BDI Citizen Science

12/10/2026

Cover image: Klaas’s Cuckoo by Tony Archer – Near Klerksdorp, North West.
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Klaas's Cuckoo is a brood parasite but is not host-specific and is known to parasitise at least 18 species in southern Africa.

11/10/2026

Cover image: Lesser Honeyguide by Gregg Darling – Baviaanskloof Conservation Area, Eastern Cape.
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The Lesser Honeyguide is widespread in Africa, from Ethipia east to Senegal and south to South Africa. It is a brood parasite. laying eggs in barbet nests

10/10/2026

The Black-winged Kite is a distinctive smallish grey and white raptor with a black shoulder patch and bright red eyes. Read more below 👇🏻

The Black-winged Kite is a distinctive smallish grey and white raptor with a black shoulder patch and bright red eyes.

09/10/2026

Tchagras belong to the Bushshrike family MALACONOTIDAE. Other members of this group include Boubous, Bushshrikes, Puffbacks, and Gonoleks. They are smallish passerine birds with robust bodies, strong legs and feet, and formidable shrike-like bills. Many are very colourful and most species are rather secretive. Read more below 👇🏻

The Southern Tchagra is common in the south of its range, but uncommon to rare in the north. It is endemic to South Africa and eSwatini.

08/10/2026

🐦 Calling all bird ringers to join the 2026 Ringers' Symposium!

We're looking forward to welcoming bird ringers from across South Africa and beyond to the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area this November.

Organised by the Biodiversity and Development Institute (BDI), the symposium runs from 6-12 November 2026. And there'll be plenty of opportunities to get out into the field for some bird ringing too!

Our CEO Ross Kettles and Conservation Manager Erica Brink will both be presenting, sharing insights from our conservation work on the Agulhas Plain.

Interested in joining? Email Susan Gie at [email protected] to register.

Find out more: https://thebdi.org/2026/09/28/ringers-symposium-6-to-12-november-with-8-to-10-november-as-core-dates/

Image credit: Les Underhill

BDI Citizen Science

02/10/2026

Tomorrow is our Ringers Open Day at Grotto Bay Private Nature Reserve!

We can’t wait to welcome you and share a wonderful day of bird ringing, learning and connecting with nature.

Remember, booking is essential.

📧 To book your spot, contact us at [email protected]

See you tomorrow!

25/09/2026

Cover image of Red-capped Lark Lark by Ryan Tippett – Carnarvon district, Northern Cape
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Cover image of Red-capped Lark Lark by Ryan Tippett – Carnarvon district, Northern Cape Larks are passerine birds of the family ALAUDIDAE. The larks are a group of mostly Old World passerine birds. Most species are found in Africa, followed by Asia and Europe with two species occurring ...

24/09/2026

The Black-necked Grebe is an attractive species with distinct breeding and non-breeding plumage. The sexes are alike.
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The Black-necked Grebe breeds irregularly and opportunistically at flooded ephemeral pans, dams, and seasonal wetlands.

23/09/2026

Rails belong to the Family: RALLIDAE. This family also includes Crakes, Swamphens, Flufftails, Gallinules, Moorhens and Coots etc. Their physiology is diverse, but most have laterally compressed bodies, short tails, short rounded wings and well developed legs and feet. The bill structure is variable. Most birds in this family inhabit wetlands or forest undergrowth and are usually vocal and highly secretive.
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More often heard than seen, the African Rail is a retiring and skulking species, but is not shy within the shelter of dense vegetation.

22/09/2026

Cover image of Lesser Swamp Warbler by Johan Heyns – Marievale Bird Sanctuary, Gauteng
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The Lesser Swamp Warbler forages low down in reeds and among other aquatic plants, often just above the water.