Hadoram Shirihai
Encyclopedia
Hadoram Shirihai is an Israel
i ornithologist and writer.
coast, where he founded the International Birdwatching Center, becoming its first director.
desert, showing many observers locally breeding Hume's Tawny Owl and Nubian Nightjar
among other little-watched species of the area. He has written a number of bird identification papers, mostly published in English in magazines such as British Birds
and Birding World
. With David Christie
, he co-wrote the Macmillan Birder's Guide to European and Middle Eastern birds among several other works.
. He serves as an editorial consultant to leading bird magazines in Europe such as Dutch Birding and Birdwatch.
Hadoram's main sphere of interest was the complex geographical variation shown by birds breeding in and migrating through the Middle East. He extended his research to Europe, northeast Africa and Asia, publishing The Photographic Handbook for Western Palearctic Birds (Shirihai & Svensson) and The Handbook for Geographical Variation of Palearctic Birds (Roselaar & Shirihai).
In the mid-1990s, Shirihai turned his attention to oceanic birds and marine mammals, particularly those of the southern hemisphere. He published The Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife, and commenced a 10-year project to produce the Photographic Handbook of Birds of the World.
Shirihai has visited almost every subantarctic island and the breeding grounds of all forms of albatrosses, with special interest in plumage variation and identification. In 2008, he confirmed the continuing existence of the mysterious Beck's Petrel
(Pseudobulweria becki), known until then from 2 specimens collected in the 1920s and a handful of tentative sight records.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i ornithologist and writer.
Biography
Shirihai grew up in Jerusalem where he became fascinated with birds when he was 13 and spent much time documenting shorebird behaviour, raptor breeding biology and participating in bird migration surveys. In the 1980s and 1990s, he lived in Eilat on Israel's Red SeaRed Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
coast, where he founded the International Birdwatching Center, becoming its first director.
Scientific career
Shirihai was behind the discovery of several new species in the Western Palearctic and Israel. He worked as an escort for birding trips into the southern NegevNegev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
desert, showing many observers locally breeding Hume's Tawny Owl and Nubian Nightjar
Nubian Nightjar
The Nubian Nightjar is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family. It is found in Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Israel, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.-References:...
among other little-watched species of the area. He has written a number of bird identification papers, mostly published in English in magazines such as British Birds
British Birds (magazine)
British Birds is a monthly ornithology magazine that was established in 1907. It is now published by BB 2000 Ltd, which is wholly owned by The British Birds Charitable Trust , established for the benefit of British ornithology...
and Birding World
Birding World
Birding World is a monthly birding magazine published in the United Kingdom. It is the magazine of the Bird Information Service, based at Cley next the Sea, Norfolk....
. With David Christie
David Christie
David Christie, was a Canadian politician.Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, he came to Canada with his family in 1833....
, he co-wrote the Macmillan Birder's Guide to European and Middle Eastern birds among several other works.
Published works
He is the author of The Birds of Israel and co-author of a definitive work on the genus SylviaTypical warbler
The typical warblers are small birds belonging to the genus Sylvia in the "Old World warbler" family Sylviidae. There are 28 species currently included in the genus, including five species formerly treated in the genus Parisoma, a treatment which left Sylvia paraphyletic...
. He serves as an editorial consultant to leading bird magazines in Europe such as Dutch Birding and Birdwatch.
Hadoram's main sphere of interest was the complex geographical variation shown by birds breeding in and migrating through the Middle East. He extended his research to Europe, northeast Africa and Asia, publishing The Photographic Handbook for Western Palearctic Birds (Shirihai & Svensson) and The Handbook for Geographical Variation of Palearctic Birds (Roselaar & Shirihai).
In the mid-1990s, Shirihai turned his attention to oceanic birds and marine mammals, particularly those of the southern hemisphere. He published The Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife, and commenced a 10-year project to produce the Photographic Handbook of Birds of the World.
Shirihai has visited almost every subantarctic island and the breeding grounds of all forms of albatrosses, with special interest in plumage variation and identification. In 2008, he confirmed the continuing existence of the mysterious Beck's Petrel
Beck's Petrel
Beck’s Petrel, Pseudobulweria becki, is a small, recently rediscovered shearwater. It is dark brown above and on the head and throat. It is dark underneath the wings with a fairly distinct white wingbar. The belly and breast are white...
(Pseudobulweria becki), known until then from 2 specimens collected in the 1920s and a handful of tentative sight records.
Published works
- Shirihai, H. (1996) The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
- Shirihai, H., Christie, D. A. & Harris, A. (1996) The Macmillan birder’s guide to European and Middle Eastern birds. Macmillan, London.
- Shirihai, H., Yosef, R., Alon, D. & Kirwan, G. (2000) Raptor migration in Israel and the Middle East. A summary of 30 years of field research. IBRCE, IOC, SPNI, Eilat.
- Shirihai, H., Smith, J., Kirwan, G. & Alon, D. (2000) A guide to the birding hot spots of Israel. Israel Ornithological Center, SPNI, Tel Aviv.
- Shirihai, H., Gargallo, G. & Helbig, A. J. (Ill. by A. Harris & D. Cottridge) (2001) Sylvia Warblers. A. & C. Black, London.
- Shirihai, H. (Ill. by B. Jarrett) (2002) A complete guide to Antarctic wildlife: the birds and marine mammals of the Antarctic continent and the Southern Ocean. Princeton University Press.
- Shirihai, H. (Ill. by B. Jarrett) (2006) Whales, dolphins and seals. A field guide to the marine mammals of the world. A. & C. Black, London.
External links
- http://www.madeirabirds.com/ultimate_western_palearctic_pelagic_expedition_madeira_2010
- http://www.madeirabirds.com/zino_petrel_pelagic_western_palearctic
- http://www.madeirabirds.com/madeira_photo_expedition_hadoram_shirihai_2008