More about the bird club:

BirdLife Lowveld, originally called Lowveld Bird Club was inaugurated at the Lowveld Botanic Garden in Nelspruit at 2.30pm on Saturday 13 April 1985.

The idea of a club was born when Founder Chairman Peter Lawson was called to the home of Karen and Gerald Bullen in Nelspruit to identify a Bronze-winged Courser that their son Gavin had found in their garden after a severe storm. Peter’s disbelief or perhaps just concern over a mistaken identity because this bird is not supposed to occur in Nelspruit, prompted him to visit the house on the edge of the Nelspruit Nature Reserve to see for himself. Another resident Toni Ponting happened to be visiting and she was part of the conversation and identification of the bird. Peter examined the still-live bird, soothed its ruffled feathers, and confirmed the identification, also offering to return it to its natural habitat close to the Kruger National Park. Sometime during the conversation which had turned to birds and being interested in birdwatching, it was Toni Ponting who suggested to Peter – “…so why don’t you start a Bird Club and Karen can be your Secretary”…and so the club came about – ultimately affiliated to the Southern African Ornithological Society which is now known as BirdLife South Africa.

…and so having celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2025, the club continues ...  to grow with members from Nelspruit and surrounds making up the bulk of the membership. Active and engaging Chairmen; enthusiastic professional birders; amateur photographers; and club members have made up the Committee over the years, bringing creativity, strong leadership; good birding skills and enthusiasm resulting in an active group of bird and nature lovers, who serve the club diligently.

Long live BirdLife Lowveld!

Membership options:

Ordinary (<60 years): R235
Senior Citizen (<60 years): R190
Student: R 170

Spouse/ partner: R170

+ Family Member (including main member, spouse/partner & children): R 405
+ African BirdLife: R 360

Catchment area:

The Nelspruit, Barberton, White River stretching up to Malelane and Marloth Park. The bulk of our members are from the Nelspruit/White River and Barberton area.

Contact details:

Frank Webb - Chair
Mobile: +27 (0)82 804 3486
Email: frank.webb@nelweb.co.za

Frank Webb  - Treasurer
Mobile: +27 82 804 3486
Email:frank.webb@nelweb.co.za

Moira McMillan - Secretary
Mobile: +27 (0)74 147 9111
Email: home59melkweg@gmail.com

Fran Coole - Membership Secretary
Mobile: +27 (0)72 104 1227
Email: francoolead.co.za

Meeting venue name:

"The Captain’s Cabin" at Lowveld High School, Nelspruit
GPS: -25.479093, 30.960908
Language: English and Afrikaans