African Birdlife - January/February 2023

In this issue

African Broadbill • Cape Parrot • Martial Eagle • Pondo Trail

adapt-a-bill

Yet more cryptic prions

4 mins

contact tracing

Feather lice transmission between seabirds

3 mins

change your tune

Coping with noisy neighbours

1 min

cause &effect

Drop in Lesser Kestrel numbers

2 mins

Príncipe Scops Owl

In July 2016, the presence of a scops owl was confirmed on Príncipe, the smaller of the two islands that comprise the tiny island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea (African Birdlife 5(1): 10).

1 min

synthetic fibre blues

The penduline-tits (Remizidae) are a small family of 11 species in three genera allied to the true tits (Paridae). Most species construct intricately woven nests that are suspended from branches, which explains their common name.

2 mins

duck OR dive

Predator-avoidance tactics

3 mins

DDT dangers

Global monitoring in raptors

2 mins

cryptic conundrun

Can you rise to the challenge and identify this African bird species? Consider all the likely variables and then test yourself – it’s not always as easy as it looks! If you enter and your identification is correct, you stand in line to win a pair of binoculars that will help take your birding to the next level…

1 min

sightings IN THE SUBREGION

Mid-September to mid-November 2022

4 mins

A world view

Bird Life's flagship State of the World's Birds report paints the most concerning picture for the natural world yet, with nearly half of the world's bird species now in decline. While further underlining that we are in the midst of a biodiversity crisis, it also highlights the critical solutions we desperately need to save nature. And political will and financial commitment are urgently required if these solutions are to be implemented at scale and at pace.

6 mins

show & tell

African Broadbill display

3 mins

martial law

‘Look at those two vultures,’ said my wife Petra, after noticing something flying towards us. We were at the Kwang waterhole on 19 September 2022, during our visit to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

3 mins

just wait...

Photographer, author and naturalist Hugh Chittenden is one of southern Africa’s most respected field biologists.

2 mins

take cover

You don’t have to be crazy, but it helps…

8 mins

A bird of the forest Cape Parrot

With the announcement of the Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus as BirdLife South Africa’s Bird of the Year 2023, there was great excitement that the country’s only endemic parrot was finally getting the recognition it deserves.

4 mins

take a hike

Birding the Pondo Trail

7 mins

CANON R7 CAMERA

Premium performance at a reasonable price

5 mins

twitter FEED

My husband and I were busy in the garden when we heard a commotion. The thrushes had been aggressively defending their terri­tory for the past couple of days, chasing away doves, pigeons and even parakeets.

2 mins

A pillar of conservation

Ntsikeni Nature Reserve

7 mins

flock with us!

Flock to Wilderness 24–28 May 2023

2 mins

MIDDELPUNT a new nature reserve

The White-winged Flufftail is listed as globally Critically Endangered, with an estimated population of fewer than 250 mature individuals.

4 mins

An AEWA spotlight on local successes

As shared species whose effective conservation hinges on collaboration across multiple countries, migratory birds have a long history in international law.

2 mins

penguins breeding AT DE HOOP

Seven years after work began to re-establish an African Penguin breeding colony at De Hoop Nature Reserve, a pair of chicks has been observed at a nest at the colony.

2 mins

listing FOR Conservation

Most birders keep some sort of a list. Some don't, but this is the South Africa Listers' Club column so if you're reading this, let's assume that you do.

4 mins

BOTHA'S LARK

Conservation and Research Working Group

2 mins

PUTTING 'COMMUNITY' INTO COMMUNITY BIRD GUIDES

On the face of it, the Community Bird Guide Project is about training bird guides. However, the footprint of this long-running project is much bigger than that.

1 min

showcase

We receive remarkable images on a regular basis, but are not always able to find space for them in our pages. So because we would like to share them with you, we have decided to display some of the best that we receive.

2 mins

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African Birdlife Magazine Description:

African Birdlife is a world-class bi-monthly magazine about birds and birdwatching in Africa. It includes informative articles and stunning photographs of Africa's birds. Features include: The latest news on bird conservation and behaviour; equipment reviews; photographic tips; competitions to win great prizes. It serves as an important mouthpiece for BirdLife South Africa to create awareness about bird research and conservation.