Page 28 - Intra Muros October 2021
P. 28
ESTATE BIRDING
Cape Rockjumper 2021 - Photo by Trevor Hardaker
BIRD OF THE YEAR 2021
CAPE ROCKJUMPER
By Albert Roos
Each year BirdLlife South Africa chooses a species as the ‘Bird of the Year’. This year the Cape Rockjumper
was selected as Bird of the Year for 2021. BirdLife South Africa is partnering with Rockjumper Worldwide
Birding Adventures to raise awareness of this species.
Where can you find them? Southern Ground Hornbill 2020
The Cape Rockjumper is a species endemic to the mountain fynbos region of
South Africa. These birds are medium-sized passerine birds with black and
orange coloration. Their name is rather appropriate, as they are often seen
running and jumping across rocks and grassland... and they rarely fly.
What is their status?
Regrettably, they face multiple threats. Habitat loss and climate change are
of greatest concern. The International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) has classified the Cape Rockjumper as ‘Near Threatened’.
What is the purpose of the Bird of the Year?
As per BirdLife South Africa’s website: “The Bird of the Year initiative aims
to raise the profile and gain an understanding of the Cape Rockjumper,
and thus ultimately contribute to its conservation efforts. This year we are
collaborating with Caitlin Judge to bring you free educational resources
about our 2021 Bird of the Year. She is producing a mixture of infographics,
fact files, lesson plans and other educational tools throughout the year;
which will be available on our social media platforms and this webpage.
We are also very pleased that Kathleen April and Stephan Terblanche will
be translating the material into isiXhosa and Afrikaans and, therefore, the
resources will be accessible to a wider audience.”
26 | INTRAMUROS OCTOBER 2021