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BIRDING ADVENTURES TV NEWS Greetings!
The Birding Adventures crew has just returned from Turneffe Island, Belize where we filmed a really exciting show on the birds of Turneffe Island - in particular the Red-footed Boobys and Magnificent Frigatebirds of the area. 
Tomorrow we're off to Selva Verde lodge in Costa Rica to do a show on Great Green Macaws. This highly threatened parrot is often seen in the area and we'll be searching for nesting sites and will be trying to get some awesome footage. Congratulations to the winner of our weekly quizz, Tony Croasdale from Philadelphia! And be sure to enter this week's quizz. Learn more below about our upcoming show, the Guianan Toucenets of Bergendal Lodge, Suriname. Our next newsletter will be sent in early March before we head off to Australia to film 3 exciting shows. Stay tuned for another Birding Adventure! 
THE TV SHOW WHERE BIRDS OF A FEATHER ADVENTURE TOGETHER
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RARE SEABIRD THREATENED BY RADAR STATION! After many years of uncertainty and inaction, the Portuguese Government has finally started building a military radar on top of Pico do Areeiro, one of Madeira's most popular tourist destinations and the only home of Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira, a rare endemic seabird. The Pico do Areeiro lies within a Natura 2000 site designated as a Special Protection Area, and therefore has the highest level of protection under European Union law. "It is the only known breeding site in the world of Zino's Petrel, a globally Endangered species whose total population of 65-80 pairs makes it the rarest seabird in Europe and one of the rarest birds in the world", said Dr Ian Burfield - European Research and Database Manager at BirdLife International.
Since as long ago as 2000, SPEA (BirdLife in Portugal) and BirdLife International have opposed the construction of this radar station at Pico do Areeiro, which is an area of extreme importance for rare high-altitude flora, as well as Zino's Petrel. Concerned that its construction and operation could have a detrimental impact on Zino's Petrel, as well as the unique landscape, SPEA and BirdLife have repeatedly requested the plans to be shelved and EU nature legislation respected.
"Unfortunately, none of the valid arguments presented proved sufficient to convince the Madeiran and Portuguese authorities, who have now gone ahead, arguing that building the radar is a matter of national security", added Dr Burfield.
Construction began in November 2009. The summit hostel, which used to serve as a must-stop tourist destination where people could admire the incredible mountain range that protects Zino's Petrel, has already been removed to make way for the radar. "However, the project must follow all of the mitigation and compensation measures indicated in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), such as avoiding any construction work during the breeding season of Zino's Petrel between March and October", warned Dr Burfield.
"SPEA is following progress very closely, and verifying that every precaution mentioned in the EIA is adhered to", said Iván Ramirez - BirdLife's European Marine Coordinator. "SPEA-Madeira staff are visiting the site regularly and will immediately report any anomalies to the Ministry of Defence and the University of Aveiro, which produced the EIA and is responsible for the follow-up and monitoring of the project". Through SPEA, BirdLife is also keeping a very close eye on the situation, as any negative impacts on the species could rapidly move it closer to extinction.
More information on the BirdLife Global Seabirds programme here.
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| GUIANAN TOUCANET! Suriname is one of South America's most under-celebrated birding destinations. The country contains more undisturbed primary rainforest per geographica are than any other country on earth. Its is safe, easily accessible and has some excellent ecotourism lodges like Bergendal Eco Resort, situated just over an hours drive from the country's capital, Paramaribo. The Guianan Toucanet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is found in north-western Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. Guianan Toucanets are found in pairs and in feeding groups of up to 10 birds. They occur nearly exclusively in forested habitat where they feed on fruiting trees like cecropias. They make a distinctive, rattling call and are clearly identifiable by their red-and-black two-tone bill. Catch the quest for this beautiful species this week on BATV!
The localised Guianan Toucanet |
 BATV WEEKLY QUIZZCorrectly identify the mystery bird in the photo at left and win a comprehensive Nikon lens cleaning kit. Email all answers to info@BirdingAdventures.com and title your email "Quizz". Clue: a common warbler The winner (first correct entry drawn) will be announced in next week's newsletter. Congratulations to our last winner, Tony Croasdale of Philadelphia, who correctly identified our last mystery bird as a Clay-colored Thrush! Tony won a Nikon lens cleaning kit. |
TV SCHEDULE We will be re-airing the following popular shows and have the following new shows in the pipeline. Our upcoming immediate schedule is as follows: Week of February 22 Guianan Toucanet - Suriname Re-air Week of March 1 Red-crowned Parrots - Texas Re-air Week of March 8 Red-footed Boobies - Belize Week of March 15 Great Green Macaws - Costa Rica Week of March 22 Green Jays - Texas Re-air 
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Happy Birding,
The Birding Adventures Team 
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