Isla de Flores

Snowy Egret (美洲雪鷺), Kelp Gull (黑背鷗) and
American Oystercatcher (美洲蠣鷸)
Uruguay (2011)
3rd December, 2015. Montevideo

Isla de Flores is a small island in the Rio de la Plata, 21 miles south-east of Punta Carretas, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Flores was named by Sebastián Gaboto, who discovered it on Easter Sunday 1527 (the Spanish expression Pascua Florida or Pascua de Flores, i.e. "Flowery Easter" was the reason for the name "Flores").

It has a historic lighthouse, which was the subject of an 1819 treaty, by which Uruguay lost the Misiones Orientales. This lighthouse, of Portuguese origin, entered service in 1828. It was dubbed "the world's most expensive lighthouse".[by whom?] The lighthouse is now under the jurisdiction of the Uruguayan Navy. It is 37 metres high and flashes twice every 10 seconds.

Conservation of the Black-necked Crane and the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron in Bhutan

Upper : Black-necked Crane (黑頸鶴)
Lower : White-bellied Heron (白腹鷺)
Bhutan (2015)
14th December, 2014. Thimphu

The Royal Society of Protection of Nature has been involved in the White-bellied Heron conservation project since 2003. Over the years much has been understood about their status, potential threats and conservation options in Bhutan.

As a critically endangered species in the world, it is very important to protect it and its natural habitat. The initiative has helped establish two important WBH habitat areas in Bhutan: 1) Punatsangchu basin, Wangduephodrang Dzongkhag and 2) Berti, Zhemgang Dzongkhag.

At present there are 4 individuals in Berti and 26 in Punatsangchu basin. With 30 individuals of this species in their natural habitat, Bhutan plays a pioneering role in protecting the critically endangered white-bellied heron. Although RSPN has initiated study on its ecology and breeding behavior, the rapid pace of development activities calls for immediate interventions that could provide quicker options for the survival of the bird. Captive breeding could be an immediate option to balance conservation and development by ensuring survival of the species and continuation of developmental activities - the “Middle Path” national development approach.

Spring series 2015 - Owls (2)

   

L : Short-eared Owl (短耳鴞) ; R : Great Horned Owl (大雕鴞)
Uruguay (2015)
30th September, 2015. Montevideo

Uruguay is home to birds. Uruguay was named after the Uruguay River, which meant in Guarani, the native people’s language,  “A river where colored birds inhabit”.

Uruguay is the best country for bird-watching.

There are 9 bird-watching sites found along the coastline and 11 such sites inland. Near these sites are hotels, restaurants, and Estancias (farms and ranches) ready to welcome tourists and visitors.

As the birds you may encounter vary place to place, it is advisable to check the information in advance: the families of herons are seen in the eastern wetland; the families of sea gulls are at the mouth of rivers and brooks; the families of ibises and crows are in the northern ravines; thrushes and tanagers are in the forests; and lesser rheas, the biggest birds seen in South America, and harriers are in the grasslands.
Although most migratory birds come flying from September through March, bird-watching is a year-round leisure since vermillion flycatchers and frigate birds come flying in spring, and Magellan penguins, albatrosses and petrels come flying in winter.

The lake Rocha is famous for allowing you to watch black-necked swans and flamingos. You can even find nests of ovenbirds on the electric poles and roofs in the urban district. Let’s look for them when you do not go to the sanctuaries for bird-watching.

Uruguay is the best country for bird-watching, where more than 440 kinds of wild birds live.

Spring series 2015 - Owls (1)

From left to right:
First row: Buff-fronted Owl (黃額鬼鴞) ; Burrowing Owl (穴鴞)
Tropical Screech-Owl (熱帶角鴞)
Second row: Barn Owl (倉鴞) ; Ferruginous Pygmy-owl (赤褐鵂鶹)
Striped Owl (紋鴞)
Uruguay (2015)
3rd December, 2015. Montevideo

Uruguay is home to birds. Uruguay was named after the Uruguay River, which meant in Guarani, the native people’s language,  “A river where colored birds inhabit”.

Uruguay is the best country for bird-watching.

There are 9 bird-watching sites found along the coastline and 11 such sites inland. Near these sites are hotels, restaurants, and Estancias (farms and ranches) ready to welcome tourists and visitors.

As the birds you may encounter vary place to place, it is advisable to check the information in advance: the families of herons are seen in the eastern wetland; the families of sea gulls are at the mouth of rivers and brooks; the families of ibises and crows are in the northern ravines; thrushes and tanagers are in the forests; and lesser rheas, the biggest birds seen in South America, and harriers are in the grasslands.

Although most migratory birds come flying from September through March, bird-watching is a year-round leisure since vermillion flycatchers and frigate birds come flying in spring, and Magellan penguins, albatrosses and petrels come flying in winter.

The lake Rocha is famous for allowing you to watch black-necked swans and flamingos. You can even find nests of ovenbirds on the electric poles and roofs in the urban district. Let’s look for them when you do not go to the sanctuaries for bird-watching.

Uruguay is the best country for bird-watching, where more than 440 kinds of wild birds live.