Flying Higher course

BirdLife Overberg’s drive to expose more people to the wonderful world of birds and bird-watching through live courses starts at Hermanus on 4 and 5 February when the Flight Higher 2023 identification & conservation course will be presented. The course is presented by Dr Anton Odendal, a BirdLife South Africa accredited course provider. A portion of the income will be donated to the BirdLife Overberg conservation fund.

Note that recordings of the course can also be ordered for forwarding with WeTransfer for those individuals who can’t attend the course in Hermanus. Gift vouchers are also available – an ideal gift for budding birders or people with an interest in nature.

People working in the tourism and conservation industries, as well as novice and more experienced bird-watchers should be encouraged to participate. The costs of the course include basic background notes.

Programme

Day 1: 4 February 2023

08h30 to 09h00: Registration and tea/ coffee
09h00 to 10h00: INTRODUCTION ON GETTING THE MOST OUT OF BIRDING – How does one start flying with these beautiful creatures?
10h00 to 11h00: For the love of one’s GARDEN BIRDS – Getting to know the birds that one will see most often.
11h00 to 11h15: Tea
11h15 to 12h00: GARDEN BIRDS CONTINUED and GARDENING FOR BIRDS – Attracting birds and other wildlife to one’s garden.
12h00 to 12h30: Masters of the skies – The BIRDS OF PREY of the region
12h30 to 13h00: Lunch
13h00 to 14h15: Masters of the skies – The BIRDS OF PREY of the region (Continued)
14h15 to 14h30: OWLS AND NIGHTJARS of the Western Cape
14h30 to 15h30: The art of deception – celebrating the BROOD PARASITES and their hosts. (On the tricks that cuckoos, whydahs and honeyguides are up to).

Day 2: 5 February 2023

08h45 to 09h00: Coffee and tea
09h00 to 10h15: Are “LITTLE BROWN JOBS” of the Western Cape Province really that bad? What they lack in colour they gain in brilliant display flights and resilient behaviour.
10h15 to 10h30: Tea
10h30 to 11h30: Summer migrants – An introduction to WADERS AND TERNS in our area
11h30 to 11h45: Basic keys on the identification of SWALLOWS, SWIFTS AND MARTINS in one’s area
11h45 to 12h30: RESIDENT BIRDS ASSOCIATED WITH WATER: The easiest stuff
12h30 to 13h00: Lunch
13h00 to 14h00: How to prepare when planning to bird in a new area – a case-study of birding in the KRUGER NATIONAL PARK or A celebration of the ENDEMIC TERRESTRIAL BIRD SPECIES of seven South African regions. (Participants will vote on the talk to be presented)
14h00 to 15h00: THE 101 GAME – Getting to know the different families of birds.
15h00+: Closure.

Details in brief

Dates: 4 and 5 February 2023

Venue in Hermanus: To be decided once we have an idea of how many people will be attending.
Alternatively the individual talks can be forwarded with WeTransfer for participants watch it in their own time at home.
Costs: R 700-00 that includes the course notes.
To register: Contact Anton at birding@overberg.co.za or WhatsApp at 082 550 3347. All further queries could also be forwarded to Anton.