Lesser flamingos, already under pressure due to limited breeding grounds, have lost one of their only four breeding sites in Africa. Kamfers Dam, situated 6km north of Kimberly in South Africa, once a haven for tens of thousands of these striking birds, has been severely affected by years of sewage pollution. What was once a...
Southern Africa’s most outstanding field guides are set to be celebrated at the 2025 Safari Guide of the Year (SGOTY) Awards, with five top finalists announced for this year’s prestigious event. Founded in 2011 by Mike Karantonis in partnership with the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA), the SGOTY Awards recognise excellence in field...
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...
In a quiet suburb of New Jersey, USA, an unexpected example of avian intelligence has caught the attention of birders and scientists alike. An immature Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) has been observed using an urban pedestrian crossing to aid its hunting — a behaviour that highlights just how adaptable some raptors can be in our...
A ground-breaking Community-led conservation project in Senegal is empowering local people to protect vital habitats for migratory birds. Along the East Atlantic Flyway—a key migratory route for millions of birds from Europe to southern Africa—local communities in Senegal are stepping up to protect some of the region’s most important bird habitats. And in doing so,...
Close to 2,000 bird enthusiasts descended on Durban Harbour, excitement at fever pitch as they prepared to embark on a voyage to Marion Island — all eager to witness the magnificent albatrosses in their wild ocean domain. This voyage presented a wonderful opportunity for the JVBBF Trust (John Voelcker Bird Book Fund) to support a...
18 May 2025 – Mpumalanga, South Africa — In a devastating blow to vulture conservation, over 100 critically endangered vultures have been found dead from poisoning in Lionspruit Game Reserve, near Marloth Park, Mpumalanga. The victims include 92 White-backed Vultures, 9 Hooded Vultures, and a rare adult male White-headed Vulture — most of them breeding adults....
10 May, World Migratory Bird Day -The Berg River Estuary, a shimmering ribbon of life on South Africa’s west coast, is more than just a scenic wetland—it’s a lifeline for thousands of migratory birds and a critical engine for biodiversity. But this vital ecosystem, like many estuaries in the Western Cape, is under increasing pressure...
In one of the largest poisoning incidents in Kruger National Park, a total of 116 vultures were found dead in the Mahlangeni Section of the Park. the devastating event was detected by the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) wildlife poisoning surveillance and detection system, which triggered an alert at 06:05 on 6 May 2025, flagging suspicious activity...
