Here's the plan:

1. Commission an artist to design a montage of ten of the iconic birds of Turkey (this will be auctioned off once the project is complete)
2. Have the design tattooed on my complete arm and shoulder and top of my hands (I will fund this myself)
3. Ten species will go on my left ar and ten species will go on my right arm (at time of writing I have eleven species tattooed onto my left arm and four onto my right arm- a long way to go, but we are getting there)!

Here's the cause:

Doğa Derneği

 

Here's the reason:

For those of you that have read my recent Turkey trip report; you will know what an absolutely amazing time I had! This holiday will rank very highly as one of the most fantastic experiences of my life. Turkey is a country with epic scenery, incredible biodiversity and an amazing culture. Suffice to say this huge country that spans from Europe to Asia had really impacted on me in a very positive way!

It was with huge sadness that I learned about the massive river sell off in Turkey. It is my understanding that the Turkish government has transferred all the nations rivers to private corporations. There are now plans to build a collossal 1,738 dams and hydroelectric plants with a further 2,000 dams currently in construction. The impact that these projects will have on both the biodiversity and smaller communities in this country is very sad indeed.

I urge you to listen to the podcast in the attached link (as Charlie Moores will explain the significance of the problem far more elloquently than me):

http://www.talking-naturally.co.uk/tn35-great-march-anatolia/

Doğa Derneği is the Birdlife International partner in Turkey and they have a massive task on their hands. So what can I do to help?

I want to do something that as the chance to raise a substantial amount of money to help Doğa Derneği in their work and also that would give them and the issues they are fighting against publicity. So I've decided to give my right arm for the cause!

Latest Update:

Roller, Pied Kingfisher, Dead Sea Sparrow, Red-fronted Serin, Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Little Swift, Radde's Accentor, Cinerious Bunting, White-winged Snowfinch, Yellow-throated Sparrow and Ménétries's Warbler have already been tattooed onto my left arm and White-throated Robin, White-throated Kingfisher,  Northern Bald Ibis, Pallid Scop's Owl, Masked Shrike, Rüppell's Warbler, Wallcreeper, Black Francolin, Caspian Snowcock, Crag Martin & Crimson-winged Finch have been tattooed onto my right arm!