BirdLife Lowveld’s auction poster depicting donated artworks by Ingrid Weiersbye and other artists
In 2025 BirdLife Lowveld, a bird club based in Mbombela, Mpumalanga Province that is affiliated to BirdLife South Africa, held its 40th Anniversary and chose to mark it by fundraising for a bird conservation project. Club member Duncan McKenzie asked his friend, the renowned wildlife artist Ingrid Weiersbye, if she would donate a painting for the club to auction. After considering several potential projects, and with some 25 members having participated in the Flock to Marion AGAIN! 2025 voyage in January 2025 (including Ingrid who had donated a book which she had co-illustrated for the MFM Project’s onboard auctions) the Club Committee decided to support the birds of Marion Island due to their urgent needs by making a donation to the Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds: The Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project.
Duncan McKenzie auctions the 40th Anniversary artworks, photograph by Neels Jackson
Fran Coole, BirdLife Lowveld’s Membership Secretary, writes to MFM News: “When learning about the MFM Project Ingrid generously created five beautiful artworks for us to auction. Alongside these, we offered limited edition prints of Ingrid’s work, as well as contributions from other artists, a wine and book auction, a sponsorship from Doug’s Hiring, a donation in memory of Mike Kirkpatrick, and a small supplement from existing club funds. Together, these efforts enabled us to sponsor 34 hectares by donating R34 000 to the MFM Project.”
BirdLife Lowveld holds a Founders’ Breakfast as part of its 40th Anniversary, photograph by Neels Jackson
With a previous eight hectares sponsored, BirdLife Lowveld has now reached a total of 42 ha. This moves the club on the MFM Honour Roll from the 5 ha+ Prion category to the 25 ha+ Grey Petrel, leapfrogging the 10 ha+ Rockhopper Penguin. It places the club as second among BirdLife South Africa-affiliated clubs who have made sponsorships, behind BirdLife eThekwini KZN at 100 ha. In the process it has pipped the Witwatersrand Bird Club from its second spot at 36 ha to third position.
Off (just visible) Marion Island! BirdLife Lowveld Founder Members Duncan and Brigid Ballantyne on the MSC Musica during the Flock to Marion AGAIN! 2025 voyage
Fran continues to say that in addition to holding monthly meetings and outings, as well as presenting bird courses, an emphasis of her club of 268 members is on projects relating to the conservation of birds. “Our donation to the MFM Project is, therefore, in keeping with the ethos of our club and we encourage other bird clubs in South Africa and beyond to support this worthy venture”.
With thanks to BirdLife Lowveld Membership Secretary Fran Coole and Chair, Don Williams.
John Cooper, News Correspondent, Mouse-Free Marion Project, 29 January 2026
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The Mouse-Free Marion Project is a registered non-profit company (No. 2020/922433/08) in South Africa, established to eradicate the invasive albatross-killing mice on Marion Island in the Southern Ocean. The project was initiated by BirdLife South Africa and the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Upon successful completion, the project will restore the critical breeding habitat of over two million seabirds, many globally threatened, and improve the island’s resilience to a warming climate. For more information or to support the project please visit mousefreemarion.org.
