Afrikaans | Struik Nature
Presenting Sasol 300 Easy-to-see Birds by Chevonne Reynolds and Nicholas Tye, perfect for beginner birders:
Simple text, including how to “find it”, “identify it” and “understand it”
Colour images, both illustrations and photographs
Common English names, plus scientific, Afrikaans and other African names
Average size, details of the nest and the number of eggs laid on average
Interest boxes for some birds, providing extra information.
Sasol 300 Easy-to-see Birds is also available in Afrikaans as Sasol 300 maklik sigbare voëls van Suider-Afrika.
Sasol 300 maklik sigbare voëls van Suider-Afrika by Chevonne Reynolds and Nicholas Tye
Wild Card Blog has posted an article in which they investigate which 10 species are under threat and why they are endangered. All information was made available by the 2015 Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, published by BirdLife South Africa.
Did you know? Their plumage gradually whitens over a period of 20 years. 2. Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus) – regionally critically endangered
New Beetle Discovered in Noordhoek Named After Stellenbosch University Entomologist
James Pryke was recently afforded the honour of having the extremely rare and highly distinctive species of beetle that he discovered in Noordhoek, near Cape Town, named after him.
The Capelatus prykei is a beetle with feet, wing cases, genitalia and size so significantly different to other beetles that it was put into a new genus.
Wild recently featured an article on the beetle:
The newly-named species Capelatus prykei was discovered in 2006 in wetlands in Noordhoek near Cape Town. Dr James Pryke of Stellenbosch University (SU) came across the unique beetle during his PhD research.
“I certainly didn’t expect to have it named after me. I am very happy about that. It is quite an honour,’’ said Pryke who is attached to the department of conservation ecology and entomology.
Complete article: Wild
SABC News covered the development:
Read: Henrietta Rose-Innes: “I have a History of Making Disturbingly Accurate Predictions”
Sasol First Field Guide to Insects of Southern Africa by Alan Weaving
Sasol Eerste Veldgids tot Insekte van Suider Afrika by Alan Weaving
Dit is ook nou die perfekte tyd om ‘n eksemplaar van Wild Flowers of Namaqualand deur Annelise le Roux aan te skaf. Hierdie gids het in Junie vanjaar by Struik Nature verskyn en bevat inligting oor 600 plantspesies wat in Namakwaland te vinde is. Pak nou dadelik ‘n rugsak met water en ‘n kopie van Wild Flowers of Namaqualand en gaan kyk hoeveel van die 600 spesies jy kan opspoor.
David Engelbrecht voorspel dat 2015 ‘n mooi blommeseisoen gaan oplewer. Hy stel voor dat reisigers by al die klein dorpies stop, en gee raad (en kontakbesonderhede) oor waar die mooiste blomme is en waar om te bly. Lees die artikel:
Marais explains the important difference between venomous and the word people often mistakenly use: poisonous. “Most snakes are not poisonous but venomous,” he says. “Some plants, like certain mushrooms, are poisonous if eaten, while snake venom has to be envenomated [through biting] for the venom to take effect.”
A new edition of Marais’ seminal book Snakes and Snakebite in Southern Africa was launched at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Society Bookshop in December. The black mamba is by far the largest venomous snake in Africa, historically reaching 4.5 m, although specimens over 3.8 m are unheard of nowadays. Due to its size it has a lot of venom, it bites readily (often more than once), the venom absorbs rapidly and may have a severe effects on breathing 20 minutes after a serious bite. Although often labelled an aggressive snake the black mamba is very shy and nervous and quick to escape when it has the choice but if cornered or hurt it will not hesitate to strike. Another problem is that because of its length it may bite quite high up in the chest region and such a bite would be far more severe than a bite on an extremity. Complete article: Africa Geographic
Wat gaan aan in die Klein Karoo? Meer as wat jy kan droom
Van asemrowende uitsigte tot portwyn uit die boonste rakke – die Klein Karoo bied iets vir almal, en dan selfs nog meer!
Sophia van Taak het een van die mooiste streke in ons land gaan verken, en terug gerapporteer oor al die sien-, smaak- en doendinge wat sy ervaar het. In ‘n artikel vir Weg beveel die skrywer ses plekke aan wat die leser beslis moet besoek.
Loer gerus na The Garden Route and Little Karoo deur Leon Nell en Timeless Karoo: Discover the sunlit interior deur Jonathan Deal vir meer oor die Klein Karoo en die Tuinroete.
Lees die artikel oor Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp en Meiringspoort, en al die hoekies en kronkelpaaie tussen in:
3. Doen die meerkatloop
​In Uganda kan jy saam met berggorillas stap, in Namibië saam met jagluiperds, en op Oudtshoorn… is dit meerkatte! Op Meerkat Adventures se toer kry jy ’n intieme kykie na die wêreld van hierdie kostelike diertjies. Devey Glinister of een van sy medegidse vertel jou interessante dinge oor meerkatte. Dié groepie meerkatte (sowat 10 tot 15 sterk) is wild, maar is lankal gewoond aan mense. Sodra hulle pens warm is, begin hulle kos soek – en dan moet jy soms draf om by te bly…
The Garden Route and Little Karoo deur Leon Nell
Timeless Karoo: Discover the sunlit interior deur Jonathan Deal