The cost of migration
It has long been assumed that migration is a risky undertaking for birds, but it is challenging
to assess to what extent the risks are fatal. A recent review summarises findings from studies
of 30 migrant species, with some fascinating results.
Sightings in the subregion
“Ross’s Turaco”|”Wandering Albatrosses”|Crab Plover|Egyptian Vulture|Great Frigatebird|Jean-Michel Blake|Northern Royal Albatross|Saunders’s Terns|Sooty Tern|Southern Royal Albatross|Spur-winged Lapwing|Trevor Hardaker|Wandering Albatross
Sightings in the subregion
“Ross’s Turaco”|Albert McLean|Australasian Gannet|Baird’s Sandpiper|Barau’s Petrel|Digby Cyrus|Egyptian Vulture|Golden Pipit|Great Frigatebirds|Ian White|Justin Nicolau|Lesser Black-backed Gulls|Lesser Noddy|Mike O’Donoghue|Northern Royal Albatross|Pectoral Sandpiper|Peter Ryan|Saunders’s Tern|Southern Royal Albatross|Spectacled Petrel|Trevor Hardaker|Tristan Albatross|Tropical Shearwater|White-throated Bee-eater|Yellow-throated Leafloves
Sightings in the subregion
“Lesser Blackbacked Gull”|”Ross’s Turaco”|Australasian Gannet|Baird’s Sandpiper|Broad-billed Prion|Buff-breasted Sandpiper|Crested Honey Buzzard|Egyptian Vulture|Franklin’s Gulls|Georg Jacobs|Golden Pipit|Green Warbler|Gull-billed Tern|Madagascan Cuckoos|Northern Royal Albatross|Red-throated Pipits|Sharp-tailed Sandpiper|Sooty Gull|Sooty Tern|Trevor Hardaker|White-cheeked Tern|White-rumped Sandpiper|White-throated Bee-eaters|Yellowthroated Leaf-loves|Zach Simpson
Sightings in the subregion
“In general, late autumn to midwinter is one of the quieter times for rarities and this year it was exacerbated by the Covid-19 lockdown. Fortunately, later in the review period some of the restrictions were relaxed slightly and people could move a bit further afield and also more often, giving the opportunity for a few good birds to be found and reported.”
Sightings in the subregion
“Bridled Tern”|”Common Redshank”|”Lesser Blackbacked Gull”|”Ross’s Turaco”|”Whitethroated Bee-eater”|Black-tailed Godwit|Dick Jacobs|Egyptian Vulture|Eurasian Oystercatchers|Namibia|Red Phalarope|Red-billed Tropicbird|Red-necked Phalaropes|Red-tailed Tropicbird|Rob Leslie|Saunders’s Tern|Sharp-tailed Sandpiper|Trevor Hardaker|Western Marsh Harrier|Yellow-throated Leaflove