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African Birdlife

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January/February 2022

August sees the greatest flurry of birds at our feeders.

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To date we have recorded 53 different species in the garden, but seeing this pair of Burchell’s Coucals feeding on a suet ball, rather than preying on our nestling Laughing Doves or crushing open snails, was astonishing. GWENOLA LE GARREC-COOPER IRENE, GAUTENG

On a cold, cloudy day I was shelter-ing in the lounge when I spotted a Hamerkop at the garden pond. I grabbed my camera and sneaked outside. Voilà! A frog was caught and after a little softening up, down the hatch it went… MAGGIE MENDELSOHN PAULSHOF, JOHANNESBURG

Late one afternoon I heard a hornbill calling and after walking around the garden trying to locate the bird, I saw a pair of African Grey Hornbills in a tree. The female had a nestling in her bill and was bashing it on the branch, while the male perched nearby, watching. I managed to get a few pictures and then, very suddenly, a dove attacked the pair, driving them away. Perhaps it was the parent of the nestling taken so violently? DOUG CHARLTON OLIVEDALE, RANDBURG

FLERE HISTORIER FRA African Birdlife

African Birdlife

African Birdlife

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.

time to read

1 mins

July/August 2025

African Birdlife

ALBERT the Wandering Albatross

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

time to read

3 mins

July/August 2025

African Birdlife

African Birdlife

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.

time to read

2 mins

July/August 2025

African Birdlife

African Birdlife

BINDO and SABAP2

A match made in data science

time to read

2 mins

July/August 2025

African Birdlife

African Birdlife

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.

time to read

1 min

July/August 2025

African Birdlife

African Birdlife

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.

time to read

2 mins

July/August 2025

African Birdlife

African Birdlife

A STRIPE FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE?

Uncovering the adaptive complexities of falcons' malar stripes

time to read

2 mins

July/August 2025

African Birdlife

African Birdlife

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.

time to read

1 mins

July/August 2025

African Birdlife

African Birdlife

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.

time to read

6 mins

July/August 2025

African Birdlife

African Birdlife

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.

time to read

3 mins

July/August 2025

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