African Birdlife
footloose IN FYNBOS
The Walker Bay Diversity Trail is a leisurely hike with a multitude of flowers, feathers and flavours along the way.
6 min |
May/June 2024
African Birdlife
prey for penguins
To stem the African Penguin's slide to extinction, government support for optimal no-take zones around South Africa's penguin colonies is critical.
5 min |
May/June 2024
African Birdlife
Southern SIGHTINGS
The late summer period naturally started quietening down after the midsummer excitement, but there were still some classy rarities on offer for birders all over the subregion. As always, none of the records included here have been adjudicated by any of the subregion's Rarities Committees.
4 min |
May/June 2024
African Birdlife
when perfect isn't enough
Egg signatures and forgeries in the cuckoo-drongo arms race
5 min |
May/June 2024
African Birdlife
winter wanderer
as summer becomes a memory in the south, the skies are a little quieter as the migrants have returned to the warming north. But one bird endemic to the southern African region takes its own little winter journey.
1 min |
May/June 2024
African Birdlife
water & WINGS
WATER IS LIFE. As wildlife photographer Greg du Toit knows better than most.
1 min |
May/June 2024
African Birdlife
Southern SIGHTINGS
The midsummer period lived up to its reputation as the busiest time for rarities in southern Africa and produced a host of really good records, including several that got twitchers racing all over the subregion to try and add these mega ticks to their lists. As always, none of the records included here have been adjudicated by any of the subregion's Rarities Committees.
5 min |
March/April 2024
African Birdlife
power-napping penguins
Periodic reduction in neural activity (sleep) is found in all animals with brains and seems to be essential to restore effective brain function. There is plenty of evidence of the adverse effects of not getting enough sleep, and recent research in humans has identified getting sufficient sleep as one of the four core pillars of living a long and healthy life.
2 min |
March/April 2024
African Birdlife
specials IN THE MIST
With a distinct habitat and climate, Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands are a must-visit destination for any birder wanting to see a bevy of special birds.
6 min |
March/April 2024
African Birdlife
IN TOO DEEP...again
The annual sardine run along South Africa's east coast is a thrill and a challenge for underwater photographers, especially if you throw birds and inclement weather into the mix.
4 min |
March/April 2024
African Birdlife
FULL skies
High summer brings high entertainment to Botswana's Mababe Community Concession and Kazuma Pan.
7 min |
March/April 2024
African Birdlife
a journey through the mysteries of moult
As a bird researcher in South Africa’s botanically diverse fynbos biome, I have come to regard bird ringing as part of my journey to understanding moult.
6 min |
March/April 2024
African Birdlife
storm petrels in Kalk Bay
According to Roberts 7, both Wilson’s and European storm petrels occasionally seek the shelter of breakwaters during periods of strong onshore winds, but this is seldom observed off South Africa.
2 min |
March/April 2024
African Birdlife
agrochemicals and birds
By the year 2050, it is estimated that 171 million more hectares of agricultural land will be needed to feed a global population of 10 billion people.
1 min |
March/April 2024
African Birdlife
arrivals and departures
The Mouse-Free Marion Project is committed to ensuring that breeding seabirds can return to a predator-free Marion Island.
3 min |
March/April 2024
African Birdlife
MIDRAND marvel
Gauteng birders don't need to travel far to get their feathery fix. Midway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, Glen Austin Pan has become a favourite patch for this returnee expat.
3 min |
March/April 2024
African Birdlife
DAVID MAPHISA surveys his mountain kingdom (without binoculars)
When I asked David Sishozonke Maphisa if I could write an article about him after our atlasing expedition to Lesotho he replied, ‘Only if you don’t talk about your terrible driving!’
5 min |
September/October 2023
African Birdlife
THE FITZPATRICK REPORT
THANKS TO YOU, CITIZEN SCIENTISTS
2 min |
September/October 2023
African Birdlife
Hwange on a high!
With more than 420 bird species, Zimbabwe's celebrated park is perfect to view migrants that don't make it all the way south. It's also buzzing with raptors and regional specials.
8 min |
September/October 2023
African Birdlife
the art of birds
it is believed that birds were first depicted in cave art more than 17 000 years ago, but it was only when the Lascaux caves were first discovered in France in 1940 that their emergence as subjects for prehistoric painters gripped the public imagination.
5 min |
September/October 2023
African Birdlife
Common TRUTHS
Birders love to find rare birds; few things match the excitement of coming across something completely unexpected. But the obsession with rarities can result in population changes in more common birds being overlooked. Breeding bird surveys in Europe, Asia and North America show that many bird populations are in flux, but what do we know about the status of common birds in South Africa?
7 min |
September/October 2023
African Birdlife
into the Wilderness
While I was a student at the 'Fitz' in Cape Town, I earned much-needed beer money by guiding birders at weekends.
2 min |
September/October 2023
African Birdlife
Southern SIGHTINGS MID-MAY TO MID-JULY 2023
Winter is generally a quiet time for rarities and the number of records at this time of year is invariably much reduced. This year, however, even a quiet time produced top-class birds that got twitchers' adrenalin flowing. As always, none of the records included here have been adjudicated by any of the subregion's Rarities Committees.
3 min |
September/October 2023
African Birdlife
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
The Cape Bird Club is marking its 75th anniversary in 2023 and, as part of its celebration, we have collaborated with the City of Cape Town (represented by Cliff Dorse, one of the area’s most skilful birders) to run a birding challenge during the year.
2 min |
September/October 2023
African Birdlife
REGAL the African Fish Eagle
the name's Regal... James Regal the Third, Jnr. They call me 'regal eagle' around here and my home is the Okavango Delta - God's own country, and all of it mine.
2 min |
September/October 2023
African Birdlife
here comes the SUN!
Spring is a mood booster; spirits are lifted with warmer weather, and the loud 'kruuk-kruuk' call along major southern African river systems announces the arrival of thousands of brilliantly coloured Southern Carmine Bee-eaters.
1 min |
September/October 2023
African Birdlife
three new birding routes for Mpumalanga
The Steenkampsberg in the highlands of Mpumalanga is dominated by extensive wetland systems, rocky outcrops, escarpment forest and near-pristine grassland
2 min |
July/August 2023
African Birdlife
protect a parrot protect a forest
Cape Parrot, isiKhwenene, Woudpapegaai… Call it what you will as South Africa’s only endemic parrot, this bird is one of a kind
2 min |
July/August 2023
African Birdlife
Ntsikeni: of cattle and cranes
Ntsikeni Vlei Nature Reserve takes its name from its most prominent peak, which pierces the sky above the rolling grasslands
3 min |
July/August 2023
African Birdlife
Joining the team...
BirdLife South Africa is pleased to welcome new members to its staff
2 min |