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African Birdlife Magazine - July/August 2025

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In this issue

CAPRIVI • EUROPEAN ROLLER • EYE-LEVEL PHOTOgraphy • FYNBOS • PAMELA ISDELL

AN ENDURING LEGACY

Honouring Pamela Isdell

5 mins

Wattled Crane DOWNLISTED

A major conservation win

2 mins

AVIAN FLU

reaches Marion Island

3 mins

Southern SIGHTINGS

Autumn is generally known to be quieter in terms of rarities across southern Africa, but the review period still had a few surprises for us, including a new species for the subregion. As always, none of the records included here have been adjudicated by any of the subregion's Rarities Committees.

3 mins

brilliance IN bloom

In South Africa's Western Cape, many indigenous plants, including aloes and proteas, bloom in a blaze of colour during the winter months. These plants take advantage of the milder temperatures, rainfall and moisture to flower and produce seeds. In many cases, this not only helps them store resources for the dry months ahead, but also attracts pollinators and sunbirds in particular - in their droves.

1 mins

LOVEBIRDS in Gauteng

Parrots are not often seen in South Africa, and lovebirds even less often. Three lovebird species – Rosy-faced, Lilian's and Black-cheeked – occur in southern Africa, although you need a magnifying glass to find the distribution of Black-cheeked along the Chobe and Zambezi rivers.

6 mins

what's in a name?

Common Ostrich

1 mins

Jacana & the egg thief

While on a photo expedition in the Richtersveld National Park with my brother Peter, we were watching one particular African Jacana on the Gariep River.

2 mins

grassland GLADIATORS

The Secretarybird is a highly soughtafter species for most birders on their first visit to Africa. It looks so strange, like a cross between a stork and an eagle. Even though it is widespread, occurring in almost any suitable habitat (grassland, open savanna and Karoo shrubland), it's generally uncommon.

1 mins

PREDATORS of the pan

As regular visitors to Mabuasehube in the Botswanan sector of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, we have often seen vulture feathers lying in the area of the waterhole at Mpayathutlwa Pan and have frequently observed a pair of black-backed jackals in the vicinity.

1 mins

CAPRIVI AWAKENING

The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, spanning five countries, is the world's largest cross-border conservation initiative. In this threepart series, we explore the distinctive character of some of its parks, reserves and community-managed areas, soaking up the rich birdlife along the way.

4 mins

stories begin at EYE LEVEL

ALTHOUGH I HAVE been taking photographs since 1998, it wasn't until 2019 that my hobby evolved into a serious pursuit. That's when I began to see photography not just as a means of capturing a moment, but as a form of art - something that can stir emotion, spark wonder and tell a deeper story.

1 mins

Honey, I'm home

In search of rare nectar, Anton heads back to Grootbos, where the pollinators are winged, the flowers are wild and the birding gets personal.

6 mins

can fynbos birds KEEP THEIR COOL?

For the past 10 years, record-breaking temperatures have followed one another, culminating in 2024, the first full calendar year in which the rise in global temperatures surpassed the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

2 mins

A STRIPE FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE?

Uncovering the adaptive complexities of falcons' malar stripes

2 mins

BINDO and SABAP2

A match made in data science

2 mins

SECRETS SKY

Jessica Wilmot is the driving force behind BirdLife South Africa's Flyway and Migrants Project, working across borders to safeguard some of the planet's most threatened species and habitats. Supporting BirdLife International's East Atlantic Flyway Initiative, Jessica is at the heart of efforts to keep our skies alive with birds, particularly the enigmatic European Roller, which is her current focus and passion.

6 mins

13 years on...

The Secretarybird tracking study

3 mins

switching off saves lives

A particular focus for BirdLife South Africa's Birds and Renewable Energy Project is to encourage, in collaboration with industry, environmental practitioners and avifaunal specialists, the testing and implementation of measures to mitigate the impacts of wind energy facilities on birds, taking into account South Africa's unique socio-economic and environmental context.

1 mins

2024 update

BirdLife South Africa's List & Rarities Committee

4 mins

WELCOMING NEW STAFF

BirdLife South Africa is pleased to extend a warm welcome to new team members

4 mins

ALBERT the Wandering Albatross

Ahoy, shipmates, grab a pew and let me spin my yarn.

3 mins

I'll be back...

Southern African populations of oxpeckers were hit by triple hammer blows during the late 19th century and much of the 20th.

2 mins

Read all Stories from African Birdlife

African Birdlife Magazine Description:

Publisher: BirdLife-South-Africa

Category: Animals-and-Pets

Language: English

Frequency: Bi-Monthly

African Birdlife is a world-class bi-monthly magazine about birds and birdwatching in Africa. It includes informative articles and stunning photographs of Africa's birds. Features include: The latest news on bird conservation and behaviour; equipment reviews; photographic tips; competitions to win great prizes. It serves as an important mouthpiece for BirdLife South Africa to create awareness about bird research and conservation.