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The presentation of the “Flight for Birders” bird identification course by Dr. Anton Odendal nearRobertson has been scheduled for 30 September and 1 October 2010. The costs will be R 350-00 per head. The costs include coffee and tea, the course manual and a certificate endorsedby BirdLife South Africa – roughly 1,400 slides and drawings will be used. The contents of thecourse get updated every second year and this has now been done – in many cases imagesof similar and potentially confusing species have been combined on the same slide in order toillustrate differences. The development of an infrastructure for birding tourists in the local areawill also be highlighted. In the vast majority of the slides English and Afrikaans names of speciesare printed onto the slide. The course focuses on basic steps in the identification of birds,places heavy emphasis on where to find the rare and often endemic birds in southern Africa andillustrates how ordinary bird-watchers could become involved in the conservation of birds andtheir habitats.
DETAILS:
DATES:VENUE:COSTS:
TO REGISTER:
PROGRAMME SCHEDULEWHAT PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BRING ALONG:• One of the bird guide books (Newman's, SASOL or Robert's), preferably one that you areprepared to make notes in to illustrate key identification features of species• Notebook and pen• Binoculars• Comfortable walking shoes• Hat and sunscreen• Lunch picnic basket• Coffee and tea will be provided.
30 September and 1 October 2010 The Vrolijkheid nature reserve near Robertson R 350-00 (Coffee and tea, course manual and certificate endorsed by BirdLife South Africa included) Contact Elaine at mwjasser@mweb.co.za or Tel: 0824558402.
DAY 1: 30 September 2010
07h30 to 08h0008h00 to 09h00
09h00 to 10h00
RegistrationThe basic approach to Flight for Birders and what to look forwhen trying to identify a birdThe identification of garden birds
10h00 to 10h1510h15 to 11h15
11h15 to 12h00
12h00 to 12h30
12h30 to 13h0013h00 to 15h00
15h00 to 16h00
16h00 onwards
DAY 2: 1 October 2010
08h00 to 10h15
10h15 to 10h3010h30 to 11h00
Tea
The identification of garden birds. A special new talk on how toattract birds to one's garden will be included here.An overview of some threatened birds in Southern Africa: whatis BirdLife South Africa trying to do about the problem throughconservation programs and how can ordinary birders help?1. The work of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust2. BLSA's Albatross Task Force3. Mark Anderson's work on Lesser Flamingos at Kamfers dam nearKimberley.A special section on some of the cuckoos of southern Africa andtheir host speciesLunchAn introduction to the identification of some difficult groups –Little Brown Jobs and SwallowsTypical birds found along the highways and byways: Focus onChats, Bustards and gamebirds.Practical outing in small groups applying the principles taught.
11h000 to 12h3012h30 to 13h0013h00 to 13h3013h30 to 14h30
14h30 to 15h00
15h00+
The identification of raptors and birds of prey, with a specialfocus on the Owls of southern AfricaTeaHow to prepare when visiting a new birding area: Birding in theKgalagadi Transfrontier Park as a brief case-study, during which weplace heavy emphasis on the differences between eastern and westernspecies.The identification of the fairly common water birds of southern AfricaLunchThe identification of the seabirds and coastal birds of southern AfricaConcluding integration: a focus on the conservation of birds andbirding tourism - the critical role that the Breede River region in generaland Robertson area in particular could play in this regardThe 101 species in southern Africa that every avid birder needsto be able to identify – how to distinguish between the various familiesof birds. (An open-ended participatory discussion on photographs of themost common birds representing different families of birds).Presentation of certificates endorsed by BLSA