Birdwatcher only takes a year to track down world's most secretive species

A British birdwatcher is the first in the world to successfully find all 32 species of the pitta within a year
(Picture: Geoff Robinson)

A British birdwatcher has become the first in the world to trace all 32 species of the planet’s most secretive bird in only 12 months.

Fred Attewill - 9th February, 2011

Chris Gooddie spent £30,000 on his marathon trip to find every type of the endangered pitta across the globe.

He left his £90,000-a-year job as a sales director to fulfil his dream and travelled 2,100km (1,300 miles) by air, canoe, truck, taxi and motorboat.

The 46-year-old suffered dysentery and stepped on a poisonous snake during his trek to track down the birds, which live in rainforests in south-east Asia, India, Australia and Africa.

‘I’m absolutely thrilled to have seen all the species and never dreamed it was possible, especially in such a short space of time,’ said Mr Gooddie.

‘When I told other birdwatchers what I was planning, they thought I was crazy.’

He added: ‘Often the only way to find them is to record them calling, then play it back to them, then they approach as they think you are a potential rival.’

Pittas, sometimes called jewel thrushes because of their striking plumage, are about 15cm-27cm long (6in-11in).

Mr Gooddie, from London, has written a book – The Jewel Hunter – about his journey.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/855082-birdwatcher-only-takes-a-year-to-track-down-worlds-most-secretive-species