editorial
Satellite and ground-level photography show with frightening clarity what we have done to tropical forests around the world. For decades, warnings of the consequences of this behaviour rippled little beyond the AGMs of conservation NGOs and the occasional news­paper report or television documentary. Now, with irrefutable evidence that climate change and forest destruction are closely linked, such stories are mainstream news and we are at last beginning to see some mobilisation of global political will to halt, and even reverse, some of the damage done. Even so, it might be a case of too little, too late.
But satellite cameras cannot see beneath the ocean surface and little underwater photography happens beyond coastal shallows. Our vast oceans support some 80 per cent of all life on the planet, but they are not so vast as to be beyond threat at the hand of man. If we could witness ocean destruction with the clarity we can see the rape of the land, we would be appalled at the spreading marine deserts we have created. The evidence is there.

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cover story

Teetering on the Brink

Following the collapse of pelagic fish populations off Namibia in the 1970s, South Africa became the stronghold for African Penguins. However, their numbers off South Africa’s west coast have halved since 2004, apparently as a result of a lack of food. In a unique experiment, fisheries management has now halted fishing around two breeding islands to test whether this improves the penguins’ food supply.

Bulawayo's Songsters Look to the West

A study of White-browed Sparrow-Weavers reveals that this highly social species has some interesting traits, and that dominant males must continually out-sing others to maintain their territory.

Close Encounters wth Woolly-Necked Storks

Reflecting the powers of observation of garden birders, Glenn Millward made a three-month study of a pair of Woolly-necked Storks nesting in his neighbour’s property.

Food For Thought: Who Benefits from Feeding Birds?

Charles and Julia Botha ask whether by feeding garden birds we are doing them a favour or simply gratifying our own desire to have them around us.

Wake-up Call to Counter Covert Hunting Threat

Disturbing evidence has come to light of attempts by foreign falconers to gain access to South Africa’s already vulnerable bustard and korhaan populations. Ian Michler investigates.