SAFRING

South African Bird Ringing Scheme

About Us

The South African Bird Ringing Unit (SAFRING) is based at the University of Cape Town and is responsible for the administration of all bird ringing within Southern Africa and other African countries. This entails providing bird rings, ringing equipment, and services to volunteers (citizen scientists) and qualified ringers. SAFRING curates all the southern African ringing data on site and maintains a close relationship with all other ringing schemes.

SAFRING communicates with ringers via a mailing list and social media and liaises with provincial authorities who have the responsibility of issuing permits. SAFRING has a strict code of ethics to ensure the safety of birds handled.

Bird ringing/banding is the process whereby registered ringers permanently mark wild birds to study their lifecycles (births, deaths, age of breeding and survival rates), habits, populations and movements. To do this, metal rings (marked with unique numbers) are attached to the bird for future identification.

To find out more about bird ringing:

Interesting updates

Rescued barn owls ringed

Two barn owls have been rescued by the Benoni SPCA and were ringed by licensed bird ringer, Arjen van Zwieten on the 23rd of July.

Read the full account in the Sandton Chronicle.

posted by: Janine Dunlop on 28 July 2025

News

Species Update: Intermediate Egret

Intermediate Egret has been split into 3 species, the Plumed, Medium and Yellow-billed.

The original species reference (60) has been retired and 3 new numbers assigned.

  • 14788 Plumed Egret Ardea plumifera
  • 14798 Medium Egret Ardea intermedia
  • 14799 Yellow-billed Egret Ardea brachyrhyncha

Species Update: Woolly-necked Stork

The Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) has been split into two species, the African Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus, 14836) and the Asian Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus, 14837). Across the BirdMap family of projects (incl. SAFRING and CWAC), the original Woolly-necked Stork species reference number (77) will be retired, and the projects will continue with the two new species reference numbers that have been allocated.

On the BirdLasser app, you will notice an [x] prefixed to the 'old' species: [x] Woolly-necked Stork, starting from 25-03-2025. You will now need to change this species in the trip cards to the applicable one, African or Asian Woolly-necked Stork. Also, make sure you log the correct species going forward (and submitting to SABAP2).

 

Most recently uploaded records

Ring Ringing date Common name Taxanomic name Location code
FC642312026-05-23Unknown, UnknownUnknown Unknown
RA002182026-05-17Vulture, White-backedGyps africanus 2833S2946E
Z15572026-05-14Unknown, UnknownUnknown Unknown 3411S2202E
FH569442026-05-11Robin-Chat, CapeCossypha caffra 2548S2817E
MM012682026-04-29Vulture, White-backedGyps africanus 2718S2222E
MM011622026-04-29Vulture, White-backedGyps africanus 2718S2222E
6H107322026-04-27Sparrowhawk, BlackAccipiter melanoleucus 3403S1826E
MM009982026-04-25Vulture, White-backedGyps africanus 2735S3156E
FB089172026-04-24Finch, Red-headedAmadina erythrocephala 2642S2752E
CA584512026-04-22Weaver, VillagePloceus cucullatus 2928S3014E
G340532026-04-19Vulture, CapeGyps coprotheres 3254S2556E
D058972026-04-07Starling, Red-wingedOnychognathus morio 3359S1828E
CA355542026-04-07Bulbul, Dark-capped [x]Pycnonotus barbatus tricolor2608S2757E
9A747012026-04-06Gannet, CapeMorus capensis 3205S1818E
9A853792026-04-06Gannet, CapeMorus capensis 3440S2013E
9A958332026-04-02Gannet, CapeMorus capensis 3336S2653E
BF237002026-03-31Unknown, UnknownUnknown Unknown
BF236992026-03-31Unknown, UnknownUnknown Unknown
BF236982026-03-31Unknown, UnknownUnknown Unknown
BF236972026-03-31Unknown, UnknownUnknown Unknown

 

 

 

     
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