Raeesah Habib is a South African conservationist and freelance writer. She completed a diploma in nature conservation in 2016 through the University of South Africa (UNISA). During her internship, she spent a year working with wattled cranes on the Wattled Crane Recovery Programme (WCRP).
The program aims to prevent the local extinction of the wattled crane in Southern Africa through the release of captive-reared individuals into critically endangered wild populations across the country. During her time at the research facility, she was also responsible for the general monitoring and husbandry of other magnificent species, including blue cranes and secretary birds.
Following her internship, she was fortunate to have worked in some spectacular wilderness areas across the country, including the Cradle of Humankind, the Kruger National Park, and the northern Zululand. As a wildlife monitor, her responsibilities included conducting bird point counts. Birds surveys are a useful means to collect data on the avian populations in an area. The data helps researchers gain an understanding of population trends and ecosystem health.
When not in the field, Rae enjoys writing to share her passion, knowledge, and experiences with others.
The snowy albatross (Diomedea exulans) is the largest and most wide-ranging member of the albatross family, Diomedeidae, and one of the most iconic seabirds of the Southern Ocean. Renowned for its immense wingspan and its ability to glide for hours...
The most distinctive black birds with red or orange wings are the red-winged blackbird, common and widespread across North America, and the tricolored blackbird, a similar but more localized species of the West. A few other blackbirds occur farther...
Alaska is the heart of North America’s puffin world. Each summer, millions of seabirds return from the open Pacific to breed on the cliffs and islands scattered along the state’s vast coastline, from the temperate fjords of the southeast to...
Pennsylvania is home to a striking mix of blue birds, from the familiar eastern bluebird perched on fence posts to the rarer cerulean warbler high in forest canopies. These species bring flashes of color to the state’s fields, woodlands, and...
Maine is the only state in the eastern United States where puffins nest. Each year from late April through August, thousands of puffins return from the open North Atlantic to breed on a handful of remote islands – Eastern Egg Rock, Seal...
The elf owl is the world’s smallest owl, measuring just 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) in length and weighing as little as 35 grams (1.2 ounces). Close behind are the long-whiskered owlet and Tamaulipas pygmy owl – two elusive forest...
Some birds carry an extra dose of charm, with round shapes, large eyes, fluffy feathers, and playful habits that make them irresistibly endearing. From tiny tits and robins to wide-eyed owls and waddling penguins, these species win affection as much...
Brood parasitism in birds is a strategy where one species lays its eggs in the nest of another, leaving incubation and chick-rearing to an unsuspecting host. The most familiar examples are the common cuckoo in Europe and the brown-headed cowbird in...
The pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is one of the most iconic and easily recognized woodpeckers of North America. With bold black-and-white plumage, a vivid red crest, and powerful drumming, it is a familiar inhabitant of mature forests...
The Andean condor is the world’s largest and heaviest living bird of prey, with a wingspan of up to 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) and a body mass reaching 15 kilograms (33.1 pounds). The secretarybird is the tallest and longest, standing 1.3 meters...