The 83rd BirdLife South Africa Annual General Meeting (Flock Port Elizabeth 2012) will be held at 15h00 on Saturday 17 March 2012 at the Pine Lodge, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.

BirdLife South Africa Wetlands Fund Raffle

Graeme Arnott has donated this original water colour painting to BirdLife South Africa to raffle and raise funds for the conservation, through the Important Bird Areas Programme, of South Africa’s wetland birds and their habitats, the home of the African Fish-Eagle.  Read more....

The raffle will be run electronically,(therefore no paper and no printing), to reduce our carbon footprint. Once purchased, your e-ticket(s), with unique serial numbers will be sent to you via email or fax.

Purchase your raffle tickets here

Great car hire rates for BirdLife South Africa members!

BirdLife South Africa has partnered with Avis Rent a Car, South Africa’s leading Carbon Neutral accredited car rental company, offering our clients competitive car rental rates within South Africa.  Book now

5 reasons to flock to Flock 2012

Here are 5 reasons to flock to the Eastern Cape and specifically the Port Elizabeth area in March 2012:

1. Visit the Eastern Cape and go birding in 7 different biomes (Fynbos, Coastal thicket. Forest, Succulent thicket, Savannah, semi-desert, grasslands)
2. Cape Recife - one of the great bird-watching experiences is to visit a hide on the edge of a dam. Port Elizabeth is fortunate to have just such a place, at Cape Recife
3. Settlers Park - a must for budding birders and twitchers alike, with around 200 species to be found
4. Swartkops Estuary - a premier location for shorebirds and waders with over 10 000 birds amassing here in the summer months
5. Rooikrans - one of the best spots to find Narina Trogon

Flock 2012 documents for download

Registration

Registration Form

For more information regarding registration, please contact Briar Wright on 041 583 6180, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fax 0865187673

Outings and events

Programme of Events and Outings

For more information on the programme of events, please contact Duke Nel, Outings Coordinator, BirdLife Eastern Cape on 041 367 1137 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Accommodation options for the Flock 2012 weekend

Pine Lodge has agreed to give BirdLife South Africa members a special accommodation rate - see below. Flockers who wish to stay at Pine Lodge must please contact Keri Saunders at Pine Lodge on email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone 041 583 4004 and tell her that they are attending the BirdLife South Africa function. Visit the Pine Lodge website.

Accommodation rates

Chalets:

1 x single (1 person 1 room) = R695.00 per night
2 sharing = R380.00 per person per night (2 people 1 room)
3 sharing = R280.00 per person per night (3 people 1 room)
4 sharing = R215.00 per person per night (4 people 1 room)

All of the above mentioned rates do not include any meals.

Caravanning / Camping option:

1 - 4 people on each site = R203.00 per site per night
Pensioners = R110.00 (2 people) per site per night

Alternative accommodation

1. The Willows.  E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or  telephone 0861 177 177

2. There are numerous B & B’s in Summerstrand.  More information here

AGM documents for download

Draft Agenda

Proxy Form

For more information, please contact Pam Barrett on 011 789 1122 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ornithological Conference to precede Flock 2012

The conference precedes Flock 2012, BirdLife South Africa’s AGM, which is being organised and hosted by BirdLife Eastern Cape, on 17 and 18 March at the same venue. The conference is co-organised by BirdLife South Africa and the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, with a special emphasis on showcasing cutting-edge student research. Birdwatchers, citizen scientists and conservationists are encouraged to attend, as this conference is not only aimed at the professional ornithologist.

Invited speakers include Professor Andrew McKechnie on climate change implications for bird conservation in South Africa, and Dr Mandy Ridley on Southern Pied Babbler sociobiology.

Read more

Download the conference registration form

Gill Memorial Medal Award - Call for Nominations 2012 is closed

The name of the 2012 recipient of the Gill Memorial Medal Award will be announed at the BirdLife South Africa AGM (Flock 2012).

For more information, please contact Pamela Barrett on 011 789 1122 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

BirdLife South Africa had a successful and enjoyable AGM (Flock 2011) in Nelspruit from 18-20 March 2011. BirdLife Lowveld is thanked for arranging this annual flocking of BirdLife South Africa's members.

Minutes of AGM 2011

BirdLife South Africa CEO Annual Report

BirdLife South Africa Constitution (revised 16 March 2006)

BirdLife South Africa has a new Chairman

Vernon Head was elected as Chairman of BirdLife South Africa. Vernon was Vice-Chairman of BirdLife South Africa, and he remains Chairman of the Cape Bird Club and the Western Cape Bird Club Forum. Prof. Mashudu Tshifularo was elected to the position of Vice-Chairman and Mike McCullough was elected as Treasurer.

Peter Sullivan handing over to Vernon Head

Gill Memorial Medal Award

The Gill Memorial Medal Award is BirdLife South Africa's highest award given for outstanding lifetime contributions to ornithology and is presented at BirdLife South Africa's Annual General Meeting.

Peter Steyn was the recipient of the 2011 award. Read more ...