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.’

- ANTON CRONE

This sentiment is the lure that draws birders to the open ocean and rugged coastlines of the southern African continent, the windblown islands of the Southern Ocean and the icy shores of Antarctica. The abundance and diversity of seabirds in this region is world renowned.

The new edition of Peter Ryan’s Guide to Seabirds of Southern Africa builds on the first edition, which was published in 2017 and celebrated for its contribution to identifying seabirds and inspiring nature lovers to learn more about them and their habitat. Remarkably, since the first publication in 2017, nine new seabird species have been added to the regional list, bringing the total to an impressive 142 species – more than one-third of all seabird species on earth. This figure emphasises the importance of the region and the need for a comprehensive guide.