A female tachinid fly, Archytas (Archytas) nonamensis Ravlin, 1984, was found in a carbon dioxide-baited light trap on 17–18 April 2025, at Angelfish Key (25.3279°N, 80.2609°W), Florida, USA.
House Crows Corvus splendens are one of the world’s most invasive bird species. It is originally from southern Asia but currently invading parts of South Africa including Durban in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. Its distribution across Durban has been studied to better understand and control the species population within the eThekwini Municipality. House Crow surveys are conducted monthly by eThekwini Municipality’s Natural Resources Division officials in collaboration with South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) by driving and walking along the roads and recording every bird sighting. During surveys, roosting sites have been discovered in the central parts of the city where House Crows are most active due to the availability of foraging sites and preferred habitat for their survival The Common Myna Acridotheres tristis is an adaptable invasive passerine which is closely associated with human environments.
Speckled Mousebirds Colius striatus, generally regarded as strict folivores, were observed over several months regularly feeding on bone dust in a suburban garden in Bethlehem. This behaviour suggests opportunistic intake of animal-derived nutrients, possibly for protein or mineral supplementation, but alternative explanations (taste, curiosity, training by other species) cannot be excluded. The repeated nature of the observations may indicate that such feeding is not incidental, but may reflect adaptive foraging under specific nutritional conditions or an adjustment in feeding behaviour in response to an available nutrient-rich resource.
Over a 30-year period, opportunistic bird-ringing was carried out in the Makhanda Botanical Gardens, using mist nets. In total 3099 birds of 71 species were ringed, with 305 individuals of 34 species recaptured or recovered dead. Notable longevity records included a 12-year old Greater Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris afer, and we also documented the arrival and establishment of Bronze Mannikins Spermestes cucullata as a breeding resident.
On 8 March 2026 several Grey-headed Gulls Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus were observed foraging over the turbulent outflow below the Gariep Dam wall, during a period of strong overflow. The birds repeatedly flew low over the torrent and frequently entered the dense spray plume immediately below the falling sheet of water. Swifts and swallows were also actively foraging over the same area. The observation suggests opportunistic feeding associated with prey concentrations created by intense hydraulic turbulence below the spillway.
The Common Myna Acridotheres tristis is an adaptable invasive passerine which is closely associated with human environments. In the Zambezi Region of northeastern Namibia, earlier published records indicated sporadic occurrence. Here, we document opportunistic observations of Common Mynas in Katima Mulilo between 2024 and 2026, revealing persistent daily presence, town-wide distribution, breeding-related behaviour, and nocturnal activity associated with artificial lighting. A total of 371 observations was recorded during this period. Birds were repeatedly observed across residential and commercial suburbs, with nesting activity and prolonged occupancy concentrated at two service stations. Individuals were observed carrying nesting material, food to presumed young, and remaining active at night under artificial light from service stations. An additional nesting attempt was recorded in a damaged streetlight, with subsequent nest loss following detachment of the bulb cap. These observations suggest probable local establishment facilitated by urban infrastructure and regular human activity. Continued monitoring is recommended to assess population size, breeding success, and potential ecological impacts in the Zambezi Region.
Knowledge about the parameters of primary moult of larks (Aladidae) is minimal. This paper presents preliminary results for four species: Large-billed Lark Galerida magnirostris, Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata, Grey-backed Sparrow-lark Eremopterix verticalis and Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea. The results are based on small samples and should not be treated as definitive. The purpose of the paper is to encourage collaboration so that gaps in knowledge can be filled.
The Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius and Pallas’s Cat Otocolobus manul largely coexist in central Asia, with similar ecological niches, including similar prey. However, prior to this observation, no interactions between these two species had been recorded. A fight between adults of the two species would likely be dangerous for both. The observation from Mongolia reported here is of a juvenile Upland Buzzard reacting with alarm at the approach of an adult Pallas’s Cat. It suggests that, even outside the breeding season, Upland Buzzards may be automatically responsive to Pallas’s Cat behaviours potentially aimed at their juveniles.
South Africa is exceptionally rich in endemic species. However, we continue to lack a detailed understanding of the ecology and life history of many of these taxa, including the 11,000 species of native Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). Here, we document the caterpillars of the moth Lophonotidia melanoleuca feeding on Red bush willow Combretum apiculatum and Bushveld grape Rhoicissus revoilii. It has previously only been recorded feeding on the foliage of Ivy-grape Cissus cornifolia. Taxonomically, Red bush willow is an unusual host-plant for this sub-family of Lepidoptera, and highlights persistent gaps in our knowledge of even these relatively familiar insect species. Such knowledge is fundamental for effective conservation and further biological research.
The longest distance a Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus has moved between the sites of ringing and recovery is 421 km from southern to central Namibia.
Robben Island, Table Bay, South Africa, is an Important Bird Area, and many of the seabird species breeding on Robben Island are of conservation concern. In particular, the African Penguin Spheniscus demersus is Critically Endangered. The island hosts 18 species of reptiles. During the 2024 annual African Penguin census, a Mole Snake Pseudaspis cana was observed attempting to constrict and presumably overpower an adult African Penguin. This is a phenomenon which has not previously been observed. This incident serves as a reminder of the many challenges face by the African Penguin.
Pied Crows Corvus albus were first observed on Robben Island in 1987, on Dassen Island in 1997, on Malgas Island in October 2008, and on Jutten Island in 2011. On both Malgas and Jutten Islands, pairs of Pied Crows bred in disused guano sheds. Prey items were collected, identified and counted; they were mainly eggs of seabird species in threat categories. On both Jutten and Malgas Islands the recommended strategy is to eliminate nest sites for Pied Crows on the islands, and on the adjacent mainland. Dassen and Robben Islands are relatively far from the mainland, and a culling strategy is recommended, especially because these islands have important breeding colonies of the Critically Endangered African Penguin Spheniscus demersus.
The primary idea behind the concept of a floater is the occurrence of non-territorial individuals which move over large areas, waiting for an opportunity to join the breeding population. A hooligan is defined here as a floater which behaves aggressively, even engaging in fighting to disrupt breeding pairs in order to gain a territory.
As South Africa’s contribution to the Eighth International White Stork Census in 2024, we reported that two pairs of White Storks had constructed nests. For one pair, a well-built nest was usurped by Egyptian Geese. The other pair almost certainly laid eggs, but the outcome of the breeding attempt is not known.
The Nuwejaars River and its associated wetlands lie in the Heuningnes Catchment, situated within the Overberg region in the province of the Western Cape, South Africa. Large areas of invasive alien vegetation have been cleared from the floodplain of the river. Over the period 2018 to 2024, 452 records of 25 species of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) were made in the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area. Although the results are not confirmed by quantitative data, it is clear that the abundance of odonatids has increased since the removal of the infestations of alien invasive vegetation from the floodplain. The most unexpected species was Spesbona Spesbona angusta.
This study documents the first recorded instance of interspecific competition for nesting cavities between the endangered Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus and the Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus. Both are secondary cavity-nesters occupying overlapping habitats in southern Africa. Despite the Cape Parrot’s earlier breeding season, which theoretically affords it priority access to cavities, a roller pair was observed attempting to use an actively occupied Cape Parrot nest. This rare interaction reveals potential interspecies conflict where nest-site selection overlaps. Additional examples from both African and Australasian regions suggest that breeding season timing and cavity characteristics often mitigate competition among avian species. The impact of the roller usurping a Cape Parrot nest was significant as only three out of 13 known nest sites were active in 2024 and only one was known to be successful. Therefore, with Cape Parrot populations having dwindled to fewer than 2,000 individuals and breeding success vulnerable to habitat damage and predation, understanding all limiting factors, including interspecific interactions, is vital for conservation. Long-term monitoring across regional nodes underscores the importance of protecting preferred nesting sites to ensure reproductive success and species longevity.
This bibliogaphy lists 200 publications providing baseline knowledge, historical context and perspective, information relating to long-term data sets, and also insights into species, ecosystems, and human impacts on Robben Island, a protected area and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. This platform of knowledge will enable researchers to design better studies, avoid redundant work and measure change. It will also help to identify knowledge gaps, and to guide policy and management decisions.
This paper presents the seven known records of avian predation on the Indian Chameleon Chamaeleo zeylanicus in India and Sri Lanka. There were four observations in which the predator was the Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela, with single predation events being made by Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis, Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda and Malabar Paid Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus.
During a visit to the Van Staden’s Wild Flower Reserve near Gqeberha, Easern Cape, South Africa, a group of Cape Sugarbirds Promerops cafer was observed engaging in active anting. Although anting is a well-documented behaviour among various bird species, it appears to be rarely observed or reported in Africa. This may represent the first recorded instance of anting in Cape Sugarbirds.
The Yellow-faced Siskin Spinus yarrellii is a Vulnerable species with declining populations and little data on its reproduction. Some of its reproductive parameters are presented here, having been obtained in the northeastern region of Brazil, in the state of Alagoas, when four nests were monitored between 1991 and 2009 near the Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve. The nests were located in trees in anthropogenic areas and capoeiras at heights ranging from 2 to 5 m. We measured three of them, resulting in averages of 9.7 cm in external diameter, 4.7 cm in internal diameter, 6 cm in external height and 2.8 cm in internal height. Clutch sizes ranged from three to four eggs. Incubation lasted 11 to 12 days, with both parents participating, and chicks fledged between 10 and 11 days. Our records seem to be one of few that reveal information on the reproduction of this species. Our observations demonstrate undemanding nest site selection, with siskins utilising exotic plant species and disturbed environments for reproduction. Despite this adaptability, Yellow-faced Siskin populations face significant threats from illegal wildlife trade and habitat destruction with the indiscriminate use of pesticides on crops and pastures, which continue to intensify in the species’ habitat. With this study, we hope to provide valuable insights into the reproductive ecology of the Yellow-faced Siskin and contribute to broader conservation strategies for this rare and declining species.
