The latest Regional Red Data Book indicates that while conditions have improved for Wattled Cranes, the Blue Crane’s status has slipped. By James van den Heever On the plus front, the latest Regional Red Data Book of endangered species lists … Read more
A glimpse of the rich birdlife of the recently proclaimed Santa Estate Nature Reserve, which abuts Verloren Valei’s southeastern boundary. Waterfall at Santa Estate (Photograph: Chrissie Curtis) After weeks of overcast and rainy weather, it was absolutely fantastic to be … Read more
Jacquie van der Westhuizen, Field Officer , African Crane Conservation Proramme – Drakensberg describes how a young chick coped with the devastating destruction of its wetland habitat. The Crane family just after the chick had flown across the wetland, all big … Read more
Dr. Lara Fuller, Drakensberg Project Coordinator, South Africa for the African Crane Conservation Programme writes about a new initiative to understand the movement of these vulnerable birds more closely – a subject close to Verloren Valei’s collective heart. Reprinted with … Read more
Christie Craig, Endangered Wildlife Trust/International Crane Foundation, Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology reports back on recent research. Blue crane (Photograph: Endangered Wildlife Trust) In an ever-changing world, conservation scientists face the daunting task of keeping pace with the shifting dynamics … Read more
BirdLife Africa’s Dr Kyle Lloyd outlines the case of the White-winged Flufftail. In honour of World Wetlands Day this month, Dr Kyle Lloyd, Wetland Conservation Project Manager and Rockjumper Fellow of White-Winged Flufftail Conservation, presented a webinar on the current … Read more
Editor’s Note: New research is looking at how Blue Cranes are colonising a new ecosystem — farmland in the Western Cape. The removal of fynbos seems to play a role, which correlates to the view that cranes don’t like bushy … Read more
Alan Lee, Ian Davies, and Carrie Seltzer profile iNaturalist, eBird and the African Bird Atlas Project. With a limited number of conservationists and ornithologists across Africa, the importance of the contributions of citizen scientists to our understanding of birds cannot … Read more
Good news for the White-winged Flufftail as this is its only confirmed breeding site in South Africa. A White-winged Flufftail glides over the sedge meadows at Middelpunt Wetland (Photograph: Kyle Lloyd) The White-winged Flufftail (Sarothrura ayresi) is listed as globally … Read more
Collaboration between BirdLIfe South Africa and the Escarpment Bird Club bears fruit. This project has been in the making for many months, and it’s great to see it officially launched. There are three routes covering most of the area around … Read more
