Nature’s quiet corners Some of the most memorable experiences in nature are not necessarily the dramatic ones. They are the quieter moments: a bird among flowering shrubs, the dawn chorus drifting across a river, or the discovery of a wild place that feels removed from the modern world. This issue is filled with such moments....

Winter brings the Free State alive as sunbirds return to flowering Leonotis, revealing a fascinating relationship between birds, nectar and seasonal change. By Dawie de Swardt. During the winter months of April and May flowering Leonotis leonorus (Lion’s Ear or Wildedagga) at the Free State Botanical Gardens, and at other suburban gardens in Bloemfontein, attracts...

by Wesley Gush and Cassie Carstens Two key skills are needed if you to study Secretarybirds in South Africa. The first is the ability to drive vast distances for long hours. These birds occur in most rural regions across the country, and familiarity with dirt roads and remote farming districts is essential. The second is...

The shift to mirrorless cameras for wildlife photography has been expensive but rewarding for birders. Sony set the pace, forcing traditional market leaders Canon and Nikon to switch from SLR to mirrorless systems. Since 2020, Canon has released a series of camera bodies with animal eye-focus, one of the main advantages of going mirrorless (see...

Although based at the University of York, Colin Beale has spent a quarter of a century studying birds in East Africa. His entertaining book, 101 Curious Tales of East African Birds , grew out of a series of tweets on #BirdsAtTea penned during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. It uses 101 East African birds to...

South Africa’s proposed new conservation targets fall short of the internationally agreed goal of protecting 30% of land, freshwater and marine areas by 2030, according to conservation group WWF South Africa. A draft version of the country’s third National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2026–2035, presented at a national conference this week, proposes conserving 21%...

 Photo by LIZ HART, text by FAYE KNIGHT May brings a safari favourite for this month’s bird spotlight; the Lilac-Breasted Roller, photographed here by Liz Hart Easily spotted by its bright lilac chest, bright blue undercarriage, black tipped and turquoise wings, and its elongated tail feathers, the Lilac-Breasted Roller is often found perched in open...

A major new conservation initiative aimed at strengthening biodiversity protection and community resilience in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was officially launched in Gaborone, Botswana, on 12 May 2026. The 30-month project, titled Integrated Management for Biodiversity Conservation and Community Resilience in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, is funded by the European Union through the NaturAfrica programme and implemented by African...

Almost three-quarters of a million Gen Z-ers in Great Britain now regularly enjoy birdwatching, making it their second fastest growing hobby  Massive 10-fold increase in 16 to 29-year-olds (Gen Z-ers) regularly birdwatching since 2018, and numbers are still on the rise  Research published ahead of International Dawn Chorus Day on Sunday 3rd May, when the symphony of birdsong reaches its peak each spring   The RSPB and its President, NHS and TV...

Many of South Africa’s most recognisable birds of prey are disappearing at an alarming rate, according to a major new study tracking raptor populations across central South Africa over the past 16 years. Researchers analysed trends for 18 raptor species and eight large terrestrial bird species between 2009 and 2025 using 752 road count transects...