Tuesday 4 July 2017

478/ Helping children with birds' twittering

SOCIAL WELFARE and CONSERVATION


BirdsConTour is committed to the protection of wild birds, including where human settlements are. For especially in these places, wild birds are deprived of their habitat. As a result, many bird species do not find adequate nesting sites and food. In addition, people can no longer enjoy their beautiful sight and wonderful singing. Just sad!
BirdsConTour tries to change this!


With a recent visit to the Ngatuve Vatere orphanage, BirdsConTour has donated a bird feeding house to the orphanage, which makes sense in two ways. 


BirdsConTour provides enough food for the garden birds and on the other hand, a natural environment is created which is the best preventive health care in order to make the inhabitants of settlements and cities happier and more healthy. Because the positive association between bird twittering, plants and better mental health remains, independent of neighborhood issues, household income, age or other sociodemographic factors.


Friday 23 June 2017

477/ Bird Friendly Pack Safari Project

SOCIAL WELFARE, CONSERVATION & TOURISM

European Bee-eater

On 22 May 2017, the International Day for the Conservation of Biodiversity (also called "International Day for Biodiversity" or "Day of Biodiversity") took place. As this year's motto of the Day for the Conservation of Biodiversity was "sustainable tourism", Pack Safari, the tour company for Southern Africa, celebrated this day by using this opportunity to present the "Bird Friendly Pack Safari" project supported by BirdsConTour (Birds Conservation & Tourism).


Many bird species deprived of their habitat and food sources in the rapidly developing Lafrenz Industrial Area Windhoek, the capital of Windhoek, find a refuge on the grounds of the tour company Pack Safari. 

Wild bird feeding station hanging

Wild bird support station fixed, serving food and nest material for all bird species

Bird water table

Ideal bird bath with pond

Pack Safari together with BirdsConTour have established a bird friendly habitat on this property since the completion of the new Pack Safari headquarter in the Lafrenz Industrial Area. 

Natural space reserved

Thus there are now not only about 181 square meters of natural space reserved and available for the wild birds, but as a return for the 2326 sqm covered area through buildings and carports, a wild bird feeding station is erected where on a daily basis different food types such as sunflower seed, crushed corn, fine seed, nectar, soft food, water and nest material is offered, catering for the different species. 

Nest boxes under the ceiling

Window seed houses are attached to prevent bird collisions

Even the buildings were designed to be bird-friendly in that partly expensive nesting boxes were installed, and bird feeding houses are attached to the larger windows, with the aim of making the transparent glass more visible and thus reducing the loss of the bird life by bird strikes.
Thus, the birds have a 6203 square meter sized Pack Safari property on which the birds can breed and live.
The habitat for various bird species in the Lafrenz Industrial Area becomes less and less by the steady cultivation that without this bird conscious implementation hardly any more species could be found here.

Birdie Snack Pack


And as if this is not enough, it is also important to note that Pack Safari buys the required bird food from the Birdie Snack Pack project from BirdsConTour, thereby helping those less well-off people who have a job and an income through the packaging of the food.

With this bird friendly campaign, Pack Safari would like to move forward with a good example, with the goal that other companies in the Lafrenz Industrial Area and other industrial areas of the city of Windhoek will follow this praiseworthy example, says Pack Safari Project Manager for Safari Logistics, Sustainability & Development Stefan Rust.


For these groundbreaking efforts in sustainable tourism, Pack Safari received a Social Welfare, Conservation & Tourism Support 2017 Award from BirdsConTour. The company now received such an award for the fourth consecutive year.
With the BirdsConTour Support Award program awards get distributed worldwide with the aim of allowing industry, local people and travelers to distinguish and chose those tour operators, attractions, cruises, flights, accommodations or any other business that make a commitment to supporting social welfare and/or conservation.

Sunday 4 June 2017

476/ International Award for guide trainees

SOCIAL WELFARE AND CONSERVATION


BirdsConTour is grateful to Pack Safari, a leading tour operator in Southern Africa, and Chamäleon, an international travel agent based in Germany, for their generous sponsorship of nine guides to having participated on a guide training tour from Namibia to Botswana and Zimbabwe and back to Namibia. This 12 day guide training tour took place from the 26th of May until the 7th of June 2017.

Bird identification in the Nata Bird Sanctuary, Botswana

Through this important tour the participants have learned a lot about general guiding and part of it was bird identification and conservation.
BirdsConTour decided to honor the nine trainees with the BirdsConTour Social Welfare and Conservation Support 2017 Award.


This international award carries considerable prestige for Andreas Aufgebauer, Gudrun Theile (front left to right), Rebecca Larsson, Vhilo Namufinda, Moppi Tietz, Livia Pack (Pack Safari, non participant), Katja Stoermer, Eva Mayrhofer (Pack Safari, non participant), Martin Spitze, Claudia Reiter, Birgit Leicher (BirdsConTour), Shaun Sagell (back from left to right).
Through the presentation of these awards, BirdsConTour supports these trainee tour guides who are through their guiding activities committed to protecting bird life and supporting local people. These awards encourage individuals to become bird conservation and social welfare support idols.

Southern Red-billed Hornbill in the Moremi Game Reserve

It spotlights those individuals who can impart their passion for bird conservation and social welfare support to other people (guests), and simultaneously it encourages the awardees to continue their efforts in protecting and supporting.
The award ceremony took place at the Pack Safari head office in Windhoek, Namibia, in June 2017. There the awardees spoke about their impressions during the training tour. These BirdsConTour Social Welfare and Conservation Support 2017 Awards will go a long way towards ensuring the future of birds.


With the BirdsConTour Support Award program awards get distributed worldwide with the aim of allowing industry, local people and travelers to distinguish and chose those tour operators, attractions, cruises, flights, accommodations or any other business that make a commitment to supporting social welfare and/or conservation.

Tuesday 16 May 2017

416 | Three penguins for Gorges Lodge

WELFARE, CONSERVATION & TOURISM



Gorges Lodge was presented with a three penguin-rated Welfare, Conservation & Tourism 2016 Award by BirdsConTour. 
Gorges Lodge, an Imvelo Safari Lodge, meets the criteria for three penguins by being involved in welfare, conservation and sustainable tourism matters.

The local Umbane Wezulu Dance Group

Michael Ncube, a dedicated birder at Gorges Lodge.

Gorges Lodge supports the local community.

Nest platforms for birds to nest on

Michael points out an owl nest

One of three constructed nests to attract owls to the lodge garden

Each chalet has its own bird bath



The Gorges Lodge successfully strives to connect people and nature through responsible tourism!





413 | Bird of the Year 2015 - big success

CONSERVATION


The House Sparrow, Namibia's bird of the year 2015, as an ambassador for creating bird-friendly towns and settlements was a big success.
Throughout the year BirdsConTour has set up numerous wild bird support stations across the country and with this not only helped the bird life but also brought nature closer to people.
Such wild bird support stations consist of different food supply items, bird baths and bird nests aiming to attract various bird species.
Each such product is a unique handmade masterpiece by BirdsConTour. Natural material is used to change the artificial feeders to more bird friendliness and therefore each product is a unique handmade masterpiece, simultaneously creating job opportunity.

413 | Christmas presents for Ngatuve Vatere Orphanage

WELFARE & TOURISM




Siegfried Pikelke

The Ngatuve Vatere Orphanage in Kalkfeld, Namibia,was on the receiving end of a generous donation by Mr. Siegfried Pikelke from Germany.
Mr. Pikelke in cooperation with BirdsConTour donated Christmas presents to the value of N$ 3000.-. (€ 200.-.) for the children to have a merry Christmas.
Mrs. Gisela, founder of the Ngatuve Vatere Orphanage, expressed their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation towards Mr. Pikelke and BirdsConTour.

304 | WORDS OF FEATHER EDITORIAL

304


Art. # 304
Words of Feather – Editorial (13.07. – 23.07.2014)

Cover page layout: Stefan Rust
Cover page photos: Stefan Rust
Editor: Stefan Rust

Dear reader,

some more detailed reports on welfare, conservation and tourism activities are published in articles

294 Metal Art, It’s time to show your art skills,
295 Brazil, Triggering Travelling,
296 Cleaning the routes travelled,
297 Okavango Travel & Help,
298 San People – Aiding Wings,
299 Okavango Travel Report,
300 Camp Chobe takes an extra step,
301 Dqae Qare San Lodge,
302 Okavango Birding Report,
303 Greeting Cards and
304 Words of Feather Editorial

available under the blogspot Words of Feather www.birdscontour.com, click NEWS
It is all about welfare, conservation and tourism!

Reminder!
Dear reader, please remember to contact BirdsConTour for the annual renewal of your Support Award. Also report any changes that could have an influence on the rating (amount of penguin symbols on your award) of your award.
Find out more about this new Support Award system in Words of Feather www.birdscontour.com (click news) article 277.

Kind Regards
Stefan Rust
Cell: +264 (0) 81 129 8415
P.O.Box 5182, Windhoek, Namibia