Knokke-Heist (Brussels Morning Newspaper): A masked bunting unexpectedly migrated to Belgium, surprising birdwatchers. After being tagged at Zwin Nature Reserve, it was released in a familiar habitat, allowing for observation.
The masked bunting is a rare bird from Southern Siberia that usually flies south to Southeast Asia for the winter. Recently, one flew west instead, surprising birdwatchers in Western Europe. Wouter Faveyts from the Zwin Nature Reserve said this is unusual and makes people wonder why the bird changed its migration path.
What does the rare sighting of a masked bunting in Belgium mean for migration?
The bird ended up in Belgium not because of climate change, but because it got lost. After being caught in a net at Zwin, it was checked and tagged before being released. It’s still in the Zwin area. Ina De Wasch, the director of Zwin Nature Park, said they released it in a spot that looks like its natural home, so there’s a good chance it will stay there for a while, allowing bird watchers to see it.
The masked bunting looks like a sparrow. It has an olive-brown back, a yellow belly, and a gray head, with dark brown wings and a tail that has light stripes. Ina De Wasch said that even though the bird isn’t very colorful, bird watchers will know it’s a masked bunting. The Nature and Forest agency is asking people to stay on the paths so the birds can rest. Faveyts mentioned that the masked bunting hadn’t been seen in the nature park for a few hours.
