A new study has shown a significant reduction in the number of breeding Golden Plover following the construction of turbines at a wind farm in the north of Scotland. More here >

Dedicated South Gloucestershire birder Martyn Hayes was having a fruitless day's birding at Marshfield when an interesting harrier caught his attention.
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George Else describes how, on a bee recording trip to Brownwich Cliff on the Hampshire coast, he stumbled upon the county's first Alpine Accentor.
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The Northumberland Little Tern Project is looking for volunteers to protect vulnerable nesting shorebirds this summer. This includes endangered Little Terns, Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers.
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New research in The Condor: Ornithological Applications demonstrates that even ground-level artificial lights can affect birds passing overhead at night.
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A new study by Swiss zoologists from the Universities of Basel and Zurich now shows that urban moths have learned to avoid light.
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Every year, over a million migratory birds fly through a 10-km wide corridor in Georgia on their way to their wintering grounds. They are under threat from illegal killing and infrastructure development.
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In the latest TN Charlie talks to Mary Colwell about her 500 mile trek for Curlews and to Jamie Gilardi from the World Parrot Trust, for whom Charlie is himself raising money for this summer .
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Andy Stoddart reviews this is illuminating and engaging exploration of the science behind eggs and the history of man's obsession with them.
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It took conservationists four years of research and hard work before their cameras spotted the Critically Endangered Balkan Lynx for the first time.
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The ups and downs in the fight to protect these Montenegrin salt pans are too numerous to count. But could there be light at the end of the tunnel?
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More than half the world's population of this antelope was dead in a matter of months. Here's how BirdLife is saving the Saiga.
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Studies in a group of tropical birds have revealed one of the fastest limb muscles on record for any animal with a backbone.
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Plenty of new birds this week with highlights including a male Pallid Harrier in Kent, Black-headed Wagtail in W.Yorkshire, Iberian Chiffchaff in Shropshire, wandering White Storks and much more.
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Very little was known about the Critically Endangered species' migratory route through Central and South Asia. That could soon change after a recent new discovery. More here >

The 3rd Champions of the Flyway Race took place in Israel in March this year. The 24hr race, featured 190 birders from 40 teams and raised $67,000 for conservation. More here >

A famous pair of Ospreys have returned to Bassenthwaite over Easter weekend, sparking hopes for yet another successful year for the Lake District Osprey Project. More here >

Plenty of fresh birds this week as storm Katie cleared. The Isle of Man lands it's first Slate-coloured Junco, a Western Rufous Turtle Dove in Kent and Snowy Owl in Cornwall were just some of the other highlights.
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On an island not exactly famed for turning up mega rarities local birder and ringer Sean Gray describes finding the Isle of Man's first Slate-coloured Junco.
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New study confirms common birds are powerful indicators of threats from climate change. From Europe to the US the data shows coherent and substantial changes in detriment to cold-adapted species.
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The health of swans in Britain is being affected by lead poisoning at lower doses than previously recognised, suggests new research by the WWT) and the University of Exeter. More here >

It's the 1st of April and the surveying season begins for the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and will continue on through until the end of June.
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The stand-out bird in an otherwise slow Easter weekend was Suffolk's first Thayer's Gull on the scrape at Minsmere RSPB.
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Scientists in South Korea studied brown skuas living in Antarctica and reported that these birds too recognize people who had previously accessed the nests to measure their eggs and nestlings.More here >

A new research paper, has shown how how Australian fairy-wrens start learning to imitate their parents before they even hatch.
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RSPB Scotland is celebrating the return of EJ the osprey to its Loch Garten nature reserve in Speyside, a full 12 days earlier than she appeared last year.
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A Corsican Bearded Vulture chick has hatched in a laboratory as part of an emergency action plan to save this declining and extremely small island population from going extinct. More here >

In the latest TN podcast Charlie talks to Terry Townshend (aka Birding Beijing). He offers a fascinating insight into birds and conservation in China.
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Brian Small describes how during an Easter weekend visit to Minsmere, and just before giving his son a driving lesson, he found an adult Thayer's Gull.
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There were plenty of long-stayers on offer this week but it was a Demoiselle Crane in Cumbria that caused a few ripples in the rarity pond.
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The annual results of the BTO Garden BirdWatch show an interesting story for some of our more common garden birds, with Blue Tit, Great Tit and Blackbird numbers all well below average during the second half of 2015. More here >

Andy Stoddart reviews Bird Families of the World which distils the voluminous detail of the 17-volume Handbook of Birds of the World into a single book.
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Following the recent publication of the 2014 Irish Rare Bird Report we take a look at some of the highlights including new species as well as removal of an other. More here >

Mike Blair reviews this comprehensive guide to the varied avifauna of this island biodiversity hotspot, all illustrated, by the same expert artists who worked on the celebrated Birds of South-East Asia.
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New birds turning up this week were pretty scarce but one new bird that made the headlines is Richardson's Cackling Goose, taking the British list to 601.
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Saving Africa's Vultures is a new project to tackle the continent's vulture crisis, and aims to find out more about the greatest threat facing African vultures: poisoning. More here >

Over £100,000 has been raised for Hen Harrier conservation and satellite tagging through sales of Lush's Hen Harrier shaped bath bomb.
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The annual International Black-faced Spoonbill Census recorded 3,356 individuals in Jan 2016, up 2.6% from the last year, and a record recent count for this species. More here >

Over 800,000 birds were trapped and killed illegally on a British military base in Cyprus last autumn, according to the latest research by the RSPB and BirdLife Cyprus.
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Plenty of long-stayers remained in place this week, Glaucous-winged Gull, American Herring Gulls, Pacific Diver and Black Scoter. Multiple Northern-long-tailed Tits were the fresh blood this week.
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The new Spurn Bird Observatory building will be officially opened on Sunday Mar 27 at 2pm. Naturalist and presenter Mike Dilger will be cutting the ribbon and all are welcome.
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The latest TN is live and this week we are looking at Montagu's Harrier conservation and also the plight of the Iberian Lynx, the world's rarest cat.
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The huge number is part of the even bigger one of 25 million birds being illicitly trapped, shot or glued annually in the region, according to a Birdlife report. More here >

We are delighted to able to announce that we will be streaming live video of key talks from from the Birders Against Wildlife Crime conference next weekend.
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Terry Townshend looks at the use of mist nets at Chinese airports, which by some estimates, could be killing at least 13 millions birds every year!
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Hundreds of Black-footed Albatross chicks were buried up to their necks by north-westerly winds that caused a sand storm on the beach on Kure Atoll.
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A male Bearded Vulture breeding in the French Pyrenees has been found dead. Investigations are now underway to determine the cause of death.
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A dragonfly barely an inch and a half long appears to be animal world's most prolific long distance traveller - flying thousands of miles as it migrates from continent to continent. More here >

A collaboration of more than 40 scientists, as well as dozens of organizations and institutions, Project SNOWstorm is the most ambitious attempt ever to understand the winter ecology of Snowy Owls in the US. More here >

A fairly settled week with Ireland's first Glaucous-winged Gull remainimg in County Cork. Other highlights included Hooded Merganser, Pacific Diver, American Herring Gull, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Northern Harrier.
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The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) has been spared from closure following a last minute funding announcement by the government on Tuesday.
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In a special episode of Talking Naturally Charlie heads to Essex to spend they day around Abberton and Hanningfield Reservoirs.
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Kirma the Bearded Vulture was first seen in the wild in the Spanish Pyrenees in 2010 with a serious injury in its lower mandible but there are signs that she has adapted to her physical disability.
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Conservationists are celebrating a record breeding season for Magenta Petrel, a big step for a bird thought extinct until 1978.
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Birds that migrate the greatest distances have more new neurons in the regions of the brain responsible for navigation and spatial orientation, suggests a new paper published in Scientific Reports.
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While the European population is generally declining, that of Catalonia has been increasing. Answers to this may prove essential to revert the conservation situation with this endangered species.
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Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is asking for views on its plans for the future management of Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Dumfries.
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Positive news from China as researchers have counted at least 45 individuals from a four locations, the highest number ever found in China during winter.
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The bird making the headlines this week was one found in 2008, the Yelkouan Shearwater, which takes the British list to 600. Elsewhere many of the usual suspects were still present.
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The Scottish Environment Minister has accepted recommendations to introduce tough new maximum penalties for those who commit crimes against wildlife.
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Andy Stoddart reviews two of Paul Doherty's DVD Guide series. And courtesy of WildSounds & Books all the titles are available at half-price until 31 March.
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Contrary to previous belief, new research has shown that microplastics are not a significant source of environmental pollutants in fulmars.
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The first in-depth study of the virus's impacts on bird populations, discovered the disease killed millions of birds many more than previously thought.
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Ecotourism can provide the critical difference between survival and extinction for endangered animals, according to new research from Australia's Griffith University.
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Migratory birds have been handed a welcome boost by fundraising efforts from Birdfair 2015 after £320,000 was handed over to BirdLife to help vulnerable migratory birds in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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The British Ornithologists' Records Committee (BOURC) has announced the addition of the 600th species to the British List.
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Pittas are a regular sight at some of Indonesia's notorious wild bird markets according to a newly published paper.
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Conservationists have welcomed a proposed new law in the US that would help to protect globally threatened seabirds.
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New research has identified that parrots are among the most threatened groups of bird species, with 28% of extant species classified as globally threatened on the IUCN Red List. More here >

There has been a very encouraging start to this year's Bearded Vulture Alpine breeding season, with a record number of occupied territories and many new couples in formation. More here >

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is asking for views on its plans for the future management of Britain's most northerly National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Shetland.
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Using novel, recently developed techniques for analysis of Doppler polarimetric weather surveillance radar data, researchers examined impediments of nocturnally migrating songbirds...
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Academics and students from the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) have begun a unique project studying the interaction between humans and urban gulls. More here >

Ireland steals the limelight this week with Glaucous-winged Gull, Black Scoter and Pacific Diver. In Britain rarities included Hudsonian Whimbrel, Northern and Pallid Harrier.
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St Agnes and Gugh in the Isles of Scilly have been declared officially rat-free after passing a thorough month-long inspection two years after the last signs of rat activity were spotted. More here >

The latest assessment of the Red List of Birds for Finland has shown that the number of Red-listed breeding birds is increasing and now stands at 45% More here >

Since 2009, 33 White-tailed Eagle carcasses have been found in Serbia, along with many other species including Common cranes, Barn Owl, Buzzard and Raven, the cause of the deaths - pesticide poisoning. More here >

In-depth studies have indicated that rapid declines in three species of shorebird that migrate between Siberia and Australia is due to land reclamation along China's Yellow Sea coastline.
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A new study from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, suggests Louisiana cranes are faring well thanks in part to their penchant for hunting reptiles and amphibians.
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According to an 18 year study, and contrary to expectations, the size of the Blue Tits' nests is unrelated to their breeding success.
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Mark is back in the hot-seat after an extended break and rounds up the week's best birds from around Britain and Ireland.
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Leading environmental charity, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, is opposing plans for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Moray Firth.
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The researchers behind a forthcoming study have shown that Semipalmated Sandpipers on their annual stopover in Canada's Bay of Fundy eat a far broader diet than anyone suspected.
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The European Commission has announced it will continue allowing the use of lead in ammunition, despite it being responsible for thousands of bird deaths. More here >

In a pioneering study, scientists have analysed satellite imagery to measure forest loss remotely across the global network of IBAs.
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A survey team led by Burung Indonesia and BirdLife's Asia Division has confirmed a wintering site of the globally threatened Chinese Crested Tern in eastern Indonesia. More here >

RSPB Scotland has announced that it has purchased the nature reserve at Dunnet Head, which is the northernmost point of mainland Britain, after receiving a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
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Highlights during another stormy week included a Black Scoter in Northumberland and a trio of rare gulls: Glaucous-winged, American Herring and Franklin's.
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Andy Stoddart remembers Martin Garner who very sadly passed away this week.
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Eilat is well known in birders circles as one of the best birding destinations in the world. This March again sees the Eilat Birds Festival take place.
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A new study has confirmed that, like some larger birds such as swans and geese, smaller species such as the Eurasian Siskin, forms bonds that last for a number of years.
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Around half of the ten or so New Zealand Fairy Tern pairs remaining in the world are at risk due to a proposal to remove mangroves.
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Scientists have discovered that the decline in the North American Wood Thrush population is due more to habitat loss in the breeding grounds rather than the wintering grounds. More here >

Bird monitors have recorded sightings of the rare Sharpe's Longclaw in reserves owned and managed by Nature Kenya, a conservation partner of World Land Trust (WLT). More here >

A new study has confirmed the long held assumption that camouflage protects animals from predators, and offers insights into the most important aspects of camouflage. More here >

Researchers have found that many groups of White Storks have begun to modify their migration patterns to take advantage of human made food sources, such as rubbish dumps. More here >

In the first two few weeks of 2016 two mass poisonings of vultures in Africa have come to light with over 70 vultures found dead but experts believe the number to be even higher. More here >

After a positively giddy start to the year, things finally normalised down a little this week. In many ways it felt more like a normal week in late January.
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New research has shown that snake-hunting Secretary Birds use the force of five times their body weight to stamp on and kill their prey.
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Researchers behind a new study found that the patterns of reddish-brown spots on the white eggs of Great Tits reflect the quality and health of the mother bird. More here >