BirdLife Botswana

02/09/2026

Dear BLB member

The bird walk on next Sunday, 6th September will be at Gaborone Dam, below BirdLife Botswana's offices, where there is a small impoundment, attractive to waterbirds. There are plenty of birds to be seen there, including, possibly, Malachite Kingfisher and Western Osprey.

We will meet at Molapo Crossing at 6 30 am for a prompt departure. Note our earlier summer meeting time of 6 30 am. Please bring binoculars, a chair and some refreshments. Looking forward to seeing you.

Regards
Chris

03/08/2026

Yesterday's, we had a very excellent walk with variety of water birds and birds on the grass also well attended at Mr & Mrs Jaudi's farm and Bokaa Dam. Here is the list of birds identified:
Green-backed Camaroptera(Gray-backed)
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Black-chested Prinia
Rattling Cisticola
Western House-martin
Chestnut-vented Warbler
Red-billed Oxpecker
Marico Flycatcher
Kalahari Scrub-Robin
White-browned Scrub-Robin
Scaly Weaver
Common Waxbill
Green-winged Pytilia
Cape Sparrow
African Pipit
Yellow Canary
Great Egret
Grey Heron
Black-headed Heron
Common Hoopoe (Africa)
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Lilac-breasted Roller
Chinspot Batis
Brown-crowned Tchagra
Southern Boubou
Fork-tailed Drongo
Pied Crow
Short-clawed Lark
Rufous-naped Lark
Long-bellied Crombec
Yellow-bellied Eremomela
Burnt-neck Eremomela
Egyptian Goose
Spur-winged Goose
Yellow-billed Duck
Red-billed Duck
Southern Pochard
Ring-necked Dove
African Palm Swift
Red-knobbed Coot
Blacksmith Lapwing
Crowned Lapwing
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Yellow-billed Stork
Reed Cormorant
African Sacred Ibis
African Spoonbill

31/07/2026

Dear BLB member

The bird walk on next Sunday, 2nd August will be near Bokaa Dam. We will walk from the farm down to the dam a km away and have a short walk along the shore of Bokaa Dam. We will see a variety of waterbirds and birds of grassland and hopefully we will see the first of the summer migrants.

We will meet at Molapo Crossing at 7 30 am on Sunday for a prompt departure. Please bring binoculars, refreshments and a chair. Looking forward to seeing you.

Regards
Chris

06/07/2026

🦅 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝟓 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬?

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This questionnaire seeks to assess current knowledge of vultures and their ecological role, explore prevailing perceptions and myths surrounding these birds, and identify the human behaviors — such as poisoning and habitat destruction — that most severely threaten their survival. Your responses ...

11/06/2026

On this World Saltmarsh Day, let us appreciate and protect these special landscapes. They are part of Botswana’s natural heritage, part of our birding pride, and part of the delicate systems that connect water, wildlife and people.


Happy World Saltmarsh Day.

08/06/2026

BirdLife Botswana is saddened by the reported death of 30 vultures in the Phuduhudu area, between Nxai Pan National Park and Makgadikgadi Pans National Park a few days ago.

This is a deeply concerning incident, especially at a time when vulture populations across Botswana and the wider African continent continue to face serious threats. Vultures are among the most threatened groups of birds in the world, yet they play an irreplaceable role in keeping our landscapes clean, healthy, and safe by removing carcasses before they can spread disease.

At this stage, the cause of death is suspected to be poisoning while investigations are ongoing. BirdLife Botswana therefore urges the relevant authorities and stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency and ensure that a thorough investigation is carried out to determine what happened. Understanding the cause is critical, not only for accountability, but also to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The loss of 30 vultures is not just a loss of birds, it is a loss to our natural heritage, our ecosystems, and the communities that share these landscapes. For species that are already under pressure from poisoning, habitat disturbance, collisions with powerlines, belief-based use, and declining food availability, every individual matters.

BirdLife Botswana calls on members of the public, communities, farmers, tourism operators, and all conservation partners to remain vigilant and report any suspicious wildlife deaths immediately to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks or relevant authorities. We also appeal to the public not to touch or move carcasses, as this may interfere with investigations and could pose health risks.

This tragic incident is a reminder that vulture conservation requires collective action. Protecting vultures means protecting the health of our environment, our wildlife, and our people.

BirdLife Botswana remains committed to working with government, communities, conservation partners, and other stakeholders to safeguard Botswana’s vultures and the ecosystems they support.

May this incident strengthen our efforts to protect these silent cleaners of our landscapes before it is too late.

NB: 📸Not related to the incident.

05/06/2026

World Environment Day 2026

Today, BirdLife Botswana joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Environment Day , under the theme;
“Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.”

This theme reminds us that nature is not separate from our survival. It is the foundation of clean air, fresh water, food security, healthy ecosystems, and climate resilience. For birds, the environment is everything. It provides nesting sites, feeding grounds, migration routes, shelter, breeding habitats, and safe spaces for survival. When wetlands dry up, grasslands are degraded, forests are cleared, or pollution enters our rivers and landscapes, birds are often among the first to show us that nature is under pressure.

Birds are powerful indicators of environmental health. Their presence, decline, movement, and breeding success tell us a story about the state of our ecosystems. Protecting birds therefore means protecting the habitats that support many other species, including people.

As we reflect on this year’s theme, BirdLife Botswana calls on individuals, communities, institutions, and decision-makers to take stronger action for nature and climate. Caring for the environment is not only about protecting wildlife;
it is about securing our own future. Healthy ecosystems help buffer communities against climate change, support livelihoods, sustain biodiversity, and keep the natural systems we all depend on functioning.

This World Environment Day, let us be inspired by nature to act with urgency, responsibility, and unity. Every tree protected, every wetland conserved, every grassland restored, every piece of waste properly managed, and every bird habitat safeguarded contributes to a healthier planet.

For birds.
For nature.
For climate.
For our future.

03/06/2026

Dear BLB member

Next Sunday's walk, on 7 June, will be near Manyana. The walk
will be along a flowing stream with many beautiful trees. Birds are plentiful there and we hope to see Streaky-headed Seedeaters and other species coming to drink at the stream. We will meet at Molapo Crossing at 7 30 am for a prompt departure. Please bring binoculars, refreshments and a chair.

See you there Sunday sharp!

Regards
Chris

03/06/2026

📣 𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭 (𝐄𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚) 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚 🦩🌿

On the 28th of May 2026, BirdLife Botswana, in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, convened at the Botswana Wildlife Training Institute (BWTI) in Maun to discuss the monitoring of the Slaty Egret in line with the AEWA Slaty Egret International Single Species Action Plan (ISSAP).

The meeting brought together key stakeholders to share updates on the status of the species, present findings from the Slaty Egret Survey on the distribution and identification of breeding sites in the Okavango Delta, and explore ways to strengthen the long-term monitoring of these important sites. 🗺️🐦

The Slaty Egret is listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, with a global population estimated at 3,000–5,000 individuals. Most of the population breeds in Botswana, particularly in the Okavango Delta and along the Chobe River in Botswana and Namibia. Its main threats include habitat change, fire, flooding, human disturbance, and the spread of Salvinia molesta. The species feeds mainly on fish and breeds in Phragmites reed beds, date palm thickets, water fig thickets, and flooded Acacia trees. 🌱🌊

The meeting highlighted just how special and how elusive this remarkable bird is, and reinforced the importance of strong collaboration between conservation partners, local communities, tourism operators, and field teams. It was a productive and insightful session, filled with valuable contributions, reflections, and renewed commitment to Slaty Egret conservation. 🙌🏽💚

📌 𝐀 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫: 𝟐𝟐 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐲

All volunteers are encouraged to actively participate in the counting exercise and record sightings from wherever they can. Every sighting counts and helps deepen our understanding of the Slaty Egret’s distribution, movements, and breeding patterns. 📋👀

Together, we can continue to protect this unique bird and the wetlands it depends on. 💚🦩

01/06/2026

🦅🌿 District Stakeholder Awareness Workshop on Lead (Pb) Poisoning in Vultures and Wildlife

On the 29th of May 2026, BirdLife Botswana hosted a successful District Stakeholder Awareness Workshop at Maun Lodge, bringing together key partners to exchange knowledge, raise awareness, and discuss practical solutions to address lead (Pb) poisoning in vultures, wildlife, and even human health. 🦅

The workshop featured valuable presentations and discussions from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Northwest District Council, Raptors Botswana, Department of Environmental Protection, Botswana Defence Force, and Botswana Wildlife Producers Association, among others. Participants explored the ecological importance of vultures, the risks of lead exposure, safe carcass disposal, and the need to transition to lead-free ammunition. 🌍

A big thank you to all speakers, stakeholders, and participants for your active engagement and commitment to conservation. Together, we can reduce lead exposure pathways and protect vultures, wildlife, and our environment for future generations. 💚