Matteo Birding Guide

When you think of birds and love, a pair of doves are probably the most likely image that springs to mind. Many a wedding celebration has seen the release of a couple of doves. And while the typical symbolic white doves are mostly bred in captivity, their greyer cousins are just as striking and just as good at showing a connection, although seemingly less symbolic.  White doves are clear symbols of love, and they are a symbol of peace for many. These albino doves are often woven into rituals, and until recently, these doves were still released by the Vatican as ‘peace’ doves. Something that changed in 2014 when members of the public were shocked when the local birds, namely a Hooded Crow and a European Herring Gull, found these white birds an easy target (read more).   Image credit: Rajiv Bajaj   How do birds show love? Parental care and romantic courtship behaviour are both seen in various birds. We all recognise that birds are often seen on Valentine’s Day cards, but few of us actually know much about how birds show each other love and affection. Birds show that they are bonded with their mates with courtship behaviour like preening one another or sharing food: both gentle signs of affection. There is often a period of courtship for birds - dating in modern terms. From claiming territory to wooing a mate before actual copulation (mating) occurs. While cranes may be associated with new beginnings and, of course, the arrival of babies, their courtship displays mean they should probably get more kudos as symbols of love.  So is this love? The question remains, but you could hazard a guess that there must be more to it than pure reproduction. When it comes to parental love, it seems parent birds are just as caring to their hatchlings as they are to their mate - a probable sign that this is a way to show care and affection.    Do birds mate for life? We often hear people quoting that a particular species ‘mates for life’. But which birds specifically make up this list? And what does it mean to ‘mate for life’? Many bird species are monogamous, but that doesn’t mean they mate for life, and few bird species form long-term pair bonds that will last through multiple nesting seasons. Many species of birds will choose a mate and create a long-term pair bond. But it’s not as simple as it sounds. Just as with us humans, the death of a partner or even serious injury or infertility may make a bird seek another mate. In contrast, other birds will bond but not for their entire lives.  Here are a few of our favourite birds that form long-term pair bonds. Individual birds choose a mate for a given breeding season or an extended period.  Atlantic Puffins One of the most distinctive birds on the planet, the Atlantic Puffin, is our favourite candidate in the strong pair-bond category. These cuties nest in burrows or boulder screes and cracks. They may not have a single mate for life, but their bonds are clear.    Atlantic Puffins captured by Chirp member Andrew Duffield   Canada Geese Of the many creatures out there, the Canada Goose is one of the most emotional animals in the bird world. These geese are loyal to one another and look out for the other. A partner may stay with their mate if they are injured and the flock moves on. Most Canada Geese couples remain together throughout their lifetime, raising and protecting their young together. They can live up to 25 years. If a goose loses its mate, it appears that they grieve, remove themselves from the rest of their flock and honk mournfully. After some time, a goose may find a new partner.    Canada Goose captured by Chirp member Xavier Vrigneau   Common Ravens Ravens have a long lifespan, and it’s quite the commitment they seem to make, pairing for most of their 40 years. Raven pairs rear hatchlings together. They remain in the same territory, and while they may have sexual ‘infidelity’, they seldom split as pairs.    Common Raven captured by Chirp member Patrick Ryan   Snow Geese Snow Geese are common in North America, breeding far North in the Arctic. The birds pair off in their second year, forming a strong bond - although mating does not usually take place until their third year. Even though chicks can swim and eat independently within a day of hatching, parents and goslings remain together through the young's first winter.   Snow Geese captured by Chirp member Parick Ryan   Which birds do mating dances? Mating dances are quite specific to species, and not all birds (or indeed animals in general) show their mate that they have what it takes to re-populate in this dramatic way. Other animals show their strength or make specific calls or sounds; some show they care with the nesting space they create or their ability to fight. Other animals demonstrate just how physically attractive they are. Birds can employ a number of tactics to impress their future mates, and there are a host of mating dances (often called courtship displays) that will ensure the success of their bond.  Here are some of our favourite examples of birds that perform these mating dances. Western Grebe The Western Grebe shows its sass through two different courtship display ceremonies.  First, the ‘Rushing Ceremony’. Starting with the head dip - a sexy display of the most agile neck muscles - where the head is dipped underwater, and then a good old fashioned shakeout is bound to wow the potential mate. If the intended takes the bait, the grebes begin rushing. Hold on; we don’t mean gentle waterbird wading; we mean running across the water - on top of the water! Talk about a feat? To make matters more tricky, the mates must keep stride with one another, or it’s “cheers!” and on to the next bird. The birds run across the water alongside one another, flapping their wings. At the end of the rush, they seem to do a victory dive, where they plunge head-first into the water.  Next, the weed diving ceremony, and there is nothing quite as attractive to a Western Grebe as this. After the birds are paired off (by the ‘rush’ of love), they begin the next stage of courtship. The birds stretch their necks and begin bobbing and shaking. A deep dive underwater shows just how amazing they are, gathering vegetation from underwater, presenting their new mate with their latest weed catch. At this point, they shake their heads from side to side, sending all the weeds back below the surface.    Western Grebe captured by Chirp member Nate Renn   Sandhill Cranes  Jumping about rather energetically is what grabs the attention of Sandhill Cranes when it comes to courtship. The cranes sometimes lunge for bits of vegetation and throw them about, creating quite the show. There isn’t any set structure to the dance, so it's a sort of mash-up from bowing to leaping and wing-flapping. A bird of their size performing such a dance can’t go unnoticed and would certainly wow onlookers. Even though these cranes choose a mate for life, they have been known to return to their breeding ground to rehearse their dance skills. After all, dancing is fun!    Sandhill Cranes captured by Chirp member Nate Renn   Birds of Paradise Last but certainly not least, the extraordinary Bird of Paradise in the forests of New Guinea have gained plenty of attention in recent months. These birds have strange and spectacular courtship rituals, wowing audiences of Netflix and the BBC. Since Sir David Attenborough’s mind-blowing documentaries about these spectacular birds have been overwhelmingly popular, you may have seen a taste of the astonishing biodiversity in these forests. There are 42 different species of Birds of Paradise, most of which have their own mating rituals. In this video clip, part of the New Birds of Paradise series, Attenborough discusses the courtship of the Male 6-plumed Bird of Paradise, our personal favourite. He tidies up his dancing zone, lifts his feathers to create a black umbrella shape and jiggles about, strutting with peculiar dance-like steps hoping he might attract a female.    Where does the saying “pair of lovebirds” come from? With all this talk of love and birds, you’ve probably heard the term “love birds”, and no doubt it conjures up images of two people very much in love, normally demonstrated by some outwardly affectionate behaviour, or perhaps a cutesy pair of birds on the front of a greetings card. The devotion seen in a pair of bonded birds is therefore the likely origin of this expression. But what about real lovebirds? And are they related to the phrase?  “Lovebirds” are the name often given to a number of small, short-tailed parrots, Agapornis. Hailing from Africa and Madagascar, they have mostly blue, green or grey feathers. These birds are known for their caring natures and overly affectionate personalities. They are popular with humans as caged pet birds. In most cases, these birds mate for life. When these birds express their bond, you may see them “kissing”. They share food and play with one another’s tongues! These small parrots will often sit together and caress or preen one another.    Image credit: Jonah Pettrich   So, what are some of your favourite love-birds? Post your sightings on Chirp and tag them #lovebirds - we’d love to see!  New to Chirp? Download the app for Android and iOS here. If you have found this article useful, please share it via Facebook, Twitter, etc. Down here :point_down: , thanks :pray:  

Where to go birding?  The world’s appetite for getting outdoors has become super evident since the advent of the pandemic. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that people are looking for safe activities to do outside. It is no longer something that only the die-hard adventurer seeks. More people are looking for accessible outdoor places to explore. What better activity to be involved in while you’re exploring than birding!? But where to start?  If you’re lucky enough to have a backyard, then you may already have a space to watch the birds near you, but for many people, the best way to find birds is by heading out to the nearest greenspace. There’s nothing like seeing new bird species or ‘lifers’ and I don’t know about you but even though the future of travel is unclear, I still absolutely love exploring areas where other people are seeing birds, either dreaming of future birding trips or just getting a glimpse into the worlds of other birders’ lives.  Birdwatching is one of those fantastic pursuits that keeps giving no matter where in the world you are. And it’s so exciting to find new natural areas to explore. This article gives you an idea of some of the top birding locations in the world. Places where many birds have been seen and recorded, meaning not only are they great spots for biodiversity, they’re also great places to flex your newly found birding muscles.  Even in this uncertain post-pandemic world, we can’t help but dream about possible future trips. Whether it’s close to home or for a trip, choosing a birding location can be tricky if you’re new to birding or if you’re exploring an area you’re unfamiliar with.  Top 12 birding locations in the world! Here is a rundown of some of the top birding locations in the world. These areas have the highest recorded number of bird sightings in the world (according to GBIF data). While these numbers are only an indication of where the world’s tech-savvy birders live, they are all amazing birding spots that birders have chosen for good reason, and therefore totally worth a visit. Besides good proof that there is an abundance of birds in the area, these sighting figures mean there are birds to see and most likely other birders or guides to show you around if you’re new to the area.    1. Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas, USA - 698,443 sightings   Roseate Spoonbill by Chirp Member David Casas   Want to see waders? Shorebirds and waders are found here in their hundreds, including the Roseate Spoonbill. Some noteworthy sightings include the Wood Stork, an endangered species. During the migration seasons the park’s lake which is long, narrow and not very deep, attracts waterfowl. Within the woodland and thorn scrub one can find Groove-billed Ani and Altamira Oriole or if in luck, the rare Red-crowned Parrots and Green Parakeets. An ideal destination for the avid or beginner birder, Estero Llano Grande in Weslaco, South Texas attracts a huge diversity of South Texas birds. The park has varied landscapes of over 230 acres, including a shallow lake, woodlands and a thorn forest with diversity for all sorts of bird species. It’s no wonder that the park has a huge birding reputation and sits atop the list for the greatest number of bird sightings recorded globally.    2. Ottenby Bird Observatory, Sweden - 569,644 sightings   Area around the bird station, North view   The Ottenby area is one of the most visited nature reserves in Sweden. Ottenby is full of hiking trails stretching across the coastal meadows and rich forests. Since the reserve is on a large stretch of coastline, birds and ocean views can be found throughout the reserve. The Lighthouse Långe Jan is open for visitors during spring, summer and autumn, and in Naturum Ottenby there is an exhibition detailing the history of the area and the bird observatory. Just below the lighthouse, BirdLife Sweden hosts a store aimed at birders and nature enthusiasts.   3. Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada - 393,817 sightings   Photo Credit: Canadian Geographic   Point Pelee National Park is all about migratory species. The park lies en-route of some significant flyways and on the shore of a large body of water - Lake Erie. Meaning when birds are travelling during their migration, they may need to rest, feed and recuperate, and this national park gives a good supply of all the above. A huge diversity of birds is therefore attracted here during this season and it’s quite incredible that within the park’s birding area, over 390 species have been recorded! Also, being very central on the continent, means there are some special rare birds seen here on occasion too. Of course, the park is famous for spring and fall migration, but you can find a good diversity of birds throughout the year.   4. Western Treatment Plant, Melbourne, Australia - 325,223 sightings   Brolga by Chirp Member Frank Yuwono   More than 295 bird species including rare and endangered birds have been recorded at the Western Treatment Plant, making it a real birder’s destination. Whether you’re a beginner birdwatcher or you’re more experienced, there are good birdwatching options nearby.  The site has recorded some of Australia’s rarest shorebird species, including the Asian Dowitcher and Buff-breasted Sandpiper. The birds feed on the intertidal mudflats along the plant’s foreshore, which are exposed at low tide. Enriched by treated wastewater, these support enough invertebrates to feed around 16,000 birds. Ponds managed by Melbourne Water provide an alternative feeding habitat outside the few hours of low tide – another one of the site’s great advantages. Brolga, a native crane, has been recorded successfully nesting in salt marshes next to the Western Treatment Plant, moving with their chicks onto the plant’s grasslands to forage. The extremely rare Orange-bellied Parrot has been seen here and Red-kneed Dotterels are in abundance with over 250 having been recorded at a single time.    5. Jomfruland Fyr, Norway - 168,188 sightings   Photo Credit: Visit Telemark   Jomfruland is well worth a visit for all birdwatchers. It is a 7km long, narrow island that runs parallel with the Telemark coastline. This unique island off the coast of Norway is a great place to visit with spectacular birdlife! This location is one of Norway’s best spots to witness birds during migration. There have been over 330 species recorded in and around Jomfruland. The island plays host to some rare species, including an array of breeding species, including the Black Guillemot, Greenish Warbler and the Eurasian Golden Oriole. Together with the island's two characteristic lighthouses, the Jomfruland Bird Station (Jomfruland Fuglestasjon) is located on the northern peak of the island and is run by the Norwegian Ornithological Society.   6. Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, Argentina - 163,529 sightings   Photo Credit: Buenos Aires Cuidad   Just a few blocks from downtown Buenos Aires lies a 350-hectare green space complete with lagoons and marshes, alder forests and grasslands. Once functioning as a municipal space, the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve has been put in place to protect biodiversity in the area. This birding hotspot is close to the bustling metropolis and therefore well-positioned for those en route from the city. Not only is it accessible, but also home to over 250 bird species among other flora and fauna. This reserve provides a good representation of the biological diversity in the region. Species to note are the large population of Black-necked Swan and other waterfowl.   7. Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa - 146,209 sightings   Photo Credit: City of Tshwane   Situated between Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa, is Rietvlei Nature Reserve. It is one of the world's largest urban nature reserves comprising 3,800 hectares and accessible from the highway between Pretoria and OR Tambo International Airport.  South Africa's national bird, the Blue Crane, has been seen here from time to time. The Secretary Bird is a regular visitor and Rietvlei is home to a breeding pair of Fish Eagles. Several other species of bird can be seen including the Orange-throated Longclaw, the Little Egret, the Reed Cormorant, the White-breasted Cormorant, the Goliath Heron, the African Finfoot and the Green-backed Heron.   8. Changaram Wetlands (Ezhupunna), Kerala, India - 121,115 sightings   Blue-cheeked Bee-eater by Chirp Member Utpal Borah   Changaram Wetlands is a birding hot spot in Kerala, India. With a large species diversity, around 120 resident and migratory bird species, all feeding on different sources, therefore offering little competition for one another. Some noteworthy species for the area include Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, pelicans, numerous ducks, sandpipers, kingfishers and terns.   9. Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto), Panama - 115,617 sightings    Photo Credit: Panama Rainforest Discovery Centre   Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto) is one of the top spots for birdwatching in Panama and indeed the globe. Located near Soberania National Park, there have been 525 species of birds, recorded in this location. The road is accessed on foot and runs to about 24 kilometers long. You don’t need to walk its full length, a few kilometers will be enough to get some great sightings as the only route back is to retrace your steps. Guides are therefore recommended because of the sheer scale! It is also possible to visit the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center and its observation tower which stands at 32 meters and affords fantastic views over the forest.   10. Reserva Ecologica Rio Blanco, Colombia - 74,413 sightings    Long-tailed Sylph by Chirp Member Daniel Uribe   Dubbed one of the best birding spots in Colombia and located just a few kilometers from the bustling city of Manizales, more than 307 species nest in this reserve. It was originally created to protect the water supply of the city. A spectacular cloud or mossy forest, it is considered to be one of the richest regions of biodiversity on the planet. It is well-known amongst many birdwatchers for the diversity of antpitta species seen there. There is birdlife in abundance in the lush forest and you’ll likely see many of Colombia's special birds such as hummingbirds like the long-tailed sylph, tanagers, warblers and woodpeckers. The rare and beautiful Masked Saltator is highly sought after in the reserve, as it is very sparsely distributed in the Andes and is classified as Near-Threatened due to habitat loss, a sighting is lucky indeed.    11. Jahra Pools Nature Reserve, Kuwait - 70,554 sightings    Western Marsh Harrier by Chirp Member Aldo Picxellencenl   As an important migration bottleneck, Al Jahra Pools Nature Reserve acts as a stopover for raptors and the undeveloped surrounding area of flat land is important for many harrier and eagle species, including Buzzards, Greater-spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle and the Western Marsh Harrier. The reserve contains a sewage outfall with pools surrounded by reed beds and coastal flats and is the only major area of non-marine wetland in the country. It is also home to a number of warblers, crakes, gallinules and plovers within breeding seasons. When the pools are flooded they become important winter habitats for duck and geese, especially during winter.    12. Via a Las Cascadas (Waterfall Trail), Mindo, Ecuador - 69,193 sightings    The enchanting Guianan cock-of-the-rock!   A whopping 500 species have been recorded in Mindo! So it’s an alluring destination for anyone, whether you want to ogle at the unique species of the area, or you’re an avid birder wanting to add new species to your life list, Mindo will deliver. Be sure to wake up early though, as the heat means that early risers are more likely to spot a bounty of birds. Aiming for birding outings between 6am and 10am will give you the most success.  One species that seems to have garnered a significant amount of attention recently is the Cock-of-the-Rock. Known for its spectacular appearance and ‘hopping’ courtship display ritual, this bird is quite the character and worth travelling for.