29-05-2025
Birdlife SA launches revised Red Data Book
Birdlife South Africa are proud to launch the revised Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini 2025 (RDB-online).
This is a comprehensive, freely accessible online resource revealing the conservation status of the region's birds.
This announcement was made during their annual general meeting in Cape Town on Saturday (May 24), marking a pivotal moment for regional bird conservation.
Many of the birds listed as vulnerable or critically endangered can still be found within 50km of Ladysmith KZN. This includes White Winged Flufftails, Lesser Flamingos, Secretary Birds, White Backed Vultures, Grey Crowned Cranes and Crown Eagles, to name but a few.
The revised Red Data Book was put together over three years.
More than 137 ornithologists, conservationists and citizen scientists collaborated on 193 detailed reports to quantify 'risk of extinction' for the region's birds. This extends to an additional 70 endemic and near-endemic species still considered to be at a lower risk of extinction, such as the Cape Sugarbird and Orange-breasted Sunbird.
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The RDB-online provides insights into the conservation threats faced by the region's birds, as well as the effect of countermeasures put in place to protect them.
The findings are alarming yet hopeful, and provide crucial insights into threats and clear pathways for conservation action.
Ladysmith Birders president Peter Nelson had this to say about RDB-online, 'This is a seriously useful resource. I would recommend that everyone goes to look at the web page, as it's well worth the time.'
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