Hugh Chittenden honoured for his contribution to South African ornithology

Hugh Chittenden is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s finest bird photographers and his work has graced the pages of many Southern African birding publications. Hugh is also a self-taught ornithologist who has spent countless hours in the field studying birds and publishing his fascinating findings thereafter. In recognition of his great contributions to this field, Hugh will be one of six African luminaries who will be having honorary degrees conferred on them by the University of KwaZulu-Natal in April 2012. For Hugh, the fact that he never attended university makes this accolade all the more special.

 Hugh Chittenden

Praising Hugh for his sterling efforts in increasing the public’s understanding of ornithology, the university called his knowledge “encyclopaedic”. However, according to Hugh he is merely a retired horticulturalist with birding as a hobby. In Hugh’s words: “This (the honorary degree) is a huge accolade for anyone. There are not many people in KwaZulu- Natal who have received it. I never went to university. When I was young I just wasn’t interested.”

For those who do not know, Hugh is currently chairman of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, which oversees the publication of all editions of Roberts Birds of South Africa. Hugh, who resides in the quaint town of Eshowe in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is presently also making the final corrections to an illustrated guide on the sub-species and regional variations of southern African birds, which is scheduled to be published later this year. Other books that Hugh has authored or co-authored include Roberts Bird Guide: Kruger National Park and Adjacent Lowveld: A Guide to More than 420 Birds in the Region, which he co-authored with Ian Whyte, and Top birding Spots of Southern Africa.

On behalf of the entire Rockjumper team, we would like to congratulate Hugh on this excellent and very well-deserved achievement. Below is just a small selection of some of the many amazing images that Hugh has managed to capture over the years. Enjoy!

Crowned Eagle with Vervet Monkey prey - Here's an image that has done the rounds, and rightfully so. What an incredible photo!

Malachite Sunbird - Some birds it is just impossible to ever see enough of, and this is definitely one of them. Arguably Southern Africa's most spectacular sunbird, this image certainly does it full justice!

Narina Trogon - One of the most striking of all African birds, this lovely trogon is very seldom witnessed like this is the wild.

Buff-spotted Flufftail - Well, well, well. Merely catching a glimpse of this bird is difficult enough, but to photograph it like this is almost miraculous! A splendid image of a very special bird!


Violet-backed  Starling - This is another species that one simply cannot see enough of, particularly up close and in full sunlight, as with this wing-flagging male that Hugh photographed just outside his bedroom.

Palmnut Vulture - This smart looking raptor breeds in the coastal town of Mtunzini, a short drive from Eshowe where Hugh resides.

African Emerald Cuckoo - Wow! What more can we say – an amazing photo of an amazing bird!

Jackal Buzzard - A brilliant capture of this very smart raptor!

Livingstone's Turaco - For obvious reasons, Hugh is justly famous for the clarity of his close-up shots of really beautiful birds. Just look at the detail on this turaco's face – gorgeous!


Green Malkoha with Hyperolius frog sp. - One of Hugh's specialities is photographing elusive birds at their nests through the use of carefully positioned hides. This in turn allows us glimpses into their lives that we would possibly never otherwise obtain – such as this scene of an adult malkoha bringing a meal to its chicks.


Painted Snipe - A bird that is seldom seen in the open like this, Hugh has certainly done the species full justice with this gorgeous portrait shot of a lovely female.


Four-coloured Bushshrike - A stunning photo of a stunning bird; this is another species that is very difficult to see well, let alone photograph like this!


Southern Bald Ibis - A really great shot of one of Southern Africa's most sought-after endemics.


Rudd's Apalis - This very vocal and busy little bird is typically difficult to photograph as it bounces about doing its birdy thing - yet in this great image it almost looks as if it has intentionally posed for Hugh's camera!


Drakensberg Rockjumper – One of Southern Africa’s finest and most charismatic endemics, this fantastic image perfectly captures the essence of this very smart and proud looking species.

Why is the Ethiopian Bush-crow so restricted in its range?

The following article about the Ethiopian Bush-crow (The IOC labels it Stresemann’ Bushcrow) was recently posted by the Journal of Ornithology, and we thought we’d pass it on verbatim (aside from the addition of some photographs) for some interesting reading….

Why would a smart and adaptable bird that eats almost anything and can survive happily in even the most heavily degraded habitats, have a world range of less than 5,000km2?

That question has baffled and confused scientists ever since the Ethiopian Bush-crow’s Zavattariornis stresemanni peculiarly restricted distribution was discovered back in the 1930s. But now, after researching the exact location of the birds and their nests in southern Ethiopia, a team of problem-solving, Sherlock Holmes-style scientists have unravelled the mystery. And the answer is elementary.

A new study published in the Journal of Ornithology shows the globally threatened bird’s range exactly follows the edge of a unique bubble of cool, dry climate.

Ethiopian Bush-crow by Matthew Matthiessen

Lead author of the study from BirdLife’s UK Partner RSPB, Dr Paul Donald, is delighted he finally has some answers.

“The mystery surrounding this bird and its odd behaviour has stumped scientists for decades – many have looked and failed to find an answer. But the reason they failed, we now believe, is that they were looking for a barrier invisible to the human eye, like a glass wall. Inside the ‘climate bubble’, where the average temperature is less than 20°C, the bush-crow is almost everywhere. Outside, where the average temperature hits 20°C or more, there are no bush-crows at all. A cool bird, that appears to like staying that way.”

The reason this species is so completely trapped inside its little bubble is as yet unknown, but it seems likely that it is physically limited by temperature – either the adults, or more likely its chicks, simply cannot survive outside the bubble, even though there are thousands of square miles of identical habitat all around.

Ethiopian Bush-crows by Matthew Matthiessen

BirdLife International's Dr Nigel Collar is co-author of the study. He added, “Whatever the reason this bird is confined to a bubble, alarm bells are now ringing loudly. The storm of climate change threatens to swamp the bush-crow’s little climatic lifeboat – and once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.”

[The] Ethiopian Bush-crow is a small, starling-like crow with a pale grey head and body, black wings and tail, and bare, blue skin around the eye. The bird, listed by BirdLife as Endangered with approximately fewer than 9,000 individuals existing in the wild, could be the most vulnerable species to climate change in the world.

Scientists are now planning to start a monitoring programme on the temperature of the birds’ nests to see if it can unlock the answer to the next question: why are they so sensitive to climate?

The restricted range of the Ethiopian Bush-crow Zavattariornis stresemanni is a consequence of high reliance on modified habitats within narrow climatic limits.

(Rockjumper comment: This species shares a very similar range with another highly restricted Ethiopian bird, the White-tailed Swallow, and it will be interesting to see if the same “climate bubble” parameters also apply to the swallow?)

White-tailed Swallow by Markus Lilje

Reference: Journal of Ornithology, DOI: 10.1007/s10336-012-0832-4

The Northwest Passage

While the history of the 300-year search for the Northwest Passage, which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to the north of the North American continent, is certainly well documented, travellers in search of a polar adventure may be less aware of the astounding variety and volume of wildlife to be enjoyed during the exploration of the Northwest Passage through the Canadian High Arctic.

Canadian Arctic Scenery by Boris Wise

According to our internationally experienced expedition leader from the 2011 season, it’s possible to be truly inundated and overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of marine mammals, Polar Bears and birdlife that appear during such a voyage.

Polar Bear by Boris Wise

In his own words: “One memorable day at Beechey Island last summer saw three Polar Bears, two white morph adult Gyrfalcons taking turns feeding their chick, three Beluga Whales swimming along the shoreline, a Bearded Seal poking its head up from time to time, hundreds of Harp Seals, thousands of fulmars, kittiwakes, Thick-billed Murres and even a few Black Guillemots! Plus, about a dozen Arctic Hares were easily visible even from the ship’s anchorage.”

Photographing Polar Bears by Nina Stavlund

This bombardment of wildlife sightings is by no means an isolated experience as passengers on board the impressive ice-strengthened Akademik Ioffe will discover. Using zodiac inflatable boats with the quietest of motors, travelling upwind of a Polar Bear it is possible to safely get within metres of these beautiful creatures as they stroll along the shoreline. And, with a real chance of seeing pods of Beluga and Bowhead Whales, rafts of Ringed, Harp or Bearded Seals, herds of Walrus, the ghostly Ivory Gull and staggering numbers of other birds, many with chicks in various stages of fledging, it is certain to be a wildlife experience to remember!

Ivory Gull by Boris Wise

Travelling along one of the most legendary shipping routes in the world also provides a fascinating opportunity to follow in the footsteps of a host of courageous polar explorers, including the ill-fated Sir John Franklin and Roald Amundsen, the first to successfully traverse the Northwest Passage.

Pack Ice by Boris Wise

Today’s adventurers will travel in much greater comfort than the remarkable polar explorers who went before them. Facilities on board the Akademik Ioffe include a bar and lounge, a library and media room, plus a theatre-style presentation room, gift-shop and wellness centre with massage, sauna and hot tub, as well as a dining room serving sumptuous meals throughout the voyage.

Akademik Ioffe by Tony Beck

Additional highlights of the 14-night trip, which travels between Kangerlussuaq in Greenland and Coppermine in Canada, include majestic, steep-sided fjords and massive tabular icebergs, the chance to visit remote Inuit communities and meet traditional Greenlandic kayakers, and the opportunity to participate in hiking, kayaking, photographic and birding expeditions in the company of expert guides.

Zodiac Cruising by Tony Beck

Rockjumper is pleased to offer a 14-night voyage in conjunction with One Ocean Expeditions through the Northwest Passage this summer. The cruise departs on the 12th August 2012 from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, sailing west to Coppermine, Canada, where it will conclude on the 26th August. Prices range from US$7,430 per person based on triple share, to US$13,710 for superior cabins. Return transfers between Kangerlussuaq/Kugluktuk airports and the ship, all meals and accommodation and zodiac excursions are included. (Please note, however, that charter flights between Ottawa and Kangerlussuaq and Edmonton and Coppermine are required for passengers joining these voyages.) For further information on this polar adventure of a lifetime, please contact our Rockjumper office.

Baird's Sandpiper by Tony Beck

Sunset by Tony Beck