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Birding in South Africa with Grandma

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A Top Birding Destination - South Africa

Birds of Southern Africa

The national bird of South Africa is the Blue Crane (see pic to left)

With so many different habitats in southern Africa, the bird life is diverse with over 950 species.

South Africa ranks as one of the top birding destinations in the world.

Eagerly awaited new edition

Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa

by: Norman Arlott, Phil Hockey, Ian Sinclair

Amazon Price: $16.95 (as of 02/16/2012)

This eagerly awaited new edition of The Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa has been brought fully up to date with the third edition of the Field Guide to Birds of Southern Africa. The new edition incorporates the most recent information about bird taxonomy, as well as the latest bird names based on recommendations of the International Ornithological Committee. All distribution maps have been revised and feature dual shading to show relative abundance of a species in the region, as well as crosses to indicate the occurrence of vagrants. Numerous illustrations have been updated and revised where necessary. The essays on identifying problem species have also been revised and updated to bring the book in line with international birding developments.

Saddle Billed Stork

Saddle-Billed Stork, Africa

Brian Kenney

30x40 Phot...

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Birding Guides for South Africa

Knysna Lourie

The Knysna Lourie is one of the most colourful endemic birds in South Africa. They are found in forested areas and are bright green with a short, hooked beak and scarlet wings.

Red-billed Oxpecker

The Red-billed Oxpecker nests in tree holes lined with hair plucked from livestock. It lays 2-5, average 3, eggs. Outside the breeding season it forms large, chattery flocks.

The preferred habitat is open country, and the Red-billed Oxpecker eats insects. Both the English and scientific names arise from this species' habit of perching on large wild and domesticated mammals such as cattle and eating ticks. An adult will take nearly 100 engorged female Boophilus decoloratus ticks, or more than 12,000 larvae in a day.

However, their most favorite food is blood, and while they may take on ticks bloated with blood, they also feed on it directly, pecking at the mammal's wounds to keep them open to more parasites. So, what the bird does good to the mammal, is negated by it keeping the wounds open to parasites and disease.

This is a medium-sized passerine, 20 cm long with strong feet. The Red-billed Oxpecker has plain brown upperparts and head, buff underparts and a pale rump. The bill is red, and adults have a yellow eyering, both clear distinctions from the related Yellow-billed Oxpecker. Its flight is strong and direct, and the call is a hissy crackling trik-quisss.

source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-billed_Oxpecker
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Explore South Africa

Seabird viewing off Simon's Town and Cape Point: Simon's Town has long been internationally acclaimed for its unique African Penguin colony and its 'fynbos' bird specials such as the charismatic Cape Sugarbird and the striking Orange-breasted Sunbird. Now it enjoys worldwide recognition as a base for international birdwatchers in search of seabirds or 'pelagic' species as they are known in birding circles.
Great White Pelican: South Africa - Great White Pelican
Cape Sugarbird: The Cape Sugarbird shows a distinct preference for Cape Fynbos which has many protea plants.

Key birding areas in South Africa

Wakkerstroom. Wakkerstroom is visited by most of the birding tours that come to South Africa and as a result has well-developed facilities, including resident guides.

The special birds of this area are Rudd's and Botha's Larks, Yellow-breasted and African Rock Pipits, the Bush Blackcap, Blue and White-bellied Korhaans, Stanley's Bustard, the Blue, Grey-crowned and Wattled Cranes, the Southern Bald Ibis, and the White-winged Flufftail

Cape Town. The endemics include fynbos specials such as the Orange-breasted Sunbird, the Cape Sugarbird, the Cape Siskin, the Protea Seedeater and the Hottentot Buttonquail. The Cape Rockjumper is found on the craggy mountainsides, Knysna and Victoria's Warblers in the damper valleys, and a variety of larks in the dry interior.

Zululand.The north-eastern part of KwaZulu-Natal is one of the most species-rich areas of South Africa, with a tropical feel and spectacular birds to match.
Birding facilities are exceptionally well developed in this region, as the Zululand Birding Route is centred on Eshowe. The Dlinza Forest in Eshowe has recently opened a forest boardwalk that takes you into the canopy, and from there you can eyeball canopy species such as Delegorgue's Pigeon, the Grey Cuckooshrike and the Crowned Eagle. You can also peer down on the secretive Spotted Ground Thrush.

African Bird Art

Crowned Crane

Portrait Of Crowned Crane (Balearica Regulorum Gibbericeps), South Africa Framed Art Print

Van Zandbergen,...

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South Africa Bird Links

BirdLife South Africa: Bird conservation projects, events, news, merchandise, Witwatersrand Bird Club, and birding reports.
Birdwatching in Southern Africa: Photo gallery, Pretoria Bird Club, Zululand Birding Route, trip reports, and tours.
Dullstroom Bird Of Prey Centre: Educational and rehabilitation center in South Africa.
Hoedspruit, South Africa - Bird Background: Information about birds in the Lowveld region of South Africa.
South Africa West Coast Bird Club: Newsletter, bird routes, and photographs.
Spook's African Bird Gallery: South African bird photographs
ZABirdStuff: Birding spots, trips, tours, and general information for birding South Africa.
Zest For Birds: Guide to Southwest Cape birding with the latest rarity news, seasonal checklists, birding for endemics, pelagic birding, trip schedule and reports, taxonomic issues, photo gallery, the SA 700 Club, and tours based in Cape Town, South Africa.
Zululand Birding Route: Network of self-guided or guided birding routes in South Africa. Descriptions of routes, tour guides, accommodations, photo gallery, and advice.

Photos from Flickr

Weaver Birds in action

Cape Weaver, Ploceus Capensis, at Nest, Western Cape, South Africa, Africa

Cape Weaver, Ploceus Cape... Steve Toon 30x40 Phot... Buy From Art.com

Birding in South Africa with Grandma

A Top Birding Destination - South Africa

Eagerly awaited new edition

Saddle Billed Stork

Birding Guides for South Africa

Knysna Lourie

Red-billed Oxpecker

Explore South Africa

Key birding areas in South Africa

African Bird Art

Crowned Crane

South Africa Bird Links

Photos from Flickr

Weaver Birds in action

New Amazon Plexo - birds of southern Africa

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