Birdwatching diary
A recipe that included some of Europe's most enigmatic birds within what surely must be one of Europe's most spectacular landscapes - the Caucasus, made my spring visit one that will live long in the memory. From watching Caucasian Snowcock in the high mountains to close photographic encounters with Wallcreepers and Great Rosefinches to name just two has left me wanting to return as soon as I can. Great guide George Darchiashvili provided excellent service and comfortable accommodation.
David Tipling
April 21, 2006
Letter From Georgia
Birdwatching by a Remote Monastery
What might Georgia offer? You name it. Georgia is a birder's paradise, rich in varied habitat, from the thick forests and crevasses on the slopes of the Caucasus to the soggy Black Sea wetlands. It has most everything in between, including the parched badlands along the Azeri border. Moreover, it is a bird highway, receiving traffic from north or south as birds that breed in the Arctic Circle turn Georgia into a semiannual aerial corridor to and from wintering grounds. It also has a native population of the one of the grandest birds on earth, the lammergeier, or bearded vulture, whose wingspan can exceed 10 feet and which sometimes carries bones high overhead and drops them onto rocks, cracking them open so marrow can be yanked out by beak. Legend holds that the Greek playwright Aeschylus died by such antics, when a bird of the lammergeier's habit dropped a tortoise on his head. One of the rarest birds of prey in Europe, it can be seen here - if you are lucky.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/21/world/europe/chivers-birding.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
By C.J. CHIVERS
Wonderful people, spectacular scenery and lots of birds in a variety of
habitats - what more can one ask for? From the slopes of Mount Kazbeghi
to the shore of the Black Sea, our guide Zura Javakhishvili knew where to take us,
what to look for and we were not disappointed. He took care of all our arrangements too - for meals, accommodations, transport – all details were handled professionally. We are looking forward to our next trip to Georgia!
Jerry and Sharon Goldsmith
Washington, DC, USA