CATEGORIES

THE FITZPATRICK REPORT
African Birdlife

THE FITZPATRICK REPORT

THANKS TO YOU, CITIZEN SCIENTISTS

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2 mins  |
September/October 2023
REVIEW: Guide to Seabirds of Southern Africa (New edition)
African Birdlife

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.’

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2 mins  |
July/August 2023
SHIRLEY the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
African Birdlife

SHIRLEY the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

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

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2 mins  |
July/August 2023
protect a parrot protect a forest
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

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2 mins  |
July/August 2023
birding in a gated estate
African Birdlife

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

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4 mins  |
July/August 2023
Ntsikeni: of cattle and cranes
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

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3 mins  |
July/August 2023
Joining the team...
African Birdlife

Joining the team...

BirdLife South Africa is pleased to welcome new members to its staff

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2 mins  |
July/August 2023
three new birding routes for Mpumalanga
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

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2 mins  |
July/August 2023
let's atlas Lesotho's birds
African Birdlife

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

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4 mins  |
July/August 2023
'I got CHILLS, they're multiplying'
African Birdlife

'I got CHILLS, they're multiplying'

Summer is typically the breeding season for birds, but why do some of our raptors choose to lay their eggs in winter?

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2 mins  |
July/August 2023
Southern SIGHTINGS
African Birdlife

Southern SIGHTINGS

Autumn and early winter, although not known as a great time for rarities, managed to produce a list of mouth-watering birds and had many twitchers rushing around trying to catch up with as many of the good birds as possible

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3 mins  |
July/August 2023
REVIEW: Vortex Viper HD 8x42
African Birdlife

REVIEW: Vortex Viper HD 8x42

Binoculars are indispensable to birdwatching and a good pair even more so if you want to make out fine detail

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2 mins  |
July/August 2023
perilous pipits
African Birdlife

perilous pipits

Buffy Pipit is one of a quartet of widespread and common South African pipit species whose identification local birders need to master if they want to progress through the twitching ranks

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2 mins  |
July/August 2023
fussy eater or deadly dinner?
African Birdlife

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

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2 mins  |
July/August 2023
in praise of PARADISE
African Birdlife

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

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5 mins  |
July/August 2023
A day at the museum with DAWIE DE SWARDT
African Birdlife

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

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3 mins  |
July/August 2023
Revelations in northern Kruger
African Birdlife

Revelations in northern Kruger

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

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7 mins  |
July/August 2023
WOMXN FOR WILD IN MTUNZINI
African Birdlife

WOMXN FOR WILD IN MTUNZINI

A travel collective that organises trips for women in southern Africa, Womxn for Wild is aware that travelling alone as a woman can be stressful, even dangerous, in one of the global hotspots of gender-based violence.

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1 min  |
May/June 2023
Welcome tO our new editor
African Birdlife

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.

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1 min  |
May/June 2023
75 years and counting!
African Birdlife

75 years and counting!

The Cape Bird Club celebrates a milestone birthday with a Big Year

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2 mins  |
May/June 2023
Where does it begin?
African Birdlife

Where does it begin?

Have you ever wondered how a forest begins?

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3 mins  |
May/June 2023
GERTIE the Guineafowl
African Birdlife

GERTIE the Guineafowl

The first of a series where we get to know the characters that add the most colour to our skies.

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2 mins  |
May/June 2023
cutting-edge science
African Birdlife

cutting-edge science

Helps South Africa's only endemic parrot

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2 mins  |
May/June 2023
twitter feed
African Birdlife

twitter feed

GARDEN WATCH

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3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Climbing Karoo koppies
African Birdlife

Climbing Karoo koppies

Known for its endless plains and occasional hills, or koppies, the Karoo is an arid ecosystem inhabited by plants and animals adapted to unpredictable desert conditions.

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2 mins  |
May/June 2023
on the right path
African Birdlife

on the right path

Lace up your boots, we're going birding on Magoebaskloof's Louis Changuion trail.

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4 mins  |
May/June 2023
Tuning in to DAVID LÉTSOALO
African Birdlife

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.

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4 mins  |
May/June 2023
Heated murmurations
African Birdlife

Heated murmurations

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

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3 mins  |
May/June 2023
a hole lot of rollers
African Birdlife

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.

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1 min  |
May/June 2023
VITAL SIGNS
African Birdlife

VITAL SIGNS

The waterbirds of Knysna Estuary

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7 mins  |
May/June 2023