September 2023 Newsletter

For those who ‘give a hoot’

On 19 September BirdLife South Africa hosted its Owl Awards for 2023 at Isdell House, the head office in Johannesburg, and online via Zoom for those joining us from around the country and the world.

The awards, comprising nine Owl Awards (there are nine owl species in South Africa), two Eagle-Owl Awards and an Owlet Award, are presented to people and organisations that have made – and are making – important contributions to the conservation of South Africa’s birds and their habitats. The recipients receive a bronze statuette of a Barn Owl, which is mounted on a crystal base, and a framed certificate. The statuettes are kindly donated by Charles Greig Jewellers.

It is with deep gratitude that we announce and celebrate this year’s deserving Owl Award recipients:

Eagle-Owl Awards – Vincent Parker and Nick Prentice.

Owl Awards – Biodiversity Law Centre; Dominic Naidoo; Alberto Vaccari and Lily Bickerstaffe; Gavin Walker; Barbara Bickel; John Clements; Karen Bullen; Priscilla Beeton; and Carin Malan.

Owlet Award – Jandré Verster.

To read the recipients’ full citations, and for more information about the Owl Awards, please visit birdlife.org.za/support-us/events/owl-awards

MARK D. ANDERSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Win a birding trip to Morocco!

You could win a 13-day birding trip to Morocco for two people sharing, from 14 to 26 May 2024, with Rockjumper Worldwide Birding Adventures. The prize includes return flights from Johannesburg.

But don’t delay! BirdLife South Africa’s annual raffle is closing soon, so be sure to buy your ticket. There are only 500 tickets remaining (at R650 each), and all funds raised will support BirdLife South Africa’s important work to conserve our country’s magnificent birdlife.

The trip to Morocco will be an adventure of a lifetime, offering the opportunity to see exciting birds such as Moussier’s Redstart, Barbary Partridge, Northern Bald Ibis, Cream-coloured Courser and White-headed Duck, among many others.

To buy your raffle ticket and to view the terms and conditions, please visit birdlife.org.za/jackpot-birding-2023

ANDY WASSUNG, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

European Roller monitoring continues to soar

The Regional Conservation Programme and the Science and Innovation Programme Manager Alan Lee report that the results of the second European Roller monitoring season have been analysed and that the season was a great success. One of its most remarkable achievements was the expansion of our monitoring efforts.

Thanks to the dedication of our team, facilitated by external donations, and the support of citizen scientists like yourself, we added three monitoring sites – Karongwe and Klaserie private game reserves and Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve – significantly increasing the spatial scale of our data collection (see map). In total, we have monitored 146 transects since December 2021, an accomplishment that underscores the power and support of dedicated citizen scientists and the efforts of BirdLife South Africa’s staff to understand the plight of this beautiful species.

While we celebrate our achievements, we also need to recognise that our aim is to answer critical research questions. We would like to:

• Gain insight into the European Roller’s population trends by implementing a long-term monitoring project at key sites in (and beyond) South Africa;
• Gain a better understanding of the overall migration of European Rollers by means of GPS trackers;
• Identify key stopover sites and better understand the threats the rollers face at these sites, as well the nature of the habitat so that additional key habitat can be secured for them;
• Understand their habitat preference in South Africa to ensure that sites are well protected;
• Use the European Roller as a flagship species for flyway-wide conservation.

We have a long way to go, but are heading in the right direction. The opportunity to expand this project across the country is exciting and we eagerly anticipate the start of our third season of monitoring. November and the arrival of these magnificent birds are just around the corner!

As we also look forward to World Migratory Bird Day next month, we remember the core purpose of this study. The European Roller serves as a flagship species, emphasising the significance of adopting a flyway approach to conservation efforts. These migratory birds travel thousands of kilometres annually to reach southern Africa. It is our responsibility to protect both their stopover and their overwintering sites to help ensure their long-term survival.

By participating in citizen science projects such as this, you play a vital role in helping migratory birds. Your involvement makes a real difference. You can also help by making a donation, which will be used either to increase our monitoring efforts in the Kruger National Park or to place trackers on a few European Rollers before they begin their northward journey in early 2024. By following them in this way we will get an idea of their physical migratory route – what better way to learn which stopover sites we need to protect? To donate, please use this link.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to sharing more updates as we embark upon our third season of monitoring European Rollers.

JESSICA WILMOT, FLYWAY AND MIGRANTS PROJECT MANAGER

Book donation to Lapalala Wilderness School

In an initiative by BirdLife South Africa and Struik Nature to increase awareness about southern Africa’s spectacular diversity of birds, on 7 September they donated about 100 Kids’ Birds of Southern Africa books to the Lapalala Wilderness School.

The school, in the 48 000ha Lapalala Wilderness in the Waterberg Biosphere, aims to give the children of South Africa the opportunity to discover the value of the biodiversity of the natural world and our place within that world, and to identify and nurture Africa’s future conservation champions.

BirdLife South Africa is proud to have been able to contribute to the school and to the education of these young people. Our Empowering People Programme Intern, Thandulwazi Ndaba, presented the books to Mashudu Makhokha, the director of Lapalala Wilderness School.

MPHO MAGIDI, COMMUNICATIONS INTERN

Jemimah joins our team

From the beginning of this month, Jemimah Morgan has been working as the assistant to the CEO and CFO at BirdLife South Africa. She will assist Mark Anderson and Fanie du Plessis with a range of mainly administrative responsibilities, enabling them to focus on important and urgent matters relevant to their positions.

After attending St Katharine’s School and St Mary’s School in Johannesburg, Jemimah gained a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Management from the IMM Graduate School of Marketing in Stellenbosch. At school, Jemimah was a clarinettist in the jazz band and the orchestra, a ballerina, a member of the swimming team and a keen netball and tennis player.

Her interests today include spending time in the outdoors and painting. She has a good understanding of marketing, strong analytical and negotiating skills, and excellent communication skills. We wish Jemimah all the best in her position at BirdLife South Africa.

MARK D. ANDERSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Order our 2024 calendar now!

The 2024 Birds of Southern Africa calendar, sponsored by Chamberlain, will be available soon and you are welcome to send us your order now and be among the first to receive this colourful reminder of our region’s amazing birds. Simply go to birdlife.org.za/support-us/2024-calendar to place your order.

The stunning photographs featured in the calendar were entries in the BirdLife South Africa Photography Competition 2023, which raised much-needed awareness and funds for our conservation efforts. We are immensely grateful to these photographers, as well as all those who entered their images in support of our important conservation work.

The calendars will be on sale for R220 each. You can either collect them at BirdLife South Africa’s head office at Isdell House, 17 Hume Road, Dunkeld West, Johannesburg, or receive them via your nearest PostNet, for an additional R95.

For any enquiries, please contact me at membership@birdlife.org.za

SHIREEN GOULD, MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMME MANAGER

Have you seen the latest African Birdlife?

Look out for the eye-catching September/October issue of African Birdlife at your nearest retailer and enjoy a blend of art, science, travel and personalities – all relating to birds.

So what’s in this issue?

• The beautiful bird art of Zimbabwean artist Nicole Sanderson features on the magazine’s front cover and in her portfolio inside.
• As spring arrives, so too do the Southern Carmine Bee-eaters – in their thousands! Learn more about these wonderful birds.
• Read about Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park and why it’s a great birding destination.
• Renowned conservationist and artist Clive Walker enlightens us about bird art, from ancient cave paintings to modern guide books.
• European, Asian and North American bird populations are in flux, but what’s happening with South Africa’s common birds? Peter Ryan shares some ‘Common Truths’.
• The magazine’s youngest contributor yet reviews Faansie’s Bird Book 2.

Celebrating National Arbor Month at schools

National Arbor Month is celebrated annually in September. With the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) as its custodian, the campaign aims to make communities aware of the need to conserve, protect and plant trees for the environmental benefits they provide and for people’s livelihoods. National Arbor Month focuses on tree planting and also promotes the greening initiative, which is an integrated approach to the planting, care and management of all vegetation in urban and rural areas to secure multiple benefits for communities.

The theme for this year is ‘Forests and health’ and during September we have been acknowledging the cultural values, symbolic functions and ecosystem services of South Africa’s forests. Forests feature in language, history, art, religion, medicine, politics and even social structure, and they provide a venue for religious, social and healing ceremonies. Their trees are believed by some to house the spirits of ancestors, as well as those of the newborn.

Trees play a role in many people’s lives. In most African countries, their bark, roots, fruits, seeds, flowers and leaves are commonly used in traditional medicine for general health care and to treat a variety of complaints. The buffalo thorn, for example, is a tree I was familiar with when I was growing up. Its branches were used to protect the cattle kraal and the leaves, bark and roots are used for pain relief and respiratory problems. According to our cultural beliefs, it is also used to collect a dead person’s spirit after he dies away from home. Each community has its own traditions associated with a sacred tree.

Each year, BirdLife South Africa highlights a Bird of the Year with a campaign to raise awareness of that species. In 2023 the Bird of the Year is the Cape Parrot, a flagship species for forest habitat. With habitat loss and disease threatening its survival, the Cape Parrot is listed as Endangered in South Africa and conservation measures and awareness campaigns are applied to save it and its forest habitat.

On 7 September, BirdLife South Africa and the Ingula Nature Reserve’s environmental team went to Umvulo Primary (near Besters in KwaZulu-Natal) and Mphophomo Combined (near Van Reenen in the Free State) schools to celebrate Arbor Month. More than 200 learners and educators participated and seven trees were generously donated by Tuinhuis Nursery in Ladysmith and planted at the schools. A monetary donation was also received from Ladysmith birders. These donations ensured a very successful day and we are very grateful for the support and contributions. The Ingula environmental team, comprising Carina Pienaar, Bonginkosi Ndaba and Malcom Drummond, assisted as I facilitated the awareness activities and the planting of the trees.

STEVEN SEGANG, INGULA AND GRASSLAND CONSERVATION PROJECT ASSISTANT

Sounds of spring: birds, bees and bicycles

In my previous BioSCapes adventure I had a close encounter with a mountain bike while deploying Audiomoths. This time I had a close encounter with 500 of them!

Earlier that morning I had finished my own expedition on a mountain bike, collecting Audiomoths and doing point counts in the Baviaanskloof. Having packed bike and binoculars into the Toyota Landcruiser, I was dawdling my way back home, admiring the spectacular cliffs of the narrow and winding Nuwekloof Pass that takes one out of the kloof and up to the watershed that divides the rivers flowing east to Gqeberha and west to Oudtshoorn. Next thing a peloton of some 30 bikes is heading straight at me at speed. General chaos ensued as the speeding cyclists manoeuvred into single file to pass. At this stage I had no idea what was going on, but when a second peloton approached, it dawned on me I was driving headfirst into the TransBaviaans cycle race!

After a few more nerve-wracking blind corners, it was clear my windscreen wipers were just not strong enough to clear cyclists from the windscreen and the only thing to do was park the vehicle at the side of the road and pretend I was a spectator cheering on the riders. For a race, it took forever for the cyclists to pass. Let’s just say, there were few birds enjoying the longest single-stage mountain bike race in the world. And if no records were broken this year, that was probably on me. Sorry guys!

Spring in Baviaanskloof is a sensory feast, with the intersection of fynbos, thicket and savanna and the associated diversity of birds, and I was privileged to spend much of August in the valley. The flowering plants were nearly as colourful as the cyclists’ shirts and bikes, but easier to photograph. Towering Aloe ferox plants were in spectacular bloom, setting the stage for a vibrant congregation of Red-winged Starlings, sunbirds and canaries. The blossoms seemed to call forth life, both flora and fauna participating in a natural spectacle I am sure will be reflected in our audio recordings: the hum of birds, bees and bicycle tyres will feature strongly.

The end of August was the end of our winter campaign. As I write this, BioSoundScapes volunteers have deployed Audiomoths at some 660 locations and completed 450 point counts. September is for reconciling and checking data before we begin the summer survey in October.

As always, none of this would be possible without the generous support of sponsors Italtile and Ceramics Foundation, AFRIT and Eskom. And, of course, we are grateful to NASA for the BioSCapes work. NASA’s commitment to conservation enables us to not only venture into these magnificent landscapes, but also bring back invaluable data and insights.

However, our work is far from over. Each season brings new challenges and opportunities, and every recorded sound byte is a note in the ongoing symphony of South African biodiversity. I hope you are all ears for what comes next!

DR ALAN LEE, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION PROGRAMME MANAGER

Bigger is better

The Steenkampsberg plateau encompasses more than 21 000ha of near-pristine grassland, wetland and rocky outcrops in northern Mpumalanga. In 2017 the Greater Lakenvlei Protected Environment, initially covering 14 305ha, was established to protect these habitats on private farms on the plateau. A protected environment is a type of biodiversity stewardship agreement between provincial authorities and private or communal landowners that aims to encourage sustainable land management for the benefit of nature conservation. Biodiversity stewardship acknowledges landowners as the custodians of nature and creates a platform that enables authorities and NGOs to help landowners in the management of their natural resources.

Since 2021, BirdLife South Africa and the Endangered Wildlife Trust have been assisting Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency and the Greater Lakenvlei Protected Environment Landowners’ Association with assessing sites, interviewing landowners and providing motivation to expand the protected environment. We are pleased to announce that the expansion has been achieved and the Greater Lakenvlei Protected Environment now covers 21 753ha, with an additional 7448ha.

BirdLife South Africa provides support to the participating landowners by way of biodiversity surveys, wildlife-friendly fencing, establishing birding routes, appealing developments that are incompatible with conservation and contributing to wetland rehabilitation, among other projects. We acknowledge and thank the partners involved in this collaboration.

If you would like to read more about the expansion, please go to https://www.birdlife.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Media-Release-Expansion-of-the-Greater-Lakenvlei-Protected-Environment_FINAL.pdf

DR KYLE J. LLOYD, WETLAND CONSERVATION PROJECT MANAGER/ROCKJUMPER FELLOW OF WHITE-WINGED FLUFFTAIL CONSERVATION

New birding routes for Steenkampsberg

BirdLife South Africa invites you to visit the new Steenkampsberg Birding Routes, which it and the Escarpment Bird Club have established around the town of Dullstroom in northern Mpumalanga. The three routes take birders through the grasslands, wetlands, rocky outcrops and escarpment forest of the Steenkampsberg that are home to almost 400 bird species. Signboards in Dullstroom and along each route are linked to a dedicated web page via a QR code. On this page, visitors can view and download information about the routes, such as GPS tacks, accommodation options and species lists, as well as information about butterflies, dragonflies, wildflowers, geology and more. Visit the page at birdlife.org.za/steenkampsberg

BirdLife South Africa’s communication team and Inkanyezi Film Company have developed a spectacular short film showcasing the routes: youtube.com/watch?v=URxZcRT8biI

The routes serve to create public awareness about birds and their natural environment through experiences, as well as a financial incentive for farmers who derive income from ecotourism to look after the biodiversity on their property. We would like to thank the many individuals and groups who contributed to this project to make it a success, including Santa Fishing Estate, Verlorenkloof Estate, The Cowshed, Elands Valley Guest Farm, Friends of Verloren Valei, Deynecke Engineering, Greystone Lodge, Dullstroom Accommodation, The Coachman, Pam Golding, Dullstroom on the Dam and The Dullstroom Bird of Prey and Rehabilitation Centre. Special thanks go to George Skinner, previous chair of the Escarpment Bird Club, who helped make this possible.

DR KYLE J. LLOYD, WETLAND CONSERVATION PROJECT MANAGER/ROCKJUMPER FELLOW OF WHITE-WINGED FLUFFTAIL CONSERVATION

Birdies and eagles

A fundraising golf tournament was hosted by the Pretoria Region of the South African National Parks Honorary Rangers at the Skukuza golf course on 26 and 27 August. Over the years, BirdLife South Africa has been a proud supporter of the SANParks Honorary Rangers and once again donated copies of African Birdlife to add to the goodie bags that were presented to the golfers taking part in this year’s tournament.

This annual event was once again very well attended and much-needed funds were raised for various projects that the Honorary Rangers are involved in for SANParks. The organising committee of the Pretoria Region of SANParks Honorary Rangers would like to thank BirdLife South Africa for its continued support in aid of conservation and we look forward to next year’s event on the ‘Wildest Golf Course in the World’.

NORMAN LOK, PRETORIA REGION OF SANPARKS HONORARY RANGERS

BBD is nearly 39 years old!

It’s quite extraordinary to think that the first Birding Big Day (BBD) took place more than 38 years ago. Paper lists were still the order of the day, you had to post your list to the organising committee and the results were published months later… How things have changed! Now you can log your data on the mobile app BirdLasser and view your and other teams’ data on an online map within minutes of logging it anywhere in South Africa.

The challenge, however, remains much the same as it was all those years ago. A team logs as many bird species as it can within a 50km radius and within 24 hours. It depends on you how seriously you want to take this challenge. You can plan which route to take, which species to target or arrange entrance to private properties months ahead. Or you can take a more relaxed approach, select your favourite birding spot and bird for a few hours, enjoying your time with birding friends. In recent BBDs over 400 teams comprising more than 1000 passionate birders have taken part. Come and join this exciting event!

How to participate? Create a team of at least four birders, select your birding location and complete the registration process at birdlife.org.za/birding-big-day-2023-entry-form/. You can choose to log your sightings using the BirdLasser mobile app or the traditional method of jotting down species on paper.

For more information about BBD see birdlife.org.za/support-us/events/birding-big-day-2023/ or e-mail bbd@birdlife.org.za. Don’t miss out on this fantastic and fun event. Join us, and together let’s make Birding Big Day 2023 an unforgettable adventure!

ERNST RETIEF, BIRDING BIG DAY ORGANISER

Get the full Ntsikeni experience

Bird guide Dalu Ngcobo likes nothing more than to show birders the many different species in his patch. For more information, visit birdlife.org.za/what-we-do/landscape-conservation/protecting-ecosystems/ntsikeni-nature-reserve-community-project/

Weaving research and practice 

Debates surrounding the delicate balance between the urgent deployment of renewable energy infrastructure and the imperative to conserve our natural ecosystems – often referred to as the ‘Green versus Green’ dilemma – can quickly devolve into polarised positions. Undaunted by this challenge, a diverse group of 60 dedicated individuals came together at the Birds and Renewable Energy Forum 2023 to exchange ideas, collaborate and network. Their collective goal? To find solutions that protect our birds in the face of expanding renewable energy development.

Hosted by BirdLife South Africa, the forum took place on 31 August and 1 September at Kirstenbosch, Cape Town, and attracted attendees from various sectors, including industry, government, NGOs, environmental assessment practitioners, consulting bird specialists and academics. This gathering provided a crucial platform for knowledge sharing. Academics and consultants used the opportunity to present ground-breaking research and approaches to assessing impacts, while representatives from both national and provincial governments, as well as industry stakeholders, shared the latest updates and insights from their respective sectors.

The forum comprised two workshops. Recognising the importance of evidence-based decisions, the first workshop was dedicated to identifying critical research gaps. This exercise aimed to guide future research endeavours, ensuring they align with the most pressing research needs that cannot be adequately addressed on a project-by-project basis.

In the second workshop, participants brainstormed solutions to overcome obstacles hindering the effective implementation of mitigation measures during the operational phase of renewable energy projects. With robust discussion, participants addressed real-world challenges head-on and proposed potential solutions.

The resounding success of the event was evident from the positive feedback received from participants. Senior environmental manager Justine Wyngaardt described it as ‘collaborative cross-sectoral weaving of research and practice, identifying knowledge gaps and co-producing solutions in navigating polarising development and conservation agendas’. PhD student Merlyn Nomusa Nkomo voiced her appreciation, stating, ‘This workshop was a great way to experience the kind of conservation research I aim to be part of, the kind that seeks solutions to move people and nature forward into a better future.’

BirdLife South Africa extends its heartfelt gratitude to all presenters and participants who generously dedicated two days of their valuable time to engage in this event. We also thank SANBI for providing the venue, the Endangered Wildlife Trust for arranging the catering and Investec Rhino Lifeline and the Lewis Foundation for their sponsorship that enables our important work to continue.

But what’s next? The Birds and Renewable Energy Forum is more than an event; it must be a stepping stone to lasting change. The insights and recommendations generated during this forum have an important role to play in shaping policies, setting research priorities and driving on-the-ground conservation efforts.

With this in mind, the Policy & Advocacy team (comprising Melissa Lewis, Kirsten Day and ourselves) met at BirdLife South Africa’s new office in Claremont the day after the forum. During a day-long strategy session, we discussed how the ideas shared during the forum might be turned into tangible, sustainable action over the coming months. The results of these discussions will be highlighted in future e-newsletters.

SAMANTHA RALSTON-PATON AND JOHN GIBBS, BIRDS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT