Levaillant's Cuckoo and Levaillant's Cisticola are familiar birds to most South African birders. Experienced birders will almost certainly have both species on their life lists and have probably enjoyed multiple sightings of each. Yet while we know these birds well, many of us know very little about the remarkable man after whom they were named. It is this story that Ian Glenn explores in the revised second edition of The First Safari: Searching for François Levaillant. Befor

There are some people who discover a love for the bush later in life. Then there are people like Luzaan Large, who simply can't remember a time when it wasn't part of who they were. For this week's Photographer of the Week, we're introducing you to Luzaan, a 27 year old South African wildlife photographer whose life has been shaped by the Greater Kruger, the Olifants River, and an unwavering passion for sharing the stories of the wild. Today, Luzaan is living the dream she wo

One of the things I love about birding and wildlife photography is that there is always someone who reminds us that passion matters more than experience. For our first Photographer of the Week feature, I am excited to introduce you to Jack Paul, a 14-year-old wildlife photographer from Gauteng. For Jack, bird photography is about far more than taking pictures. It is about spending time in nature, observing wildlife, and patiently waiting for those special moments that tell a

When many birders think about Limpopo, they immediately think about the Kruger National Park. While Kruger is undoubtedly one of South Africa's great birding destinations, it is only part of the story. Limpopo is packed with incredible birding sites, from the arid plateau bushveld around Polokwane and forests of Magoebaskloof along the spectacular R71 route, the Soutpansberg mountains, and the legendary birding of northern Kruger. In a recent two-part episode of The Birding L

Yellow-billed Duck, photographed by Adam Cruickshank As we celebrate Youth Day in South Africa, it is a great time to focus on young people, how they are contributing to conservation and science, and what the future might look like. Over the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to get to know some of those who are already making a difference. The good news is that the future of science and bird conservation is in good hands. The three people I have been able to connect

Let’s be honest, LBJs can be very tricky to identify! This is not only true for newer birders, but also for experienced birders at times. Even when we think we know what we are doing, we will still sometimes be stumped by a bird we see. What I thought I would do is put together a simple guide to help you identify cisticolas better. You will still need to use your field guide or app alongside this guide, but I am confident that if you follow the steps I give you, you will impr