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.

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Eagerly awaited new edition 

Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa

Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 12/17/2009)Buy Now

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 


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Saddle-Billed Stork, Africa

Brian Kenney

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Saddle-billed Stork 

Category: File - :Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis -Tanzania-8a.jpg|right|thumb|Catching a fish in Tanzania

The Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) is a large wading bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species which is a resident breeder in sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa, and in The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Chad in west Africa.

This is a close relative of the widespread Asian Black-necked Stork, the only other...

Birding Guides for South Africa 

Birds of Africa South of the Sahara (Princeton Field Guides)

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List Price: $49.50

Birds of Africa South of the Sahara: A Comprehensive Illustrated Field Guide

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List Price: $47.95

Birds of Southern Africa (Collins Illustrated Checklist)

If you either briefly visit the southern African region, or live there and want to have a second, brief and concise field guide, look no further: Ber van Perlo fulfilled your need.

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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 Standing on Buffalo, Kruger National Park, South Africa 

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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Red-Billed Oxpecker Standing on Buffalo, Kruger National Park, South Africa, Photographic Poster Print by Andrew Parkinson, 16x12

* Print Title: Red-Billed Oxpecker Standing on Buffalo, Kruger National Park, South Africa
* Artist: Andrew Parkinson
* Size: 16 x 12 inches

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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 

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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 

Grey Crowned Crane by Lord Biro

Check out that hair! I'm envious.- Grey Crowned Crane

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Weaver Birds in action 


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

Weaver bird nests (and quick glimpse of bird). Border between Swaziland and South Africa.

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New Amazon Plexo - birds of southern Africa 

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa by Kenneth Newman

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa by Kenneth Newman

The eighth edition has been updated to incorporate more...0 points

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Secretary Bird 

The Secretarybird or Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large, mostly terrestrial bird of prey. Endemic to Africa, it is usually found in the open grasslands and savannah of the sub-Sahara. Although a member of the order Accipitriformes, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards, vultures, and harriers, it is given its own family, Sagittariidae.

It appears on the coats of arms of Sudan and South Africa.

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Travelon ID & Boarding Pass Holder w/ Snap Closure 6250

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Blue Crane - the National Bird of South Africa 

The Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus), also known as the Stanley Crane and the Paradise Crane, is the national bird of South Africa. It is a tall, ground-dwelling bird, but is fairly small by the standards of the crane family. It is 100-120 cm (40-47 in) tall and weighs from 4 to 6.2 kg (8.8-13.6 lbs). This crane is pale blue-gray in colour with a white crown, a pink bill, and long, dark gray wingtip feathers which trail to the ground.

Cranes 

Cranes: A Natural History of a Bird in Crisis

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Species profiles are included, along with range maps and conservation status of: * Black-crowned crane * Red-crowned crane * Black-necked crane * Sandhill crane * Blue crane * Sarus crane * Brolga * Siberian crane * Demoiselle crane * Wattled crane * Eurasian crane * White-naped crane * Grey crowned crane * Whooping crane * Hooded crane.

Birds of the World 

One of the most comprehensive single-volume reference works on birds ever produced.

Birds of the World: A Photographic Guide

Amazon Price: $27.72 (as of 12/17/2009)Buy Now

With photographs and descriptions of over 1,300 species, plus a full listing of every bird species in the world, this outstanding reference is an up-to-date portrait of the world birds.

by World-Birder

Hello world. My dream is to bird the world!  ....and I will.
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