Swarovski, the well known manufacturer of top-range optics, chose Extremadura for the international presentation of its new binoculars, Swarovision EL 12x50. A group of 25 people from different countries, mostly Europeans but also from United States and South Africa, had the privilege of trying out the new bins in the field, even before they come on the market. From 10 to 14 February 2011 they toured Extremadura, visiting the birdwatching hotspots: Monfragüe, Llanos de Cáceres-Trujillo and Vegas Altas del Guadiana. The guests included leading figures from the birdwatching world, such as tour guides, photographers, publishers, organisers of bird fairs and birdwatching competitions, among others. Extremadura, thanks to Swarovski, will therefore be featuring widely in the news over the coming weeks. As part of the promotion a small website was set up with various images of Monfragüe, plus a bird-identification internet game with three different venues: Extremadura, Austria and Texas (USA).The long list of birds observed over these four days includes Black Stork, Griffon Vulture, Monk Vulture, Imperial Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Red-Rumped Swallow, Eagle Owl, Pintail, White-Fronted Goose, Common Crane, Shoveler, Merlin, Lesser Kestrel, Garganey, Great Bustard, Pintailed and Black-Bellied Sandgrouse, Shelduck, Golden Eagle and Great Spotted Cuckoo.
More information:
- Martin Kelsey's blog (in English), one of the local tour guides together with Godfried Schreur (author of the photograph above).
- International competition "Digiscopers of 2010". The first three were all Spanish.
- Swarovski Optik
