If you happen to’ve birded in Spain, in all probability greater than as soon as, and are bearing in mind some other Mediterranean nation to quench your thirst, glance to the east. Steve Dudley, a fowl information and creator of the Lesvos birding information, as soon as instructed me: “Greece is THE premier birding location in Europe for me [and for yours truly as well]. Wider than Lesvos, it additionally gives different impressive birding places comparable to Kerkini, Dadia, and the Evros Delta – they are able to all be blended in a very simple sufficient week or two-week birding shuttle which I’ve achieved repeatedly myself, in addition to offering some superb iciness birding too for lengthy weekends (a protracted iciness weekend at Kerkini is really easy from the United Kingdom and is solely good). You’ll be able to get to Athens from just about anyplace, and from Athens, you’ll get entry to anyplace else in Greece simply sufficient via airplane, ferry, or automobile. What’s to not love!”
A number of where-to-find-birds books were printed, together with ones via Steve Turbines, Dave Gosney (each protecting northern Greece), Steve Dudley (Lesvos), and so on., plus the country-wide information “Birding in Greece” printed via the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS). Gosney’s information is light-weight and no-nonsense, providing simple instructions like “on that meadow at the left search for those species,” however its maps resemble the ones from early hippy guides to India—hand-drawn and tough to apply with hard-to-read handwritten main points. “Birding in Greece” via Chris Vlachos et al., printed via HOS, supplies reasonably generic web page descriptions (richer typically data on every web page, however as a substitute of “seek that meadow in your left”, it’s extra like “within the SW phase of the reserve you’ll be expecting…”), and once more, the maps. Many chapters care for better reserves, dozens of kilometres throughout, proven simplest on one full-page map. That’s it—no different maps, only one in keeping with every house, in spite of its dimension!
Via now, you’re conscious about the weaknesses of those different guides, however what if you wish to discover Greece past simply the north of it? Whilst Steve Turbines began his information with northern Greece, via the 3rd version he has expanded the protection to surround all of the continental Greece, except Attica (the environment of Athens) and the Peloponnese Peninsula.
Within the aforementioned area, Turbines covers all spaces—except the cliffs of Meteora—lined in Vlachos/HOS information, and in his “historic” house, northern Greece, Turbines covers considerably extra websites than the country-wide Vlachos information. On the identical time, the north stands proud with the extra various aid and better mountains, because of this extra rainfall, lusher forests, and extra numerous habitats, leading to longer fowl lists, making it the easiest area of the rustic.
Already being acquainted now not simply with the contest, but in addition with Steve Turbines’s Birdwatching in Northern Greece: 2d Version, I knew upfront, sooner than the #3 was once printed, what would make a decision the most efficient amongst those: the maps. Do the maps proper, and you’re the chief of the pack.
After all, the maps are digitalised, (most probably) in line with Google Maps, one thing you are going to be the usage of in your telephone, making it simple to check the options within the e book with the ones at the display and discover your method round. Whilst smaller spaces could also be depicted on 3 maps, the bigger spaces are depicted on 10 to fifteen maps! And that’s why I take my hat off to Steve Turbines.
The third version of “Birdwatching in Northern Greece” is a exceptional fulfillment that surpasses its predecessors in each scope and high quality. The inclusion of latest websites comparable to Lake Karla, Messolonghi, Mount Parnassos and others expands the scope of the information, whilst the addition of color-coded sections, detailed GPS data, up to date standing lists, and lodging guidelines additional make stronger the usability of the information. This e book is certain to turn out to be an crucial better half on my long run birding journeys in Greece.
There may be another reason to take my hat off: all finances raised from promoting the books pass without delay against fowl coverage initiatives in Greece. Now you recognize which information you actually need.
Birdwatching in Northern Greece: 3rd Version
Writer: Steve Turbines
Paperback | 288 pg | complete color
First Printed: 2023/08/10
Printed via: Birdwing Books
ISBN: 9780956777027
Weight: 0.5 kg