Social media and networking platforms are growing in their usefulness in research through citizen science. We used diverse online data sources and methods to generate insight into the distribution, ecological interactions and any additional information on the Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) and Lanner Falcons (F. biarmicus) in South Africa. We used social media, specifically Facebook®, eBird®, and iNaturalist®, to collect posts/observations, images and any additional information on the two falcon species in South Africa. We collected and analysed 5070 images from 2702 observations/posts in South Africa that were sourced from social media up to the 31st of August 2024. Both falcons were observed/posted in all nine provinces of South Africa. Peregrine Falcons were observed 1154 times (2404 images), whilst Lanner Falcons were observed 1548 times (2666 images) in all 9 provinces of South Africa. After 2017, there was a significant rise in posts/observations for both falcon species. Lanner Falcons were observed/posted more in most provinces, except Gauteng and the Western Cape, where Peregrine Falcons dominated the observations/posts. The Western Cape Province dominated image observations and posts/observations for the Peregrine Falcon, whilst the Northern Cape Province was notable for the Lanner Falcon. The differences in images and post/observation contributions between Peregrine Falcons and Lanner Falcons highlighted varying levels of visibility and engagement for reporting sightings amongst the different species, as well as behaviours of the two species. Future research can focus on optimising data collection strategies across multiple platforms to ensure citizen scientists can effectively contribute to our understanding of the dynamics of these species of falcons in South Africa.

The Great Spotted Woodpecker and the Middle Spotted Woodpecker during the breeding season in the Białowieża National Park forage mainly on the same tree species: European hornbeam, small-leaved lime, pedunculate oak and Norway maple. Therefore, it seems that they should forage in different sites on a given tree species or use different foraging techniques to minimize competition for food. Our research aimed to find out if this is in fact the case. Foraging observations of woodpeckers were carried out between 1999 and 2011 in April, May, and June. We found no differences between both woodpecker species in the choice of foraging sites on lime, hornbeam, and maple trees. In contrast, a significant difference was observed for oak trees, where the Middle Spotted Woodpecker foraged mainly on trunks, whereas the Great Spotted Woodpecker mostly on branches. Significant differences in the frequency of foraging techniques between the two woodpecker species were observed for lime, hornbeam, and oak, whereas no such differences were found in the case of maple. The differences in the foraging techniques of the woodpecker species on individual tree species is a factor that minimizes competition for food between them, while allowing them to forage at sites with similar parameters. The exception is oak, where foraging sites are spatially separated. This finding, and, at the same time, the difference in foraging techniques between the two species of woodpeckers, may suggest that oaks are an important source of food resources for which individuals of both species compete.

Migration exerts a selective pressure for increased flight efficiency and reduced energy expenditure in long-distance migratory birds. In North America, eastern migratory flyways are longer and requir...

We investigated the spatial behavior of a recently discovered breeding population of Egyptian Nightjars (Caprimulgus aegyptius) near the Dead Sea. While there is a prevalent migratory tendency in othe...

Habitat fragmentation and degradation are major problems in tropical forests, leading to a decline in biodiversity. However, it is often unclear which aspects of habitat change are responsible for the...

Migratory divides are junctures where populations of the same species following different migratory routes intersect. In white storks (Ciconia ciconia), migration strategies differ between the western...

Here we investigated the consumption of honeydew by bird communities in southern Brazil. We observed birds feeding on honeydew produced by scale insects on Mimosa scabrella host-trees, to clarify bird...