FLIGHT FOR BIRDERS A bird identification course for novice and intermediate bird-watchers: Educational Center in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve in Hermanus (26 and 27 January 2012) The presentation of the “Flight for Birders” bird identification course by Anton Odendal in Hermanus has been scheduled for 26 and 27 January 2012. The costs will be R 400-00 per head. The costs include the course manual and a certificate endorsed by BirdLife South Africa – roughly 1,600 slides and drawings will be used. The contents of the course get updated every second year and this has now been done – in many cases images of similar and potentially confusing species have been combined on the same slide in order to illustrate differences. The development of an infrastructure for birding tourists in the local area will also be highlighted. In the vast majority of the slides English and Afrikaans names of species 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. PROGRAM SCHEDULE WHAT PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BRING ALONG: •One of the bird guide books (Newman's, SASOL or Robert's), preferably one that you are prepared 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. DAY 1: Thursday 26 January 2012 (Kindly note that short breaks will be taken on the hour). 08h30 to 09h00: Registration 09h00 to 10h00: The basic approach to Flight for Birders and what to look for when trying to identify a bird 10h00 to 10h15: Tea 10h15 to 11h15: The identification of garden birds 11h15 to 12h00: The identification of garden birds. A special talk on how to attract birds to one's garden will be included here. 12h00 to 12h30: An overview of some threatened birds in Southern Africa: what is BLSA trying to do about the problem through conservation programs and how can ordinary birders help? 1.The work of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust 2.BLSA's Albatross Task Force 3.The impact of pelicans on breeding cormorants on Jutten Island. 12h30 to 13h00: Lunch 13h00 to 13h30: A special section on some of the brood parasites of southern Africa and their host species: Cuckoos, whydahs, honeyguides and indigobirds. 13h30 to 15h30: An introduction to the identification of some difficult groups – Little Brown Jobs and Swallows 15h30 to 16h30: Typical birds found along the highways and byways: Focus on Chats, Bustards and gamebirds. 16h30 onwards: Practical outing in small groups applying the principles taught. DAY 2: Friday 27 January 2012 09h00 to 10h15: The identification of raptors and birds of prey 10h15 to 10h30: Tea 10h30 to 11h00: A special focus on the Owls of southern Africa 11h00 to 11h45: How to prepare when visiting a new birding area: Birding in the Kruger National Park as a brief case-study. 11h45 to 12h30: The identification of the fairly common water birds of southern Africa 12h30 to 13h00: Lunch 13h00 to 13h30: The identification of the fairly common water birds of southern Africa (Continued) 13h30 to 14h00: The identification of the seabirds and coastal birds of southern Africa 14h00 to 15h00: Concluding integration: a focus on birds and birding tourism - the critical role that the Cape West Coast region in general and Piketberg area in particular could play in this regard 15h00 to 15h30: The 101 species in southern Africa that every avid birder needs to be able to identify – how to distinguish between the various families of birds. (An open-ended participatory discussion on photographs of the most common birds representing different families of birds). 15h30+: Presentation of certificates endorsed by BLSA DETAILS IN BRIEF: DATES: 26 and 27 January 2012 VENUE: The Educational Center in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve in Hermanus COSTS: R 400-00, that include the course manual and certificate endorsed by BirdLife South Africa. TO REGISTER AND SECURE YOUR PLACE: Contact Elaine at mwjasser@mweb.co.za or 028 – 316 1105 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 028 – 316 1105 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 028 – 316 1105 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 028 – 316 1105 end_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting or All further queries could also be forwarded to Elaine. | 
