Press release - Flight for Birders Course 24-25 February 2010

 

INTRODUCTORY BIRD IDENTIFICATION AND CONSERVATION COURSE

24 AND 25 FEBRUARY 2010

 

The presentation of the “Flight for Birders” bird identification course by Anton Odendal  in the Main Hall at the Stanford Arms Hotel has been scheduled for  24 and 25 February 2010.  The costs will be R 350-00 per head.  The costs include the course manual and a certificate endorsed by BirdLife South Africa – roughly 1,400 slides and drawings will be used.   In the vast majority of the slides English and Afrikaans names are 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 and illustrates how ordinary bird-watchers could become involved in the conservation of birds and their habitats. 

 

Garden and water birds, birds of prey and difficult species such as “little brown jobs” and swallows will be illustrated systematically and in a practically understandable way.  Practical ways in attracting birds and other wildlife to one's garden will also be illustrated.  The course  also focuses strongly on conservation threats affecting birds and gives handy clues on how ordinary bird-watchers could get involved.  Case-studies on the plight of Lesser Flamingos at Kamfer's dam at Kimberley, the work of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust and BirdLife South Africa's Albatross Task Force are utilised in this regard.   The importance of the conservation of Important Bird Areas (IBA's) is also highlighted.

 

Another feature of the course includes a discussion on how one prepares to do bird-watching in areas that one has not yet visited before and here case-studies of the birds of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Western Cape are used.    The development of birding tourism in South Africa is also highlighted and BirdLife SA's approach to job creation and community upliftment is illustrated.  A practical field outing led by experienced birders will be undertaken as part of the course.   The course can therefore be attended by novices as well as more experienced bird-watchers as it attempts to motivate participants to become involved in the enjoyment of birds and in the conservation of birds and their habitats.  One of the major aims of the course would be to develop a “site support group” according to the criteria set by BirdLife International and it is hoped that members of local communities will start becoming involved in this important cause.  In this regard the course will focus the development of “site support groups” for important bird areas in and around the Stanford and Danger Point region.

 

The course is to be presented in the Main Hall of the Stanford Arms Hotel opposite the NG church in Stanford on 24 and 25 February 2010.  The programme schedule and other information could be obtained from Elaine Odendal.   Kindly register by e-mailing  your intention to attend to Elaine at mwjasser@mweb.co.za or by calling or faxing her at 028-3161105 (w) or Mobile 0824558402.