This male Pavo cristatus was at home on the grounds of Eggenberg Palace near Graz in Austria. The species originated on the Indian subcontinent but is spread worldwide now as ornamental birds in gardens or zoos. They are still being poached though for their meat and feathers.
This Corvus cornix was looking for food on the banks of the Danube in Austria where I saw it a couple of years ago. The species used to be seen as part of Corvus corone (Carrion crow) but was given full species status in 2002. Danger to the birds comes from gamekeepers and similar numpties who hunt them.
This Himantopus himantopus was looking for food in Neusiedler See, Austria. I’ve only ever seen them in that area, but apparently the species is doing OK.
I’ve seen Alcedo atthis in Austria, Slovakia and Germany. The species is widespread, and fortunately it is labelled as ‘Least concern’. However, if you look at the entry in the Red List, that is because a lot of data is unknown (http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22683027/0).
Ducks are brilliant, and this Aythya ferina which I saw on the Danube in Austria last spring is no exception. The species is classified as vulnerable.
Numbers are declining because of loss of breeding habitat (marshes) and bad water quality (too much fertilizer in the water because of bad agricultural management).
Aujourd’hui, j’apprends les mots animales: la grenouille et les têtards, le triton (n’est pas la lune de Neptune) et, l’abeille. Je sais, elle, ma belle-mère aime les animaux et les fleurs – joyeux anniversaire!
Les fleurs sont pour mon amie Astrid. Aujourd’hui elle fête son anniversaire. Toutes mes félicitations et bon anniversaire!
One of my favourite birds is Ciconia ciconia. This family was at home in Marchegg, Austria, in one of the biggest colonies of white storks in central Europe.
Generally, the species is doing alright, but threats include the continued loss of wetlands, collisions with overhead power lines, use of persistent pesticides (such as DDT) to combat locusts in Africa, and largely illegal hunting on migration routes and wintering grounds. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_stork#Conservation
This male Emberiza citrinella was singing in Austria. The species is in decline there; and it’s on the red list in Ireland and the UK. Reason: farming practices.
This is a male Lanius collurio perching on a maple tree in Austria. The bird winters in Africa and breeds in Europe. Its overall population size looks healthy. In Britain, however, it is all but extinct (https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/r/redbackedshrike/).
Spocki's World 