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.
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Awarded the title “king of the birds” based on an old folktale, this tiny bird is a member of the kinglet family. Goldcrests are native to Europe and Asia. There are fourteen recognized subspecies, spanning continental Eurasia and the Macronesian...
Deep in the swamps of the Kachin state of Myanmar lies the last remaining hope for a species all but lost to science. It may be the last safe-haven for a bird that has been missing for decades. The pink-headed duck is a rare, elusive bird that once...
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