footloose IN FYNBOS

The Walker Bay Diversity Trail is a leisurely hike with a multitude of flowers, feathers and flavours along the way.

water & WINGS

WATER IS LIFE. As wildlife photographer Greg du Toit knows better than most.

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.

when perfect isn't enough

Egg signatures and forgeries in the cuckoo-drongo arms race

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.

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.

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.

arrivals and departures

The Mouse-Free Marion Project is committed to ensuring that breeding seabirds can return to a predator-free Marion Island.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

REVIEW: Guide to Seabirds of Southern Africa (New edition)

Charles Darwin once said, ‘I believe it has been shown that the pelagic birds, or those which are found in the open sea, are more peculiar in their habits than any other family of birds in the world.’

SHIRLEY the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Hi there, I’m Shirley Ncube from Hwange National Park, Republic of Zimbabwe, Africa

birding in a gated estate

There is nothing more satisfying than waking to the pre-dawn chorus as the sun rises and the world slowly wakes up

let's atlas Lesotho's birds

Lesotho, that small, landlocked country nestled within the majestic mountain ranges of southern Africa, is home to a fascinating array of bird species

fussy eater or deadly dinner?

I observed an interesting scene at KwaMaritane camp in Pilanesberg, North-West Province. A Grey-headed Bush-shrike had caught a large caterpillar and wedged it between a small branch and the trunk of a tree

in praise of PARADISE

Mozambique's San Sebastian Peninsula hosts a diverse array of wild creatures and rich ecosystems, a conservation success story worth celebrating

A day at the museum with DAWIE DE SWARDT

Anyone who is in the habit of reading ornithological literature is likely to link the name Dawie de Swardt with species such as Gurney’s Sugarbird, African Rock Pipit and Karoo and Drakensberg prinias, all of which he’s studied in depth and written about

Revelations in northern Kruger

Taking paths less travelled and biding your time reveals hidden wonder in this birding mecca.

Welcome tO our new editor

Anton Crone, the new editor of African Birdlife, says he feels both honoured and slightly intimidated to be taking over from the remarkable Eve Gracie, who has been at the helm since the magazine's inception in 2012.

Tuning in to DAVID LÉTSOALO

BirdLife South Africa’s 2022 Conservation Hero, renowned bird guide David Letsoalo, talks birds, pizzas, perfect tunes and making friends in Manhattan’s Central Park.

Heated murmurations

The Kgalagadi National Park always delivers, as Jim and Eve - and some Lanner Falcons - discovered.

a hole lot of rollers

I have been fortunate to take an annual trip to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park for the past few years where I enjoy photographing the birdlife and wildlife that this beautiful park has to offer.

Southern SIGHTINGS

The late summer period produced some great sightings, including a new bird for the southern Africa subregion, giving birders plenty to keep themselves entertained.

AGULHAS LONG-BILLED LARK

Getting intimate with an Overberg endemic

Remembering PETER MUNDY 1941-2023

Peter was [at Oxford] to read zoology, but opted instead to read the complete works of Dostoevsky and to learn to play the baritone saxophone. Inevitably, he was rusticated and he spent the next few years playing saxophone with various R'n'B bands, ending up with Screaming Lord Sutch

Records abound on BBD 2022

By the time Birding Big Day (BBD) 2022 dawned on 3 December, nearly 400 teams comprising about 1600 birders had registered for the 50-kilometre and six-kilometre categories, roughly the same number of teams as in the previous year.