Course: Wide Open Spaces – Mostly LBJs

WORKSHOP ON BIRDING IN WIDE OPEN SPACES – MOSTLY LITTLE BROWN JOBS: 5 August 2023.

This workshop by Dr Anton Odendal focuses on terrestrial species that are mostly found in wide, open rural areas, along our country’s gravel roads and game reserves. The first session celebrates some of South Africa’s brilliant endemic species, while two sessions focus on the six main groups of the often difficult to identify “Little Brown Jobs’ (LBJs). Our bustards and korhane are facing serious threats to their survival and this is highlighted in the fourth session. The course is concluded with overviews on how one prepares to visit new birding areas and here the Tankwa Karoo National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park are used as illustrated case-studies. Basic clues on the identification of birds are provided and anecdotal information on their survival skills and foraging strategies is shared. Basic notes are forwarded to participants electronically. Reserve your spot now to avoid disappointment. The course contents are as follows:

08h30 to 09h00: Registration and tea/ coffee

09h00 to 10h00: A CELEBRATION OF SOME OF SOUTH AFRICA’S ENDEMIC TERRESTRIAL BIRD SPECIES IN SEVEN HABITAT TYPES: 1. Benquela current (Stony Point) 2. Fynbos (Rooiels) 3. Overberg Wheatbelt and Renosterveld  4. Klein Karoo (Langeberg region) 5. Afrimontaine forests (Nature’s Valley) 6. High altitude grasslands (Wakkerstroom) 7. East Coast Littoral (Mkuzi and Ndumu)

10h00 to 11h00: LITTLE BROWN JOBS Part 1: Focus on our larks, pipits and canaries

11h00 to 11h15: Tea

11h15 to 12h30: LITTLE BROWN JOBS Part 2: Warblers, cisticolas and chats

12h30 to 13h00: Lunch

13h00 to 14h00: INGLORIOUS BUSTARDS: Our bustards and korhane in trouble

14h00 to 15h00: CASE-STUDY ON BIRDING IN THE TANKWA KAROO

15h00 to 16h00: CASE-STUDY ON BIRDING IN THE KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK

ARRANGEMENTS:

WORKSHOP: Birds of mostly wide, open spaces

DATE: 5 August 2023

VENUE: The community hall at Mollergren Park, Main Road, Hermanus

COSTS: R 400.00 per person for the course or R 150.00 per individual session.

REGISTRATION: Contact Anton at birding@overberg.co.za or WhatsApp at 082 550 3347 to register or to obtain more information. NOTE: Gift vouchers to attend the course are available – an ideal gift for budding birders.