Thursday, July 30, 2009

Birding for BirdLife South Africa

I just got back from an interesting trip to Johannesburg for Martin Taylor and BirdLife South Africa. I have joined the team to assist with the consolidation of the bird guide training programme and to see how we can take Birdlife's capacity-building focus further. I must admit I am really excited by the prospect of working with Martin, Mark and the rest of the team.

On a slightly different note I had some cracker viewing of a Little Sparrowhawk over Seaview yesterday which provided some really excellent viewing at perch in a Eucaplytus tree. Towards the Sunset it pulled off heading Westwards, with a the Dark-capped bulbuls, Forked-tailed Drongo's and Spotted-backed Weavers crying foul.

In my local trips around Durban I have noticed a renewed bout of earlish nesting activity by Spotted-backed Weavers in stands of Fever Trees and Ankle-Thorns. Fresh new nests being built with resurgent grass growth in and around the suburbs. The upswing in Lesser-striped Swallows has also seemed rather marked and quite a few individuals are roaming around Westville and down towards Cato Manor.

Base Camp Project Management software working for birds1

Basecamp

South African Bird Atlas Project 2

www.sabap2.adu.org.za