03/12/2019
Common
Buttonquail has been observed again in Algeria after an
absence of more than 30 years.
The species, which is more
commonly referred to by European birders using its colloquial name of
Andalusian Hemipode, was widely believed to be extirpated in Algeria and
thus the findings are a major boost for the future conservation of this rare
and endangered Western Palearctic species.
Two birds, one of which was
unfortunately shot, were observed by hunters near the city of Aïn Beïda, in the
country's north-east, on 30 November. The hunters were targeting Common Quail,
legal quarry in Algeria, and shot one of the birds by mistake, having not
realised it was something different at the time – the shooter involved is said
to be regretful, having not realised the great rarity of the species.
The significance of this
discovery cannot be underestimated. Not only is it the first sighting anywhere
in Algeria for nearly four decades, but this is the first ever observation at
an inland locality – all previous occurrences were documented along the
country's Mediterranean coast.
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