Current News | FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology

APNR Southern Ground-Hornbill Project Report – April 2026

The APNR Southern Ground-Hornbill Research Project's April 2026 report is now available.

Applications open for Quantitative Raptor Biologist postdoc at FitzPatrick Institute

Call for applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in quantitative raptor biology; deadline 15 May 2026

APNR Southern Ground-Hornbill Project Report – January 2026

The APNR Southern Ground-Hornbill Research Project's January 2026 report is now available.

Graduation April 2026

Congratulations to the FitzPatrick Institute students who graduated at the 2 April 2026 Science Faculty graduation ceremony!

African Raptor Leadership Grant call 2026

Applications open for African Raptor Leadership Grant 2026

Call for applications for the African Raptor Leadership Grant; deadline 30 June

Dr A.J. (Tony) Williams, 1942–2026

The Fitz remembers pioneering seabird biologist Dr Tony Williams

Road surveys reveal widespread declines in South African birds of prey

A study of 18 birds of prey and 8 large terrestrial bird species, involving repeated road counts over a distance of 391,789 km across central South Africa from 2009 to 2025, found substantial population declines in 13 of these 26 species.

Carvalho Nanguar, honey-hunter in Mozambique

Study shows humans use local dialects to communicate with honeyguides

A newly published study shows for the first time that human-to-wildlife communication can vary within a region in much the same way that human languages develop local dialects.

UCT researchers reveal humidity's deadly role in bird deaths during heatwaves

A newly-published collaborative study by researchers at the Fitz, Pretoria University, Wits, and SANBI shows that elevated humidity significantly increases the risk of lethal hyperthermia in small birds.