[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” type=”vc_default”][smartslider3 slider=”10″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_spacer height=”10″][ultimate_spacer height=”10″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_section full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1655545929659{background-color: #2568b3 !important;}”][vc_row type=”vc_default” css=”.vc_custom_1716389046661{background-color: #ffffff !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}” el_id=”story1″][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”323317″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large” css=””][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”323318″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large” css=””][vc_single_image image=”323345″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large” css=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Save the date for CAR!
Gather your binoculars and camera, get the datasheets, put on a jacket and grab your car keys. The dates for the next Coordinated Avifaunal Road Count (CAR) have been announced: 26 and 27 July.
This long-running project takes place twice a year, when observers drive set routes across the country while recording a specific suite of terrestrial bird species. The data gathered during this project are critical for estimating these species’ population density and abundance, and several of the target species face serious conservation issues. By recording the number of birds seen, the distances between them, their habitat choices and activities, observers contribute directly to complex scientific research. This enables us to continue refining our knowledge of how to better protect the birds we love.
CAR routes are scattered across all nine provinces in South Africa, and each precinct has a coordinator who directs and assigns the routes to participants. Details of these coordinators can be found on the CAR website. If none is assigned to a specific precinct, contact your local bird club for direction or reach out to Sally Hofmeyr at UCT ([email protected]) for advice.
Finally, the 38th issue of the CAR newsletter was published at the end of March and can be downloaded from the CAR website: car.birdmap.africa/newsletters. Enjoy reading more about this fantastic citizen science project and the birds it helps to conserve.
CASSIE CARSTENS, SECRETARYBIRD PROJECT MANAGER
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image=”323320″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large” css=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_spacer height=”5″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”vc_default” css=”.vc_custom_1716389221087{background-color: #ffffff !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}” el_id=”story2″][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”323321″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large” css=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”323322″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large” css=””][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=””]Birding Ecotours supports grassland conservation
In June 2024, we approached Birding Ecotours with a vision: to strengthen conservation efforts for the imperilled bird species of South Africa’s grasslands. Ten months later, thanks to the company’s unwavering support, we have made significant progress towards achieving that goal.
One of our key accomplishments has been developing a comprehensive database of more than 100 landowners. Building relationships with these stakeholders has fostered greater awareness of the conservation challenges facing Botha’s Lark, Rudd’s Lark, Yellow-breasted Pipit and other grassland species. To date, we have engaged directly with a quarter of these landowners, strengthening partnerships to help secure a future for these birds and their habitats.
Our field work has been equally extensive. We have covered more than 250km on foot, meticulously surveying grassland ecosystems and identifying some 24 species of conservation concern. Each step taken and every data point collected contribute to a more informed position for protecting these critical landscapes.
The initiative has continued to grow. Two dedicated colleagues – Roy Robertson, our Grasslands Conservation Project Manager: Southern Mpumalanga, and Zoleka Mkize, our Grassland Community Conservation Officer – have joined the team and their contributions strengthen our capacity to make a real impact. Their involvement has also helped attract additional funding, such as the Albert Wessels Trust, ensuring that we have the resources needed to continue this important work.
In addition, while the BirdLife South Africa Grasslands Conservation Centre has shifted its primary focus from avitourism to broader conservation efforts, we continue to recognise the vital role that community guides and sustainable tourism play in supporting long-term conservation outcomes.
None of this would have been possible without Birding Ecotours’ belief in our mission. Its initial support has been the catalyst for everything we have accomplished, and for that, we extend our deepest gratitude. Conservation is a collective effort; through partnerships like these, real and lasting change can be achieved.
Thank you, Birding Ecotours, for travelling with us on this journey. The work continues, and we are excited for what lies ahead!
For more information about Birding Ecotours, go to birdingecotours.com/
MATTHEW OROLOWITZ, BIRDING ECOTOURS FELLOW OF GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_spacer height=”5″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”vc_default” css=”.vc_custom_1719817052360{background-color: #ffffff !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}” el_id=”story3″][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”323323″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=””]Where do Secretarybirds go?
One of the primary gaps in our knowledge of Secretarybird behaviour and movement across the South African landscape is finally being filled. The longest-running study focusing on Africa’s most iconic raptor began in 2012 and has supplied numerous insights about these birds.
Early in the study, the movements of juvenile birds in the months after fledging and their eventual dispersal over vast distances were tracked. Habitat preferences are being investigated more, but the big gap in our knowledge has always been how adult birds move around a nest site. That gap is now being filled as only the third known breeding attempt by a tracked bird is coming to an end.
Ekapa, a male residing in the southern parts of the Free State and tracked since October 2020, has tried to breed twice. The first attempt, in 2023, unfortunately failed, but the following year the second was successful and the young bird fledged last month. Over the two breeding attempts, movement data spanning 26 months were collected, showing that adult birds, or in this case Ekapa, remain on average within 3.5km of the nest and move in an area roughly 9km² around it. These results are the first steps in updating the mitigation strategies and conservation recommendations to ensure the survival of these Endangered birds in a rapidly changing landscape. More data from additional birds need to be collected, but we are already moving in the right direction!
CASSIE CARSTENS, SECRETARYBIRD PROJECT MANAGER[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”323324″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” css=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”323325″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” css=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”323326″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” css=””][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_spacer height=”5″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”vc_default” css=”.vc_custom_1719817042965{background-color: #ffffff !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}” el_id=”story4″][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”323327″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” css=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”” el_id=”roller”]A new webinar on the Red-billed Oxpecker
BirdLife South Africa invites you to a follow-up webinar focusing on our Bird of the Year 2025, the Red-billed Oxpecker. This session will highlight how the Bird of the Year campaign is being used to inspire educational and conservation efforts.
Date: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Time: 16h00 (SAST)
During the webinar, we will:
- Introduce newly added educational materials.
- Share feedback from teachers and group leaders who have implemented the resources.
- Present recent updates and opportunities for continued engagement.
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[/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][ultimate_spacer height=”40″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_spacer height=”5″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”vc_default” css=”.vc_custom_1719817017303{background-color: #ffffff !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}” el_id=”story6″][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”323329″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_single_image image=”323330″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_single_image image=”323331″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”323332″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” css=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Tracking five more European Rollers As dawn breaks across southern Africa, five new European Rollers fitted with lightweight satellite trackers take flight, beginning journeys that will span thousands of kilometres and cross entire continents. For BirdLife South Africa, these birds’ migrations offer a rare window into one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles – and a powerful call to action to protect migratory species and the habitats they depend on. Recognised by its vibrant blue plumage and for its remarkable long-distance travels, the European Roller is experiencing a steady decline across its range, including local extinction in parts of Europe where it once bred. Although classified globally as Least Concern, regionally the species is listed as Near Threatened due to a worrying decline in parts of southern Africa. As these five newly tagged individuals take to the sky, they are not only continuing their species’ ancient migratory tradition; they are also becoming ambassadors for conservation efforts that reach far beyond our borders. In a groundbreaking effort, BirdLife South Africa, supported by The Royal Portfolio Foundation, Thornybush Nature Reserve and Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, has equipped an additional five European Rollers with satellite trackers, enabling the team to follow their movements in near real-time. These birds will build on the data first collected in 2024, when a female European Roller we named Hera became one of the first individuals from the region to be tracked. Hera’s journey captured hearts and made history. Over several months, she covered more than 10 000km from southern Africa to Uzbekistan, stopping in Somalia and India along the way. Her migration marked the first confirmed movement of a European Roller between southern Africa and Central Asia – a milestone in global migratory bird research. Now, the five newly tagged birds will help deepen our understanding of this extraordinary species. By expanding the dataset and tracking additional individuals, we hope to uncover even more about where European Rollers rest, feed and stop during their long migrations. Each data point adds another piece to the puzzle. From the dry savanna of southern Africa to the rugged escarpments of Central Asia, the migratory corridors are under increasing threat. The new data will complement research from Europe and fill critical gaps in our knowledge of migration routes from the southern end of the species’ range. By contributing insights from southern Africa, we strengthen international collaboration and help build a more complete picture of the European Roller’s flyway. Such cross-border cooperation is essential to ensure conservation actions are aligned across countries and continents, safeguarding the species throughout its entire migratory journey. The challenges are clear: habitat loss, climate change and land degradation all threaten the species’ long-term survival. But there is hope. Collective action and continued support for BirdLife South Africa’s European Roller Monitoring Project will help to ensure that these magnificent birds continue to grace the sky for generations to come. Their incredible migration is a reminder of the resilience of nature, and our shared responsibility to protect it. JESSICA WILMOT, FLYWAY AND MIGRANTS PROJECT MANAGER[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_spacer height=”5″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”vc_default” css=”.vc_custom_1719817004516{background-color: #ffffff !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}” el_id=”story7″][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”323338″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”link_image” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]Sponsoring a hectare? How to fulfil your pledge It’s been almost three months since the MSC Musica set sail from Durban for the Southern Ocean on a voyage of a lifetime. We were extremely lucky to see some incredible seabirds at the Prince Edward Islands, a number of them soaring right alongside the ship. The Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds: The Mouse-Free Marion Project team was thrilled by the success of Flock to Marion AGAIN! 2025. Thanks to the remarkable generosity of passengers, we are now one step closer to a mouse-free Marion Island! Almost R3-million in Sponsor-a-hectare pledges were made, thereby allowing not one, but two winners to each walk away with a pair of Swarovski binoculars. If you have not yet had the opportunity to fulfil your pledge, here’s how to do so: Donors from South Africa You can make your payment by EFT or directly via the MFM Project website.- EFT: (see bank details here). Kindly use your name and surname as a reference and send proof of payment to [email protected]