Of the 47 million biodiversity records from southern Africa available through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), citizen science projects coordinated by the FitzPatrick Institute contribute 32 million, representing 68% of the region’s data. A dedicated Integrated Publishing Toolkit (IPT) installation, hosted and managed by the Fitz on behalf of SANBI (the South African National Biodiversity Institute), makes these datasets available through the GBIF facility.
Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2)
SABAP2, which forms the regional component of the African Bird Atlas Project (ABAP), remains the largest contributor of citizen science bird data, with a wide network of volunteers continuing to conduct monitoring surveys across the southern Africa region.
In 2025, 1500 observers surveyed 15 085 pentads (each approximately 8 km × 8 km). They submitted more than 29 300 full protocol surveys and 54 700 ad hoc surveys, resulting in over 84 000 surveys during the year. This represents an average of roughly 230 surveys per day.
Observers recorded 957 bird species. Full protocol surveys averaged 63.6 species per card, while ad hoc surveys averaged 22.7 species. The pentad 2220_3110, in Makuleke Contractual Park, near Pafuri and traversed by the Pafuri Gate–Punda Maria road in Kruger Park, recorded the highest diversity in 2025, with 313 species observed. This pentad also holds the overall project record, with 414 species recorded during the project’s 18-year history.
Data quality: Regional Atlas Committees (RACs) review records flagged as unusual or outside known ranges. Through this process, volunteers and committee members evaluate records to confirm or correct them. This quality-control step helps maintain a reliable dataset for research, monitoring, and conservation.
SABAP2 team 2025
Dr David Ehlers Smith (Project Coordinator, BirdLife SA)
Tania Anderson (Project Communications SABAP, CWAC and CAR, FIAO)
Michael Brooks (Chief Technical Officer, FIAO)
SABAP2 Steering Committee
Alan Lee (BirdLife), Andrew Skowno (SANBI), Chevonne Reynolds (Wits), David Ehlers Smith (BirdLife), Gabriel Jamie (FIAO), Henk Nel (BirdLasser), Mark Anderson (BirdLife), Michael Brooks (FIAO), Ernst Reteif (BirdLife), Duncan McKenzie, Res Altwegg (SEEC), Robert Thomson (FIAO), Sage Naidoo (Wits), Susan Cunningham (FIAO, Chair)
Coordinated Waterbird Counts (CWAC)
The CWAC project continues to monitor waterbird populations at key wetlands across the region.
In 2025, 492 surveys were submitted from 221 sites. These surveys were coordinated by 82 volunteer compilers and supported by 482 counters. Survey effort increased compared with the previous two years (2023: 469 surveys; 2024: 461 surveys).
During the year, more than 781 000 individual birds were counted, representing 159 species. These validated records contribute to national and international monitoring programmes. The data are incorporated into Wetlands International’s global waterbird monitoring programme and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) BIRDIE project.
The survey results strengthen long-term monitoring datasets and support conservation planning and biodiversity assessments.
We acknowledge the contribution of Linda du Plessis, who has volunteered to capture and verify incoming project data over several years. Her continued support has been an important contribution to the programme.
CWAC team 2025
Dr Sanjo Rose (Project Coordinator, BirdLife SA) (from December)
Tania Anderson (Project Outreach and Communication, FIAO)
Michael Brooks (Chief Technical Officer, FIAO)
Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcounts (CAR)
The CAR project monitors populations of large terrestrial birds in open landscapes through coordinated road surveys conducted by volunteers.
With renewed energy and the support of an active working group, the CAR project has sharpened its focus on increasing participation and strengthening its core drivers. The working group provides guidance on survey coordination, data management, and long-term planning, while also updating project resources, reviewing coverage priorities, and carrying out important housekeeping tasks.
This renewed structure has reinvigorated the programme: in 2025, 203 surveys were undertaken, up from 179 in 2024 and 161 in 2023. Over the year, 103 counters surveyed 121 routes, recording all 43 of the target species.
Volunteer participation remains central to the project’s success. The data collected by these volunteers contribute to long-term trend analysis for several species of conservation concern, supplementing data collected through SABAP2 to provide additional insights into population trends and potential causes for changes.
Throughout the year, the core team, guided by the working group, updated the project website to enhance participant access to information, survey materials, and reporting tools.
CAR team 2025
Tania Anderson (Project Coordination and Communication, FIAO)
Michael Brooks (Chief Technical Officer, FIAO)
CAR Working Group
Donella Young, Alan Lee (BirdLife), Christie Craig (EWT), Bradley Gibbons (EWT), Michael Brooks (Fitz), Tania Anderson (Fitz), Brian Colahan, David Ehlers Smith (BirdLife) Cassie Carstens (BirdLife)