I few days ago I returned from Switzerland after a short stay.  I visited the Swiss Bird Center (Schweizerische Vogelwarte Sempach) which proved to be much smaller than expected.  I met one of the directors, Felix Liechti, who was a recent visitor at our Bird Station, and also Bruno Bruderer, one of the foremost bird experts whom I happened to know from my student days.  At the moment they are testing different types of glas; by staining  with UV-colours they are   visible for birds.

The pictures show a Magpie (Pica pica). I photographed the Social Weavers (Philetairus socius) from Southern Africa with their nesting colony in the Basel Zoo (don't they look like sparrows ?).  Meet  Elmar Ackermann in his office, who made it possible to watch a kestrel family in Switzerland.  The kestrel on the wall was painted with the help of a photo projection.

                   Ruthie