Latest news with #CandiceMcKibbin
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists discover rare bird in new location for first time: 'We always believed it was here'
Local environmentalists recently caught an elusive ground bird at a ringing event at an eco-estate in the coastal town of Tinley Manor, South Africa, bringing hope to conservationists. As reported by the North Coast Courier, the elusive spotted ground thrush was discovered by the founders of The LionHeart Experience, Richard and Candice McKibbin, along with other environmentalists. The IUCN estimates that there are only 600 to 1,500 of the birds left in South Africa, and the ground thrush has not previously been found on the eco-estate, sparking excitement among the locals. "We've been searching for the spotted ground thrush in the forests of the estate for the past four years. We always believed it was here," Richard McKibbin told the North Coast Courier. This exciting find will help inform a conservation study that aims to collect data on the species' population numbers and distributions, with the hope of protecting the species from further decline. Exciting finds like these help scientists map species distribution and generate conservation strategies and programs that protect part or all of their habitat. By protecting animal habitats, scientists hope to conserve population numbers, which are important for biodiversity within a habitat or specific area. Biodiversity helps ensure that ecosystems are healthy and operate properly, providing clean air and water, food, shelter, and other materials to animals and people. The destruction of large areas of natural habitat by humans, along with hunting and increased pollution, has put many animal populations at risk. This has resulted in a decline in population numbers, and some wildlife populations are suffering more than others. However, there are lots of organizations and research groups working to protect habitats and conserve species numbers globally, and lots of these have been successful, resulting in significant increases in animal numbers. This demonstrates that conservation does work and conserving the natural world can help ensure that these plants and animals are there for future generations to enjoy, while also providing the services we depend on to survive. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Citizen
12-06-2025
- Science
- The Citizen
First sighting of rare spotted ground thrush in Palm Lakes
An exciting discovery of a rare and endangered bird at Palm Lakes Family Estate has brought hope to local conservationists. During a ringing event at the eco-estate on June 1, founders of The LionHeart Experience, Richard and Candice McKibbin – along with other environmentalists – caught and ringed the elusive spotted ground thrush. This follows months of work by the husband-and-wife duo, who, in collaboration with the University of KwaZulu-Natal, officially launched the Citizen Science Census of the ground-dwelling bird, which takes place on July 19 and 20 throughout KZN. The couple is working with ecological academics Professor Colleen Downs, Dr Jonah Gula and Dr Nasiphi Bitani to study and generate new data on the species' population status and distribution. Other North Coast eco-estates, including Palm Lakes, will serve as monitoring sites within the conservation study. The Swiss Ornithological Institute has donated 15 geographic locators to track bird movement. The LionHeart Experience team is thrilled with the breakthrough. They have been studying and protecting Palm Lakes' biodiversity for years but had not previously encountered the bird. 'This has been a passion project for us for many years,' said Richard. 'We've been searching for the spotted ground thrush in the forests of the estate for the past four years. We always believed it was here.' Candice noted that the eco-estate is special for wildlife and continues to yield incredible finds. 'The discovery of the spotted ground thrush is significant and extremely important. We hope to monitor its movements and confirm the presence of additional birds in the estate,' she said. These coastal forest birds breed in the Eastern Cape and Transkei but migrate to KZN during the winter months. BirdLife South Africa and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimate that only 600 to 1 500 birds remain in the country. The Tinley Manor eco-estate is now considered a potential refuge for the spotted ground thrush. However, some notable threats remain. 'In forests where we have documented spotted ground thrush, we have found numerous cats roaming the area. This is a real threat to the bird's survival, as is loss of natural habitat through development,' said Richard. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
