By Anton Crone
I visited Mauritius some years ago. By then I had already read The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions by David Quammen, an exceptional exploration of how isolation shapes evolution, and how it also makes islands hotspots for extinction. But I wasn’t in Mauritius for its ecology. Before African Birdlife, I was managing a travel company, and my time on the island was restricted to meetings in Port Louis while a cyclone swept through. There was no beach holiday, and certainly no exploring — the island was virtually on lockdown.
Had I known then about the renowned conservationists who had saved so many Mauritian bird species from the brink, I would have added more days to my trip in the hope of meeting them. Years later, buoyed by BirdLife South Africa CEO Mark Anderson’s enthusiasm about the saviours of the Mauritian Kestrel and other island birds, I eventually spoke with Carl Jones and Vikash Tatayah about their extraordinary work. Their bold vision and unwavering dedication were deeply inspiring, rekindling my interest with island ecology inspired by The Song of the Dodo. You can read our interview in this edition, complemented by a fascinating piece from renowned ornithologist David Allan on the cycles endured by Mauritius’s endemics and the alien birds that have since colonised the island. I feel a Mauritius trip is on my horizon, and I’ll stay clear of business meetings and cyclones this time.
Not to ignore South Africa’s endemics, we bring positive news of a little bird, Botha’s Lark, that’s facing a big crisis. We celebrate our near-endemic and endangered Black Harrier, chosen by you, the bird-loving public, as the 2026 Bird of the Year. From there, the features roll thick and fast: the joys of hide photography; the challenges of photographing African Skimmers; a heartfelt tribute to Chintsa and its diverse avifauna; the extraordinary life cycle of Emperor Penguins – the only birds to breed on ice; Knysna’s namesakes; and much more.
I hope you enjoy this edition, and that its early December release might even make it a fitting Christmas stocking filler for the aspiring birder in your life.
