29 Jun 2013

Gyr Falcon Family

The team has been putting in some long hours over the last few days, but frustratingly not getting the results we would like. This expedition is run in conjunction with BirdLife International and Birds Russia and the last three days have been set aside to search remote parts of the Koryak coastline for possible breeding sites of the critically endangered Spoon-billed  Sandpiper. After two days of searching we are sorry to report that no new breeding areas have been found. While disappointing for us, this news is most alarming for the species, and only highlights the urgency of the Conservation Project.

Despite the lack of Spoon-billed Sandpipers the search teams encountered other amazing wildlife including over 50 brown bears and this morning before breakfast we spent several hours with a family of white Gyr Falcons (pictured above). What a way to start the day!