Video- Courtship Dances

Southern Ground-Hornbill sightings

One of five Southern Ground Hornbills foraging on
the burnt verge of the N2 near Ingeli Forest Lodge
(Photo Doug Butcher)

Please report any Southern Ground-Hornbill sightings either through the SABAP2 Project or directly with the Mabula Ground-Hornbill Project.

To learn more about the excellent work being carried out by the Mabula Ground-Hornbill Project click here.

Outing report- 24th February 2013 Stott Farm, Umtentweni

(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Attendees: Ron Whitham; Stan & Val Culley; Stanley Gengan; Andrew Pickles;

Bob & Hazel Van Rooyen; Margaret Jones; Doug & Angie Butcher. (10 attendees).

Birds recorded: Red-eyed Dove; Black-headed Oriole; Purple-crested Turaco; Amethyst Sunbird; Long-crested Eagle; Hadeda Ibis; Lesser Striped Swallow; Lesser Honeyguide; Green-backed  Camaroptera; Barn Swallow; Black Saw-wing; Tambourine Dove; Burchell’s Coucal; Gorgeous Bush-Shrike (H); Southern Boubou; Village Weaver; Red-fronted Tinkerbird; Violet-backed Starling; Fan-tailed Widowbird; Brown-hooded Kingfisher; Natal Spurfowl; Pin-tailed Whydah; Dark-capped Bulbul; Yellow-fronted Canary; Black-collared Barbet; Spectacled Weaver; Common Fiscal; Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird; Green Wood-Hoopoe; Black-bellied Starling; Yellow-billed Kite; Little Swift; Speckled Mousebird; Cape Glossy Starling; African Green-Pigeon; Crested Barbet; Golden-tailed Woodpecker; Rufus-winged Cisticola; Hamerkop; Common Waxbill; African Fish-Eagle; Alpine Swift; Jackal Buzzard  (43 species).

Barry Porter Memorial Trophy 2013

Mike receiving his well deserved trophy
(Photo Doug Butcher)

The Birdlife Trogons ‘Barry Porter Memorial Trophy’ for 2013 has been awarded to Mike Neethling for his outstanding work with Cape Vultures  at Oribi.

Mike’s dedication is making a huge contribution to the breeding success of this magnificent bird and it isn’t going unnoticed.

E-book - Cranes of South Africa published

Photo of the month :):)

On our recent trip to Wakkerstroom Stan, Val and Ron were lucky enough to see a Cuckoo Finch. It's not every day you get to photograph this bird

and this wasn't one of them :):):)

''Cuckoo Finch a split second after it flew''- Stan
(Photo Stan Culley)

New Mystery Bird No.8

To test your identification skills with our mystery bird no.8 click here.

Call for birders to look out for Cape Vultures with tags

The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) is the only colonial South African vulture species nesting on cliffs [1,2]. Its range is restricted to southern Africa, with breeding occuring in Botswana and South Africa. Breeding was recently reported to have ceased in Namibia [3]. The formerly widespread population of about 440 breeding colonies in the early 1900s declined to about 167 breeding colonies at the end of the 20^th century [4]. The species is listed as vulnerable due to ongoing population declines, whereby poisoning, power-line collision, hunting for the local muthi market and declining food resources are the main threats to its existence. Nowadays, an estimated number of 3,400 breeding pairs exist in southern Africa [1,5]. A number of 18 core colonies in southern Africa hold about 80% of the world's Cape Vulture population [6]. 

Trip report- Wakkerstroom 2013

Wakkerstroom 2013
(Photo Stan Culley)

Birdlife Trogons summer trip away to Wakkerstroom from 31st January to 4th February just happened to coincide with World Wetlands Day on 2nd February. What a fitting way to celebrate the day.

More photos from Wakkerstroom 2013 trip away

Sound advice from Sandy Olver

This photo just had to be posted!!

Sandy Olver the ultimate birder
(Photo Claire Reid)