2018 in birding and ornithology explained

See also 2017 in birding and ornithology, main events of 2018 and 2019 in birding and ornithology

The year 2018 in birding and ornithology.

Worldwide

New species

See also Bird species new to science described in the 2010s

Ornithologists

Deaths

Europe

• European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) – a ten-year Turtle Dove Action Plan was launched across its African and European range in May. Since 1980 it has declined by 78% across Europe.^{[1] [2]}

Britain

The British Ornithologists' Union British list stands at 616 species (Category A: 598; Category B: 8; Category C: 10).^[3]

Breeding birds

• Common crane (Grus grus) – 54 pairs raised 25 young to bring the UK population to around 180.^[4]

Rare birds

• Grey catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) – first seen on 15 October at Treve Common, near Land's End, Cornwall. The second UK record.^[5]

Other events

• The 2018 British Birdwatching Fair raised £322,000, making a total of £4,679,152 since its inception in 1989. The money donated to Birdlife International will go towards protecting Mar Chiquita in Argentina.^[6]

South America

Argentina

• Mar Chiquita – money raised by the 2018 British Birdwatching Fair will help with the creation of Argentina's largest national park. BirdLife International working with Aves Argentinas will protect three species of flamingo at the largest salt lake in South America and the fifth largest in the world.^{[7] [8]}

Notes and References

1. Anon . Turtle dove plan takes flight . Nature's Home . Winter 2018 . 39.
2. Web site: Operation Turtle Dove . 24 October 2018.
3. Web site: Lammergeier fails to make the grade . BirdGuides . 6 February 2018 . 14 July 2020.
4. News: Wild News. In Numbers . BBC Wildlife . March 2019 . 52.
5. Web site: Reines . Jeff . Video captures rare catbird in Cornwall - and you can hear why it got its name . Cornwall Live . 22 October 2018 . 24 October 2018.
6. Web site: Birdfair 2018 results . 13 March 2019 . 6 July 2020.
7. Web site: Birdfair 2018 raised £322,000 for conservation . Birdfair . 13 March 2019 . 6 July 2020.
8. Law . Jessica . A wildlife haven fit for a Goddess . BirdLife Magazine . April–June 2020 . 46–7.