Successful preparation visit

During the first week of March, Johannes and Brecht visited Georgia to make preparations for the upcoming count season. We managed to secure high-quality accommodation close to count site 1, which will be a huge improvement compared to last year's housing. 

We also met with our partners in the 2011-2012 project: Irakli Goradze (Ajara Government), Jimsher Mumachadze (PSOVI), Ramaz Gokhelashvili (Georgian Centre for the Conservation of Wildlife), Giorgi Rajebashvili (Ecotours Georgia), Zura Javakhelishvili, Alexander Gavakhelishvili (Ilia State University, Institute of Ecology), Alexander Abuladze and Giorgi Bakhtadze (Ilia State University, Institute of Zoology). Finally, we did some birding in East Georgia, with good numbers of wintering Imperial and Steppe Eagles, Great Black-headed Gulls and Pine Buntings.