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...

Mount Moco, one of Angola’s most important biodiversity strongholds, has officially been granted legal protection following the publication of Law No. 5/26 in the Diário da República (the Angolan Government’s Official Gazette) on 9 April 2026. The legislation establishes the Mount Moco Conservation Area as a Partial Nature Reserve, marking a landmark moment for conservation in Angola. Feature image: Swierstra’s Francolin, endemic...

Holding the Line 1 May – There is a quiet thread running through this issue: a story of change, human pressure, and the ways birds and the people who follow them respond. We begin deep in time exploring with Birgette Cohen, discovering how early humans shaped our relationship with birds as both sustenance, and perhaps...

9 April 2026 Velddrif, Western Cape, South Africa – A ground-breaking research initiative by BirdLife South Africa is set to uncover the remarkable journeys of migratory shorebirds by deploying tracking devices on these species – a first for the country. The project focuses on tagging, colour-ringing, and monitoring species such as Curlew Sandpipers (Calidris ferruginea)...

Into the Blue is a powerful short documentary by Richard Flack that traces the fragile future of one of South Africa’s rarest birds, the Blue Swallow. What began as a simple day of filming at Roselands Nature Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal evolved into an 18-month, no-budget project driven by passion, persistence and a shared urgency to tell...

27 February – As I write this, the waters have subsided in Kruger National Park after double the seasonal average rainfall caused widespread infrastructure damage and the temporary closure of several camps. Among them was Return Africa’s Pafuri Camp, set on the banks of the Luvuvhu River. Thankfully they will reopen on 1 June after...

By Tarryn Havemann, Mouse-Free Marion Project Development Officer 26 February – The Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project has secured a transformational pledge of US$10 million from a Swiss-based international foundation. This commitment represents the largest contribution received to date and marks a major milestone in the journey towards restoring Marion Island to its former ecological condition....

By Anton Crone, 11 February – Across Africa’s sweeping landscapes, birds are constantly singing, calling and chattering in a glorious chorus of sound. Yet despite the continent’s extraordinary avian diversity, Africa remains under-represented in global bird sound libraries. The Big Year of African Sounds sets out to change that by mobilising birders across the continent...

By Faye Knight 28 January – WWF’s Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (WWF-SASSI) has released its updated list to guide seafood lovers on how to select the most sustainable seafoods and highlights the need for continued caution in what consumers selection.  While this update brings good news for the Maasbanker (Cape Horse Mackerel) and the...

We highlight some of our BirdLife South Africa’s key achievements from the year – from saving African Penguins from extinction to tracking a European Roller from Limpopo to China, and much more! Feature image: BirdLife South Africa’s management team. You can support BirdLife South Africa’s work by clicking here