In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in everyone's plans grinding to a halt and, while less restricted, 2021 was still somewhat slow as people recovered from the previous year. Happily, for me 2022 turned into a standout year as I experienced many birding highlights. My passion (or obsession, as some might refer to it) for birding forms an integral part of my life and I was able to enjoy it to the full.
A project that had kept me busy and 'birding sane' during 2020 and 2021 finally came to fruition in 2022 when Veld Birds of Southern Africa: The Complete Photographic Guide was published. Although we (Burger and Niel Cillié, Phil Penlington, Karin Wiesler and I) were all immensely satisfied with the end product, the final days before the book was sent to the printers were a whirlwind as we rushed around trying to find the last photos of a plumage, sex or age group that was still needed for a particular species. You realise just how poor your photo filing system is when there is a last-minute request to find an image of, for instance, a juvenile, an immature, a female or a non-breeding male of a particular species!
We certainly hope that everyone who has already bought a copy is enjoying the new book and feel that it is a worthwhile addition to their library shelves.
Denne historien er fra March 2023-utgaven av African Birdlife.
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Denne historien er fra March 2023-utgaven av African Birdlife.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS
Keith Barnes, co-author of the new Field Guide to Birds of Greater Southern Africa, chats about the long-neglected birding regions just north of the Kunene and Zambezi, getting back to watching birds and the vulture that changed his life.
Living forwards
How photographing birds helps me face adversity
CAPE crusade
The Cape Bird Club/City of Cape Town Birding Big Year Challenge
flood impact on wetland birds
One of the features of a warming planet is increasingly erratic rainfall; years of drought followed by devastating floods. Fortunately, many waterbirds are pre-adapted to cope with such extremes, especially in southern Africa where they have evolved to exploit episodic rainfall events in semi-arid and arid regions. But how do waterbirds respond to floods in areas where rainfall - and access to water - is more predictable? Peter Ryan explores the consequences of recent floods on the birds of the Western Cape's Olifants River valley.
a star is born
It’s every producer’s dream to plan a wildlife television series and pick the right characters before filming.
FULL skies
High summer brings high entertainment to Botswana's Mababe Community Concession and Kazuma Pan.
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.
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.
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.
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.
