Bird News and Birdwatching Events

South India Birdwatching Trip

Our friends at the Bird ID Company are offering an exciting trip to South India next March. The Western Ghats are an ancient chain of hills near the west coast of India that run from north to south. The hills have been cut off from the rest of India for so long that there is a high level of endemism (a species found nowhere else in the world). With the constantly changing habitat and elevation comes an amazing variety of birds including Hornbills, Trogons, Bee-eaters, Kingfishers, Sunbirds, Babblers, Laughing thrushes, Bulbuls, Mynas, Flycatchers, Drongos, Orioles, Pigeons, Owls, Parakeets and Cuckoos This trip will cater for all levels of birdwatcher and there is something of interest for everyone, with at least twenty endemics for the very keen and plenty of variety and colour for the more general bird lover. This trip is designed to give you a good chance of seeing all of the endemic bird species in the Western Ghats plus plenty of other exciting southern Indian species. There is potential for mammal spotting as well, including Indian Elephant, Gaur, Sambar deer, Langur monkeys, Bonnet Macaques, giant squirrel and possibly leopard.

For more details, please visit, www.birdtour.co.uk

Do you think you have what it takes to make the next Planet Earth?
BBC One is looking for nine people to take part in the experience of a lifetime. Encountering extraordinary animals in amazing locations and testing yourself to the limit, this series will culminate with one exceptional individual securing a years placement at the BBC's award winning, world famous Natural History Unit.

Would your holiday of a lifetime involve seeing one of the big five in their natural habitat? Maybe your weekends are spent volunteering at your local animal sanctuary? Are your cupboards crammed full of wildlife videos? Do you get up at dawn to catch a song from the rare bittern?

Whatever your age and background, as long as you can illustrate your passion for the natural world we want to hear from you.

To apply, please email your name to endsoftheearth@bbc.co.uk and an application form will be emailed to you.

Deadline for applications 26/11/08.
Successful candidates may spend up to ten weeks away from home in spring 2009.

New Bird Books
Two new bird books have been published by Whittles Publishing;

• A Life of Ospreys by Roy Dennis
  
  Roy Dennis' name is so well-known, not only for his work with ospreys
  but also his international work with a variety of species. This new book
  will be essential reading for all birdwatchers and enthusiasts.
  
  
• Flight of the Wild Geese by Graham Uney
  
  Follows the migration of wild Barnacle Geese from their over-wintering
  grounds on the Solway Firth across northern seas to Svalbard in the
  Arctic Circle - and back.

Further details from www.whittlespublishing.com