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This site attempts to provide the visitor with a view of a small but important part of Greek fauna, both terrestrial and aquatic, as it can be recorded by the amateur camera. It presents photographs and videos of 52 identified (and 6 "unknown") bird species, as well as in-vitro photographs  of 79 classified (and 4 "unknown") salt-water fish and 24 crustaceans/mollusks. It also includes pictures and videos of 40 small animals, reptiles, and insects that visit the suburban/country garden and the vicinity. 

The biggest portion of bird photos and videos were taken at an ...open studio on the shores of North Euboean Gulf, about 100 klm from Athens. The central stage consists of a concrete bird-bath with a small running-water tube, placed on a suitable log in the shadow of a large tree. During the hot months of the year, cameras and operator are ...lurking behind natural cover, very close to the bath. In the winter, on the other hand, when there is no vegetation suitable for cover, the video camera is set quite near the water and is cable-connected to a PC situated indoors. Thus, without visual contact, the relevant operation (start, stop, zoom) is effected via i.Link / LANC, while the birds visit the water with practically no fear. As for the artificial nests which were placed all around, only a pair of House Sparrows honored one of them: an old beat-up in-house construction of the "box-nest"! (Recently, a ...city studio was set up, featuring a recirculating bird-bath).

In the case of fish, the in-vitro photography covered a time-span of 15 summers and took place on the beach during free-camping. Aegean Sea locations include Vathikilo (Oreoi Channel), Nies (Pagasetic Culf), and beaches of North and West Euboea. Vasilikos on the island of Zakinthos and Mitikas on the Preveza coast are two Ionian Sea sites. Following the relevant fishing session (longline, trolling, and -years back- net fishing), an effort was made to have the photoshoot as soon as possible, i.e. before the dead fish turn dark. In most cases, the beach sand was used as the background, while several photos were taken with the subjects laying on flat rocks (and a few on a camp-table). Because of the very small distance between camera and fish, the ...poor photographer working under the midday summer sun, was forced to wear a black shirt so that he would not alter the color-shades of light-coloured fish! [Note: It is obvious that (good) underwater photography is advantageous compared to in-vitro shots. Still, however, it cannot reveal all the anatomical details or peculiarities which characterize the particular species.] 

Grouping and presentation order of the various species has been dictated by the available (strictly family-produced) audio-visual material. Thus, in the case of birds, availability of photos and video for more than one similar species makes possible their presentation in an "official" genus-group (with picture galleries preceding the videos). On the other hand, "single" species are all presented together under the general heading "Various birds". A similar procedure has been adopted for the presentation of fish.

J. & A. Palyvos
Chalandri-Athens, May 2015