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Another representative of the bustard family goes to my gallery. Having next representative of bustards in my collection it is the real reason for joy for me. Even though I publish few pictures and they are only of a documentary value but I am really glad and satisfied with such a short observation of the bird in its natural environment. But why it is so important species, although among four representatives of bustards on my website this gallery is the least numerous and its quality is the lowest? This is because the bird we have here it is a Houbara Bustard subspecies which is endemic to Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. According to various sources the whole population of the subspecies numbers several hundred individuals. Having in mind that the coloration of its plumage perfectly camouflages it in the environment where they live (rocky deserts) and the fact that there are so large areas that it is hardly possible to come close enough to take a satisfactory image, we can imagine how difficult it was to capture Houbara. But let me take things in order... Taking any photo of Houbara would be very, very difficult without somebody who not only knows the island but also perceives a bird's beauty similarly - without Derek. Derek, you have my sincere thanks for the time we spent together and my cordial greetings. Staying for a few days on Fuerteventura I had to take this opportunity to see a representative of the dying species. The area of the two islands is a little more than 2.5 thousand square kilometers. Assuming that most of the island are rocky deserts and urban areas are mostly the coast, it is the area of ​​one thousand square kilometers where you have to look for well merging into the environment a medium-sized bird, as the weight of Houbara is about 1.5-3 kg, and wingspan is nearly 1.5 meter. It is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. The natural habitat where Houbara lives this is stony desert sparsely covered with vegetation, which in the heat of August was dry as a bone. I do not know how many kilometers we covered searching for the birds where they were likely to occur, but walking in 30 degree heat, on the rocky and  rough ground allowed me to familiarize with the Canarian Houbara’s natural habitat. Lookout points are useless because so vast stretches with a small amount of food make Houbaras traverse long distances. With hope that the rough ground and wind blowing constantly, drowning out our approaching, we  undertook several unsuccessful attempts to find the Houbara. Despite Berthelot's pipits, nothing interesting we could watch. But luck goes with the determined. Suddenly, quite far from us we could clearly see two bird silhouettes of the Houbara. Unfortunately, the distance was too long even for the 600mm lens. I took a few pictures, as it turned out, the only ones I have ever managed to take. Of course I followed the birds, but everywhere there were so many rocks and bumps that I had watch my steps and look under my feet. Houbaras did not take their wings off the ground for a flight, but slowly went away and suddenly "disappeared" among the stones and dried plants. Maybe it was better for them we could not bother them anymore, but the desire to take at least one photo of good value gave strength to endure the heat, dust and  heavier and heavier equipment. It is said that in the breeding season Canarian Hubaras are easier to photograph. In that season there is also more beautiful, more colorful open air. Derek showed me the video (he had recorded by himself) of mating behavior of Houbara male. It twists its neck back to expose the mating plumage and thus make an impression on the female. It was indeed a beautiful bustards’ mating show, which brought my memories of shooting great bustards in the beautiful, fabulously colorful meadows, so different from the barren and poor in vegetation and color scenery, and yet both the birds belong to the same avian family, and they even live within the same country...

Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae
Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae
Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae
Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae