Europe: millions of migrating birds observed

This is a video of a baby lesser kestrel hatching.

Record numbers for EuroBirdwatch 2005

04-10-2005

Almost 40,000 people took part in BirdLife International’s EuroBirdwatch 2005, which took place last weekend (1-2 October).

During the pan-European event, around three million birds were observed.

Based on initial reports, the event looks set to have exceeded all previous records in terms of the numbers of participants involved and birds seen. …

Highlights in terms of species include observations of the globally threatened Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni in Armenia, where Red-fronted Serin Serinus pusillus was also seen.

Observers in Andorra watched a Common Buzzard Buteo buteo eating a snake, whilst in Slovakia, an Osprey Pandion haliaetus was the highlight for many bird watchers. …

The most frequently observed species were:

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Common Coot Fulica atra
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

Migratory North American birds in the tropical Andes: see here.