We are happy to announce another bird migration counting season at Besh Barmag bottleneck for autumn 2022. After the very successful full season in 2018 a planned new highway crossed our plans for autumn 2019 and in 2020 and 2021 a global pandemic made the count impossible. This autumn, however, we are in good spirit… Continue reading Call for Counters: Besh Barmag Bird Migration Count 2022
Category: bird migration
Talk about bird conservation in Azerbaijan
Zülfü Fərəcli gives a talk to the Əkinçi project (https://akinchi.org/) about birdwatching and bird conservation in Azerbaijan. Non-native viewers might use the English subtitle. https://youtu.be/7sHU7-3YGbQ
Second Black-winged Kite for Azerbaijan
Photos © Zülfü Fərəcli On 6 September 2021 Zülfü Fərəcli found Azerbaijan's second Black-winged Kite at Besh Barmag. Congratulations! https://youtu.be/UHnCqy1lYU8
Azerbaijan has re-opened for tourists
Since 5 August 2021 Azerbaijan has re-opened the country for tourism and welcomes guests from various countries! The latest Covid-19 travel information can be obtained from the Azerbaijan Tourism Board website: https://azerbaijan.travel/covid-19-en If you are looking for an exciting birding destination this autumn, such as the fabulous bird migration at Besh Barmag, huge wetlands, the… Continue reading Azerbaijan has re-opened for tourists
First records of Little Bunting published in Sandgrouse
Text & Photos © Pia Fetting The first records of Little Bunting for Azerbaijan were recently published in the Sandgrouse magazine of the Ornithological Society of the Middle East: Fetting P & Buddemeier J (2021) First records of Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla for Azerbaijan. Sandgrouse 43(1): 146-150. https://osme.org/sandgrouse/ Summary: During a comprehensive survey of migratory birds at… Continue reading First records of Little Bunting published in Sandgrouse
Why Red-breasted Geese shifted their wintering grounds
Comic by the Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds / Birdlife Bulgaria
First record of Black-legged Kittiwake for Nakhchivan
Photos © Huseyn Resulzade On 1 December 2020 a Black-legged Kittiwake was spotted at the Aras river dam in Nakhchivan by Huseyn Resulzade, which is the first record in this landlocked part of Azerbaijan. Congratulations! Besides some historic records Black-legged Kittiwakes have been rarely observed in Azerbaijan with a possible observation in February 1998, one… Continue reading First record of Black-legged Kittiwake for Nakhchivan
Besh Barmag reserve will be established!
According to the website of Ilham Aliyev (president of Azerbaijan) and diffenrent local media sources the Besh Barmag area will become a State History, Culture and Nature Reserve! https://president.az/articles/39054 https://www.azernews.az/travel/165875.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZzr0nZY0rQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu2E1_9OsNQ
2nd Crested Honey Buzzard for Azerbaijan
Photos © Elvin Məmmədsoy On 29 May 2020 Elvin Məmmədsoy observed and photographed a Crested Honey Buzzard in Baku, which is the second record of this species in Azerbaijan. Congratulations! Azerbaijan's first Crested Honey Buzzard was observed on 23 May 2019 near Masalli. https://birdingazerbaijan.org/2019/06/20/first-crested-honey-buzzard-and-calcarata-citrine-wagtail-observed-in-azerbaijan/
Besh Barmag Bird Migration Count 2020 cancelled!
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic we sadly have to announce the cancellation of the bird migration count at Besh Barmag in autumn 2020. Even if all shutdowns and travel restrictions will be rescinded and the infection risk lowered by the purposed start of the count in August, there are many other impacts which make… Continue reading Besh Barmag Bird Migration Count 2020 cancelled!