finch conservation | ornithology | aviculture

Cyclists cross Beit Bridge and are now in Zimbabwe

eelcomeyjes — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:30:09 +0000

Alex Antrobus and Murray Beaumont making good progress to eventually get to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, home to the elusive and threatened Shelley's crimson wing finch . One of Africa's rarest finches

On 7 Feb we announced that Alex Antrobus and Murray Beaumont were leaving Johannesburg to cycle all the way up to Uganda. The two of them plan to visit the Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation in Ruhija ,who are the valued ground partners to the Rare Finch Conservation Group, up at the magnificent Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the south-western part of Uganda.

Alex and Murray are both making great progress and have now left South Africa and cycling towards Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. The two of them will take about 10 to 20 days before they eventually reach the beautiful Victoria Falls and then cross their next border into Zambia

If you wish to find out more about their planned route through Africa simply log onto www.amanziawethu.org and it will give you some excellent blog and twitter updates on how things are progressing. It really is a great example of modern day communication working in some very out of the way places .

The RFCG is registered in South Africa as a non-profit organisation. For more information on this pioneering conservation group please contact editor@avitalk.co.za or visit www.rarefinch.co.za

Stunning new video footage from Bwindi ignites the world !

eelcomeyjes — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:00:56 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/embed/hg2hCuDy2wg

More than 1,600,000 have already seen the above video clip that was recently posted on YouTube. Bwindi is home to not only the threatened mountain gorillas, but also to one of the rarest finches in Africa the Shelley’s crimsonwing finch

Last week we announced that two young graduates from South Africa, Alex Antrobus and Murray Beaumont, are cycling all the way up to the magnificent Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is in the south-western part of Uganda.

Alex Antrobus left and Murray Beaumont right

Not many people know it yet, but Bwindi which is a tropical rain forest, with its 43 finch species which includes the threatened and elusive Shelley’s crimsonwing finch, is rapidly becoming the world’s top destination for finch enthusiasts.

If you wish to find out more about Alex and Murray’s progress through Africa on their exciting journey to Bwindi simply log onto www.amanziawethu.org. You will also be able to follow the two of them on facebook and twitter

The Rare Finch Conservation Group has no full-time staff members and every member of the group volunteers their skills and services in the interests of advancing finch conservation work. The RFCG is registered in South Africa as a non-profit organisation . It is totally dependent on donations and sponsorships for its future survival . The RFCG is currently raising funds ( US$ 25,000 is needed ) to finance its planned Phase 3 field research work in Uganda. For more information on this pioneering conservation group please contact editor@avitalk.co.za

Two young graduates to cycle from Joburg to Bwindi, in Uganda….and then onto Kenya

eelcomeyjes — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:07:11 +0000

Murray Beaumont and Alex Antrobus leaving Joburg to cycle to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda

Two young graduates of the University of Cape Town left this morning from Joburg to cycle thousands of kilometers all the way up to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda… and then onto Nairobi in Kenya. They plan to raise awareness about Africa’s chronic water problem and in the process raise some much-needed funding to build two specialist water pumps in rural areas.

Alex Antrobus left and Murray Beaumont right

Alex Antrobus who graduated in applied maths and physics is an avid birder, and a grandson of G.R McLachlan who edited the second to fourth editions of the now famous and authoritative Roberts Birds of Southern Africa publication.

Murray Beaumont who graduated as a mechanical engineer, is an avid photographer. Needless to say when the RFCG mentioned that it desperately needed some help to promote the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, with its 43 finch species which includes the threatened and elusive Shelley’s crimsonwing finch, as the world’s top destination for finch enthusiasts the two of them jumped at the opportunity, and were keen to cycle all the way to Bwindi to go and see the magnificent tropical rainforest for themselves.

Alex and Murray's bikes were specially built for the 7000 plus km Africa journey to Bwindi in Uganda. Note the guitar on the back of Murray's bike

The two when they eventually reach Bwindi in about 4 months time will be staying in Ruhija at the Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation ( ITFC ), who are the highly valued ground partners to the Rare Finch Conservation Group.

If you wish to find out more about Alex and Murray’s planned route through Africa and their exciting journey simply log onto www.amanziawethu.org. You will also be able to follow the two of them on facebook and twitter ( The marvels of modern day communication !!! ). We will also update our readers from time to time as their journey progresses. The RFCG would publicly like to thank Peter Phippen , who is an honorary member of the rare finch conservation group, for supporting Alex and Murray with a donation to help kick start their vision to become a reality.

Neville Brickell is one of our true unsung conservation heroes

eelcomeyjes — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:44:09 +0000

Neville Brickell as a natural history film maker in the early sixties

As a highly dedicated stills photographer and filmmaker on birds, both in the wild as well as in captivity, Neville Brickell spent a lot of his early days going around to schools teaching young children, in what was then known as the province of Natal in South Africa, all about our magnificent birds. Later over the years he also had many popular as well as scientific articles and books published on various bird species found in the Southern African region .

The outstanding The complete book of Southern African Birds first published in 1989. Example of Neville Brickell's writing and photography on the Bronze Mannikin ( Spermestes cucullatus )

Often spending many weeks at a time in the wild, gathering data, photographing and filming birds, Neville was both a true ornithologist as well as an aviculturist , and was an enthusiastic contributor to both disciplines of natural history. He once told me that, in those early years , he wouldn’t dare mention to the birding club guys that he was also an aviculturist because birders, in general, did not approve of people that kept birds in captivity, no matter what the reason was.

How times have changed as things progressed…when birding worldwide, as a recreational pastime, suddenly took off in the eighties and nineties publishers desperately wanted and needed reference photographs and data on dozens of different bird species. Neville was in the right place at the right time, and was able to help many a book publisher ( Often readers of these magnificent coffee table books were unaware of the fact that the source material was sometimes obtained from aviculturists who had often studied, photographed or filmed some of the birds in captivity )

The authoritative Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa 6th edition published in 1993. The first edition was published in 1940

So valued had the role of the aviculturist become that Professor Gordon Lindsay Maclean , who had been given the unenviable task in 1993 to compile the content for the sixth edition of the most authoritative book on birds in Southern Africa namely: Roberts’ Birds of Southern Africa , approached Neville Brickell and other aviculturists to provide him with nesting and incubation data, when this information sometimes was not available from birds in the wild. Finally the two important natural history disciplines of ornithology and aviculture started to work together to advance the knowledge of bird conservation.

In 2005 Neville Brickell was one of the founder members of the Rare Finch Conservation Group and once again he made an important contribution , along with his fellow RFCG members Fred Barnicoat and William van Rijn, by providing significant input to help establish what is arguably the world’s most comprehensive website on threatened finches. Neville Brickell is, without doubt, one of our modern day conservation heroes and now spends his well deserved leisure years in a retirement home

RFCG ground partner at Bwindi, Uganda launches the new year with a stunning new and very informative website

eelcomeyjes — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:59:41 +0000

The Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation at Ruhija, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

The highly valued ground partners to the RFCG in Uganda, namely the Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation ( ITFC ), who are based at Ruhija on the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, have kicked off the year with an exciting new website. Have a look at www.itfc.org and find out more about what this remarkable institute does. You will also see a write-up on how they have assisted the RFCG over the years. The RFCG EcoTour scheduled for August this year will be visiting the ITFC as part of our program to raise the international awareness of the elusive and threatened Shelley’s crimsonwing finch. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, with its 43 finch species, is rapidly becoming the world’s top destination for finch enthusiasts.

For more information on the RFCG EcoTour please contact Russell Kingston at indruss@bigpond.com. All profits from the tour will be donated to the Rare Finch Conservation Group

Africa with its 200 plus finch species has so much to offer.

eelcomeyjes — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:29:22 +0000

Sandton City in Johannesburg is Africa's number one shopping destination

Not only will guests on the RFCG EcoTour to Africa in August 2012 have the opportunity to see some of Africa’s 200 plus finch species ( 43 species , which includes the elusive and threatened Shelley’s crimsonwing, can be seen at the world’s top birding destination for finch enthusiasts namely the Bwindi Impenetrable forest in Uganda and the 37 species that can be seen at the Pilanesberg Game Reserve in South Africa ),

Christmas lights at Sandton City. Africa's number one shopping destination

but they will also have the opportunity to see some of the continents spectacular softbills such as the turacos and hornbills, not to mention the wide variety of parrots and its magnificent wildlife. Guests, on arrival, will travel from the airport on the continents only high-speed bullet train, known as the Gautrain, to Sandton City which is Africa’s number one shopping destination. One night will be spent at a hotel near the shopping centre before the exciting RFCG EcoTour kick starts its adventure.

For more information on the inaugural RFCG EcoTour please contact Russell Kingston at indruss@bigpond.com. All profits from the tour will be donated to the Rare Finch Conservation Group

This will be our last blog posting for 2011, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our supporters for their very special support over the past year and to wish you and your families a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year

To see modern day Soweto is an inspirational experience

eelcomeyjes — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:24:34 +0000

Nelson Mandela voting for the first time April 27th 1994. Photo taken by Paul Weinberg

Eversince the first democratic elections were held in South Africa in 1994 international visitors to the country have been fascinated by experiencing a trip to Soweto. The city became world-famous for its riots , started by school children, against the apartheid system back in 1976.

The towers of an old disused power station in Soweto which today is used for bungy jumping.The First National Bank towers, as they are often referred to,has an ad for the bank on the one tower and the second tower reflects the way every day people live in Soweto ( These towers have won many international advertising awards for creativity )

Today Soweto is a thriving hub of activity, with a wonderful vibe to it ,where its citizens can experience one of the world’s best Virgin Active gyms in a massive modern state of the art shopping mall, to bungy jumping from the towers of an old power station. People love to visit and stroll along the famous Vilakazi street , which is the only street in the world where two Nobel Peace Prize winners once lived ( The humble homes of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu can be seen there ).

Guests on the Rare Finch Conservation Group EcoTour to South Africa and Uganda in 2012 will have the opportunity to visit Soweto, and with a bit of luck may even see a couple of interesting finches along the various river banks.

Russell Kingston enjoying a visit to Soweto in March 2011 . Photo Eelco Meyjes

For more information on the exciting RFCG EcoTour in August 2012 please contact Russell Kingston at indruss@bigpond.com. All profits from the tour will be donated to the Rare Finch Conservation Group

A visit to Africa’s leading birdpark in Joburg is a must do experience

eelcomeyjes — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:44:55 +0000

The entrance to Africa's leading birdpark. Monte Casino Bird Gardens, Johannesburg

Whilst Monte Casino Bird Gardens in Johannesburg may not compete with Jurong Birdpark in Singapore or Walsrode Birdpark in Germany in terms of size , it certainly can compete in terms of the quality of its exhibits and facilities with the very best birdparks in the world. Guests on the Rare Finch Conservation Group EcoTour to South Africa and Uganda next year August will have the opportunity to visit this impressive facility, which is sometimes referred to as Johannesburg’s best kept secret.

Curators checking their birds in one of the impressive walk in aviaries

Critics sometimes like to knock the concept of birdparks and zoos, but these facilities often serve as a childs very first introduction to nature . The educational role that these facilities play in our modern-day society can never be overestimated. Curators, who are in essence highly skilled aviculturists, have to constantly check that their exhibits are always healthy and their parks are in immaculate condition. The huge dedication and commitment that it takes for curators to ensure that a birdpark becomes a world-class conservation centre is often underestimated by the general public. Feeding young hand reared chicks on the hour from 6 am to 12 at night, or assisting a very rare and conservation threatened chick with its hatching is not what the general public sees and always appreciates.

Young school children enjoying and learning about birds at one of the many bird shows held at the park

A Bar-Headed Goose from Asia. This is one of the highest flying bird species in the world. To reach its winter quarters it has to fly over the Himalayas ( Mount Everest ) over 30,000 ft. ( some mountaineers need oxygen tanks to climb up Mount Everest ) At the end of the breeding period, the bird molts completely and cannot fly for three to four weeks

For more information on the exciting RFCG EcoTour in August 2012 please contact Russell Kingston at indruss@bigpond.com. All profits from the tour will be donated to the Rare Finch Conservation Group

The ultimate adventure for the conservation minded aviculturist

eelcomeyjes — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:46:16 +0000

A witchdoctor in downtown Faraday market, Johannesburg

Following on our recent announcement on the planned 2012 RFCG EcoTour to South Africa and Uganda we have been inundated with requests for more info about the trip. The trip has been tailor-made for aviculturists and guests will have the opportunity to visit a number of SA’s top bird breeders in the Joburg, Pretoria and Brits areas. Guests will naturally also see some of Africa’s most spectacular birds in the game parks both in Uganda as well as in South Africa .

Traditional medicines are often made up using a variety of plants

In addition to the above the group , if they wish, will also have the option to visit a traditional medicine muti market in downtown Johannesburg . First world citizens often don’t realise how dependant some people still are on traditional medicines and witchcraft. Many of the medicines have been made up by using herbs, plants as well as animal and bird parts. Sadly today the Cape Vulture is seriously threatened because many of them are being killed for clairvoyancey reasons. Amongst certain local communities it is believed that if the eyes of the bird are consumed it will increase their chances of winning the national lottery

Sadly in Africa animal and bird parts are also often used to make up traditional medicines

For more information on the exciting RFCG EcoTour in August 2012 please contact Russell Kingston at indruss@bigpond.com. All profits from the tour will be donated to the Rare Finch Conservation Group

37 finch species can be seen at the Pilanesberg Game Reserve in South Africa

eelcomeyjes — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:03:49 +0000

A chalet at Kwena Lodge near the Pilanesberg Game Reserve in South Africa

Following on our recent announcement on the planned 2012 RFCG EcoTour to South Africa and Uganda we have had additional requests to list the 37 finch species that can be seen at the Pilanesberg Game Reserve in South Africa . The group will be staying at the Kwena Lodge, which is very near to the world famous Sun City resort and the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, for 2 nights and below is the list of finches that can be seen at the game reserve which also has the Big 5 ( Rhino, Lion, Buffalo, Leopard and Elephant )

Redbilled Buffalo Weaver ( Bulalornis albirostris )
Whitebrowed Sparrow-weaver ( Plocepasser mahali )
Scalyfeathered Finch ( Sporopipes squamifrons )
Spottedbacked Weaver ( Ploceus cucullatus )
Masked Weaver ( Ploceus velatus )
Lesser Masked Weaver (Ploceus intermedius )
Redheaded Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps )
Redbilled Quelea ( Quelea quelea )
Red Bishop (Euplectes orix )
Golden Bishop (Euplectes afer )
Whitewinged Widow (Euplectes albonotatus )
Redcollared Widow ( Euplectes ardens )
Longtailed Widow ( Euplectes progne )
Melba Finch (Pytilia Melba )
Bluebilled Firefinch ( Lagonosticta rubricata )
Jamesons Firefinch ( Lagonosticta rhodopareia )
Blue Waxbill ( Uraeginthus angolensis )
Violeteared Waxbill ( Granatina grantina )
Common Waxbill ( Estrilda astrild )
Blackcheeked Waxbill ( Estrilda erythronotos )
Quail Finch ( Ortygospiza atricollis )
Orangebreasted Waxbill ( Amandava subflava )
Cut-throat Finch ( Amadina fasciata )

Redheaded Finch ( Amadina erythrocephala )
Bronze Manniken ( Spermestes bicolor )
Pintailed Whydah ( Vidua macroura )
Shaft-tailed Whydah ( Vidua regia )
Paradise Whydah ( Vidua paradisaea )
Black Widowfinch ( Vidua funrea )
Purple Widowfinch ( Vidua purpurrascens )
Steelblue Widowfinch ( Vidua chalybeata )
Yelloweyed Canary ( Serinus mozambicus )
Blackthroated Canary ( Serinus atrogularis )
Streakyheaded Canary ( Serinus gularis )
Goldenbreasted Bunting ( Emberiza flaviventris )
Rock Bunting ( Emberiza tahapisi )
Larklike Bunting ( Emberiza impetuani )

For more information on the exciting RFCG EcoTour in August 2012 please contact Russell Kingston at indruss@bigpond.com. All profits from the tour will be donated to the Rare Finch Conservation Group