Day… The Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the Common Loon in North America and the Great Northern Diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee. The Great Northern Loon breeds in Canada, parts of the northern United States, Greenland, and Alaska. There is a smaller population (ca. 3,000 pairs) in Iceland. On isolated occasions they have bred in the far north of Scotland. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs on a hollowed-out mound of dirt and vegetation very close to water. Both parents build the nest, sit on the egg or eggs, and feed the young. This species winters on sea coasts or on large lakes over a much wider range in Europe and the British Isles as well as in North America. These birds have disappeared from some lakes in eastern North America due to the effects of acid rain and pollution, as well as lead poisoning from fishing sinkers and mercury contamination from industrial waste. Artificial floating nesting platforms have been provided for loons in some lakes to reduce the impact of changing water levels due to dams and other human activities. This diver is well known in Canada, appearing on the “loonie” coin and the previous series of $20 bill, and is the provincial bird of Ontario. Also, it is the state bird of Minnesota.
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The Loony Bin: A Collection of Loons in Honour of Canada Day… The Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the Common Loon in North America and the Great Northern Diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee. The Great Northern Loon breeds in Canada, parts of the northern United States, Greenland, and Alaska. There is a smaller population (ca. 3,000 pairs) in Iceland. On isolated occasions they have bred in the far north of Scotland. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs on a hollowed-out mound of dirt and vegetation very close to water. Both parents build the nest, sit on the egg or eggs, and feed the young. This species winters on sea coasts or on large lakes over a much wider range in Europe and the British Isles as well as in North America. These birds have disappeared from some lakes in eastern North America due to the effects of acid rain and pollution, as well as lead poisoning from fishing sinkers and mercury contamination from industrial waste. Artificial floating nesting platforms have been provided for loons in some lakes to reduce the impact of changing water levels due to dams and other human activities. This diver is well known in Canada, appearing on the “loonie” coin and the previous series of $20 bill, and is the provincial bird of Ontario. Also, it is the state bird of Minnesota.
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The Loony Bin: A Collection of Loons in Honour of Canada Day… The Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the Common Loon in North America and the Great Northern Diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee. The Great Northern Loon breeds in Canada, parts of the northern United States, Greenland, and Alaska. There is a smaller population (ca. 3,000 pairs) in Iceland. On isolated occasions they have bred in the far north of Scotland. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs on a hollowed-out mound of dirt and vegetation very close to water. Both parents build the nest, sit on the egg or eggs, and feed the young. This species winters on sea coasts or on large lakes over a much wider range in Europe and the British Isles as well as in North America. These birds have disappeared from some lakes in eastern North America due to the effects of acid rain and pollution, as well as lead poisoning from fishing sinkers and mercury contamination from industrial waste. Artificial floating nesting platforms have been provided for loons in some lakes to reduce the impact of changing water levels due to dams and other human activities. This diver is well known in Canada, appearing on the “loonie” coin and the previous series of $20 bill, and is the provincial bird of Ontario. Also, it is the state bird of Minnesota.
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The Loony Bin: A Collection of Loons in Honour of Canada Day… The Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the Common Loon in North America and the Great Northern Diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee. The Great Northern Loon breeds in Canada, parts of the northern United States, Greenland, and Alaska. There is a smaller population (ca. 3,000 pairs) in Iceland. On isolated occasions they have bred in the far north of Scotland. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs on a hollowed-out mound of dirt and vegetation very close to water. Both parents build the nest, sit on the egg or eggs, and feed the young. This species winters on sea coasts or on large lakes over a much wider range in Europe and the British Isles as well as in North America. These birds have disappeared from some lakes in eastern North America due to the effects of acid rain and pollution, as well as lead poisoning from fishing sinkers and mercury contamination from industrial waste. Artificial floating nesting platforms have been provided for loons in some lakes to reduce the impact of changing water levels due to dams and other human activities. This diver is well known in Canada, appearing on the “loonie” coin and the previous series of $20 bill, and is the provincial bird of Ontario. Also, it is the state bird of Minnesota.
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The Loony Bin: A Collection of Loons in Honour of Canada Day…


The Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the Common Loon in North America and the Great Northern Diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee.

The Great Northern Loon breeds in Canada, parts of the northern United States, Greenland, and Alaska. There is a smaller population (ca. 3,000 pairs) in Iceland. On isolated occasions they have bred in the far north of Scotland. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs on a hollowed-out mound of dirt and vegetation very close to water. Both parents build the nest, sit on the egg or eggs, and feed the young.

This species winters on sea coasts or on large lakes over a much wider range in Europe and the British Isles as well as in North America.

These birds have disappeared from some lakes in eastern North America due to the effects of acid rain and pollution, as well as lead poisoning from fishing sinkers and mercury contamination from industrial waste. Artificial floating nesting platforms have been provided for loons in some lakes to reduce the impact of changing water levels due to dams and other human activities.

This diver is well known in Canada, appearing on the “loonie” coin and the previous series of $20 bill, and is the provincial bird of Ontario. Also, it is the state bird of Minnesota.

Source: Wikipedia

Gone in 6 Seconds: Buzzard Nabs a Tasty Chick Takeout… 

This video footage, showing a Buzzard snatching one of two Osprey chicks from a nest at the Lochter Activity Centre in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has sparked controversy over the levels of protection afforded these two species and whether, in the case of the Buzzards, it is even a continuing necessity. 

Euan Webster, a former chairman of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Grampian regional group, said of the incident:

“This was a shocking act and clearly demonstrates why something needs to be done to control buzzards. It cannot be right that the buzzard remains protected yet they swarm over the countryside in large numbers eating prey – including iconic and beautiful birds such as Ospreys – at will.”

“Any farmer or shepherd will tell you about the threat from Buzzards yet the powers that be are reluctant to face up to the fact that sooner rather than later measures have to put in place to control Buzzards. This incident should sound alarm bells among those who care about the conservation of our rarer wild birds such as Ospreys in Scotland.”

However RSPB Scotland spokesperson James Reynolds responded to these statements with the following:

“Ospreys are doing spectacularly well as a breeding bird in Scotland, and have increased their population considerably in recent years. Indeed, territorial nesting pairs are now beginning to establish themselves south of the border in England as a result of their steadily improving conservation status in Scotland. One perfectly natural, isolated predation incident by another bird of prey is not going to change that.”

“This should not be used as a foundation to demonise buzzards, and it certainly should not be used as an attempt to justify controlling a protected species.”

Now Dat One Ugly Motha’ Vulcha’, Boiii!: AfrrrEEka’s Lappet-faced Vulture… One of the entrants to this year’s HBW World Bird Photo Contest that caught my attention (and indeed, that of the judges as it was awarded “Honourable Mention” - Oooerrr!) was the first pic in the above collage entitled “Instant” by the Swaziland-based European photographer Philip Perry. A veritable amazeballs with a side of awesomesauce of an action-shot, the photo portrays a Lappet-faced Vulture attacking a Golden Jackal. “A bird attacking a jackal?!” I hear you cry. “HELL YEAH, BOIII!”. So if, like me, you need to know more, read on…  The Snap Skinny: Of the teeth-taloned-tacular image, Perry himself had this to say: “The lappetfaced vulture had been sitting on a gnu carcass, keeping dozens of other vultures at bay (Ruppell’s & Whitebackeds). When along came a golden jackal. He tried to take possession of the food source. But was immediately attacked by the lappetfaced. The vulture used a foot to squash the jackals hindquarters right down to the ground and threaten it with its massive beak. Quickly the jackal realised its gross misjudgement and then ran off at great speed into the far distance of Tanzania’s serengeti.” The Bird Blurb: Like most birds of prey, the vulture possesses that distinct “angry” appearance that suggests it’s already so pissed off it’ll tear into you quicker than a fat kid with a Giant Kit Kat if you so much as respire too loudly in it’s presence. This, by the looks of things, goes doubly so for the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). Like many of his vulture cousins, the LFV has a bald head; a feature that supposedly developed due to the difficulty arising from trying to clean blood and other carcassy fluids from any feathers growing in this particular area. However, the LFV very much ups the ante in the balding-beauty stakes by sporting a rather fetching expanse of excess pink-coloured skin (lappets) on the sides of it’s head which, lets be honest, not-so-remotely resembles a human foreskin. Yup, one ugly motha’ vulcha’. True dat.  What the LFV lacks in beauty, however, it more than makes up for in brawn; with a wingspan of 2.5-3m (8-10ft) and weighing up to 9.4kg (20.7lbs) it is the largest and most powerful of all Africa’s vultures. It is also the most aggressive of them all and is known to fend off other vultures and even jackals from coveted carrion. In the case of smaller vultures this does, however, prove a beneficial system as the LFV is strong enough to tear through the tougher hides and muscles of larger mammals that the others would otherwise be unable to penetrate. (*Giggles* Haha, see what I did there?… Foreskin… Penetr… Ack, fine! NEVER MIND!…) Although primarily a scavenging bird and opting to feed mostly from animal carcasses, the LFV will occasionally attack young and weak live animals or prey on the eggs of other birds for a feeding. It’s even known to opportunistically feed on termites and locusts (Hmm, s’like, sooo Hakuna Matata, innit bruv!) The Population Predicament: So, Bruce-Willis baldness and butchness aside, where does this beauty queen of Hades sit in the conservation court? It seems not as well as would be liked. Accidental poisoning and purposeful persecution across it’s range is believed, in particular, to have had a detrimental effect on population numbers. A rising scarcity of carcasses and increases in nest disturbances from road constructions and off-road vehicle movements are also thought to be significant factors. This has led to the Lappet-faced Vulture gaining itself an IUCN Red List status of Vulnerable. So then, much like it’s emotional state following the realisation that it is, effectively, Motha’ Nacha’s Biggest Dickhead.  (I mean, seriously Nature, what’s with those lappets?!…) Check out ARKive and Wikipedia for more info and awesome pics/links Additional Image Credits: Image 2 - ©Vittorrio Ricci; Image 3 -  ©Andy Warn; Image 4 -  ©Mark Hamblin; Image 5 -  ©Unkown; Image 6 -  ©Elsen Karstad; Image 7  © Unkown; Image 8 -  ©Daniele Pralong(?); Image 9 -  ©Jerry Pank; Image 10 -  ©Unkown
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Now Dat One Ugly Motha’ Vulcha’, Boiii!: AfrrrEEka’s Lappet-faced Vulture… One of the entrants to this year’s HBW World Bird Photo Contest that caught my attention (and indeed, that of the judges as it was awarded “Honourable Mention” - Oooerrr!) was the first pic in the above collage entitled “Instant” by the Swaziland-based European photographer Philip Perry. A veritable amazeballs with a side of awesomesauce of an action-shot, the photo portrays a Lappet-faced Vulture attacking a Golden Jackal. “A bird attacking a jackal?!” I hear you cry. “HELL YEAH, BOIII!”. So if, like me, you need to know more, read on…  The Snap Skinny: Of the teeth-taloned-tacular image, Perry himself had this to say: “The lappetfaced vulture had been sitting on a gnu carcass, keeping dozens of other vultures at bay (Ruppell’s & Whitebackeds). When along came a golden jackal. He tried to take possession of the food source. But was immediately attacked by the lappetfaced. The vulture used a foot to squash the jackals hindquarters right down to the ground and threaten it with its massive beak. Quickly the jackal realised its gross misjudgement and then ran off at great speed into the far distance of Tanzania’s serengeti.” The Bird Blurb: Like most birds of prey, the vulture possesses that distinct “angry” appearance that suggests it’s already so pissed off it’ll tear into you quicker than a fat kid with a Giant Kit Kat if you so much as respire too loudly in it’s presence. This, by the looks of things, goes doubly so for the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). Like many of his vulture cousins, the LFV has a bald head; a feature that supposedly developed due to the difficulty arising from trying to clean blood and other carcassy fluids from any feathers growing in this particular area. However, the LFV very much ups the ante in the balding-beauty stakes by sporting a rather fetching expanse of excess pink-coloured skin (lappets) on the sides of it’s head which, lets be honest, not-so-remotely resembles a human foreskin. Yup, one ugly motha’ vulcha’. True dat.  What the LFV lacks in beauty, however, it more than makes up for in brawn; with a wingspan of 2.5-3m (8-10ft) and weighing up to 9.4kg (20.7lbs) it is the largest and most powerful of all Africa’s vultures. It is also the most aggressive of them all and is known to fend off other vultures and even jackals from coveted carrion. In the case of smaller vultures this does, however, prove a beneficial system as the LFV is strong enough to tear through the tougher hides and muscles of larger mammals that the others would otherwise be unable to penetrate. (*Giggles* Haha, see what I did there?… Foreskin… Penetr… Ack, fine! NEVER MIND!…) Although primarily a scavenging bird and opting to feed mostly from animal carcasses, the LFV will occasionally attack young and weak live animals or prey on the eggs of other birds for a feeding. It’s even known to opportunistically feed on termites and locusts (Hmm, s’like, sooo Hakuna Matata, innit bruv!) The Population Predicament: So, Bruce-Willis baldness and butchness aside, where does this beauty queen of Hades sit in the conservation court? It seems not as well as would be liked. Accidental poisoning and purposeful persecution across it’s range is believed, in particular, to have had a detrimental effect on population numbers. A rising scarcity of carcasses and increases in nest disturbances from road constructions and off-road vehicle movements are also thought to be significant factors. This has led to the Lappet-faced Vulture gaining itself an IUCN Red List status of Vulnerable. So then, much like it’s emotional state following the realisation that it is, effectively, Motha’ Nacha’s Biggest Dickhead.  (I mean, seriously Nature, what’s with those lappets?!…) Check out ARKive and Wikipedia for more info and awesome pics/links Additional Image Credits: Image 2 - ©Vittorrio Ricci; Image 3 -  ©Andy Warn; Image 4 -  ©Mark Hamblin; Image 5 -  ©Unkown; Image 6 -  ©Elsen Karstad; Image 7  © Unkown; Image 8 -  ©Daniele Pralong(?); Image 9 -  ©Jerry Pank; Image 10 -  ©Unkown
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Now Dat One Ugly Motha’ Vulcha’, Boiii!: AfrrrEEka’s Lappet-faced Vulture… One of the entrants to this year’s HBW World Bird Photo Contest that caught my attention (and indeed, that of the judges as it was awarded “Honourable Mention” - Oooerrr!) was the first pic in the above collage entitled “Instant” by the Swaziland-based European photographer Philip Perry. A veritable amazeballs with a side of awesomesauce of an action-shot, the photo portrays a Lappet-faced Vulture attacking a Golden Jackal. “A bird attacking a jackal?!” I hear you cry. “HELL YEAH, BOIII!”. So if, like me, you need to know more, read on…  The Snap Skinny: Of the teeth-taloned-tacular image, Perry himself had this to say: “The lappetfaced vulture had been sitting on a gnu carcass, keeping dozens of other vultures at bay (Ruppell’s & Whitebackeds). When along came a golden jackal. He tried to take possession of the food source. But was immediately attacked by the lappetfaced. The vulture used a foot to squash the jackals hindquarters right down to the ground and threaten it with its massive beak. Quickly the jackal realised its gross misjudgement and then ran off at great speed into the far distance of Tanzania’s serengeti.” The Bird Blurb: Like most birds of prey, the vulture possesses that distinct “angry” appearance that suggests it’s already so pissed off it’ll tear into you quicker than a fat kid with a Giant Kit Kat if you so much as respire too loudly in it’s presence. This, by the looks of things, goes doubly so for the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). Like many of his vulture cousins, the LFV has a bald head; a feature that supposedly developed due to the difficulty arising from trying to clean blood and other carcassy fluids from any feathers growing in this particular area. However, the LFV very much ups the ante in the balding-beauty stakes by sporting a rather fetching expanse of excess pink-coloured skin (lappets) on the sides of it’s head which, lets be honest, not-so-remotely resembles a human foreskin. Yup, one ugly motha’ vulcha’. True dat.  What the LFV lacks in beauty, however, it more than makes up for in brawn; with a wingspan of 2.5-3m (8-10ft) and weighing up to 9.4kg (20.7lbs) it is the largest and most powerful of all Africa’s vultures. It is also the most aggressive of them all and is known to fend off other vultures and even jackals from coveted carrion. In the case of smaller vultures this does, however, prove a beneficial system as the LFV is strong enough to tear through the tougher hides and muscles of larger mammals that the others would otherwise be unable to penetrate. (*Giggles* Haha, see what I did there?… Foreskin… Penetr… Ack, fine! NEVER MIND!…) Although primarily a scavenging bird and opting to feed mostly from animal carcasses, the LFV will occasionally attack young and weak live animals or prey on the eggs of other birds for a feeding. It’s even known to opportunistically feed on termites and locusts (Hmm, s’like, sooo Hakuna Matata, innit bruv!) The Population Predicament: So, Bruce-Willis baldness and butchness aside, where does this beauty queen of Hades sit in the conservation court? It seems not as well as would be liked. Accidental poisoning and purposeful persecution across it’s range is believed, in particular, to have had a detrimental effect on population numbers. A rising scarcity of carcasses and increases in nest disturbances from road constructions and off-road vehicle movements are also thought to be significant factors. This has led to the Lappet-faced Vulture gaining itself an IUCN Red List status of Vulnerable. So then, much like it’s emotional state following the realisation that it is, effectively, Motha’ Nacha’s Biggest Dickhead.  (I mean, seriously Nature, what’s with those lappets?!…) Check out ARKive and Wikipedia for more info and awesome pics/links Additional Image Credits: Image 2 - ©Vittorrio Ricci; Image 3 -  ©Andy Warn; Image 4 -  ©Mark Hamblin; Image 5 -  ©Unkown; Image 6 -  ©Elsen Karstad; Image 7  © Unkown; Image 8 -  ©Daniele Pralong(?); Image 9 -  ©Jerry Pank; Image 10 -  ©Unkown
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Now Dat One Ugly Motha’ Vulcha’, Boiii!: AfrrrEEka’s Lappet-faced Vulture… One of the entrants to this year’s HBW World Bird Photo Contest that caught my attention (and indeed, that of the judges as it was awarded “Honourable Mention” - Oooerrr!) was the first pic in the above collage entitled “Instant” by the Swaziland-based European photographer Philip Perry. A veritable amazeballs with a side of awesomesauce of an action-shot, the photo portrays a Lappet-faced Vulture attacking a Golden Jackal. “A bird attacking a jackal?!” I hear you cry. “HELL YEAH, BOIII!”. So if, like me, you need to know more, read on…  The Snap Skinny: Of the teeth-taloned-tacular image, Perry himself had this to say: “The lappetfaced vulture had been sitting on a gnu carcass, keeping dozens of other vultures at bay (Ruppell’s & Whitebackeds). When along came a golden jackal. He tried to take possession of the food source. But was immediately attacked by the lappetfaced. The vulture used a foot to squash the jackals hindquarters right down to the ground and threaten it with its massive beak. Quickly the jackal realised its gross misjudgement and then ran off at great speed into the far distance of Tanzania’s serengeti.” The Bird Blurb: Like most birds of prey, the vulture possesses that distinct “angry” appearance that suggests it’s already so pissed off it’ll tear into you quicker than a fat kid with a Giant Kit Kat if you so much as respire too loudly in it’s presence. This, by the looks of things, goes doubly so for the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). Like many of his vulture cousins, the LFV has a bald head; a feature that supposedly developed due to the difficulty arising from trying to clean blood and other carcassy fluids from any feathers growing in this particular area. However, the LFV very much ups the ante in the balding-beauty stakes by sporting a rather fetching expanse of excess pink-coloured skin (lappets) on the sides of it’s head which, lets be honest, not-so-remotely resembles a human foreskin. Yup, one ugly motha’ vulcha’. True dat.  What the LFV lacks in beauty, however, it more than makes up for in brawn; with a wingspan of 2.5-3m (8-10ft) and weighing up to 9.4kg (20.7lbs) it is the largest and most powerful of all Africa’s vultures. It is also the most aggressive of them all and is known to fend off other vultures and even jackals from coveted carrion. In the case of smaller vultures this does, however, prove a beneficial system as the LFV is strong enough to tear through the tougher hides and muscles of larger mammals that the others would otherwise be unable to penetrate. (*Giggles* Haha, see what I did there?… Foreskin… Penetr… Ack, fine! NEVER MIND!…) Although primarily a scavenging bird and opting to feed mostly from animal carcasses, the LFV will occasionally attack young and weak live animals or prey on the eggs of other birds for a feeding. It’s even known to opportunistically feed on termites and locusts (Hmm, s’like, sooo Hakuna Matata, innit bruv!) The Population Predicament: So, Bruce-Willis baldness and butchness aside, where does this beauty queen of Hades sit in the conservation court? It seems not as well as would be liked. Accidental poisoning and purposeful persecution across it’s range is believed, in particular, to have had a detrimental effect on population numbers. A rising scarcity of carcasses and increases in nest disturbances from road constructions and off-road vehicle movements are also thought to be significant factors. This has led to the Lappet-faced Vulture gaining itself an IUCN Red List status of Vulnerable. So then, much like it’s emotional state following the realisation that it is, effectively, Motha’ Nacha’s Biggest Dickhead.  (I mean, seriously Nature, what’s with those lappets?!…) Check out ARKive and Wikipedia for more info and awesome pics/links Additional Image Credits: Image 2 - ©Vittorrio Ricci; Image 3 -  ©Andy Warn; Image 4 -  ©Mark Hamblin; Image 5 -  ©Unkown; Image 6 -  ©Elsen Karstad; Image 7  © Unkown; Image 8 -  ©Daniele Pralong(?); Image 9 -  ©Jerry Pank; Image 10 -  ©Unkown
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Now Dat One Ugly Motha’ Vulcha’, Boiii!: AfrrrEEka’s Lappet-faced Vulture… One of the entrants to this year’s HBW World Bird Photo Contest that caught my attention (and indeed, that of the judges as it was awarded “Honourable Mention” - Oooerrr!) was the first pic in the above collage entitled “Instant” by the Swaziland-based European photographer Philip Perry. A veritable amazeballs with a side of awesomesauce of an action-shot, the photo portrays a Lappet-faced Vulture attacking a Golden Jackal. “A bird attacking a jackal?!” I hear you cry. “HELL YEAH, BOIII!”. So if, like me, you need to know more, read on…  The Snap Skinny: Of the teeth-taloned-tacular image, Perry himself had this to say: “The lappetfaced vulture had been sitting on a gnu carcass, keeping dozens of other vultures at bay (Ruppell’s & Whitebackeds). When along came a golden jackal. He tried to take possession of the food source. But was immediately attacked by the lappetfaced. The vulture used a foot to squash the jackals hindquarters right down to the ground and threaten it with its massive beak. Quickly the jackal realised its gross misjudgement and then ran off at great speed into the far distance of Tanzania’s serengeti.” The Bird Blurb: Like most birds of prey, the vulture possesses that distinct “angry” appearance that suggests it’s already so pissed off it’ll tear into you quicker than a fat kid with a Giant Kit Kat if you so much as respire too loudly in it’s presence. This, by the looks of things, goes doubly so for the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). Like many of his vulture cousins, the LFV has a bald head; a feature that supposedly developed due to the difficulty arising from trying to clean blood and other carcassy fluids from any feathers growing in this particular area. However, the LFV very much ups the ante in the balding-beauty stakes by sporting a rather fetching expanse of excess pink-coloured skin (lappets) on the sides of it’s head which, lets be honest, not-so-remotely resembles a human foreskin. Yup, one ugly motha’ vulcha’. True dat.  What the LFV lacks in beauty, however, it more than makes up for in brawn; with a wingspan of 2.5-3m (8-10ft) and weighing up to 9.4kg (20.7lbs) it is the largest and most powerful of all Africa’s vultures. It is also the most aggressive of them all and is known to fend off other vultures and even jackals from coveted carrion. In the case of smaller vultures this does, however, prove a beneficial system as the LFV is strong enough to tear through the tougher hides and muscles of larger mammals that the others would otherwise be unable to penetrate. (*Giggles* Haha, see what I did there?… Foreskin… Penetr… Ack, fine! NEVER MIND!…) Although primarily a scavenging bird and opting to feed mostly from animal carcasses, the LFV will occasionally attack young and weak live animals or prey on the eggs of other birds for a feeding. It’s even known to opportunistically feed on termites and locusts (Hmm, s’like, sooo Hakuna Matata, innit bruv!) The Population Predicament: So, Bruce-Willis baldness and butchness aside, where does this beauty queen of Hades sit in the conservation court? It seems not as well as would be liked. Accidental poisoning and purposeful persecution across it’s range is believed, in particular, to have had a detrimental effect on population numbers. A rising scarcity of carcasses and increases in nest disturbances from road constructions and off-road vehicle movements are also thought to be significant factors. This has led to the Lappet-faced Vulture gaining itself an IUCN Red List status of Vulnerable. So then, much like it’s emotional state following the realisation that it is, effectively, Motha’ Nacha’s Biggest Dickhead.  (I mean, seriously Nature, what’s with those lappets?!…) Check out ARKive and Wikipedia for more info and awesome pics/links Additional Image Credits: Image 2 - ©Vittorrio Ricci; Image 3 -  ©Andy Warn; Image 4 -  ©Mark Hamblin; Image 5 -  ©Unkown; Image 6 -  ©Elsen Karstad; Image 7  © Unkown; Image 8 -  ©Daniele Pralong(?); Image 9 -  ©Jerry Pank; Image 10 -  ©Unkown
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Now Dat One Ugly Motha’ Vulcha’, Boiii!: AfrrrEEka’s Lappet-faced Vulture… One of the entrants to this year’s HBW World Bird Photo Contest that caught my attention (and indeed, that of the judges as it was awarded “Honourable Mention” - Oooerrr!) was the first pic in the above collage entitled “Instant” by the Swaziland-based European photographer Philip Perry. A veritable amazeballs with a side of awesomesauce of an action-shot, the photo portrays a Lappet-faced Vulture attacking a Golden Jackal. “A bird attacking a jackal?!” I hear you cry. “HELL YEAH, BOIII!”. So if, like me, you need to know more, read on…  The Snap Skinny: Of the teeth-taloned-tacular image, Perry himself had this to say: “The lappetfaced vulture had been sitting on a gnu carcass, keeping dozens of other vultures at bay (Ruppell’s & Whitebackeds). When along came a golden jackal. He tried to take possession of the food source. But was immediately attacked by the lappetfaced. The vulture used a foot to squash the jackals hindquarters right down to the ground and threaten it with its massive beak. Quickly the jackal realised its gross misjudgement and then ran off at great speed into the far distance of Tanzania’s serengeti.” The Bird Blurb: Like most birds of prey, the vulture possesses that distinct “angry” appearance that suggests it’s already so pissed off it’ll tear into you quicker than a fat kid with a Giant Kit Kat if you so much as respire too loudly in it’s presence. This, by the looks of things, goes doubly so for the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). Like many of his vulture cousins, the LFV has a bald head; a feature that supposedly developed due to the difficulty arising from trying to clean blood and other carcassy fluids from any feathers growing in this particular area. However, the LFV very much ups the ante in the balding-beauty stakes by sporting a rather fetching expanse of excess pink-coloured skin (lappets) on the sides of it’s head which, lets be honest, not-so-remotely resembles a human foreskin. Yup, one ugly motha’ vulcha’. True dat.  What the LFV lacks in beauty, however, it more than makes up for in brawn; with a wingspan of 2.5-3m (8-10ft) and weighing up to 9.4kg (20.7lbs) it is the largest and most powerful of all Africa’s vultures. It is also the most aggressive of them all and is known to fend off other vultures and even jackals from coveted carrion. In the case of smaller vultures this does, however, prove a beneficial system as the LFV is strong enough to tear through the tougher hides and muscles of larger mammals that the others would otherwise be unable to penetrate. (*Giggles* Haha, see what I did there?… Foreskin… Penetr… Ack, fine! NEVER MIND!…) Although primarily a scavenging bird and opting to feed mostly from animal carcasses, the LFV will occasionally attack young and weak live animals or prey on the eggs of other birds for a feeding. It’s even known to opportunistically feed on termites and locusts (Hmm, s’like, sooo Hakuna Matata, innit bruv!) The Population Predicament: So, Bruce-Willis baldness and butchness aside, where does this beauty queen of Hades sit in the conservation court? It seems not as well as would be liked. Accidental poisoning and purposeful persecution across it’s range is believed, in particular, to have had a detrimental effect on population numbers. A rising scarcity of carcasses and increases in nest disturbances from road constructions and off-road vehicle movements are also thought to be significant factors. This has led to the Lappet-faced Vulture gaining itself an IUCN Red List status of Vulnerable. So then, much like it’s emotional state following the realisation that it is, effectively, Motha’ Nacha’s Biggest Dickhead.  (I mean, seriously Nature, what’s with those lappets?!…) Check out ARKive and Wikipedia for more info and awesome pics/links Additional Image Credits: Image 2 - ©Vittorrio Ricci; Image 3 -  ©Andy Warn; Image 4 -  ©Mark Hamblin; Image 5 -  ©Unkown; Image 6 -  ©Elsen Karstad; Image 7  © Unkown; Image 8 -  ©Daniele Pralong(?); Image 9 -  ©Jerry Pank; Image 10 -  ©Unkown
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Now Dat One Ugly Motha’ Vulcha’, Boiii!: AfrrrEEka’s Lappet-faced Vulture… One of the entrants to this year’s HBW World Bird Photo Contest that caught my attention (and indeed, that of the judges as it was awarded “Honourable Mention” - Oooerrr!) was the first pic in the above collage entitled “Instant” by the Swaziland-based European photographer Philip Perry. A veritable amazeballs with a side of awesomesauce of an action-shot, the photo portrays a Lappet-faced Vulture attacking a Golden Jackal. “A bird attacking a jackal?!” I hear you cry. “HELL YEAH, BOIII!”. So if, like me, you need to know more, read on…  The Snap Skinny: Of the teeth-taloned-tacular image, Perry himself had this to say: “The lappetfaced vulture had been sitting on a gnu carcass, keeping dozens of other vultures at bay (Ruppell’s & Whitebackeds). When along came a golden jackal. He tried to take possession of the food source. But was immediately attacked by the lappetfaced. The vulture used a foot to squash the jackals hindquarters right down to the ground and threaten it with its massive beak. Quickly the jackal realised its gross misjudgement and then ran off at great speed into the far distance of Tanzania’s serengeti.” The Bird Blurb: Like most birds of prey, the vulture possesses that distinct “angry” appearance that suggests it’s already so pissed off it’ll tear into you quicker than a fat kid with a Giant Kit Kat if you so much as respire too loudly in it’s presence. This, by the looks of things, goes doubly so for the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). Like many of his vulture cousins, the LFV has a bald head; a feature that supposedly developed due to the difficulty arising from trying to clean blood and other carcassy fluids from any feathers growing in this particular area. However, the LFV very much ups the ante in the balding-beauty stakes by sporting a rather fetching expanse of excess pink-coloured skin (lappets) on the sides of it’s head which, lets be honest, not-so-remotely resembles a human foreskin. Yup, one ugly motha’ vulcha’. True dat.  What the LFV lacks in beauty, however, it more than makes up for in brawn; with a wingspan of 2.5-3m (8-10ft) and weighing up to 9.4kg (20.7lbs) it is the largest and most powerful of all Africa’s vultures. It is also the most aggressive of them all and is known to fend off other vultures and even jackals from coveted carrion. In the case of smaller vultures this does, however, prove a beneficial system as the LFV is strong enough to tear through the tougher hides and muscles of larger mammals that the others would otherwise be unable to penetrate. (*Giggles* Haha, see what I did there?… Foreskin… Penetr… Ack, fine! NEVER MIND!…) Although primarily a scavenging bird and opting to feed mostly from animal carcasses, the LFV will occasionally attack young and weak live animals or prey on the eggs of other birds for a feeding. It’s even known to opportunistically feed on termites and locusts (Hmm, s’like, sooo Hakuna Matata, innit bruv!) The Population Predicament: So, Bruce-Willis baldness and butchness aside, where does this beauty queen of Hades sit in the conservation court? It seems not as well as would be liked. Accidental poisoning and purposeful persecution across it’s range is believed, in particular, to have had a detrimental effect on population numbers. A rising scarcity of carcasses and increases in nest disturbances from road constructions and off-road vehicle movements are also thought to be significant factors. This has led to the Lappet-faced Vulture gaining itself an IUCN Red List status of Vulnerable. So then, much like it’s emotional state following the realisation that it is, effectively, Motha’ Nacha’s Biggest Dickhead.  (I mean, seriously Nature, what’s with those lappets?!…) Check out ARKive and Wikipedia for more info and awesome pics/links Additional Image Credits: Image 2 - ©Vittorrio Ricci; Image 3 -  ©Andy Warn; Image 4 -  ©Mark Hamblin; Image 5 -  ©Unkown; Image 6 -  ©Elsen Karstad; Image 7  © Unkown; Image 8 -  ©Daniele Pralong(?); Image 9 -  ©Jerry Pank; Image 10 -  ©Unkown
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Now Dat One Ugly Motha’ Vulcha’, Boiii!: AfrrrEEka’s Lappet-faced Vulture… One of the entrants to this year’s HBW World Bird Photo Contest that caught my attention (and indeed, that of the judges as it was awarded “Honourable Mention” - Oooerrr!) was the first pic in the above collage entitled “Instant” by the Swaziland-based European photographer Philip Perry. A veritable amazeballs with a side of awesomesauce of an action-shot, the photo portrays a Lappet-faced Vulture attacking a Golden Jackal. “A bird attacking a jackal?!” I hear you cry. “HELL YEAH, BOIII!”. So if, like me, you need to know more, read on…  The Snap Skinny: Of the teeth-taloned-tacular image, Perry himself had this to say: “The lappetfaced vulture had been sitting on a gnu carcass, keeping dozens of other vultures at bay (Ruppell’s & Whitebackeds). When along came a golden jackal. He tried to take possession of the food source. But was immediately attacked by the lappetfaced. The vulture used a foot to squash the jackals hindquarters right down to the ground and threaten it with its massive beak. Quickly the jackal realised its gross misjudgement and then ran off at great speed into the far distance of Tanzania’s serengeti.” The Bird Blurb: Like most birds of prey, the vulture possesses that distinct “angry” appearance that suggests it’s already so pissed off it’ll tear into you quicker than a fat kid with a Giant Kit Kat if you so much as respire too loudly in it’s presence. This, by the looks of things, goes doubly so for the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). Like many of his vulture cousins, the LFV has a bald head; a feature that supposedly developed due to the difficulty arising from trying to clean blood and other carcassy fluids from any feathers growing in this particular area. However, the LFV very much ups the ante in the balding-beauty stakes by sporting a rather fetching expanse of excess pink-coloured skin (lappets) on the sides of it’s head which, lets be honest, not-so-remotely resembles a human foreskin. Yup, one ugly motha’ vulcha’. True dat.  What the LFV lacks in beauty, however, it more than makes up for in brawn; with a wingspan of 2.5-3m (8-10ft) and weighing up to 9.4kg (20.7lbs) it is the largest and most powerful of all Africa’s vultures. It is also the most aggressive of them all and is known to fend off other vultures and even jackals from coveted carrion. In the case of smaller vultures this does, however, prove a beneficial system as the LFV is strong enough to tear through the tougher hides and muscles of larger mammals that the others would otherwise be unable to penetrate. (*Giggles* Haha, see what I did there?… Foreskin… Penetr… Ack, fine! NEVER MIND!…) Although primarily a scavenging bird and opting to feed mostly from animal carcasses, the LFV will occasionally attack young and weak live animals or prey on the eggs of other birds for a feeding. It’s even known to opportunistically feed on termites and locusts (Hmm, s’like, sooo Hakuna Matata, innit bruv!) The Population Predicament: So, Bruce-Willis baldness and butchness aside, where does this beauty queen of Hades sit in the conservation court? It seems not as well as would be liked. Accidental poisoning and purposeful persecution across it’s range is believed, in particular, to have had a detrimental effect on population numbers. A rising scarcity of carcasses and increases in nest disturbances from road constructions and off-road vehicle movements are also thought to be significant factors. This has led to the Lappet-faced Vulture gaining itself an IUCN Red List status of Vulnerable. So then, much like it’s emotional state following the realisation that it is, effectively, Motha’ Nacha’s Biggest Dickhead.  (I mean, seriously Nature, what’s with those lappets?!…) Check out ARKive and Wikipedia for more info and awesome pics/links Additional Image Credits: Image 2 - ©Vittorrio Ricci; Image 3 -  ©Andy Warn; Image 4 -  ©Mark Hamblin; Image 5 -  ©Unkown; Image 6 -  ©Elsen Karstad; Image 7  © Unkown; Image 8 -  ©Daniele Pralong(?); Image 9 -  ©Jerry Pank; Image 10 -  ©Unkown
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Now Dat One Ugly Motha’ Vulcha’, Boiii!: AfrrrEEka’s Lappet-faced Vulture… One of the entrants to this year’s HBW World Bird Photo Contest that caught my attention (and indeed, that of the judges as it was awarded “Honourable Mention” - Oooerrr!) was the first pic in the above collage entitled “Instant” by the Swaziland-based European photographer Philip Perry. A veritable amazeballs with a side of awesomesauce of an action-shot, the photo portrays a Lappet-faced Vulture attacking a Golden Jackal. “A bird attacking a jackal?!” I hear you cry. “HELL YEAH, BOIII!”. So if, like me, you need to know more, read on…  The Snap Skinny: Of the teeth-taloned-tacular image, Perry himself had this to say: “The lappetfaced vulture had been sitting on a gnu carcass, keeping dozens of other vultures at bay (Ruppell’s & Whitebackeds). When along came a golden jackal. He tried to take possession of the food source. But was immediately attacked by the lappetfaced. The vulture used a foot to squash the jackals hindquarters right down to the ground and threaten it with its massive beak. Quickly the jackal realised its gross misjudgement and then ran off at great speed into the far distance of Tanzania’s serengeti.” The Bird Blurb: Like most birds of prey, the vulture possesses that distinct “angry” appearance that suggests it’s already so pissed off it’ll tear into you quicker than a fat kid with a Giant Kit Kat if you so much as respire too loudly in it’s presence. This, by the looks of things, goes doubly so for the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). Like many of his vulture cousins, the LFV has a bald head; a feature that supposedly developed due to the difficulty arising from trying to clean blood and other carcassy fluids from any feathers growing in this particular area. However, the LFV very much ups the ante in the balding-beauty stakes by sporting a rather fetching expanse of excess pink-coloured skin (lappets) on the sides of it’s head which, lets be honest, not-so-remotely resembles a human foreskin. Yup, one ugly motha’ vulcha’. True dat.  What the LFV lacks in beauty, however, it more than makes up for in brawn; with a wingspan of 2.5-3m (8-10ft) and weighing up to 9.4kg (20.7lbs) it is the largest and most powerful of all Africa’s vultures. It is also the most aggressive of them all and is known to fend off other vultures and even jackals from coveted carrion. In the case of smaller vultures this does, however, prove a beneficial system as the LFV is strong enough to tear through the tougher hides and muscles of larger mammals that the others would otherwise be unable to penetrate. (*Giggles* Haha, see what I did there?… Foreskin… Penetr… Ack, fine! NEVER MIND!…) Although primarily a scavenging bird and opting to feed mostly from animal carcasses, the LFV will occasionally attack young and weak live animals or prey on the eggs of other birds for a feeding. It’s even known to opportunistically feed on termites and locusts (Hmm, s’like, sooo Hakuna Matata, innit bruv!) The Population Predicament: So, Bruce-Willis baldness and butchness aside, where does this beauty queen of Hades sit in the conservation court? It seems not as well as would be liked. Accidental poisoning and purposeful persecution across it’s range is believed, in particular, to have had a detrimental effect on population numbers. A rising scarcity of carcasses and increases in nest disturbances from road constructions and off-road vehicle movements are also thought to be significant factors. This has led to the Lappet-faced Vulture gaining itself an IUCN Red List status of Vulnerable. So then, much like it’s emotional state following the realisation that it is, effectively, Motha’ Nacha’s Biggest Dickhead.  (I mean, seriously Nature, what’s with those lappets?!…) Check out ARKive and Wikipedia for more info and awesome pics/links Additional Image Credits: Image 2 - ©Vittorrio Ricci; Image 3 -  ©Andy Warn; Image 4 -  ©Mark Hamblin; Image 5 -  ©Unkown; Image 6 -  ©Elsen Karstad; Image 7  © Unkown; Image 8 -  ©Daniele Pralong(?); Image 9 -  ©Jerry Pank; Image 10 -  ©Unkown
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Now Dat One Ugly Motha’ Vulcha’, Boiii!: AfrrrEEka’s Lappet-faced Vulture… One of the entrants to this year’s HBW World Bird Photo Contest that caught my attention (and indeed, that of the judges as it was awarded “Honourable Mention” - Oooerrr!) was the first pic in the above collage entitled “Instant” by the Swaziland-based European photographer Philip Perry. A veritable amazeballs with a side of awesomesauce of an action-shot, the photo portrays a Lappet-faced Vulture attacking a Golden Jackal. “A bird attacking a jackal?!” I hear you cry. “HELL YEAH, BOIII!”. So if, like me, you need to know more, read on…  The Snap Skinny: Of the teeth-taloned-tacular image, Perry himself had this to say: “The lappetfaced vulture had been sitting on a gnu carcass, keeping dozens of other vultures at bay (Ruppell’s & Whitebackeds). When along came a golden jackal. He tried to take possession of the food source. But was immediately attacked by the lappetfaced. The vulture used a foot to squash the jackals hindquarters right down to the ground and threaten it with its massive beak. Quickly the jackal realised its gross misjudgement and then ran off at great speed into the far distance of Tanzania’s serengeti.” The Bird Blurb: Like most birds of prey, the vulture possesses that distinct “angry” appearance that suggests it’s already so pissed off it’ll tear into you quicker than a fat kid with a Giant Kit Kat if you so much as respire too loudly in it’s presence. This, by the looks of things, goes doubly so for the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). Like many of his vulture cousins, the LFV has a bald head; a feature that supposedly developed due to the difficulty arising from trying to clean blood and other carcassy fluids from any feathers growing in this particular area. However, the LFV very much ups the ante in the balding-beauty stakes by sporting a rather fetching expanse of excess pink-coloured skin (lappets) on the sides of it’s head which, lets be honest, not-so-remotely resembles a human foreskin. Yup, one ugly motha’ vulcha’. True dat.  What the LFV lacks in beauty, however, it more than makes up for in brawn; with a wingspan of 2.5-3m (8-10ft) and weighing up to 9.4kg (20.7lbs) it is the largest and most powerful of all Africa’s vultures. It is also the most aggressive of them all and is known to fend off other vultures and even jackals from coveted carrion. In the case of smaller vultures this does, however, prove a beneficial system as the LFV is strong enough to tear through the tougher hides and muscles of larger mammals that the others would otherwise be unable to penetrate. (*Giggles* Haha, see what I did there?… Foreskin… Penetr… Ack, fine! NEVER MIND!…) Although primarily a scavenging bird and opting to feed mostly from animal carcasses, the LFV will occasionally attack young and weak live animals or prey on the eggs of other birds for a feeding. It’s even known to opportunistically feed on termites and locusts (Hmm, s’like, sooo Hakuna Matata, innit bruv!) The Population Predicament: So, Bruce-Willis baldness and butchness aside, where does this beauty queen of Hades sit in the conservation court? It seems not as well as would be liked. Accidental poisoning and purposeful persecution across it’s range is believed, in particular, to have had a detrimental effect on population numbers. A rising scarcity of carcasses and increases in nest disturbances from road constructions and off-road vehicle movements are also thought to be significant factors. This has led to the Lappet-faced Vulture gaining itself an IUCN Red List status of Vulnerable. So then, much like it’s emotional state following the realisation that it is, effectively, Motha’ Nacha’s Biggest Dickhead.  (I mean, seriously Nature, what’s with those lappets?!…) Check out ARKive and Wikipedia for more info and awesome pics/links Additional Image Credits: Image 2 - ©Vittorrio Ricci; Image 3 -  ©Andy Warn; Image 4 -  ©Mark Hamblin; Image 5 -  ©Unkown; Image 6 -  ©Elsen Karstad; Image 7  © Unkown; Image 8 -  ©Daniele Pralong(?); Image 9 -  ©Jerry Pank; Image 10 -  ©Unkown
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Now Dat One Ugly Motha’ Vulcha’, Boiii!: AfrrrEEka’s Lappet-faced Vulture…


One of the entrants to this year’s HBW World Bird Photo Contest that caught my attention (and indeed, that of the judges as it was awarded “Honourable Mention” - Oooerrr!) was the first pic in the above collage entitled “Instant” by the Swaziland-based European photographer Philip Perry. A veritable amazeballs with a side of awesomesauce of an action-shot, the photo portrays a Lappet-faced Vulture attacking a Golden Jackal. “A bird attacking a jackal?!” I hear you cry. “HELL YEAH, BOIII!”. So if, like me, you need to know more, read on… 


The Snap Skinny:

Of the teeth-taloned-tacular image, Perry himself had this to say:

“The lappetfaced vulture had been sitting on a gnu carcass, keeping dozens of other vultures at bay (Ruppell’s & Whitebackeds). When along came a golden jackal. He tried to take possession of the food source. But was immediately attacked by the lappetfaced. The vulture used a foot to squash the jackals hindquarters right down to the ground and threaten it with its massive beak. Quickly the jackal realised its gross misjudgement and then ran off at great speed into the far distance of Tanzania’s serengeti.”


The Bird Blurb:

Like most birds of prey, the vulture possesses that distinct “angry” appearance that suggests it’s already so pissed off it’ll tear into you quicker than a fat kid with a Giant Kit Kat if you so much as respire too loudly in it’s presence. This, by the looks of things, goes doubly so for the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos).

Like many of his vulture cousins, the LFV has a bald head; a feature that supposedly developed due to the difficulty arising from trying to clean blood and other carcassy fluids from any feathers growing in this particular area. However, the LFV very much ups the ante in the balding-beauty stakes by sporting a rather fetching expanse of excess pink-coloured skin (lappets) on the sides of it’s head which, lets be honest, not-so-remotely resembles a human foreskin. Yup, one ugly motha’ vulcha’. True dat. 

What the LFV lacks in beauty, however, it more than makes up for in brawn; with a wingspan of 2.5-3m (8-10ft) and weighing up to 9.4kg (20.7lbs) it is the largest and most powerful of all Africa’s vultures. It is also the most aggressive of them all and is known to fend off other vultures and even jackals from coveted carrion. In the case of smaller vultures this does, however, prove a beneficial system as the LFV is strong enough to tear through the tougher hides and muscles of larger mammals that the others would otherwise be unable to penetrate. (*Giggles* Haha, see what I did there?… Foreskin… Penetr… Ack, fine! NEVER MIND!…)

Although primarily a scavenging bird and opting to feed mostly from animal carcasses, the LFV will occasionally attack young and weak live animals or prey on the eggs of other birds for a feeding. It’s even known to opportunistically feed on termites and locusts (Hmm, s’like, sooo Hakuna Matata, innit bruv!)


The Population Predicament:

So, Bruce-Willis baldness and butchness aside, where does this beauty queen of Hades sit in the conservation court? It seems not as well as would be liked. Accidental poisoning and purposeful persecution across it’s range is believed, in particular, to have had a detrimental effect on population numbers. A rising scarcity of carcasses and increases in nest disturbances from road constructions and off-road vehicle movements are also thought to be significant factors. This has led to the Lappet-faced Vulture gaining itself an IUCN Red List status of Vulnerable.

So then, much like it’s emotional state following the realisation that it is, effectively, Motha’ Nacha’s Biggest Dickhead. 

(I mean, seriously Nature, what’s with those lappets?!…)

  • Check out ARKive and Wikipedia for more info and awesome pics/links
  • Additional Image Credits: Image 2 - ©Vittorrio Ricci; Image 3 -  ©Andy Warn; Image 4 -  ©Mark Hamblin; Image 5 -  ©Unkown; Image 6 -  ©Elsen Karstad; Image 7  © Unkown; Image 8 -  ©Daniele Pralong(?); Image 9 -  ©Jerry Pank; Image 10 -  ©Unkown
In Pictures: Winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest… The Handbook of the Birds of the World saw great success with it’s inaugural World Bird Photo Contest. Some 10,754 photo entries were received from 128 different countries and a total of 3,127 bird species were photographed in 154 countries all over the world! The contest was created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. It’s aims are to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation. The species seen in these photos are as follows: Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) - 1st Prize Winner Common Loon (Gavia immer) - 2nd Prize Winner Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - 3rd Prize Winner Marvellous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) - Best Threatened Species Photo Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) - Best Vox Populi Photo Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) - Honourable Mention Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) - Honourable Mention Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) - Honourable Mention Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) - Honourable Mention Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - Honourable Mention I’ll leave you to decide for yourself whether or not the best image won!…
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In Pictures: Winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest… The Handbook of the Birds of the World saw great success with it’s inaugural World Bird Photo Contest. Some 10,754 photo entries were received from 128 different countries and a total of 3,127 bird species were photographed in 154 countries all over the world! The contest was created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. It’s aims are to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation. The species seen in these photos are as follows: Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) - 1st Prize Winner Common Loon (Gavia immer) - 2nd Prize Winner Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - 3rd Prize Winner Marvellous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) - Best Threatened Species Photo Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) - Best Vox Populi Photo Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) - Honourable Mention Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) - Honourable Mention Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) - Honourable Mention Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) - Honourable Mention Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - Honourable Mention I’ll leave you to decide for yourself whether or not the best image won!…
Zoom Info
In Pictures: Winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest… The Handbook of the Birds of the World saw great success with it’s inaugural World Bird Photo Contest. Some 10,754 photo entries were received from 128 different countries and a total of 3,127 bird species were photographed in 154 countries all over the world! The contest was created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. It’s aims are to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation. The species seen in these photos are as follows: Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) - 1st Prize Winner Common Loon (Gavia immer) - 2nd Prize Winner Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - 3rd Prize Winner Marvellous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) - Best Threatened Species Photo Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) - Best Vox Populi Photo Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) - Honourable Mention Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) - Honourable Mention Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) - Honourable Mention Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) - Honourable Mention Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - Honourable Mention I’ll leave you to decide for yourself whether or not the best image won!…
Zoom Info
In Pictures: Winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest… The Handbook of the Birds of the World saw great success with it’s inaugural World Bird Photo Contest. Some 10,754 photo entries were received from 128 different countries and a total of 3,127 bird species were photographed in 154 countries all over the world! The contest was created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. It’s aims are to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation. The species seen in these photos are as follows: Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) - 1st Prize Winner Common Loon (Gavia immer) - 2nd Prize Winner Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - 3rd Prize Winner Marvellous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) - Best Threatened Species Photo Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) - Best Vox Populi Photo Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) - Honourable Mention Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) - Honourable Mention Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) - Honourable Mention Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) - Honourable Mention Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - Honourable Mention I’ll leave you to decide for yourself whether or not the best image won!…
Zoom Info
In Pictures: Winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest… The Handbook of the Birds of the World saw great success with it’s inaugural World Bird Photo Contest. Some 10,754 photo entries were received from 128 different countries and a total of 3,127 bird species were photographed in 154 countries all over the world! The contest was created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. It’s aims are to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation. The species seen in these photos are as follows: Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) - 1st Prize Winner Common Loon (Gavia immer) - 2nd Prize Winner Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - 3rd Prize Winner Marvellous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) - Best Threatened Species Photo Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) - Best Vox Populi Photo Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) - Honourable Mention Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) - Honourable Mention Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) - Honourable Mention Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) - Honourable Mention Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - Honourable Mention I’ll leave you to decide for yourself whether or not the best image won!…
Zoom Info
In Pictures: Winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest… The Handbook of the Birds of the World saw great success with it’s inaugural World Bird Photo Contest. Some 10,754 photo entries were received from 128 different countries and a total of 3,127 bird species were photographed in 154 countries all over the world! The contest was created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. It’s aims are to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation. The species seen in these photos are as follows: Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) - 1st Prize Winner Common Loon (Gavia immer) - 2nd Prize Winner Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - 3rd Prize Winner Marvellous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) - Best Threatened Species Photo Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) - Best Vox Populi Photo Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) - Honourable Mention Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) - Honourable Mention Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) - Honourable Mention Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) - Honourable Mention Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - Honourable Mention I’ll leave you to decide for yourself whether or not the best image won!…
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In Pictures: Winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest… The Handbook of the Birds of the World saw great success with it’s inaugural World Bird Photo Contest. Some 10,754 photo entries were received from 128 different countries and a total of 3,127 bird species were photographed in 154 countries all over the world! The contest was created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. It’s aims are to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation. The species seen in these photos are as follows: Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) - 1st Prize Winner Common Loon (Gavia immer) - 2nd Prize Winner Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - 3rd Prize Winner Marvellous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) - Best Threatened Species Photo Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) - Best Vox Populi Photo Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) - Honourable Mention Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) - Honourable Mention Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) - Honourable Mention Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) - Honourable Mention Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - Honourable Mention I’ll leave you to decide for yourself whether or not the best image won!…
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In Pictures: Winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest… The Handbook of the Birds of the World saw great success with it’s inaugural World Bird Photo Contest. Some 10,754 photo entries were received from 128 different countries and a total of 3,127 bird species were photographed in 154 countries all over the world! The contest was created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. It’s aims are to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation. The species seen in these photos are as follows: Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) - 1st Prize Winner Common Loon (Gavia immer) - 2nd Prize Winner Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - 3rd Prize Winner Marvellous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) - Best Threatened Species Photo Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) - Best Vox Populi Photo Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) - Honourable Mention Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) - Honourable Mention Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) - Honourable Mention Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) - Honourable Mention Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - Honourable Mention I’ll leave you to decide for yourself whether or not the best image won!…
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In Pictures: Winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest… The Handbook of the Birds of the World saw great success with it’s inaugural World Bird Photo Contest. Some 10,754 photo entries were received from 128 different countries and a total of 3,127 bird species were photographed in 154 countries all over the world! The contest was created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. It’s aims are to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation. The species seen in these photos are as follows: Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) - 1st Prize Winner Common Loon (Gavia immer) - 2nd Prize Winner Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - 3rd Prize Winner Marvellous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) - Best Threatened Species Photo Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) - Best Vox Populi Photo Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) - Honourable Mention Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) - Honourable Mention Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) - Honourable Mention Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) - Honourable Mention Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - Honourable Mention I’ll leave you to decide for yourself whether or not the best image won!…
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In Pictures: Winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest… The Handbook of the Birds of the World saw great success with it’s inaugural World Bird Photo Contest. Some 10,754 photo entries were received from 128 different countries and a total of 3,127 bird species were photographed in 154 countries all over the world! The contest was created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. It’s aims are to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation. The species seen in these photos are as follows: Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) - 1st Prize Winner Common Loon (Gavia immer) - 2nd Prize Winner Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - 3rd Prize Winner Marvellous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) - Best Threatened Species Photo Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) - Best Vox Populi Photo Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) - Honourable Mention Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) - Honourable Mention Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) - Honourable Mention Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) - Honourable Mention Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - Honourable Mention I’ll leave you to decide for yourself whether or not the best image won!…
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In Pictures: Winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest…


The Handbook of the Birds of the World saw great success with it’s inaugural World Bird Photo Contest. Some 10,754 photo entries were received from 128 different countries and a total of 3,127 bird species were photographed in 154 countries all over the world!

The contest was created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. It’s aims are to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation.

The species seen in these photos are as follows:

  1. Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) - 1st Prize Winner
  2. Common Loon (Gavia immer) - 2nd Prize Winner
  3. Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - 3rd Prize Winner
  4. Marvellous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) - Best Threatened Species Photo
  5. Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) - Best Vox Populi Photo
  6. Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) - Honourable Mention
  7. Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) - Honourable Mention
  8. Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) - Honourable Mention
  9. Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) - Honourable Mention
  10. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - Honourable Mention

I’ll leave you to decide for yourself whether or not the best image won!…

World Bird Photo Contest 3rd Prize Winner: “Calliope Shuttle Display” by Walter Nussbaumer… The Bird Blurb: The Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) is a very small hummingbird and the smallest bird found in Canada and the United States. It is the only member of the genus Stellula. These birds have glossy green on the back and crown with white underparts. Their bill and tail are relatively short. The adult male has wine-red streaks on the throat, green flanks and a dark tail. Females and immatures have a pinkish wash on the flanks, dark streaks on the throat and a dark tail with white tips. Hummingbirds communicate with one another by making visual displays. Males sometimes raise the feathers bordering the gorget and toss their heads from side to side, while uttering shrill sounds. Females and young are more likely to do perched displays in which they spread their tail feathers to show the white tips. Sometimes both males and females do shuttle-flights, which are rapid back and forth movements in front of another bird. During the shuttle flight, the tail and gorget may be displayed. Their breeding habitat is open shrubby areas, usually at higher altitudes, in western North America from southern British Columbia and Alberta south to Colorado and southern California. The female builds an open cup nest in a conifer under an overhanging branch. They are migratory, generally leaving their breeding grounds earlier than most birds (although not as early as the Rufous Hummingbird) to take advantage of the late-summer wildflowers in the mountains of western North America. Most winter in southwestern Mexico. These birds feed on nectar from flowers using a long extendable tongue, drink sap from holes created by sapsuckers or catch insects on the wing. While collecting nectar, they also assist in plant pollination. This bird was named after the Greek muse Calliope. The genus name means “little star”. Bird Blurb info borrowed from Wikipedia and Humming Bird World
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World Bird Photo Contest 3rd Prize Winner: “Calliope Shuttle Display” by Walter Nussbaumer…

The Bird Blurb:

The Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) is a very small hummingbird and the smallest bird found in Canada and the United States. It is the only member of the genus Stellula.

These birds have glossy green on the back and crown with white underparts. Their bill and tail are relatively short. The adult male has wine-red streaks on the throat, green flanks and a dark tail. Females and immatures have a pinkish wash on the flanks, dark streaks on the throat and a dark tail with white tips.

Hummingbirds communicate with one another by making visual displays. Males sometimes raise the feathers bordering the gorget and toss their heads from side to side, while uttering shrill sounds. Females and young are more likely to do perched displays in which they spread their tail feathers to show the white tips.

Sometimes both males and females do shuttle-flights, which are rapid back and forth movements in front of another bird. During the shuttle flight, the tail and gorget may be displayed.

Their breeding habitat is open shrubby areas, usually at higher altitudes, in western North America from southern British Columbia and Alberta south to Colorado and southern California. The female builds an open cup nest in a conifer under an overhanging branch.

They are migratory, generally leaving their breeding grounds earlier than most birds (although not as early as the Rufous Hummingbird) to take advantage of the late-summer wildflowers in the mountains of western North America. Most winter in southwestern Mexico.

These birds feed on nectar from flowers using a long extendable tongue, drink sap from holes created by sapsuckers or catch insects on the wing. While collecting nectar, they also assist in plant pollination.

This bird was named after the Greek muse Calliope. The genus name means “little star”.

Source: Wikipedia

World Bird Photo Contest 2nd Prize Winner: “Surfacing” by Mike Murray… The Bird Blurb: The blurry bird of interest in this photograph is the Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer) or the Common Loon as it is called in North America.  This species, like all divers, is a specialist fish-eater, catching its prey underwater, diving as deep as 200 feet (60m). Freshwater diets consist of pike, perch, sunfish, trout, and bass; salt-water diets consist of rock fish, flounder, sea trout, and herring. The North American name “loon” is a reference to the bird’s clumsiness on land, and is derived from Scandinavian words for lame, such as Icelandic “lúinn” and Swedish “lam”. The bird needs a long distance to gain momentum for take-off, and is ungainly on landing. Its clumsiness on land is due to the legs being positioned at the rear of the body: this is ideal for diving but not well-suited for walking. When the birds land on water, they skim along on their bellies to slow down, rather than on their feet, as these are set too far back. The loon swims gracefully on the surface, dives as well as any flying bird, and flies competently for hundreds of kilometers in migration. It flies with its neck outstretched, usually calling a particular tremolo that can be used to identify a flying loon. Its call has been alternately called “haunting,” “beautiful,” “thrilling,” “mystical” and “enchanting.”
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World Bird Photo Contest 2nd Prize Winner: “Surfacing” by Mike Murray…

The Bird Blurb:

The blurry bird of interest in this photograph is the Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer) or the Common Loon as it is called in North America. 

This species, like all divers, is a specialist fish-eater, catching its prey underwater, diving as deep as 200 feet (60m). Freshwater diets consist of pike, perch, sunfish, trout, and bass; salt-water diets consist of rock fish, flounder, sea trout, and herring.

The North American name “loon” is a reference to the bird’s clumsiness on land, and is derived from Scandinavian words for lame, such as Icelandic “lúinn” and Swedish “lam”. The bird needs a long distance to gain momentum for take-off, and is ungainly on landing. Its clumsiness on land is due to the legs being positioned at the rear of the body: this is ideal for diving but not well-suited for walking. When the birds land on water, they skim along on their bellies to slow down, rather than on their feet, as these are set too far back. The loon swims gracefully on the surface, dives as well as any flying bird, and flies competently for hundreds of kilometers in migration. It flies with its neck outstretched, usually calling a particular tremolo that can be used to identify a flying loon. Its call has been alternately called “haunting,” “beautiful,” “thrilling,” “mystical” and “enchanting.”

Source: Wikipedia

World Bird Photo Contest 1st Prize Winner: “Shoal of Life” by Cristobal Serrano… The Bird Blurb: The species of interest in this magnificent pic is the Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus), also known as Baird’s Cormorant. These birds forage by swimming to locate prey, then diving and going after it underwater, propelled by their feet and steering with the wings. They can dive as deep as 100ft (30m) to feed on or near the seafloor. Typical hunting grounds are sheltered inlets and bays; especially outside the breeding season they can also be seen fishing out at sea. They prefer to hunt in the vicinity of kelp beds or among rocks. Typical prey are smallish, bottom-living non-schooling fishes, such as Ammodytes sand eels, sculpins (Cottidae), gunnels (Pholidae) and Sebastes rockfish. Apart from fish, small crustaceans – in particular shrimp – are also often eaten. These birds have been observed to join mixed-species feeding flocks going after schools of young Pacific Herrings (Clupea pallasii). Like in all cormorants, due to their vestigial uropygial gland their plumage is not waterproof. Thus, the birds return to a safe place after foraging to preen and dry their feathers, typically adopting a spread-winged posture. The Contest Craic: Lynx Edicions, publisher of the Handbook of the Birds of the World and the Internet Bird Collection, has announced the winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest. This contest has been created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. The contest aims to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation. Bird Blurb info borrowed from Wikipedia
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World Bird Photo Contest 1st Prize Winner: “Shoal of Life” by Cristobal Serrano…

The Bird Blurb:

The species of interest in this magnificent pic is the Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus), also known as Baird’s Cormorant.

These birds forage by swimming to locate prey, then diving and going after it underwater, propelled by their feet and steering with the wings. They can dive as deep as 100ft (30m) to feed on or near the seafloor. Typical hunting grounds are sheltered inlets and bays; especially outside the breeding season they can also be seen fishing out at sea. They prefer to hunt in the vicinity of kelp beds or among rocks. Typical prey are smallish, bottom-living non-schooling fishes, such as Ammodytes sand eels, sculpins (Cottidae), gunnels (Pholidae) and Sebastes rockfish. Apart from fish, small crustaceans – in particular shrimp – are also often eaten. These birds have been observed to join mixed-species feeding flocks going after schools of young Pacific Herrings (Clupea pallasii). Like in all cormorants, due to their vestigial uropygial gland their plumage is not waterproof. Thus, the birds return to a safe place after foraging to preen and dry their feathers, typically adopting a spread-winged posture.


The Contest Craic:

Lynx Edicions, publisher of the Handbook of the Birds of the World and the Internet Bird Collection, has announced the winners of the First Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest. This contest has been created with the aspiration of becoming the most important bird photography competition at world level. The contest aims to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, it’s focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation.


Source: hbwcontest.com

Oceans Run Red: The World’s Most Critically Endangered Marine Species

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, some 180 marine species are listed as “Critically Endangered”. A further 235 are “Endangered”, 636 “Vulnerable” and 526 “Near Threatened”.  However, the IUCN itself points out that the marine realm is very poorly represented in the Red List, comprising less than 5% of all the species included. The likelihood exists therefore that there are hundreds if not thousands more species which could be placed into any one of these categories were it not for lack of data relating to their numbers, distribution or, even more fundamentally, the mere knowledge of their existence.

So, who tops the list of the world’s most critically endangered marine species? If you’re hoping for any cute, cuddly and oh-so-charismatic creatures, then you’re going to be sorely disappointed; these list toppers generally bottom out when it comes to beauty. But, being the nice gal that I am, I’ve taken the trouble to trawl through (oops, my bad!) the list in attempt to bring you something at least a little bit “Awww-worthy”; so here they are - my fave five - the best of the briny bourgeois…


Vaquita (Phocoena sinus): 

(Ok, so technically speaking this first one packs a bit of an “Awww” factor, but anyway…)

With adults measuring not much more than 1.2-1.5 metres in length, the vaquita is the smallest of all known porpoises and indeed, of all known cetaceans. It also has the distinct misfortune of being the most endangered. Also known as the Gulf of California Harbor Porpoise, owing to the fact that it is only found the northern quarter of Mexico’s Gulf of California, vaquitas were only first discovered as recently as 1958. Fishing in the area is thought to have greatly impacted vaquita numbers as due to their small size they have a high vulnerability to entanglement in gillnets. Last estimates (1997) put the population size at not much more that 500 individuals and it is highly probable that there are currently even far fewer.

Vaquita CI New Mexico 

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