Bible for bird lovers now also in Slovenian

Bird lovers can from now on all information about species that nest or occasionally visit Slovenia, other European countries, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, in Slovene. By The Slovenian Bird’s Observation and Research Society (DOPPS) The Slovenian translation of the Collins’ Handbook, which is considered to be an ornithological biblical, was published.

The manual of the birds of Slovenia, Europe and the Mediterranean was known as Collins among Slovenian bird lovers, because only the English version was available. The first Slovenian edition contains descriptions, statuses of species and illustration of 397 observed species in Slovenia, of which 230 are nesting, and descriptions and illustrations of other European, North African and Middle East Birds.

A total of 765 species are described, and more than 200 are mentioned, which enter the areas as fugitives (from captivity or due to intake to the area) or rare guests. The manual complements the texts of the look, size, living space, prevalence and advertising of birds, and all the information necessary to identify species in different seasons. It covers 448 pages and birds are shown in more than 4000 illustrations.

The manual was first published in 1999 in Swedish. In 2010, a second reviewed and improved edition followed, and in 2022 the third, which was translated into English from English. The secret of the success of the manual, published in more than 24 languages, is not only in sophisticated illustrations, but also in an ideal relationship between professionalism and popularity.

There were similar manuals before the release, but not even so high quality and holistic, explained the editor of the Slovenian edition Tilen Basle with DOPPS. Some manuals had e.g. Performed illustrations by some groups of singers, but very basic illustrations e.g. Seagulls or Pobreznica. In addition, the manual has achieved a great compromise with texts and terminology, as it is suitable for both beginners and professional ornithologists. “After a quality performance, it also stands out on a global scale. He is probably not a couple at the moment. « 

20 ornithologists have dealt with translation

The Slovenian edition was produced for a year and a half. In the initial months, the terminology group determined the missing bird names, the status of the occurrence of all species in Slovenia and compiled a terminology dictionary with more than 970 professional terms. It was a great challenge that we sometimes encountered established terms, which were not always perfectly correct, said at the presentation of the manual at the Biotechnical Faculty of Ljubljana at the presentation of the manual Ursa Fležar with DOPPS. One of these was the wedding and the resulting wedding flight and the wedding feathers. They decided to translate it into court. For some other English names, they had to create new Slovenian terms. Expression embeddwhich describes the phenomenon in ducks when they seek food underwater and only show the buttocks from the water, they called the turning.

The existing Slovenian names for birds treated by the manual were not changed, but they had to create Slovenian names for new species and species that are rare guests and usually appear outside the area. Examples are American Least Tern, Lat: Sterna antillarum) and the American tyrant (Eastern Kingbird, Lat: Tyrannus tyrannus).

The manual of the birds of Slovenia, Europe and the Mediterranean was known as Collins among Slovenian bird lovers, because only the English version was available. Photo: Urša Očko/DOPPS

A group of 20 volunteers, at the same time, excellent DOPPS ornithologists, faced translations. They were assisted by colleagues from Croatia, where the manual had already been released. Tomas of the Bird’s Naming Day, however, was contributed by Tomi Trilar of the Natural History Museum of Slovenia.

DOPPS President Tanja Sumrad She said that in the 2022 society, they prepared a new strategy in which they also cited one of the key strategic goals a translation of the aforementioned manual. « Why invest energy in a book that every ornithologist and lover of birds have proverbially at home, » she asked herself and answered: « The fascination with the Bird’s World is something that is common to many people, but the foundation of our work (DOPPS, op. P.) is also knowledge – determining birds, their habits, widespread and threat. Our desire is that this knowledge is accessible to all and in their home language. « 

The presentation of the manual was also attended by the co -author of illustrations and descriptions Killian Mullarneyconsidered one of the most important illustrators and bird connoisseurs.