About the Author

Josh Attenborough

Ranger

Born into a family passionate about wildlife Josh knew from a very young age that he wanted to work in the African bush. He was fortunate enough to spend his school holidays going on annual family trips to the same two destinations – ...

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15 Comments

on Birding 101

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Marinda Drake
Master Tracker

Great tips Josh. We love watching birds. In the garden, Kruger, Kgalagadi, Botswana. We are not very good at it and sometimes forget what is the name of the bird calling. The more you go out in nature the more you learn actually.

Joan Schmiidt
Master Tracker

Josh, I saved the Souther Carmine Bee-eater, and Klaas Cuckoo🤗

Christa Blessing
Master Tracker

Thanks for the great tips. I love birding though not all day long.

Vin Beni
Master Tracker

The African Emerald Cuckoo and Southern Carmine Bee-eater are spectacular!

Doug Hammerich
Digital Tracker

I think the Southern Carmine Bee-eater would drive an artist to distraction. (-:

Wian Eloff
Explorer

Thank you so much for all the advice. I am definitely going to start with my list. Do you maybe have a birding book to recommend?

Roberts or Sasol would be my first two choices Wian. Good luck and happy birding!

Callum Evans
Master Tracker

Very important points there!!

Valmai Vorster
Master Tracker

Thanks Josh you gave us some good pointers. We love watching the birds and have identified quiet a few already. In our surroundings here we have lots of different birds, we feed them fruits and others seeds. We saw a diederick chick been raised by finches. The lesser stripped swallows have made a new nest by my kitchen window. Previously they had a nest under the lappa roof for 9 years, but the wind swallows were harrasing the lesser stripped swallows so they came closer to our house. They are very talkative and even come and show us their little ones, once they can fly. We are so privileged to have so many different birds here right by us at home. The spotted eagle owl pair also had one chick and all grown up now. So beautiful and we keep looking for new birds.

Denise Vouri
Guest contributor

You’ve presented great tips but I know it takes a lot of practice to become a good birder- to learn the sounds, habits, markings, etc. It’s a good idea to buy a book with photos and descriptions of the local birds. I see a couple in my yard that I’ve yet to identify. Hopefully on my upcoming trip to Sabi Sand, I’ll be able to identify a few more birds than just the rollers and martial eagle 🦅 with a bit of help.

Corne Pruis
Explorer

👌

Paul Canales
Master Tracker

Excellent information and tips Josh! Happy birding!

Cally Staniland
Master Tracker

Thanks for the tips Josh! I often get birds with similar markings muddled up when the lighting is too harsh. 😊

Ginger Brucker
Senior Digital Ranger

I have had birds show up a all of a sudden around me in 2021 and now these great tips. Thank you. Off to dig out my binoculars!

Kara Taylor
Master Tracker

I love watching the colorful birds – and I have a slight obsession with Bee Eaters and Rollers (particularly the Lilac breasted one) – not sure why everyone is so down on the poor Rollers LOL – they are beautiful! So hard to take a great photo of them though

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