Andalucia, in the deep south of Spain, is an extremely special place for birds. Unsurprisingly the region can offer challenges to even the most experienced birder, resident or visitor! Among the species that regularly cause identification problems, for example, are Pallid Swift, Thekla Lark and Lesser Kestrel. These species are particularly difficult due to similarities with closely related birds. The Andalucia Bird Society will be publishing various identification guides for difficult birds in the future hoping members will find them useful and of practical help when out in the field watching birds. To read more follow this link.

Our next meeting is now scheduled for Saturday 19th June. The field trip will be to the area between Osuna and Marchena, an extremely good region for Collared Pratincole, Short-toed and Calandra Lark, Montagu’s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Little Bustard and Roller. If the trip gets lucky we might also see Great Bustard! We also plan our member’s AGM with a scheduled start 9:00am and elect new officers, before joining the field trip at 10:00am. Please follow the forum post for these events by clicking on this link. We hope as many as possible can attend and will be posting the meeting point very soon.

One of the more plausible theories for the decline of the House Sparrow is discussed on our forum and may interest our members. Certainly in Northern Europe the decline has been causing grave concern. The House Sparrow's extinction theory was that the unleaded fuel, believed to be eco-friendly, had harmful byproducts. The fuel uses Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) as an anti-knocking agent. Along with byproducts of combustion, this kills small insects. To read more click here.

Membership of our forum continues to increase steadily as does the range of interests covered by our contributors. From book reviews, wildflowers, reptiles and most recently illustrated accounts of moths in the province, the forum offers a diverse resource and reference to wildlife in Andalucia. We are also able to promote the society and post photographs of our birds on facebook where we now have 1400 members! So the Andalucia Bird Society is progressing and spreading its message through the social media. Thank you all for your support and please keep promoting our society.