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
Less-than-ideal scenting conditions (Photograph: Roberto Marcer) On Saturday 2 July 2023, the South African Field Trial Club undertook to second francolin survey. Eleven dogs took part and unfortunately, unlike our first survey where scenting conditions were good, this survey had … 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
A further 7 448 hectares have been added to the existing area. Wetlands and rocky outcrops are some of the microhabitats within the protected environment, hosting threatened and endemic species specialised for these niches (Photograph: Kyle Lloyd) The Greater Lakenvlei … Read More
It’s not a pretty picture–but at least we know where we are. “There is growing concern that South African protected areas, which contain high biological density, are not fulfilling their conservation objectives”, begins this useful and rather perturbing study. It’s … Read More
It’s a familiar sight at Verloren Valei but there’s more to this distinctive species than meets the eye. A colony of Kniphofia porphyranta (Dwarf Red-hot Poker) at Verloren Valei (Photograph: Gerrit van Ede) Over the years, red-hot pokers have become … 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
It’s only been seen once at Verloren Valei—time to get your spotting shoes on. Dancing Telchinia (upper side) (Photograph: © Justin Bode) Telchinia serena is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, the so called “brush-footed butterflies”. The name derives from … Read More
Figures show the outflows from the reserve after a summer with somewhat lower rains. Thanks to Hannes Marais and Jannie Coetzee, we have the next lot of water data from Verloren Valei. As the data accumulates, it will become more … Read More
