Blogs

[Posted on behalf of Norbert Schaffer, Head of International Policy and Species Recovery - and apologies for the delay, corrupted file stopped play!] What a contrast between the rain, heat, mud and sweat we experienced in the habitat of the dwarf olive ibis and the white-collared, air conditioned...

[Posted on behalf of José Tavares] “You are certainly aware that an oil palm plantation is the tropical equivalent of a corn field – almost zero biodiversity?” Norbert’s directness in the long meeting with the Dutch manager of a Belgian-French palm oil multinational...

[Posted on behalf of José Tavares] São Tomé’s world ranking – 196th. About right, nodded Luis, as we stood in the exuberant crowd watching the São Tomé-Lesotho official qualifier for the next CAN (Africa’s nations cup). It was Sunday, our only day...

[Posted on behalf of Norbert Schaffer, Head of International Policy and Species Recovery] And brilliant it was! A day I will never forget. The most memorable thing was not the tropical rain forest (completely untouched primary forest, and secondary forest after re-growth). Not the torrential rain...

[Posted on behalf of José Tavares, Partner Development Officer] “Brilliant!” Norbert’s face lit up. We were sitting in the open air hotel lobby/breakfast room, and so I looked out to see if he had spotted one of the endemic birds – I had heard the common São Tomé...

[Posted on behalf of José Tavares, Partner Development Officer] Smack. No matter how many times I come to the tropics, when I step out of a plane there is always that sudden, startling feeling that enchants me. Smack. This what Norbert Schaffer, myself and Luis Costa (Director of Birdlife Portugal...

The RSPB and The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition are excited to announce the launch of the African Climate Connection. From 26 November until 3 December there's a host of African themed events taking place with the aim of showing MPs how much people in their constituencies care about climate change...

This is a powerful video presentation that was played at our conference the other week by Moussa Abou Mamouda (from ENDA Senagal & Africa Adapt). Clearly shows how people and nature are already being affected by climate change in Africa. Thanks to colleagues at WWF and Mairi Dupar at CDKN for...

Quick update! Just today through the RSPB telescopes at the Nature Discovery Centre, I spotted the first sand martins of the year here! The were seen near Woolhampton last week and have made their way over to our Sand Martin bank in the middle of the lake. Come down and see them close up...

what lovely photos of some gorgeous birds! I remember being in South Africa and seeing so many different birds (as well as other animals). My favourite has to be the secretary bird though, they are stunning and so different from all other raptors. Where we stayed there were some southern boubous that...

Pipit, I do remember that comment, i don't see it myself. As was mentioned on the prog last night, when you see the thick knees during the daytime they have these big yellow iris making them look like owls or birds of prey in that respect, quite 'menacing' looking rather than chicken like...

This was a brilliant programme, i would certainly recommend watching it as it shows some amazing footage whilst also putting across some important conservation messages regarding the roles of key species like vultures and flies. This programme showed the complexities of savannah scrub food webs and how...