BirdLife South Africa

10/10/2026

Happy World Migratory Bird Day!

Subaru Southern Africa’s support is invaluable to our mission to conserve migratory birds like the European Roller. Visit https://birdlife.org.za/project/science/ to learn more about this work!

Subaru Southern Africa partnered with BirdLife South Africa for the...

10/10/2026

🚨🐧 Breaking news from De Hoop Nature Reserve!

Today’s African Penguin Day, and we’re thrilled to reveal that at least one successful breeding attempt has occurred at De Hoop this year.

This ambitious project, undertaken in partnership with SANCCOB and CapeNature aims to reestablish a safe and productive breeding ground for the African Penguin within the De Hoop nature reserve/marine protected area.

This event marks the 5th consecutive year of successful breeding attempts in the new colony! With your support, we hope to have many more.

What would you name this new chick if you could? Let us know in the comments!

10/10/2026

World Migratory Bird Day 2026

Heard a soft, bubbling call high overhead this week? Look up. 🐝🦜

European Bee-eaters are back! These jewel-coloured birds have flown thousands of kilometres from their breeding grounds as far away as eastern Europe to spend summer with us, catching bees and dragonflies on the wing.

This World Migratory Bird Day, the theme is Every Bird Counts: Your Observations Matter!

Every sighting you share is a dot on the map. Enough dots, and we can see the whole journey, and protect the places these birds need along the way.

📍 Spotted a bee-eater? Log it on SABAP2, eBird or iNaturalist.

For the next week, we'll be sharing the journeys of the migratory birds arriving in South Africa, and how BirdLife South Africa protects the sites they depend on. Follow along and join the flock.

07/10/2026

🔊 🎟️ This is your final boarding call for a once-in-a-lifetime birding trip to the Philippines!

Entries to the raffle close 16 October: Win a birding trip for two to the Visayan Islands, worth R150 000! 🌴

✈️ 8 days / 7 nights, 3 to 10 April 2027
🤝 With Rockjumper Worldwide Birding Adventures
🎟️ Includes return flights from Johannesburg

The Philippines is one of the world’s great birding frontiers, with many endemics and incredible species such as the Azure-breasted Pitta, Philippine Frogmouth and Visayan Hornbill on the list, plus tarsiers and the Philippine colugo (flying lemur) set against the stunning Chocolate Hills.

💚 Every cent raised supports BirdLife South Africa’s conservation work. You’ll be a winner either way!

👉 Enter now: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/380261-jackpot-birding-raffle-2026/?ref=link-campaign&lc=WA

06/10/2026

We’ve met Botha’s and Rudd’s larks (see previous reels), and now we’re meeting one more grassland special… this time, one from Ethiopia!

If you want to support our conservation work, check out the Botha’s Lark fundraiser: https://birdlife.org.za/project/bothas-lark-project/ -accordion-1

06/10/2026

Calling all bird conservationists and researchers in Africa! 🐦

The African Bird Club has grants available for bird conservation and research projects:

🌱 Conservation Award: up to £3,000
🏔️ Expedition Award: up to £5,000

Applications close at the end of October. Check the criteria and apply at africanbirdclub.org/apply-for-an-award/

Tag or share this with someone who has a great project idea! 👇

06/10/2026

Help us turn Maputaland green!

BirdLife South Africa is hosting an atlas bash in Maputaland with the aim of achieving at least four full protocol cards submitted to SABAP2 for every pentad across the region, with a special focus on finding the regionally Critically Endangered Southern Banded Snake Eagle

DATES: 6–8 November 2026 (Friday to Sunday)

CONTACT: If you are interested in participating, please contact Dr David Ehlers Smith at [email protected]

02/10/2026

How do you protect a bird that crosses continents and oceans?

Join us for the next episode of Conservation Conversations at 19:00 SAST on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, where we'll explore how tracking migratory birds is helping us protect the places they depend on.

Jess Wilmot from BirdLife South Africa works with European Rollers, Curlew Sandpipers and Grey Plovers, following their incredible journeys to understand where they go and which sites they need along the way. Join Jess as she shares what these birds are teaching us about migration, and how that knowledge can guide the protection of the sites that matter most. Every bird counts!

Register for this and future episodes here: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_x1mH7OlASwq3gOuav3lj_Q

30/09/2026

The Mouse-Free Marion Project presented by Dr Anton Wolfaardt of BirdLife South Africa

What does it take to protect seabirds on a remote island in the Southern Ocean? Join Dr Wolfaardt for a fascinating look at the mission to remove invasive mice from Marion Island and give its seabirds a safer future.

Anton has spent over 30 years working in seabird and marine conservation, beginning with a year as a seabird researcher on Marion Island. Come hear the story from someone who knows this extraordinary place firsthand.

Saturday 24 October at Kwendalo - our Bitou BirdingFestival hub.

Explore the festival programme and book your seat by going to our website.
Tickets are available through Quicket.

*Photos: Mouse Free Marion

29/09/2026

Now that we’ve met Botha’s Lark, say hello to Rudd’s Lark, another bird dependent on high-altitude grasslands for its survival!

Both birds are endemic to South Africa - meaning that if we lose them, we lose a bit of South Africa, forever 🇿🇦

With the support of Birding Ecotours, we are researching these species as well as others who call SA’s grasslands home, so we can better protect this natural heritage for generations to come.

To support this work, click here: https://birdlife.org.za/project/bothas-lark-project/ -accordion-1