Management at Mabula Ground Hornbill Project are asking residents and visitors to send pictures and location of Ground Hornbill spotted throughout the continent, to its administrators, for research purposes.
The birds start breeding in November, when the first rains arrive.
Ground hornbill are listed internationally as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red data list of species, throughout their sub-equatorial range in Africa. But they are classified as “Endangered” within South Africa and Namibia.
Although there are about 1,500 hornbill left, the birds continue to decline towards being “Critically Endangered” in South Africa.
You are most likely to spot Hornbills in protected areas such as national parks and private nature reserves.
Management of the Project said the bird is found in four provinces in South Africa – Mpumalanga, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
“We are appealing to all residents and land owners who live in these areas, to reach out to us, should they have sighted the birds, know of a nest location or have a group living in their property.”
With this, the Project hopes to provide support to those residents in order to safeguard their groups.
The female incubates her eggs for 42 days and will brood her hatchlings for another 30 days.
Other members of the group take part in the breeding process by caring for females before, during and after the nesting period.
According to the Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), they eat invertebrates, reptiles, rodents and amphibians.
Send your pictures and location to the National Monitoring Programme : 079 754 6234