Birding stories – Travel Namibia

July 3, 2012

Damara tern breeding area now secure

The threatened breeding areas of the Damara tern, Sterna balaenarum, on the coastal dune belt between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay have been a conservation concern for […]

July 5, 2012

The elusive Nama Padloper

By Peter Cunningham The endemic Nama Padloper (Homopus bergeri) is a small tortoise with a reddish-brown carapace that is flattened and flexible. This structural design assists […]

July 6, 2012

Birders in Namibia: We twitch and tick and pursue

By Peter Bridgeford In some circles we birders have a bad reputation. We twitch, we tick and we tirelessly pursue sightings of rare birds in odd […]

July 12, 2012

Action plan for Namibia’s Cranes: Charismatic, elusive, and on the decline

By Mike and Ann Scott, Namibia Crane Working Group They’re large, elegant and striking. Graceful flyers, they seal a lifelong pair bond with an elaborate, jazzy […]

July 12, 2012

Birds of Prey Working Group: Birds with no boundaries

By Peter Bridgeford, Co-ordinator, Vultures Namibia To a vulture riding on the wind, soaring on motionless wings through the azure African sky, international boundaries are of […]

July 12, 2012

Flamingos in Africa: Flying into a fragile future

By Hu Berry As they lance the sky with crimson wings, flamingos follow ancient routes across Africa. Migration in tune with the rains is cardinal for […]

July 12, 2012

Namibia Crane Working Group – Where do the Blue Cranes go?

By Dr Ann Scott, Mike Scott and Dr Conrad Brain, Namibia Crane Working Group We are flying high over a hot, white landscape north of the Etosha […]

July 13, 2012

Damara Tern – Namibia’s desert-breeding seabird

By Justine Braby, Animal Demography Unit, University of Cape Town The Damara Tern is a curious little creature. It breeds in one of the harshest places […]

July 15, 2012

Pelicans – What a wonderful bird is the…

By Hu Berry Conservation science requires that quantitative data are provided to validate a statement. Consequently, when I enlarged the digital image of the ring on […]

July 17, 2012

Bird’s-eye view – Marabou stork

Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus Roberts’ No 89 By Pompie Burger Unpleasant both in looks and habits, I would say. Indeed, one can state categorically that the Marabou […]

July 17, 2012

Bird’s-eye view – African jacana

African jacana, Actophilornis africanus Roberts’ No R240 by Pompie Burger It’s neither their stunning eggs (possibly the most beautiful in the world), nor their ridiculously long toes, […]

July 18, 2012

Bird’s-eye view – African red-eyed bulbul

African Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus nigricans Roberts No 567 by Pompie Burger The Red-eyed Bulbul is probably one of the better-known and more frequently seen garden birds […]

July 18, 2012

Bird’s-eye view – Thick-billed weaver

Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons Roberts No 807 by Pompie Burger When writing an article a while back on the various weavers and their building abilities, I […]

July 19, 2012

Bird’s-eye view – African green-pigeon

African Green-Pigeon Treron calvus Roberts No 361 by Pompie Burger A pigeon-like parrot or, a parrot-like pigeon? In Afrikaans these birds are aptly called papegaaiduif, translated […]

July 19, 2012

Bird’s-eye view – African finfoot

African Finfoot Podica senegalensis Roberts No 325 by Pompie Burger The African distribution map of this very peculiar-looking bird shows the African Finfoot to be quite […]

July 19, 2012

Bird’s eye view – African openbill

African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus Roberts No 87 by Pompie Burger Koos Kombuis, the well-known Afrikaans songwriter, once wrote lyrics proclaiming that a student’s main pastime was […]

July 26, 2012

Bird’s-eye view – Grey go-away-bird

Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor Roberts No 373 by Pompie Burger I remember the first time a Gab came into our garden to drink water. Helga phoned […]

July 26, 2012

Bird’s-eye view – Long-tailed paradise-whydah

Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah Vidua paradisaea Roberts No 862 by Pompie Burger As far as garden birds are concerned, the Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah is definitely one of the most […]

July 26, 2012

Bird’s-eye view – White browed Robin Chat

White-browed Robin-Chat, Cossypha heuglini Roberts No 599 By Pompie Burger It’s not by chance that these good-looking birds are classified in Turdidae, the same family as the […]

July 27, 2012

Bird’s-eye view – African hoopoe

African Hoopoe, Upupa africana Roberts No 295 By Pompie Burger The hoopoe is one of the better-known and more easily identifiable birds in our gardens. Everything about […]