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Climate change has been wreaking havoc on the annual bird migration, with numerous bee-eaters and swallows found lifeless across the country.
BirdLife South Africa said the annual spectacle of bird migration is now under threat with migratory birds facing unpredictable and extreme weather conditions that include sub-zero temperatures and heavy downpours.
"The result was devastating, with reports pouring in of numerous bee-eaters and swallows found lifeless throughout the country," said the organisation's Flyway and Migrants Project Manager, Jessica Wilmot.
She said the underlying causes of this alarming situation were complex and deeply worrisome.
"Migratory birds encounter a multitude of threats throughout their extensive journey to southern Africa, and the additional challenge of extreme weather conditions only exacerbates their predicament," she said.
"How tragic to survive such an extensive journey only to succumb to an abnormal weather event.
Wilmot said migratory birds were becoming more susceptible to environmental stressors due to a lack of access to sufficient high-quality resources necessary for replenishing their energy levels.
She also appealed to members of the public who came across dead birds in the aftermath of the cold snap earlier this week, to record information like the location, date, time, and the type of bird and send it to BirdLife South Africa.
