Africa – Birds & Birding
June/July 2005; Vol. 10, No. 3
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Black Eagle Publishing (2005).
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Stapled Magazine
This issue of Africa – Birds & Birding features an article about Madagascar's Sakalava Rail. The six-page article (pp34-39) by Nick Garbutt is entitled "Travelling the Rail Road". The article features six colour photographs by the author.
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Article Summary from page 3
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Nick Garbutt joined a BirdLife International initiative on Madagascar to search for the Sakalava Rail, a bird seen by only a handful of birders.
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Article Summary from page 35
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As we paddled back across the lake towards our camp, the group's sense of achievement bordered on the euphoric. 'If I borrow your dress this afternoon,' said David, 'I could be the first cross-dresser to see it.'
Until this point, I'd had David (not his real name) pegged for a fairly level-headed chap, but then I'd not known him for long as first impressions have never been my strong suit.
Thankfully the owner of the dress decided she'd better hold onto her garment and at least try to maintain a grasp on reality and credibility. The 'it' responsible for our elation was the Sakalava Rail Amaurornis olivieri. To look at, if truth be told, it is not the most spectacular of birds – it resembles a Black Crake A. flavirostris with a chestnut back. What made the rail so special was that prior to that morning perhaps fewer than 10 birders had ever seen it.
In fact, there had only been five authentic records in the whole of the 20th century and its continued survival was only confirmed late in 2002.
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Condition of Item
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Very Good.
Refer to the glossary for definitions of terms used to describe the condition of items.
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Categories
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