'Missing' species: have you seen them?

If you've read this week's issue (dated August 27) you will know that BirdLife International is on the lookout for 47 species of bird that have not been seen for up to 184 years. 

Here's the list in full:

Africa: Alaotra Grebe; Archer's Lark; Liberian Greenbul; and Slender-billed Curlew. Asia: Banggai Crow; Blue-fronted Lorikeet; Crested Shelduck; Himalayan Quail; Javan Lapwing; Negros Fruit-dove; Pink-headed Duck; Rueck's Blue-flycatcher; Siau Scops-owl; Silvery Wood-pigeon; Slender-billed Curlew; Sulu Bleeding-heart; and White-eyed River-martin. Australasia: Beck's Petrel; Makira Moorhen; New Caledonian Lorikeet; New Caledonian Owlet-nightjar; New Caledonian Rail; and Night Parrot. Caribbean: Bachman's Warbler; Ivory-billed Woodpecker; Jamaica Petrel; Jamaican Pauraque; and Semper's Warbler. Central America: Guadalupe Storm-petrel and Imperial Woodpecker. Europe: Slender-billed curlew. North America: Bachman's Warbler; Eskimo Curlew; Ivory-billed Woodpecker; Nukupuu (Hawaii); Oahu Alauahio (Hawaii); Olomao (Hawaii); Ou (Hawaii); and Poo-uli (Hawaii). Oceania: Nukupuu; Oahu Alauahio; Olomao; Ou; Pohnpei Starling; Poo-uli; Red-throated Lorikeet; and Samoan Moorhen. South America: Antioquia Brush-finch; Blue-eyed Ground-dove; Eskimo Curlew; Glaucous Macaw; Hooded Seedeater; Kinglet Calyptura; Rio de Janeiro Antwren; Spix's Macaw; Tachira Antpitta; and Turquoise-throated Puffleg.

Rare parrot flies north in search of food

Photograph reproduced from Wikipedia under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License. 

Birdwatchers in mainland Australia are being treated to a rare sight: flocks of swift parrots have been spied in south-east New South Wales.

The species, which breeds on the island state of Tasmania, is endangered with only about 1,000 pairs remaining in the wild. The birds normally migrate between Tasmania and the west of the Great Dividing Range (the mountain range that runs along the eastern seaboard), but scientists believe the drought has forced them to migrate further north than usual in search of food.

You can find out more via this story on the ABC news site.