Illegal Bird Trapping in Cyprus

As many as 2 million songbirds a year are killed in the Mediterranean country, most to be eaten as a delicacy in local restaurants.

Vietnamese birdsong

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We’re looking for a southeast Asian city for today’s Geo Quiz. The Saigon River flows through it and the city’s name honors a Communist leader. Early in the morning people come together with wicker bird cages to escape the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. Download MP3

Audio slideshow: Birdsong in Vietnam

Northern bird habitat

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Today’s Geo Quiz is for the birds. The Great Backyard Bird Count gets under way this weekend. The idea is to report on what’s on view in your backyard. Miyoko Chu of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology explains why counting birds such as the Bar-tailed Godwit (pictured) is important. Download MP3

‘Bird-friendly’ coffee

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A recent study found that 13 percent of the world’s birds are either threatened or endangered. The problem has many causes, but one of them is – well – coffee. That’s right, your morning cup of joe may be harming songbirds, but as Diane Toomey reports, there are efforts afoot to change that. Download MP3
Audio Extra: Listen to what the birds sound like

Protecting Beijing’s raptors

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Birds of prey still streak Beijing’s skies. But their numbers are dwindling. Reporter Ari Daniel Shapiro has this story about Beijing’s raptors and the people who watch out for them. (Photo: Liu Meng Rong, Zhang Yong & Liu Hai Yong) Download MP3

• View pictures and read Ari’s story
• Photo gallery of the birds
• Beijing Raptor Rescue Center

Understanding Chinese, birds and Glaswegians

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We select our top five language-related stories from the past month. Among them: Some birds develop distinct dialects based on the decibel levels of their habitats; Companies doing business in Glasgow are offered interpreters to translate the local dialect; And Chinese expats do battle over which script U.S. schools should use to teach Chinese – traditional characters, favored in Taiwan and Hong Kong, or simplified characters, used in mainland China.

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