A Goodbye and Thank You to Crystelle Wilson, Editor of KZN Birds (2009-2022)

constituting a minimum of 1 600 hours of continuous bird monitoring.

Crystelle Wilson advised the BirdLife KZN Forum committee in November 2022 after producing KZN Birds Issue #69 that she was retiring as editor of this fabulous e-mag. She has done an absolutely sterling job acting as editor for an amazing 14 years, taking over from David Allan. During that time Crystelle produced an incredible 48 issues. This effort was recognised by BLSA in 2022 with an Owl Award.

Crystelle has been birding for more than 45 years and is a longstanding member of BirdLife South Africa, having joined BirdLife eThekwini KZN when it was BirdLife Port Natal in 2008. On moving to Howick in 2016, she also joined the KZN Midlands branch. She became involved in the first Southern Africa Bird Atlas Project in her mid-twenties. Birding then took a back seat while she worked as a journalist, got married and became involved in other projects. She was delighted when the second atlas project kicked off in 2007, which gave her hobby a new focus again. She is a committed atlasser and her contribution has been a sterling effort. She was actively involved in SABAP1which ran from 19871991 and, subsequently, with SABAP2 commencing in October 2007 and continuing until the present time.

In summary she has contributed 845 full protocol cards across 168 pentads spread across RSA

Crystelle is perhaps most widely known as the editor of KZN Birds, the official magazine of the KwaZuluNatal bird clubs affiliated to BirdLife South Africa, a position she took up in 2009. “KZN Birds” is the official magazine of the KZN bird clubs affiliated to BirdLife South Africa. This magazine was at that time a printed publication for which Crystelle sought authors and photographers for interesting and informative articles and good quality photographs which she then compiled into the final publication. The publication has regular articles on conservation, projects, bird notes and observations, club news and activities, honorary recorders report on rarities, notices, advertisements and other informative content. KZN Birds is eagerly looked forward to by club members and others. She was responsible for arranging the printing and distribution of the hard copy magazine with assistance from club members. Crystelle was concerned when the decision was made to go digital from a hard copy format to an electronic format, but she rose to the occasion and the transition was smooth.

In 2012 she was a recipient of Birdlife South Africa’s Owl award recognising these efforts and in particular her coordination and work to ensure that KZN Birds continued successfully.

On behalf of the BirdLife KZN Forum committee we extend our sincere thanks to Crystelle for her years of hard work as Editor of this magazine and we hope that she enjoys having more time for birding.

Sean Glynn and Nicolette Forbes Chair BirdLife KZN Midlands and Chair BirdLife KZN Forum

Last three issues of KZN Birds by Crystelle