Atlas maps: choice of grid scale
Traditionally, we have used the quarter-degree grid scale to generate distribution maps in biodiversity atlases. In southern Africa, this convention started wit...
Category: Archive
Longevities of shrikes, bush-shrikes and helmet-shrikes
The shrikes, bush-shrikes and helmet-shrikes were formerly all classed together in one family, but have been split into separate bird families (shrikes, bush-sh...
How to create a species distribution map in the Virtual Museum
Today, we provide the recipe for creating a species distribution map for a butterfly, the Painted Lady Vanessa cardui, directly off the current and live data in...
Virtual Museum: open for refreshments!
As you drive your new car out of the showroom, its value drops dramatically, and then keeps on dropping. It’s not quite as bad with the Virtual Museum. Bu...
Quarter-degree grid cells made simple
Lump it or leave it, quarter-degree grid cells are entrenched in the mapping system of South Africa. In an article called “SA Mapsheet Referencing“,...
Exploring data: the median and the mean, and everything in between
Here is the assignment for this blog. “Write a report on the progress being made in the Western Cape by the BirdPix section of the Virtual Museum.” ...
Exploring data: The difference between data and an anecdote
If you only have one data point, then you have an “anecdote”. Like the photo below: The information we have is that of a single Chacma...
Calvinia BioBash 2019: Citizen Science in the Hantam Karoo
Five days in the Northern Cape with a team of avid birders?! It sounds like a dream come true, and for me, that dream recently became a reality. Wednesday, June...
Colour ringing birds at Fynbos Estate
Bird ringing was conducted at Fynbos Estate from 17-21 June 2019, with two students from France, as part of their field project. During the ringing sessions Emi...
Longevities of Cossypha robin-chats
There are 14 species of Cossypha robin-chats in Africa. They are medium sized thrushes and sexes are alike. They have much red in the plumage and many species h...