At just 18, Zoë Lunau-Johns is a rising star in South African birding. A dedicated citizen scientist and mentor, she has inspired a new generation of young birders. From leading Cape Bird Club outings to contributing vital data to the Southern African Bird Atlas Project, her passion goes beyond sightings—it’s about conservation and community. In...
Created by Alberto Vaccari and Lily Bickerstaffe, Birdle is a fun, educational game designed to spark curiosity about birds and conservation. It has taken off in the birding community, often cited as the first thing people do in the morning! Inspired by the viral success of Wordle, Birdle challenges players to identify a new bird...
Reaching the milestone of identifying 900 bird species in Southern Africa is a significant achievement. This journey, filled with both challenges and rewards, reflects the dedication, passion, and countless hours spent observing and connecting with nature. In this reflection, Michael Mason looks beyond the numbers and shares his insights into the highs and lows of...
BirdLife South Africa’s 2022 Conservation Hero, renowned bird guide David Letsoalo, talks birds, pizzas, perfect tunes and making friends in Manhattan’s Central Park. What got you started in birding? I was born in the area behind Moria, the Zionist Christian Church (ZCC) in Limpopo, but I grew up in Magoebaskloof and went to Appel Farm...
Former Director at BirdLife International, Hazell Shokellu Thompson, says he is retired, but he’s working as hard as ever as a lecturer, conservationist, author, and rice farmer. We chat with him from his home in Freetown, Sierra Leone. What are you up to these days? I’ve just written a book about common birds of Sierra...
Malagasy bird & lemur guide, Julien Anselme, talks Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, how God was fooled by a drongo, and which species tourists flock to see. Which is your favourite Malagasy bird? The Crested Drongo. It is clever and mischievous. The legend is there was a great fire on the island. The animals were doing what...
