A life-changing experience! Wild, free-living birds are ambassadors of the natural habitat they depend upon. Some stay home and some fly across the globe between seasons. Some really big, some really tiny. An astounding diversity of color, function, grace, power and creativity that can only come from millions of years of mastering life on earth, or, should I say, in the air. From pole to pole they had just about achieved this in the air and under the waves. That was, of course, until we came along… We need to do everything we can to ensure that future generations have the amazing diversity of beautiful birds in their gardens, towns, parks, reserves and wilderness areas…
PLEASE SHARE OUR “Top 25 Wild Bird Photographs of the Week #18″ WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND BECOME PART OF THE WILD BIRD REVOLUTION!!!
Advances in digital photography have given us the opportunity to capture the beauty and freedom of birds in the wild like never before. In January 2011, the Wild Bird Trust set up a Facebook page with the intention of celebrating free flight and birds in the wild from around the world. Here are the “Top 25 Wild Bird Photographs of the Week” drawn from thousands of photographs submitted to the Wild Bird Trust. Celebrate the freedom and splendor of birds in the wild with us and stimulate positive change by sharing how beautiful the birds of the world really are… Please join the Wild Bird Trust page on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to receive all wild bird photo updates and join the Wild Bird Revolution. Submit your own photos and become part of this important public awareness campaign to bring the magic of wild birds to the world. Prepare to be blown away every week…

Atlantic puffins are declining due to increased predation by gulls and skuas, the introduction of rats, cats, dogs and foxes onto some islands used for nesting, contamination by toxic residues, drowning in fishing nets, declining food stocks, and climate change. (Anthony Roberts)

Pied Bushchat photographed on the Indus River (Pakistan). They are distributed throughout Asia. (Ghulam Rasool)

Whitebacked mousebirds are distributed in the W and central regions of southern Africa. They are frugivores that subsist on fruits, berries, leaves, seeds and nectar, and need to bask in the sun to ferment food in their bellies. (Anja Denker)

A male southern double-collared sunbird shining in the sunlight. These gems are endemic to the southern parts of South Africa, preferring forest, fynbos and karoo shrublands. (Basil Boer)

African jacana eggs in a remote floodplain of he Okavango Delta (Botswana). These decorated eggs are taken care of by the male jacanas. (Kirsten Wimberger)

Southern masked-weaver photographed hanging from a nest. These weavers are gregarious and sedentary, preferring open savana throughout southern Africa. (Anja Denker)

The brightly colored woodland kingfisher is often seen with a background of lush, evergreen foliage in the forest canopy. Their calls are the theme song for the summer months in the African bush. (Nobby Clarke)

The New Holland honeyeater was among the first birds to be scientifically described in Australia. (Jarl Line / www.jarlline.com.au)

Portrait of a Marabou Stork. The most beautiful ugly birds on earth. These amazing storks truly understand the African bush and thrive within protected areas. (Martin Heigan)

European Bee-eaters breed in southern Europe and parts of north Africa and western Asia, migrating to tropical Africa, India and Sri Lanka for winter. (Lennart Hessel)

King Parrots are endemic to eastern Australia, preferring humid and heavily-forested upland temperate rainforest. They feed on fruits, seeds or small insects. (Jarl Line)

Bearded helmetcrests are found in Colombia and Venezuela. Photographed here in Los Nevados (Colombia) (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

Spotted thickknees are largely nocturnal uttering the mournful ti-ti-ti-teeeteeeteee that fades towards the end. They can gather in flocks of up 60 birds during the non-breeding season. (Anton van Niekerk)

Kelp geese are found in Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, and the Falkland Islands. Photographed here on Carcass Island in the Falklands. (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

Goliath herons are the biggest in the world and are a breathtaking sight on safari. (Daniel Collier)

Whiskered terns breed on inland deltas and marshes in southern African and elsewhere in their range. (Andre Marais)

Giant kingfishers can be found fishing in remote swamps, rivers, lakes, streams, rock pools, and surf throughout sub-Saharan Africa. (Daniel Collier)

Chukar partridges are the national bird of Pakistan. Due to their pugnacious behaviour during the breeding season they are sometimes kept as fighting birds. (Ghulam Rasool)

Fire-eyed diucon are found in central and S Chile, and SW Argentina. Photographed here in Tierra del Fuego National Park (Argentina), (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

Bar-headed geese breed in colonies of thousands near mountain lakes in central Asia, wintering as far south as peninsular India. (Ghulam Rasool)

Rufous-capped antshrikes are found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, preferring moist montane forests and high-altitude shrublands. Here photographed en route to Intervales, Brazil. (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

Ural owls have an extended distribution area in Europe and Asia, from Japan and Korea all the way to Scandinavia. (Antero Topp)

Acorn woodpeckers create "acorn trees" by drilling holes in dead trees, dead branches, telephone poles, wooden buildings and much else. The woodpeckers then collect acorns and match them to holes of appropriate size. As the acorns dry out they shrink, and need to be moved to smaller and smaller holes. This keeps these industrious woodpeckers constantly busy. (Statia Dougherty)
See the last “Top 25 Wild Bird Photographs of the Week” blog post on National Geographic News Watch:
Link: http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/07/22/top-25-wild-bird-photographs-of-the-week-17/
The Wild Bird Trust was founded in South Africa in August 2009 with the primary objective of keeping birds safe in the wild. The trust aims to encourage the use of flagship endangered bird species as “ecosystem ambassadors” in their indigenous habitat. The trust focusses on linking ordinary people with conservation action in the field through innovative marketing campaigns and brand development. Saving Africa’s birds is going to take a determined effort from all of us.
The main aims and objectives of the Wild Bird Trust are to:
- To advance the research in, education about and conservation of all birds in the wild as well as the related habitat.
- Focus will be placed primarily on African species that act as ecosystem and biodiversity indicators although other species and geographical areas will be considered as well.
- To work with all interested and involved parties including government, private sector, NGOs, education and research institutions, aviculture and bird-watching sectors without losing objectivity and independence.
In the pursuit of these aims and objectives the Wild Bird trust works closely with relevant local and international entities and persons, including: government authorities; educational institutions; conservation organizations; and avicultural organizations. The trust is funded entirely by its founder members, charitable donations and conservation grants.
See Wild Bird Trust’s epic research expedition across the Okavango Delta using mokoros over 18 days:
1) Bush Boyes on Expedition – 2012 Okavango Wetland Bird Survey
2) Bush Boyes on Expedition: Seronga to Jedibe Across the People’s Okavango…
See the Africa Birds & Birding Facebook page for amazing bird photography from Africa! https://www.facebook.com/Africa.Birds.Birding
One of the best photo i like most is pied bushchat. what a great click ever.
These are beautiful
awesome birds
my best pic is pied bushchat, amazingly against light pic i just loved it v good shot.
It’s amazing photos!! I love birds and they are wonderful. Thanks very much!!
Great and beautiful
very nice pictur beautiful birds thnks
The Rufous-capped antshrike can also be found in Panama. I photographed 1 there in May in Panama, close to the canal.
I’m impressed.Wonderful photos of great birds.
Love birds
Excellent Birds’ Photographs. Keeps the mind so calm and environmentally so pleasing. Please let’s have more fun of such pics. congrats for such novel job. Thank you all.
keeping the environmental balance(www.flexitank.asia)
Such a Amazing Birds…Beautiful Birds….
watch this and think about nature .. and say subhhan allah…..
Amazing series…! Real collection by an Ornithologist .
Beautiful Photos!!!!!!!
excellent photographs
[…] Top 25 Wild Bird Photographs of… Aug. 2, 2012 (17) News Watch » […]
[…] No comments I am humble to have my pictures together with the multitude of talents that is on show at Wild Bird Trust. This week is really spectacular but I feel that this picture deserve a place among the others. You can see this weeks pictures here. […]
[…] Top 25 Wild Bird Photographs of the Week #18 (newswatch.nationalgeographic.com) Share this:EmailDiggPrintStumbleUponTwitterFacebookLinkedInLike this:LikeOne blogger likes this. Published: August 12, 2012 Filed Under: Accipiters, Animals, Birds, Colors, Dragonflies, Dragonfly, Flight, Hawks, Nashville, Natural, Nature, Owls, Poetry, Science, Suburbia, Warblers, Wrens, Writing, Writing Tags: Black-crowned Night Heron : Dark-eyed Junco : Great Horned Owl : Heron : Nashville : Nashville Tennessee : Ruby-crowned Kinglet : Tennessee : Widow Skimmer : Yellow-crowned Night Heron […]
Great initiative Dr.Steve for those birders and bird photographers and obviously the avians all around the World…great effort on conservation awareness.
Thank you.
Nice photos,excelant……… AND cngraj 4Ur Futer career!!!!!
São lindíssimas,maravilhosas,sou apaixonada pela fauna e flora,sou apaixonada por aves.A natureza tem tudo pra nos oferecer,nós é que as vezes fingimos não enxergar.Amei.amei muito o que vi….parabens
Amei o que vi,aves lindissimas,sou apaixonada por aves e estas são simplesmente admiraveis
beautiful i love it