Condolences to Lisa and Ben's Family

This year has been a hard one for birding and bird conservation in South Africa. Ben De Boer a really great birder and the pioneer in setting up the Limpopo Bird Routes passed away yesterday after a protracted bout of probable meningitis. It unfortunately led to a stroke after his operation to treat a bad aneurysm as result of the meningitis. Ben's passing will leave a gap for bird conservation and bird-watching tourism in South Africa. His work in training bird guides and assisting local rural communities was exemplary. A teacher by profession, but a conservationist and humanist at heart and a friend to all things wild and free. Ben you are already missed. To Lisa and his family and friends, my thoughts are with you all over this difficult time.