Positioned on the edge of a pristine farm dam with a warm cup of coffee in hand, the gentle whistling of an overzealous Olive Thrush pierces the dawn’s repose. A chilling breeze carries a low-lying mist that envelops all in its path, adding a serene mystery to the morning—almost as if nature itself were holding...

Over three years, more than 137 ornithologists, conservationists, and citizen scientists compiled 193 detailed assessments to quantify extinction risk for the region’s birds. The new online Red Data Book (RDB-online) now includes an additional 70 endemic and near-endemic species still considered at lower risk, such as the Cape Sugarbird and Orange-breasted Sunbird. The findings are...