Armenia is located between the Black and Caspian seas in the Lower Caucasus Mountains. It is contiguous to Iran, Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan and situated at the junction of Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Armenia is primarily a mountainous country with elevations above sea level ranging from 379m to 4090m, and it combines elements of three geological-botanical regions: the mesophilic Caucasian, desert/semi-desert, Iranian and subtropical Eastern Mediterranean. Various factors, such as the country`s geographical situation and complex geomorphology, lead to there being a variety of landscapes and habitats from rocky sem-deserts and mountain steppes to ancient mixed and deciduous forests and alpine meadows up to the snowline. Armenia also has numerous rivers running down the mountain gorges, and a large system of artificial wetlands and reservoirs. Moreover, Lake Sevan is unique in the Caucasus region.

This, in turn, results in unusually rich diversity of flora and fauna in a relatively small country. Up to the present about 347 bird species have been recorded in Armenia, of which about 237 species breed here. Many of European bird species are represented in Armenia by particular subspecies, while almost all of the Caucasian specialities are habitually encountered during a birdwatching trip.

Some of these most sought-after birds (but by no means all) are Caspian Snowcock, Caucasian Black Grouse, Armenian Gull, Radde`s Accentor, Persian Wheatear and Semi-collared Flycatcher. Other species longed for by keen birdwatchers are Pygmy Cormorant, Marbled, Ferruginous and White-headed Ducks, White-tailed Plover, an excellent selection of raptors, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Bimaculated Lark, White-throated Robin, Finsch`s Wheatear, Menetries`s, Upcher`s and Green Warblers, both Rock Nuthatches, Wallcreeper, Grey-necked Bunting, Pale Rock Sparrow, Red-fronted Serin, Crimson-winged, Trumpeter and [recently discovered] Mongolian Finches.
Situated on an important migration flyway Armenia offers superb opportunity to see, among many others, such species as Demoiselle Crane, Black-winged Pratincole, Broad-billed, Terek and Marsh Sandpipers, Greater Black-headed Gull, Calandra Lark, Moustached Warbler, with most spectacular, of course, parties and strings of migrating eagles, harriers and buzzards.

The richness of birds in conjunction with the hospitality of the local people, numerous ancient historical and cultural monuments and some of the most impressive scenery in the Western Palaearctic, makes Armenia a worthwhile and rewarding destination for every birdwatcher.

Anybody who interested in, or already planning, a birdwatching trip to Armenia, may contact Vasil Ananian by e-mail [see below] for all the necessary information and individually tailored itineraries. We recommend the best time to visit is from the second half of May to the second half of July and during the whole of September and October. During the summer trips shorts, T-shirts, sun-hat and hiking boots are suitable, but nevertheless, particularly high in the mountains, a warm pullover, hat, gloves and rain parka are essential too. A note too, about optics. While looking for a high-Montane species (Caspian Snowcock, Caucasian Black Grouse, Wallcreeper); sometimes it is necessary to walk a kilometre or so in heavy terrain, so the equipment, particularly, telescopes and tripods should be as lightweight as possible. Also, on occasion, birdwatchers inevitable have to scan mountain slopes below them, and for this straight-thru scopes are essential; angled ones are pretty useless.

Vasil Ananian lives in Yerevan, Armenia. Vasil is one of the foremost ornithologists in Armenia today. He studied biology at Yereven State University. During the years 1994 - 1996 he was instrumental in the production of A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia. He has a pleasant nature and his knowledge of Armenia`s birds is of the highest quality. In August 1999 he took part in a survey of migrating hawks in Pennsylvania, USA. His other hobbies include line drawings of animals and music. In 2001 he led two successful tours in Armenia for Birdwatching Breaks.

Source of information http://www.fatbirder.com/links_geo/middle_east/armenia.html

Those who desire to know more about Armenia's rich flora and vegetation structure may participate in the sightseeing tours to many amazing sites and areas covered with different plant communities - semi-deserts, hamadas, phryganoids,tragacanth communities, steppes, subalpine and alpine meadows, broadleaf deciduous forests,petrophytous vegetation and aquatic ecosystems. Excursions will be supervised by sophisticated staff of the Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences and include the gathering materials for morphological and genetic studies.
Several options have been provided for the tour participants:
1. Popular and mainstream tours, including the visits to ranges which are prominent in botanic and geographic terms.
2. Scientific tours, including detailed research.
3. Special tours, including visits to rare and endangered plants formations and habitats which are of particular interest to the scientists.

Botany tour sample - one of the shortest in close proximity to Yerevan.
Acquaintance with early spring/mid-summer flora of Armenia. Yerevan - Vedi - Ararat - Sevakavan.
This route lies south-east of Yerevan by Ararat Valley - one of oldest centers of civilization at altitude of 700 to 1200 m above sea level. Centuries ago this area was a semi-arid desert zone with salted swamps and different species of Tamarix trees in the western part. Currently, the entire Plain is cultivated and covered by vineyards, fruits gardens and orchards. However, in some spots the semi-arid desert areas have been preserved where wormwood, such as the Arlemisia fragrans grows. In this area is common thorny shrub known as Capparis spinosa (valued in gourmet cooking when dried or pickled). Those plants have large, white exotic appearance, with large buds that generally blossom in the evening.
On a low hill ridge near Narek village visitors can see and shoot beautiful Iris elegantissima with amazing variety of forms and shades. Other rare and endemic flowers such as the Leontice aremeniaca, Ornithogalum navaschinii, the lovely onions such as Allium matercule, Allium leonidis, Gladoilus atroviolaceus, Scorozonera gorovanica also can be found in this location etc.
Near the city of Ararat in unique swamps it is possible to view beside Juncus acutus and Iris musulmanica also rare disappearing specie known as the Merendera sobolifera.
Due to swamps drainage and land privatization, disappearing species such as endemic flax Linum barsegianii, Thesium lycaonicum, Microcnemum coralloides, Orchis laxiflora, Falcaria falcarioides and recently found Humiphusa salsula. It is worth to note that the species of Linum barseghiani morphologically, ecologically and biologically differs from domesticated and wild varieties of flax and thus can be irreplaceable in breeding other salt-resistant varieties.
The final destination of this route is the area near Sevakavan. Dry rocky and clay slopes of adjacent hills grows the ravishing Iris lycotus with petals, colored from a pale-wine to deep red, even purple-black.

Hiking routes bring to numerous natural and historical monuments including unique open air collection of Noradus cross-stones from early medieval until the late examples of that national tradition.

Mountain trails lead those who always long to stay on the top to numerous summits at ridges encircling the lake.

Connoisseurs of ancient art visit numerous current excavation sites to enjoy the pure beauty of Bronze Age crafts and jewelry.

To taste just processed goat-cheese and alpine herbs at the shepherd camp in alpine meadows.