By Richard Porter, adviser on bird conservation for BirdLife international, founder of OSME, and author and co-author of several books, including Field Guide to Birds of the Middle East Stepping off the Orient Express in Istanbul in April 1966, my eyes were opened to the world of Islam. The haunting voice of the Muezzin from the Blue Mosque rang out and may have said, ‘Young man, the Middle East is now your ornithological and conservation playground’. So begins my magical journey.…….