10,000 Birds

JULY 15, 2015

The history of Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa is a slightly unusual one. It was founded as a safe place for refugees from the Mozambique Civil War , which ran from 1977 to 1992. But it wasn’t founded to serve as a refuge for human refugees, but animal ones, specifically elephants.

South Africa 145

South Africa Elephants Africa Lions 145

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2012

After one 3 year stint, they left with 131,405 specimens including birds, mammals, reptiles, plants and even human remains (which were only recently repatriated for burial in Africa!) The beautiful Pink-throated Twinspot is another highly range-restricted species occurring along the Zululand coastal plain and into southern Mozambique.

Mozambique 184

Mozambique South Africa Africa Collecting 184

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2015

How many copies of Sasol does one human need? A bird drove me nuts in Tembe Elephant Park, as I couldn’t find it on the app. With one exception the cisticolas I recorded were picked out by call or a human guide. When I got to South Africa though I was struck with some indecision.

Africa 152

Africa South Africa Zimbabwe Penguins 152

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 27, 2013

Similarly, the property protects an impressive large mammal fauna; it contains globally significant populations of African elephant (Loxodontha africana) (106,300), black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) (2,135) and wild hunting dog (Lycaon pictus). With no permanent habitation inside its boundaries, human disturbance is low.

Lions 181

Lions Killing Hunting Hunters 181

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2012

This remote region of Cryptosepalum forests is little changed by human hands (somewhat of a rarity in these times of devastating habitat destruction) yet this species has not been relocated despite extensive searches by birders (including myself). The reasons for this hugely fragmented population have yet to be fully unraveled.

Ethiopia 225

Ethiopia Tanzania Africa Uganda 225