10,000 Birds

JULY 15, 2015

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. It was pretty awesome to see so many tuskers, as well as families of elephants safe in their special park.

South Africa 146

South Africa Elephants Africa Lions 146

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2012

Even in the tropics there are few birds that excel some of our own in elegance and beauty of plumage and we have an unusually large number of species considering the smallness of the area they inhabit. ” (Woodward brothers, “Natal Birds”, 1899) The mighty Drakensberg Mountains run along the western boundary of KwaZulu-Natal province.

Mozambique 188

Mozambique South Africa Africa Collecting 188

10,000 Birds

MAY 27, 2015

It all comes back to a split in one of the great bird families, the Turdidae, or thrushes. Once upon a time, when I started birding, this great family included a wide range of species collectively known as the robins and chats. They are a single genus, Cichladusa , with three species, found mostly in Central and Eastern Africa.

Mozambique 165

Mozambique Zambia Zimbabwe Namibia 165

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2012

Originally they were all placed in the family Capitonidae , but over time taxonomists have determined that actual relationships between these barbets are far more complex. They are generally cryptic species and despite frequent extended bouts of calling, their ventriloquial skills make them tricky to locate. Benson to collect birds.

Ethiopia 232

Ethiopia Tanzania Africa Uganda 232