Notes to the Stevensford Game Reserve Bird Checklist
The observations for this checklist were carried out by Pierre and Hamish Hofmeyr during a series of visits to Stevensford between 1993 and 2002, and in 2003 while Hamish was manager of the Game Reserve.
Thereafter the list has been updated by Pierre Hofmeyr during visits to the Reserve.
The list is by no means complete and many more species will be added to the list in the future.
The numbers and the order of species used in this checklist follow the sixth edition of Roberts’ Birds of Southern Africa and serves as a reference to most fieldguides of the region. The names are those used in the Sasol Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa by Sinclair and Hockey.
The probable frequency of sightings refers to the correct seasons for particular birds (whether residents or migrants) and to areas of suitable habitat.
Species which are secretive (eg. Yellowbellied Bulbul) or difficult to identify with certainty (eg. firefinches) have undoubtedly been under-recorded.
The species listed under POSSIBLE have not been recorded yet on Stevensford but according to the Bird Atlas of Botswana have been recorded for the area so they should be looked for on Stevensford.
The meanings and definitions of the abbreviations used under STATUS are as follows:
VC = very common (can be expected to be seen every day at least once at the right time of year in suitable habitat)
C = common (can be expected to be seen on most days at the right time of the year in suitable habitat)
U = uncommon (can be expected to be seen a few times a month at the right time of the year in suitable habitat)
R = rare (can be expected to be seen a few times a year at the right time of the year in suitable habitat)
Undoubtedly as more observations are accumulated the status of many species will change and many species will be transferred from POSSIBLE to RECORDED status.
