A unique story of birds and benevolence

“There is no book like it in Southern Africa,” said author and co-ordinator Peter Ginn at Buitengeluk, Broadacres, where he launched the product of his latest and greatest partnership with long-time co-author and photo editor, Geoff McIlleron.

Ginn is not exaggerating. The Ultimate Companion for Birding in Southern Africa is the first guide to cover all 960 recognised Southern African bird species with photographs. Published in two glossy volumes, the Companion represents three years’ full-time work by Ginn and McIlleron, as well as the combined talents of another 16 authors and 200 photographers.

Beyond the raw numbers lies a truly unique achievement. Far from replicating the role of the many existing field and identification guides, the Companion caters to the browsing interest of the lay enthusiast, while providing, in Ginn’s words, “enough really good meat for even the expert to learn something about birds”.

Even the book’s 1 450 photographs mark a departure from the posed style usually favoured by birding guides.

“We wanted real action and movement, and birds doing interesting things,” said McIlleron, explaining the riot of motion and colourful habitat with which birds populate the Companion’s pages.

McIlleron and his son selected and edited the Companion’s wealth of images from 30 000 photographs received, adding to the volume’s triumphs with a unique, breathtaking nocturnal shot of a Pennant-winged Nightjar in flight, and the first photograph of the elusive Green Tinkerbird taken in 50 years.

Not content with scientific distinction alone, sponsor The Unlimited has undertaken to donate all profits to its early childhood development programme, The Unlimited Child, which seeks to provide stimulation for disadvantaged South African children under the age of seven. The programme currently

provides educational toys, caregiver training and support to 500 crèches across South Africa, and seeks to expand to 20 000 crèches by 2020.

“We believe we have the ability to make a meaningful impact,” affirmed The Unlimited CEO, Steph Bester, “And not only the ability, but the responsibility.”