Members of SA Hunters are outdoor enthusiasts that enjoy spending time in nature and observing wildlife. Capturing, recording, and sharing wildlife sightings is a favourite pastime that comes naturally. As citizen scientists, our members collect and provide valuable information on rare and elusive species in real-time, which contributes to conservation programmes.
SA Hunters has an App that members can download on their mobile phones to capture and record their sightings, which are fed directly into a national database that is used for legitimate conservation initiatives.
Lede van SA Jagters is buitelewe geesdriftiges wat graag tyd in die natuur deurbring en die wildlewe besigtig. Hulle hou daarvan om rekord te hou van wat hulle sien en deel dit graag met ander. As burgerwetenskaplikes samel ons lede waardevolle en vars inligting in oor skaars en ontwykende spesies wat ʼn bydrae maak tot bewaringsprogramme.
SA Jagters het ‘n selfoon-App wat lede kan aflaai om hulle waarnemings aan te teken. Die inligting gaan direk na ʼn nasionale databasis wat vir legitieme bewaringsinisiatiewe aangewend word.
To document observations of rare and elusive species as a contribution to species conservation.
Om waarnemings van skaars en skugter spesies te dokumenteer as ʼn bydrae tot bewaring van die spesies.
Members of SA Hunters are outdoor enthusiasts who spend considerable time in nature. Some of our members are also game farm owners, farmers, wildlife managers, or managers of private nature reserves. Consequently, the Association has thousands of members nationwide that observe and provide information on rare and elusive species. Observations of scarce species – especially those that move at night and/or occur over a vast area – can be an expensive endeavour. By collecting structured observations during outdoor activities, members make a significant contribution to conservation as citizen scientists.
The goal is not to duplicate similar programmes but rather to support and establish formal agreements.
Lede van SA Jagters is buitelewe-entoesiaste wat baie tyd in die natuur deurbring. Van ons lede is ook wildplaaseienaars, boere, natuurlewebestuurders of bestuurders van private natuurreservate. Derhalwe het die Vereniging duisende lede landwyd wat skaars en skugter spesies waarneem en inligting verskaf. Waarnemings van skaars spesies – veral dié wat snags beweeg en/of wydverspreid voorkom, kan ʼn duur oefening wees. Deur gestruktureerde waarnemings tydens buitelugaktiwiteite in te samel, maak lede ʼn wesenlike bydrae tot bewaring as burgerlike wetenskaplikes.
Die doel is nie om soortgelyke programme te dupliseer nie, maar eerder om dit te ondersteun en selfs formele ooreenkomste te sluit.
Any member of SA Hunters – including youth members – can participate in this project. Observations also contribute to branch performance evaluations. Rankings indicate which members actively participate in the initiative.
Enige lid van die SA Jagters – insluitende die jeug – kan aan hierdie projek deelneem. Waarnemings dra ook by tot die evaluering van takprestasies. Ranglyste dui aan watter lede aktief aan die inisiatief deelneem.
June 2023
Oppies Opperman saw this African Harrier-hawk (kaalwangvalk) in his garden this week. It is an interesting sighting as they are seldom seen in town. These birds are omnivorous, eating the fruit of the oil palm as well as hunting small vertebrates and eggs. It has the ability to climb, using wings as well as feet, and its long double-jointed legs, enable this bird to raid the nests of cavity-nesters such as barbets, palm swifts and woodhoopoes for fledglings. It has been known to prey on introduced species such as feral pigeons, House Sparrows and Eastern Grey Squirrels, as well as frogs, reptiles and insects.In South Africa it has specialised in robbing weaver nests.
Photos: Jonanda Opperman
June 2022
Sungazers (Ouvolk) are threatened by habitat loss and illegal collection from the wild. Recently, the Riemland Branch saved a specimen and returned it to a wild colony for which they are the custodians. Within a few days she found a den. Two juveniles that remained behind in the den after poachers closed the opening when removing the mother, were rescued and placed with another female which adopted them. Good job Riemland Branch! Please report any illegal activities immediately. Landowners can become part of our Natural Heritage project by contacting our conservation manager. SA Hunters serves on the national sungazer working group with other conservation organisations to discuss strategies for the conservation of this species.
The ranking below shows which branches have submitted the most observations so far. Interesting observations include a new distribution record for Ground Hornbills. This information is sent to the Ground Hornbill Working Group, which is developing a national management plan for this species. SA Hunters is also members of this working group.
Die ranglys hieronder wys watter takke het die meeste waarnemings tot dusver ingedien. Interessante waarnemings sluit onder andere ʼn nuwe verspreidingsrekord vir bromvoëls in. Hierdie inligting word aan die Bromvoëlwerkgroep gestuur wat besig is met die ontwikkeling van ʼn nasionale bestuursplan vir dié spesie. SA Jagters is ook lid van hierdie werkgroep.
Om waarnemings van skaars en skugter spesies te dokumenteer as ʼn bydrae tot bewaring van die spesies.
Lede van SA Jagters is buitelewe-entoesiaste wat baie tyd in die natuur deurbring. Van ons lede is ook wildplaaseienaars, boere, natuurlewebestuurders of bestuurders van private natuurreservate. Derhalwe het die Vereniging duisende lede landwyd wat skaars en skugter spesies waarneem en inligting verskaf. Waarnemings van skaars spesies – veral dié wat snags beweeg en/of wydverspreid voorkom, kan ʼn duur oefening wees. Deur gestruktureerde waarnemings tydens buitelugaktiwiteite in te samel, maak lede ʼn wesenlike bydrae tot bewaring as burgerlike wetenskaplikes.
Die doel is nie om soortgelyke programme te dupliseer nie, maar eerder om dit te ondersteun en selfs formele ooreenkomste te sluit.
Enige lid van die SA Jagters – insluitende die jeug – kan aan hierdie projek deelneem. Waarnemings dra ook by tot die evaluering van takprestasies. Ranglyste dui aan watter lede aktief aan die inisiatief deelneem.
and putting up of owl boxes and introducing owls can acts as a biological control mechanism.
Die ranglys hieronder wys watter takke het die meeste waarnemings tot dusver ingedien. Interessante waarnemings sluit onder andere ʼn nuwe verspreidingsrekord vir bromvoëls in. Hierdie inligting word aan die Bromvoëlwerkgroep gestuur wat besig is met die ontwikkeling van ʼn nasionale bestuursplan vir dié spesie. SA Jagters is ook lid van hierdie werkgroep.
Wetenskaplike publikasies
Kyle D. Kittelberger; Solomon V. Hendrix en Çağan Hakkı Şekercioğlu. 2021. The Value of Citizen Science in Increasing Our Knowledge of Under-Sampled Biodiversity: An Overview of Public Documentation of Auchenorrhyncha and the Hoppers of North Carolina. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.710396/full
