Dabchick Wildlife Reserve

3 weeks ago

𝘿𝘼𝘽𝘾𝙃𝙄𝘾𝙆 𝙒𝙄𝙇𝘿 𝘽𝙄𝙍𝘿𝙎
𝐃𝐖𝐑 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡!
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐘𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩
(𝙀𝙪𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙧)
𝐈𝐔𝐂𝐍 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬:
Least Concern

Also known as the Golden Bishop, the Yellow-crowned Bishop is a small, striking weaver found across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Ethiopia to South Africa. It has also been introduced to parts of southern Europe, Japan, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.

𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Measuring 10–11 cm and weighing 11–20 g, the Yellow-crowned Bishop is a compact bird with a very short tail.

Breeding males are unmistakable, with a golden-yellow crown, nape, back, and rump. Their face, throat, and belly are black, set off by a bold yellow breastband tinged with chestnut. They have dark brown wings and tails, with paler feather edges.

Nonbreeding males and females are streaky brown with darker central streaks, a white eyebrow, and a whitish throat and belly—similar in appearance to a sparrow. Juveniles resemble females but have broader buffy feather edges before their first moult.

💡“𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺,” says Dr Pamela Oberem.

𝐇𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
The Yellow-crowned Bishop thrives in wetland areas with tall grass, making it a reliable indicator of healthy ecosystems. Though native to Africa, it has successfully established populations in Iberia, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.

💡“𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘋𝘢𝘣𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴,” remarks Dr Pamela Oberem.

This lively bird is often detected by its dry, buzzing calls and the peculiar “𝙩𝙨’𝙚𝙚” hissing song of breeding males.
@top fans
𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝘿𝙖𝙗𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚? Share your experience in the comments!

🎼 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 & 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬!
ebird.org/species/yecbis?siteLanguage=en_ZA
📸 Warwick Tarboton

🦆Dabchick Wildlife Reserve offers great bird and other photography opportunities! Book your stay now!
#Birdwatching #Ecotourism

For reservations, contact Anele by email: hospitality@dabchick.co.za
AMES Foundation Waterberg Biosphere ReserveFor more information, visit www.dabchick.co.za

#ConserveWildlife #ProtectBiodiversity #Africa #BirdOfTheMonth #GoundHornbill #MabulaGroundHornbill #DabchickWildlifeReserve #WildlifeConservation #ConservationInAction ... See MoreSee Less

Dabchick Wildlife Reserve

2 months ago

𝘿𝘼𝘽𝘾𝙃𝙄𝘾𝙆 𝙒𝙄𝙇𝘿 𝘽𝙄𝙍𝘿𝙎
𝐃𝐖𝐑 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡!
𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥 (𝘽𝙪𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙫𝙪𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞)
𝐈𝐔𝐂𝐍 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬:
Global: Vulnerable
Regional: Endangered

The southern ground hornbill (𝘽𝙪𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙫𝙪𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞) has a wide distribution across Africa south of the equator.

‼️It is Globally Listed as Vulnerable (VU). In South Africa (RSA) however, its population is considered to be declining. Its distribution is now largely limited to conservation areas, so it was therefore Regionally Listed as EN in 2015. A regional estimate for RSA in 2008 estimated a population of around 1 400 individuals.

It is a unique and endangered bird species which has disappeared from 70% of its former range in South Africa, and the remaining populations are mostly only found in the Kruger National Park and various other conservation areas.

Although these large-bodied birds can fly, they have evolved a terrestrial habit to exploit a more carnivorous diet. Their long legs, short tails and short toes allow them to walk smoothly, rather than hop like other hornbills.

‼️Ground hornbill numbers have been drastically affected by human expansion, overgrazing and loss of trees, as well as poisoning by agricultural poisons and from lead contained in bullets.

The male birds are territorial and tend to smash windows when they see themselves reflected and are therefore persecuted by humans.

They are co-operative breeders with the group composed of one dominant male and one mature female bird, assisted by non-breeding helpers. The birds nest in large trees where these are available, or on rock faces or in holes in earth banks.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 (𝐌𝐆𝐇𝐏)
Mabula Ground Hornbill Project
The conservation efforts of the ground hornbill which have been initiated by the Mabula Ground Hornbill group are based on the observation of scientists Alan and Meg Kemp, who spent years studying the breeding and social behaviour of the birds. The Kemps observed that although the female laid and incubated two eggs, only one of the hatching chicks was fed, as the parents favour the stronger one for survival. They found that if the second unhatched egg was removed when there was one strong hatchling present, they could artificially incubate this egg and successfully raise the hatchling to adulthood.

💡The Mabula Ground Hornbill Project was initiated by the Kemp’s daughter, Dr Lucy Kemp, who, even as a child, had been involved in the raising of hornbill chicks. Supported by various funders, she and her team have harvested eggs from the wild in various parts of southern Africa, raising the chicks and socialising the birds in groups in “bush schools” in which the birds learn from each other how to forage in the wild. Breeding groups consist of a male and female, plus a few female helpers who assist them with feeding the chicks.

Over the years the Mabula project has accumulated prodigious knowledge and experience on the captive breeding of birds. Apart from the technicalities of feeding the hatchlings and chicks, they have done a lot of research on the feasibility of using artificial nests, given that suitable large trees have disappeared from many areas. After extensive trial and error, they hit on the right formula with regard to size and materials. These nests can be used at rewilding sites to encourage birds to breed.

🎬 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬! Visit
youtu.be/BtfQSBh48bI?si=Z0llD2TiFZgxmOFd to watch the video: ‘The Bringers of Thunder’. Published by Mabula Ground Hornbill Project.

💡Thus far, a number of successful rewilding projects have been executed but also many, many setbacks and disappointments have been endured.
AMES Foundation Dabchick Wildlife Reserve
💡“After years of collaboration with the MGHP, Dabchick Wildlife Reserve has successfully adopted a small group of birds suitable for rewilding. Their release in the Alma Valley will help expand the existing population on neighbouring conservancies, with the goal of establishing a viable metapopulation.” – Dr Pamela Oberem
Waterberg Biosphere Reserve Waterberg Tourism
💡𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨!

🎼 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 & 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬!
ebird.org/species/soghor1?siteLanguage=en_ZA
📸 Johan Swanepoel
@top fans
🦆Dabchick Wildlife Reserve offers great bird and other photography opportunities! Book your stay now!
#Birdwatching #Ecotourism

For reservations, email: hospitality@dabchick.co.za
For more information, visit www.dabchick.co.za

#ConserveWildlife #ProtectBiodiversity #Africa #BirdOfTheMonth #GoundHornbill #MabulaGroundHornbill #DabchickWildlifeReserve #WildlifeConservation #ConservationInAction ... See MoreSee Less

Dabchick Wildlife Reserve

3 months ago

𝘿𝘼𝘽𝘾𝙃𝙄𝘾𝙆 𝙒𝙄𝙇𝘿 𝘽𝙄𝙍𝘿𝙎
𝐃𝐖𝐑 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡!
𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞 (𝘼𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙖 𝙣𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙨)
𝐈𝐔𝐂𝐍 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: Endangered

The Steppe Eagle, a large dark-brown raptor with a wingspan of up to 200 cm, is classified as Endangered due to rapid population declines exceeding 50% over the past three generations. Its global population is estimated at fewer than 37,000 breeding pairs, with significant losses across much of its range. The species inhabits steppes and semi-deserts, feeding primarily on small mammals such as susliks and mole rats.

💡Migratory in nature, it winters in South Asia and Africa, forming large concentrations at bottleneck sites during migration.

‼️The Steppe Eagle faces numerous threats, with habitat loss being a major concern as steppes are converted to agricultural land or degraded by overgrazing, undergrazing, and mining. Nest destruction from spring fires, human disturbance, and declining prey availability further impact breeding success. Power lines are a significant danger, causing electrocution in regions like Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, while collisions with wind turbines exacerbate mortality.

‼️The use of harmful pesticides and veterinary drugs, particularly diclofenac, has severely affected populations in its wintering ranges. Illegal persecution, including hunting, poisoning, and nestling trade, continues in many areas.

‼️Studies also suggest the species was impacted by radioactive contamination following the Chernobyl disaster.

Conservation measures such as protecting grassland habitats, retrofitting powerlines, promoting a ban on diclofenac, and educating local communities are essential to mitigate these threats. Without urgent action, the Steppe Eagle’s decline is expected to continue at a rapid pace.

💡Dr Pamela Oberem comments,
“At Dabchick, we recently had the privilege of photographing a group of six Steppe Eagles actively hunting for termites. It was fascinating to observe their behaviour and agility during this feeding activity - an incredible reminder of the importance of conserving their habitats and protecting these majestic birds.”
Waterberg Biosphere Reserve Waterberg Tourism
𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝘿𝙖𝙗𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚? Share your experience in the comments!

🎼 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 & 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬!
ebird.org/species/steeag1?siteLanguage=en_ZA
📸 Nick Dale
@top fans AMES Foundation
🦆Dabchick Wildlife Reserve offers great bird and other photography opportunities! Book your stay now!
#Birdwatching #Ecotourism

For reservations, email: hospitality@dabchick.co.zaFor more information, visit www.dabchick.co.za
#ConserveWildlife #ProtectBiodiversity #Africa #BirdOfTheMonth #SteppeEagle #DabchickWildlifeReserve #WildlifeConservation #Raptors #ConservationInAction ... See MoreSee Less