Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Worlds rarest birds – An international competition

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The Red-crowned Crane, Grus japonensis This amazing photo was captured by Huajin Sun, in Yancheng, Jiangsuin China. Cranes dance when looking for a mate, as part of an elaborate courtship ritual. Breeding in China and wintering in Japan, it is an iconic bird in the culture of both nations, featuring prominently in their art and poetry. The world population now numbers only 1,700 mature birds and is continuing to decrease, due to the loss and degradation of wetlands through conversion to agriculture and industrial development.

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Orange Bellied parrots in Australia - photo by David Boyd

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A Kakapo, a flightless parrot from New Zealand - photo by Shane McInnes

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A Marvellous Spatuletail taken in Peru – photo by Daniel Rosengren

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A Brazilian Merganser with ducklings, which can only be found on fast-flowing rivers in central Brazil – photo by Savio Freire Bruno

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An Asian Crested Ibis, now only found in Shaanxi province in China - TheWorldsRarest.com

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