CORN BUNTING A resident bird with numbers increasing in the winter and spring as passage migrants stop over, some stayng in Cyprus over the winter months. The males are prolific songsters. They form mixed flocks with finches and sparrows. Breeding starts quite late, in June and July in northern Europe, May in south and central Europe, with nests, made of grass and lined with hair, built on the ground in thick grass and low bushes taking 5-7 days to complete. The female lays 3-6 pale creamy eggs marked with dark brown spots, one egg per day, and is solely responsible for incubation which lasts 12-13 days. The chicks leave the nest after 9-13 days. Males can mate with as many as 3 females during the breeding season and take no role in nest building or incubation, just staying close to keep an eye out for predators during that time and only helping in feeding the chicks when they are independent of the nest. Breeding sucess depends largely on the food supply. The buntings eat seeds, especiall ripening barley, and insects, favouring the thistle. In favourable conditions the female can produce three broods in a year. Corn bunting numbers are decreasiing particularly in northern Europe, with an 86% decline in the UK. Following the abolition af the agricultural set aside scheme, agricultural practices are killing off its food supply. It has a typical lifespan of 3 years but indiviuals of 8 years have been recorded.

GOLDFINCH A common resident, a pasage migrant and winter visitor. A sociable bird, known for its sweet song. Joins in winter flocks with corn buntings. Eats small seeds from plants inacessible to other birds, thistle, cornflowers and teasels, extracted with their fine beaks, Nests in trees, like pine, eucalyptus, acacias and fruit trees, the female building a cup shaped nest from grasses and mosses over a week attached to a tree with spider silk. She lays 4-6 blue-white eggs with dark specks, soon after completing the nest, at day intervals. The eggs are incubated by the female for 12-13 days while she is fed by the male. After hatching the chicks are fed by both parents a mixture of seeds and insects. They fledge after 13-18 days, fed by both parents for a another 7-9 days. The parents will typically produce two broods a year.

SQUACCO HERON A regular visitor during winter and spring migrations.Ocassionally stays on to breed. A wetland bird, solitary, favouring freshwater marshes and lakes, hunting in shallow water for fish, frogs and large insects, standing perfectly still, waiting for its prey to approach. Its favourite feeding times are at dawn and dusk. Breeds, often in small colonies, in southern Europe from Spain east to Ukraine and the Middle East from April to July. Both sexes build their small compact nest on a platform of sticks in trees and shrubs. The female lays 3-4 green blue eggs over one to two day intervals. Incubation takes 22-24 days undertaken mostly by the famale, with the chicks fed by both parents by regurgitaing their digested food. Chicks can fly after after 30 days and become fully independent after 45 days. They return to wintering grounds in August to September. Population declined by 20% through destruction of its breeding habitat in the 1990"s (In 1970's 7,000 pairs bred on the Volga Delta in Russia. In the 1990"s only 300 pairs bred) but puplation numbers have increased in recent years as they have adapted to other types of breeding sites, particularly rice fields. Lives for 6-7 years.,

LITTLE EGRET A coomon migrant in both winter and spring. A sociable bird it preferrs open locations on shallow freshwater ponds and marshes. Feeds on fish, tadpoles which they dislodge from the mud by scraping their feet, or standing motionless to ambush prey. Very occasional breeder in Cyprus more commonly breeding in southern Europe, Middle East and Africa. In recent years breeding sites have spread into northern Europe and UK. Nests in colonies with other wading birds from March to July. The nest is a platform of sticks built in shrubs and reed beds. 3-4 blue green eggs are incubates by both adults for 21-25 days before hatching. Both parents continue to feed and care for the chicks until they fledge after 40-45 days. The little egret typically lives for 5 years with records of 13 years.

MUSCOVY DUCK (f) A wary gentle social bird uncommmon in Cyprus.Native to South America the muscovy was brought over to Europe. Non migratory, lives on lakes and streams, often roosting in trees at night. Eats plant material, dabbling in shallow water, and small fish and insects. They do not form stable pairs for mating, The female is solely responsible for rearing the chicks. She builds her nest of twigs, stems and mud in a tree hollow, laying an large clutch of 8-16 white eggs, which she will incubate for 35 days. Once the chicks hatch they stay with their mother for another 10-12 weeks. Lives for 9-12 years.

MUSCOVY DUCK (m)The males are larger than any other ducks. Non migratory, lives on lakes and streams, often roosting in trees at night. Eats plant material dabbling in shallow water, and small fish and insects. They do not form stable pairs for mating, Rather dominant males will mate with several females, leaving the unsucessful males to form small bachelor groups. The male does not take an active part in rearing the chicks, but will stay near the family to provide protection.

BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON A migrant visitor in winter and spring. A noisy, quarelsome, social bird, rests during the day, hunts at night, early morning and evening, its large eyes helping the heron to pick out its prey. An opportunistic feeder, It eats small fish, mussels, squid, frogs, insects, plants. A very irregular breeder in Cyprus. Regularly breeds in southern and central Euope east to Russia from April to June. Nests in colonies on fresh and saltwater lakes, building its nest of sticks and reeds in trees and bushes. There can be as many as 12 nests in one tree. The males bring the sticks for the female to construct the nest. The female lays 2-5 pale blue-green eggs at two day intervals. Both parents incubate the eggs, for 21-26 days, and then brood the chicks for another 10 days after hatching. After 20 days they are left increasingly to their own devices and fully fledge after 6-7 weeks. They produce one brood a year. They live for 20 years..

GREY HERON A winter and spring visitor, migrating from cold northern Europe. Most grey herons are not migratory, preferring to remain in countries of southern Europe, from Spain to Southern Russia, where they will have at least four months of warm weather for breeding and the winters are bearable. A vocal, solitary bird, prefering shallow water to forage for fish, frogs and other water animals, standing immobile for long periods of time before snatching its prey from the water. It will adapt its feeding habits to food availability, giving it a better chance at survival. Hunitng takes place more often the evenings after which they will fly up to roost in tree branches. They nest in colonies. The males select nesting sites in Febuary in the branches of tall trees, from where he will court a female with kneck stretching, thrusting and bowing. Once the bond is established the pair will remain together through the breeding season. Both birds build the nest from sticks and grasses, the material supplied by the male and the construction managed by the female. The couple will return to the same nest in following years, The female lays 2-5 light blue-green egg in two day intervals, which are incubated by both parents for 25 days. The chicks fledge after 50 days, but will not be independent until 10 after weeks. Both birds feed and protect the chicks. A grey heron will live for 5 years, with the oldest recorded age of 23 years.

BITTERN A rare spring visitor, living in shallow wetlands with dense reedbeds. A secretive, solitary bird, with his booming call he is heard more often heard than seen. It feeds on fish, frogs and large insects, like damselflies and dragonflies, walking slowly and then stabbing its prey with it beak. It breeds from March to June in primariily eastern Europe with 63% of the European population concentrated in Russia.. Breeding season extends from March to July. The male claims his territory which he will aggressively defend from other bitterns, Breed in solitary pairs with the male mating with as many as 5 females. Their floating nest of matted reeds is built by the female. She lays 4-5 olive brown eggs at 2-3 day intervals incubated by the female alone for 25-26 days, and cared for by the female after hatching. with no input from the male. In fact the males may be driven away if they appeoach the nest. The chicks fledge after 50-55 days. Bitterns live typically for 4 years with records of 11 years recorded.