I filmed this pair of Crowned Cranes on a farm in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape. It is the same place I filmed the Blue Cranes a few years ago. And, just the same as in the Blue Crane video, these Crowned Cranes appeared to putting on the mating dance. Both sexes enjoy dancing, and the breeding…Read More
Author: Rory Wilson
I am an avid hiker, birdwatcher and camper. I love the outdoors. I initially started Birding Planet to share my bird videos, now I enjoy connecting with birdwatchers around the world. Come join the Birding Planet group at facebook.com/groups/birdingplanet
Grey Crowned Cranes
The Oriental Stork
Birds on the Endangered Species List
I recently found this video of Birds on the Endangered Species List. A big part of Birding Planet’s mission is to bring awareness about birds that are vulnerable or are facing extinction, that is mainly why I set up the donation page. small-header=”false” data-adapt-container-width=”true” data-hide-cover=”false” data-show-facepile=”true”> Birding Planet Endangered species are species that the International…Read More
Arctic Tern
Interesting Bird Fact – The Far Traveling Arctic Tern
Arctic Terns have the longest (in distance) yearly migration of any animal in the world. They travel from the Arctic, where they breed, all the way to Antarctica and back. Literally from one end of the world to the other! They cover a distance of a minimum of 44,000 miles (that’s 71 000 km) every…Read More
Knysna (Turaco) Loerie – HD Video and Story
The Story: This is another bird I saw while trying out a new coffee shop (click here to see all the birds I’ve filmed while visiting coffee shops). It was a treat to get such a clear view of a Knysna Loerie (aka Knysna Turaco) in its natural habitat. It was the first time I…Read More
Black Shouldered Kite on Birding Planet
Black-Shouldered Kite Bird (HD Video)
I filmed this Black-Shouldered Kite at Addo Elephant Park in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It’s a small raptor which enjoys wide open spaces. It has striking red eyes, and black shoulder patches which make it easily identifiable. The Black-Shouldered Kite likes to eat small rodents. They are often found alone, or in pairs,…Read More
Hoopoe Eating Worm on Birding Plane
Interesting Bird Fact – The Religious Hoopoe
In the Bible, Leviticus 11:13–19, Hoopoes were listed among the animals that are detestable and should not be eaten. They are also listed in Deuteronomy (14:18) as not kosher.
A male Lady Amherst's Pheasant
Interesting Bird Fact – The Most Colourful Bird in the World (Video)
The Lady Amherst pheasant is found in the desolate mountain regions of China and Tibet, but has also been introduced into England. The male is considered to be one of the most colorful birds in the world. The name commemorates Sarah Countess Amherst, wife of William Pitt Amherst, Governor General of Bengal, who was responsible…Read More
Southern Red Bishop
Southern Red Bishop on Birding Planet (HD Video)
The Story: I filmed this Red Bishop at an outdoor coffee shop which overlooked a pond (not the same place where I filmed the Red-knobbed Coot). There were two or three male Red Bishops flitting in and out of the reeds of the pond, which is a tell-tale sign that it was breeding season as…Read More
Amazing Photos of Young Bird Impaled on Stick
Heidi Wilson sent in these fascinating photos to Birding Planet, of a young bird which had been impaled on a stick in her garden. She theorizes that a Fiscal Shrike (see details and video of Fiscal Shrikes here) raided a nearby nest with a new chick, perhaps a Cuckoo, and then impaled it on the…Read More
Is this a Jackal Buzzard or a Steppe Buzzard?
Birding Planet I am battling to identify this raptor. The video I filmed is below. I think it it either a Jackal Buzzard or a Steppe Buzzard. I filmed it on a farm in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. If you have any ideas, please leave a comment in the comment section below.…Read More
Red Knobbed Coot
Red-Knobbed Coot (nesting with her eggs) Video
The Story: I filmed this Red-Knobbed Coot (sometimes called the Crested Coot) while sitting in restaurant which overlooked a large pond. There were some rocks and reeds which made for some decent nesting spots. There was also an island in the middle of the pond, with some trees on it, where dozens of weavers had…Read More
Red Billed Wood-Hoopoe (HD Video) (aka Green WoodHoopoe)
I filmed these Red-Billed Woodhoopoes in a garden in East London, South Africa. It is also sometimes known as the Green Wood-Hoopoe. Click play to watch the video of the Red-Bill Wood-Hoopoes It has a long, curved red bill, red legs and white wingbars. The long tail has white bars in the outer feathers.…Read More
Lilac Breasted Roller
Lilac Breasted Roller Spotted at Kruger Park
These photos were sent in by 15-year-old Kaityn Bedford who snapped three great pics of a Lilac Breasted Roller. She saw them at the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga.
Cape White-Eye on Birding Planet
Cape White-Eye Video
The Story: I’ve often found this bird a difficult one to film, for two reasons: 1) they are small and very quick, flitting from branch to another, hardly ever sitting still and 2) they seem very shy and prefer to go deep into a bush than sit out in the open. Having said that I…Read More
