SARBN: Telegram and WhatsApp Rare Bird Alert groups

[Trevor Hardaker]

Hello again all SARBN subscribers,

 

Especially for all the newer members of SARBN, but also just as a reminder to all other members that might be interested, there are a number of regional rare bird alert groups hosted on Telegram and WhatsApp where regular news and updates are posted on the rare and out of range species in those areas. Obviously, I don’t post updates on every out of range species on SARBN, or else we would be inundated with emails – I only post the regular news and updates on the birds that are of big Southern African subregion significance here, but do include ALL the records in the formal reports that get published twice a week.

 

Anyway, if you have the Telegram app installed on your phone, you can join one of these groups for the particular area that you might be interested in. Please just remember that these are only alert groups and not chat groups and no off-topic chats, emojis, etc will be tolerated on these groups. There are separate chat groups available for some of the areas as well if that is what you are after.

 

Here are the Telegram links – just click on the respective link from your phone to join the specific group:

 

Cape Rare Bird Alert (for the Western Cape)

https://t.me/joinchat/QGhUawzSHBGk-CdKiMpRhQ

 

Eastern Cape Rare Bird Alert

https://t.me/joinchat/R7r8G6QILtZyrpzp

 

KZN Rare Bird Alert

https://t.me/joinchat/WNAiloCYQuon5j2O

 

Wider Gauteng Rare Bird Alert

https://t.me/joinchat/VM7Akwr5OHKNUIBs

 

Mpumalanga Rare Birds

https://t.me/joinchat/WHWOJziz5Ntt-4uJ

 

North-west Province Rare Bird Alert

https://t.me/joinchat/G8kRMnjgNQgJ5ZaC

 

Kruger Birding

https://t.me/joinchat/GS-5PFFt34t_ngVC

 

There are also several other groups on WhatsApp for various parts of the subregion but, since WhatsApp groups are limited much more in group size, please only join these groups if you are actually from the respective areas or else you will be taking up space from some locals who may then not be able to join if the group is already full:

 

Free State

FS Sightings – contact Louise Coetzee at +27 82 382 1341 and she will add you or send you a link to join.

 

Limpopo

Limpopo Rarities – contact Jody de Bruyn at +27 82 802 2085 and he will add you or send you a link to join.

 

Namibia

Birding Namibia – contact Gudrun Middendorff at +264 81 240 3635 or Claire Kolberg at +264 81 129 3096 and one of them will add you or send you a link to join.

 

Zimbabwe

Special Species – contact Tony Wood at +263 77 222 4224 or Julia Pierini at +263 77 289 4562 and one of them will add you or send you a link to join.

 

Mozambique

Mozambique Specials – contact Gary Rowan at +258 84 292 0678 and he will add you or send you a link to join.

 

Thanks everyone! Enjoy the weekend birding and, hopefully, there will be a few good birds reported over the next few days for you all to enjoy…J

 

Kind regards

Trevor