Join BirdLife South Africa for the biggest event in African birding this year: The African Bird Fair 2022. This year we’re hosting a hybrid event, meaning the entire programme will be available virtually, but you’re also welcome to join us for our in-person event at our head office, Isdell House, Johannesburg.
Make sure you diarise 22 and 23 July 2022 to enjoy an epic line-up of speakers, exhibitors, and workshops, and the opportunity to connect with other avid birders across the continent, and the world.
Programme of Events
Please click the below image to view or download a full copy of the African Bird Fair Programme of Events.
You can also get a quick snapshot of each day’s programme by clicking on the below images:
Keynote Speakers (R100 each):
- Jonathan Franzen: An interview with Jenny Crwys-Williams and Mark D. Anderson
- Samuel Temidayo Osinubi: Intra-African migration: a look at the Woodland Kingfisher
Workshops (R100 each, or R250 for all three):
- An Ecologist’s Guide to Birding South Africa’s Grasslands, with Melissa Whitecross
- Garden Birds: Your Everyday Reward, with Aldo Berruti
- Bushveld Birding, with Lance Robinson
*DELUXE BUNDLE*: Register for both keynotes and all three workshops for R400 (save R100)!
Presentations (free of charge):
- Bird of the Year: Cape Gannet – Christina Hagen
- Pink love: blood and bludgeoning Lesser Flamingos – Tania Anderson
- Birding Mozambique – Birding off the beaten track – Dylan Vasapolli
- Kenya’s iconic birds and big game – Dr Daniel Danckwerts
- In Conversation with Sandiswa Kula – Jenny Crwys-Williams & Sandiswa Kula
- Sparrows and the City – Sage Naidoo
- Let’s talk about the birds and the bees in the city – Dr Chevonne Reynolds
- Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds – Dr Anton Wolfaardt
- Hornbills of Africa – Dr Lucy Kemp
- The impacts of woody-plant encroachment on birds and people – Dr Joseph White
- A global systematic review of the temporal and spatial patterns of organochlorine pesticide monitoring in raptors – Kailen Padayachee
- Birding Gabon, from River Martins to Fishing Owls – Dr Callan Cohen
- Parklife: Birds and biodiversity access in Johannesburg’s green spaces – Dr Caroline Howes
- The State of South Africa’s Birds – Christopher Shortland
- Evolving challenges and approaches to bird species conservation in Africa – Dr Paul Kariuki Ndang’ang’a
- Birding anecdotes from around Africa – Sandiswa Kula, Andrew Wassung and Dr Daniel Danckwerts
- Remote connections with nature – Graham Wallington (WildEarth)
- And more…
PLUS: An in-person event at BirdLife South Africa’s HQ, Isdell House:
You’re invited to join BirdLife South Africa at our beautiful Isdell House, 17 Hume Road, Dunkeld West, Johannesburg, on Saturday 23 July for an in-person event.
Bring your Swarovski or ZEISS binoculars and scopes for a clean, come and get to know the BirdLife South Africa team, and take a walk around our flourishing indigenous garden. It’s going to be a fun-filled, interactive day. Please note that parking will be very limited, so please consider ‘Ubering’ to Isdell House.
Watch this space, or BirdLife South Africa’s social media, for more info in the coming weeks!
With thanks to the following sponsors:
Headline Sponsor:
Swarovski
Platinum Sponsors:
Ford Wildlife Foundation
Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust
Italtile
MSC Cruises
ZEISS
Gold Sponsors:
Canon South Africa
Everard Read Gallery
WildEarth
Charles Greig
Exclusive Books
African Birdlife Magazine
Silver Sponsors:
Leica
Struik Nature
John Voelcker Bird Book Fund
Westerman’s
BirdPro
Chamberlain
African Bird Fair: Colouring In Competition
BirdLife South Africa extends their congratulations to the winners for the ‘Win with Faansie’ Colouring In Competition. They are:
Age Group 7 – 10: From Mpumalanga, Georgia Blackwell (Aged 7), and
Age Group 11 – 13: From the Western Cape, Luke Broadaway (Aged 13)
BirdLife South Africa received an amazing number of entries and would like to thank all the participants who submitted their beautiful drawings. The colouring-in was exceptional and choosing two worthy winners proved to be very difficult.
Our Keynote Speakers Are
Jonathan Franzen
Jonathan Franzen is a passionate birdwatcher and the author of six novels, including “Crossroads”, published in 2021, and five works of nonfiction, most recently “The Kraus Project” and “The End of the End of the Earth.” Franzen is the recipient of a National Book Award for fiction, the EuroNatur Prize for his work in conservation, and the Utah Award in the Environmental Humanities. He has written extensively, for National Geographic and other publications, about birds and the threats to them. He lives in Santa Cruz, California
Dr Samuel Temidayo (Dayo) Osinubi
Dr Samuel Temidayo (Dayo) Osinubi is an ecologist who enjoys exploring the “how” and “why” questions in nature, particularly where and when bird behaviours are concerned. He started his career in Nigeria and considers himself fortunate to travel the world learning about birds. His academic background includes a postdoc at the Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology in Cape Town, South Africa; a PhD from the School of Biological Sciences in Christchurch, New Zealand; a MSc from the AP Leventis Ornithological Research Institute in Jos, Nigeria; and a BSc from the University of Ibadan in Ibadan, Nigeria. He has worked in various capacities that include conservation research, management and policy with BirdLife International, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Royal Society for the Conservation of Birds, Fauna and Floral International, UN Convention on Migratory Species, and also enjoys time on cruise ships as an expedition lecturer. He is presently based in the Yukon, Canada, and hopes to be able to continue studying birds globally.
Special Membership Offer
Sign up for a BirdLife South Africa membership during the African Bird Fair (22 and 23 July 2022) and receive a 20% discount off your first year’s membership fee. In order to qualify for this special offer, you will need to quote the promotional code/word which can be found in the African Bird Fair virtual platform during 22 and 23 July 2022.
Plus, one lucky new member will win a Birding Starter Pack, including:
- A bird course with one of BirdLife South Africa’s Recommended Course Providers
- Sasol Birds of Southern Africa (5th edition)
- Chamberlain’s LBJs by Faansie Peacock
- Robins of Africa by Terry Oatley and Graeme Arnott
- Garden Birds in Southern Africa by Duncan Butchart
- Two BirdLife South Africa-branded coffee mugs
- 250g Outliers Coffee Roasters Chorus Dawn ground coffee
- Bird of the Year 2022 (Cape Gannet) poster
- BirdLife South Africa Checklist of Birds in South Africa 2022
