Anyone from KZN following the irruption (eruption?) of Marabou Storks across the Westren Cape on SABirdNet, should also be on the lookout here in KZN.
Some years back (after SABAP1 and before SABAP2), there were a pair of Marabous that hung out at the free range piggery just off the R33 North of PMB (just after the Wartburg turn-off). In conversation with the piggery owner, he stated that they often went off foraging in newly tilled sugar fields, where nice ripe pig manure had been spread.
I have seen a single Marabou at the piggery again in recent months - which was reported to SABAP2 as an incidental. Last Saturday (21/02/09) I then saw a single bird stalking (or should that read storking) across a newly tilled sugar field, where nice ripe pig manure had been spread. This practice has been growing considerably across the KZN Midlands sugar belt of late. (One wonders if the sugar that we are now growing can still be considered kosher or labelled halaal?)
The gist of my now rather long-winded post is that if you should happen to be out and about in this area, look out for Marabou's in any newly tilled field.
Friday 27 February 2009
Tuesday 24 February 2009
Birding with a Purpose
SABAP2 BIRDING WITH A PURPOSE
SABAP2 (Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2) was formally launched on 1 July 2007. This project is an atlas project involving Birdlife South Africa (BLSA) Animal Demography Unit (ADU) at the University of Cape Town and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), and is a follow-up from the first bird atlas project (SABAP) which took place from 1987-1991. It aims to determine the impacts of environmental change on the distribution and abundance of bird species in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. It also aims to promote the public awareness of birds and update distribution maps in the field guides.
There are 1278 pentads (small defined survey areas) to atlas in KZN. To date (24th February 2009) we have atlased 490 pentads, that’s 38.3% coverage. A total of 1862 cards have been submitted for these pentads comprising 109.675 records.
We need as much help as possible with this very exciting project. If you are a birder, enjoy new challenges and would like to make your birding contribute to long-term bird conservation in southern Africa please consider getting involved. I will gladly organise for someone to visit you, set up the software, give you a lesson on how to atlas and submit cards. It is really easy.
The user-friendly software can downloaded from the SABAP2 website
http://sabap2.adu.org.za
If you don’t have a computer - there are manual forms that one can use to submit information. I am also happy to submit cards on your behalf if you email or fax me the relevant information.
Atlasing is fun; new places to visit, new birds to list and new people to meet.
Trish Strachan
Atlas activities Coordinator for KZN
Fax: 0866 853754
Mobile: 082 411 2708
E-mail: sabap2.kzn@futurenet.co.za
SABAP2 (Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2) was formally launched on 1 July 2007. This project is an atlas project involving Birdlife South Africa (BLSA) Animal Demography Unit (ADU) at the University of Cape Town and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), and is a follow-up from the first bird atlas project (SABAP) which took place from 1987-1991. It aims to determine the impacts of environmental change on the distribution and abundance of bird species in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. It also aims to promote the public awareness of birds and update distribution maps in the field guides.
There are 1278 pentads (small defined survey areas) to atlas in KZN. To date (24th February 2009) we have atlased 490 pentads, that’s 38.3% coverage. A total of 1862 cards have been submitted for these pentads comprising 109.675 records.
We need as much help as possible with this very exciting project. If you are a birder, enjoy new challenges and would like to make your birding contribute to long-term bird conservation in southern Africa please consider getting involved. I will gladly organise for someone to visit you, set up the software, give you a lesson on how to atlas and submit cards. It is really easy.
The user-friendly software can downloaded from the SABAP2 website
http://sabap2.adu.org.za
If you don’t have a computer - there are manual forms that one can use to submit information. I am also happy to submit cards on your behalf if you email or fax me the relevant information.
Atlasing is fun; new places to visit, new birds to list and new people to meet.
Trish Strachan
Atlas activities Coordinator for KZN
Fax: 0866 853754
Mobile: 082 411 2708
E-mail: sabap2.kzn@futurenet.co.za
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