I’ve spent more time on the hoopoe than on any other bird. In my area, their numbers are visibly declining each year. I scouted hundreds of kilometers by bike, checked suitable spots, and hung many nest boxes. One morning, at sunrise, in a perfect spot—meadows, fields, a river, and many ungulates—I finally heard one. A pair perched on a nearby willow, near my box. They played together—hopefully, they’ll raise a brood safely.
2025-04-28T07:16:21
1/3200s
560mm
Flash did not fire