Of the +/- 850 bird species recorded in South Africa, about 725 are resident or annual visitors, and 50 of these are endemic or near-endemic to South Africa.
26 are threatened, including the jackass penguin, Cape vulture, martial eagle, bateleur and Cape parrot. The 5 endangered species are: wattled crane, roseate tern, Egyptian vulture, blackrumped buttonquail and blue swallow.
Birds are the most beautiful and accessible animals on earth. Birds are literally everywhere, and if one appreciates nature, one cannot but appreciate birds. There is almost nowhere where you cannot find birds !
There are a tremendous variety of birds. Worldwide there are 9730 different species. Birds exhibit a vast array of different behaviors, including many which humans can relate to. Many birds are sociable and exhibit a remarkable range of adaptive behaviors. Even some of the more common species (for example the Arrowmarked Babbler) have habits which bird scientists (Ornithologists) are only beginning to understand.
Birdwatching takes one to many of the most beautiful and exciting places on earth. If you want to meet someone who has seen the country, and knows every hidden treasure - just find an obsessive birder. Quite apart from Forests and Mountains, Bushveld and Vleis, some of the most sought after birds are found out in the open ocean, in remote river valleys, close to famous waterfalls or even at the Big Hole of Kimberley !
The idea of lions roaming South Africa would have had you laughed out of the bar a few years back but today, thanks to an ambitious project launched by an African entrepreneur, that concept has become a reality. Birds is in just its fourth year but already the idea of a reserve so close to a city has caused great excitement with the prospect of another jewel in the crown of this already incredibly diverse region.
The idea of lions roaming South Africa would have had you laughed out of the bar a few years back but today, thanks to an ambitious project launched by an African entrepreneur, that concept has become a reality.
Birds is in just its fourth year but already the idea of a reserve so close to a city has caused great excitement with the prospect of another jewel in the crown of this already incredibly diverse region. The idea of lions roaming South Africa would have had you laughed out of the bar a few years back but today.
The idea of lions roaming South Africa would have had you laughed out of the bar a few years back but today, thanks to an ambitious project launched by an African entrepreneur, that concept has become a reality. Birds is in just its fourth year but already the idea of a reserve so close to a city has caused great excitement with the prospect of another jewel in the crown of this already incredibly diverse region. |
