Sunday, 31 August 2014

305 | NÖTIGE DISTANZ ZU WILDEN TIEREN HALTEN!

CONSERVATION

Nötige Distanz zu wilden Tieren halten!


Wenn Dank eines jeden Besuchers eines Landes zehn Arbeitsplätze geschaffen werden, sprich zehn Menschen eine Arbeitsstelle erhalten, dann ist Tourismus ein bedeutsamer Wirtschaftsaspekt. Und genau so ist es im südlichen Afrika. Somit bedeutet es das Juwel, welches den Tourismus lockt und der Bevölkerung Arbeitsplätze beschafft, zu erhalten. Und dieses Juwel ist im südlichen Afrika die Natur; Tiere, Pflanzen und Landschaft. Damit aber die Bewohner des südlichen Afrika auch in Zukunft etwas von dem Tourismuskuchen abbekommen, muß die Natur, das Juwel, nachhaltig bewirtschaftet werden. Aber diese einfache Rechnung scheint von manchen Menschen und Ländern noch nicht begriffen worden zu sein. Während einer 9-tägigen Reise durch ein gewisses Land war in einem bekannten Nationalpark zu erleben wie Elefanten nach dem durchschwimmen eines Flusses erschöpft an Land angelangt, von einem mit Gästen beladenen Boot bewußt angescheucht wurden. In einem weiteren Nationalpark steuern Fahrer und Gästeführer die mit Gästen beladenen offenen Geländewagen vom Wege ab und umzingeln eine sichtlich nervöse Gepardin mit ihren zwei Welpen an deren frisch gerissener Impala Antilope. Im selbigen Nationalpark wird bewußt nah an Wasserböcke rangefahren um sie in Galopp zu versetzen. Etwa 80 Meter ab vom Wege befindet sich ein Löwe und daneben ein Selbstfahrer Auto. Der Gästeführer, gleichzeitig auch Faher des offenen Geländefahrzeuges, sagt zu seinen Gästen: Es sei illegal vom Wege abzufahren, aber sobald kein sich näherndes Fahrzeug in Sicht sei, würde er schnell dorthin fahren damit seine Gäste den langersehnten Löwen sehen könnten. In einem kurz zuvor unter UNESCO Weltnaturerbe gestellten Sumpfgebiet wird ein Gästeboot direkt an einen Busch mit einer Riedscharben Brutkolonie angelegt, worauf die Altvögel panisch ihre Brutnester verlassen. Eindeutig passiert dieses regelmässig, denn sofort fliegen Nesträuber ein. Angola Spornkuckucks, Glockenreiher und Schlangenhalsvögel machen sich über ungeschützte und wehrlose Küken her. Teilweise springen ein paar Küken aus lauter Verzweiflung ins Wasser, können jedoch noch nicht schwimmen. Oder es wird so nah an am Ufer liegende und sich an kalten Wintertagen sonnende Krokodile gefahren bis diese sich bewegen und fluchtartig ins Wasser springen, worauf Kameras nur so klicken und ein Raunen durch die Reihen der Gäste geht.
Gilt dies Raunen der Begeisterung oder der Empörung? Ein Raunen der Begeisterung kann nur von einem entweder unaufgeklärten oder völlig egoistischem Gast, dem das Morgen egal ist, kommen. Denn diese Ereignisse sind ganz sicher kein nachhaltiger Tourismus! Auch erwirkten sie vielleicht einmalige Fotos, aber dies darf die Antwort nicht sein. So braucht es nicht nur er staunen wenn in wenigen Jahren keine dieser betroffenen Tiere mehr zu sehen sind, sondern dies Land nicht mehr bereist wird weil Armut oder Ähnliches zu Unruhen oder Sonstigem im Land führten. Heisst es dann wie so häufig zu hören: Typisch Afrika!? Oder sind wir als an solchen Ereignissen schweigend teilnehmende Gäste stückweit mit Schuld an dem Dilemma?
Deswegen folgender Aufruf: Sagt NEIN zu einem zu naherücken an Wildtiere. Die Erfahrung hat bewiesen daß es die Mitverantwortung der Gäste ist, einen in dieser Hinsicht verantwortungslosen Gästeführer (Guide) zur Vernunft zu bringen und aufzuklären.


Wednesday, 18 June 2014

274 | TRAVEL & HELP

274


Art. # 274

SUPPORT AWARD (Welfare, Conservation and Tourism division)
TRAVEL & HELP (Tourism division)

Travel & Help

Text and photo by Stefan Rust
2014

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belong to Stefan Rust)


In this age traveling becomes more and more important to people around the globe. To keep an eye on nature and the people and to balance tourism, welfare and conservation, BirdsConTour gives back by investing in welfare, conservation and tourism projects.

By traveling directly with BirdsConTour or making use of a guide from BirdsConTour you support our welfare, conservation and tourism projects and create an economic platform for local livelihoods. Sometimes travelers also participate in another BirdsConTour project. To say THANK YOU, every tour participant receives a Tourism Support Award at the end of the tour.
Travelers from all over the world are awarded with a BirdsConTour Tourism Support Award, such as travelers from Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany and Namibia.

      

Eight German-speaking guests were rewarded with Tourism Support 2014 Awards:

Böker Brigitte
Fronhoff Dr. Katrin
Goetz Dagmar & Wolfgang
Koch Olivia
Saalbach Gabriele & Kurt
Winkelmeyer Sylvia

This Moremi Tour, organized by Pack Safari and Chamäleon Reisen, and led by BirdsConTour, took place from the 1st of June until the 15th of June 2014.

(Please note that all award recipients are listed in an alphabetical order in article 71 and 277 under www.birdscontour.blogspot.com.) 

273 | CLEANING THE ROUTES TRAVELED

273


Art. # 273

CLEAN WORLD (Conservation division)

Cleaning the routes traveled

Photos and text by Stefan Rust
2014

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belongs to Stefan Rust)


It is usually assumed that cleaning the country is the role of the government. However, BirdsConTour assists in meeting this challenge, not least because our visitors want to enjoy a clean country. It’s really about creating a secure environment for wildlife and birdlife to live in in the long term.



Black garbage bags and a tool for collecting litter are always part of the luggage and wherever time is available and litter is lying around next to the road traveled, a cleaning stop is arranged. Simultaneously this offers a break from the tiring driving and gives everybody the chance to stretch his or her legs while doing something productive.
Guests react very positive to this project and mostly assist in picking up litter.
There is simply no better way of keeping the roads traveled clean and leaves a good impression on the guide, the tour company and finally even on the country and its people.
This Clean World campaign is and has been cleaning areas in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Germany.


MOREMI TOUR (Zimbabwe-Botswana-Namibia) (01.06. – 15.06.2014)
(A Chamäleon Reisen and Pack Safari Tour guided by Stefan Rust from BirdsConTour)

   

On the 11th a picnic area next to the A3 road leading from Ghanzi to Maun, Botswana, was freed from litter.
Members of an eight German speaking guest group participated in collecting litter.
THANK YOU for participating! 

272 | IT'S TIME TO SHOW YOUR ART SKILLS

272


Art. # 272

ART FOR LIFE (Welfare division)

It’s time to show your art skills

Text by Stefan Rust
2014

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belongs to Stefan Rust)


Good artworks start with passion!
The BirdsConTour Art for Life project aims to inspire artists of all levels from all over the world and invites artists to show a picture of their artwork in this space.

The creative project Art for Life carries the message of promoting welfare and conservation through tourism to a far wider public audience than ever before through the communication medium of art.
Art is unquestionably one of the best options to spread the word of welfare and conservation and marketing tourism, particularly if one reaches beyond the borders.
The BirdsConTour Art for Life project supports artists worldwide, up till now in Namibia and Botswana.


Artwork:
Ombukushu Walking Stick

         
             The stick above displayed in more detailed pictures

Title:
Ombukushu Wooden Stick

Art Form:
Woodcarving

Artist:


Mr. Rector Tetuka, from the Hambukushu Tribe

Country:
Namushasha River Lodge, Zambezi/Caprivi Strip, Namibia

BirdsConTour Comment:
The Mbukushu people, living in the Kavango Region of the Okavango River in Namibia, are renowned for their high-quality woodcarvings. Animal figures, masks, wooden mugs, boxes and wooden sticks are carved out of the light wild teak (dolfhout) hardwood. A lot of culture and wildlife in the Caprivi/Zambezi Region makes a top traveling experience.

Please send a picture of your artwork with your name and country, the artwork title and its form by e-mail to birdscontour@iway.na (with ‘Art for Life’ in the subject line) or by letter to Art for Life, BirdsConTour, P.O.Box 5182, Windhoek, Namibia.
Please note that BirdsConTour can’t guarantee to publish all artworks.

271 | LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ELLIES (ELEPHANTS), LIANSHULU BUSH LODGE

271


Art. # 271

SUPPORT AWARD (Welfare, Conservation and Tourism division)
NATURE CONSERVATION MEASURES (Conservation division)
AIDING WINGS (Welfare division)
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM (Tourism division)
TRAVEL & HELP (Tourism division)

Living next door to ellies (elephants), Lianshulu Bush Lodge

Photos and text by Stefan Rust
2014

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belongs to Stefan Rust)

Conservation is not only the responsibility of the government and NGOs. It is also the obligation of every citizen, especially people in the tourism sector.

      

The aim of the Support Award project is to let people feel that their action in taking responsibility gets recognized. Every practice in the interest of welfare, conservation and tourism, no matter how big or small, counts.
Lianshulu Bush Lodge, situated right in the Mudumu National Park, uses an effective technique to live next door with elephants, chili bombs. Mixing elephant dung 50/50 % with broken chilli produces a chilli bomb. In the event of elephants coming close to the lodge infrastructure, hot coals are placed on the bombs, and the intensive smell keeps the giants at bay. Another method is to soak material in a mixture of old engine oil and chillies, and hanging them from wire, forming a ‘chilli fence’.
This way the lodge is safeguarded and staff together with their valued guests doesn’t come into confrontation with the elephants.
With these sustainable techniques the Lianshulu Bush Lodge protects elephants and contributes to establish wildlife corridors through which, in this case elephants, can move freely.
The chillies needed for these practices are bought from small-scale farmers, assisting to make a difference to rural households.
For these novel management methods, BirdsConTour honored the Lianshulu Bush Lodge with all three Support Awards, the Welfare Support 2014 Award, Conservation Support 2014 Award and the Tourism Support 2014 Award.

276 | AIDING WINGS

276


Art. # 276

ONLY AN INFORMED AND A CONTENT SOCIETY CAN INDULGE IN CONSERVATION

Aiding Wings, Giving a push
Aiding Wings, Cooka Boo and social guests

Photos and text by Stefan Rust
2014

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belongs to Stefan Rust)



International operating BirdsConTour (Birds Conservation & Tourism) formed the non-religious and non-political charity program Aiding Wings.

Aiding Wings works to motivate people and to improve the lives of people, ultimately to generate a nature conservation conscious community.
BirdsConTour believes that only an informed and a content society can indulge in sustainable nature conservation.
BirdsConTour Aiding Wings supported the Ngatuve Vatere Orphanage in Namibia and the Cooka Boo TB and HIV Management Station in Botswana.

Another campaign of Aiding Wings was successfully accomplished:

Giving a push:

   

Early in the morning of the 8th of June the Moremi Tour group came pass a vehicle breakdown along the roadside to the Tsodillo Hills, Botswana. Members of this eight-guest tour group, traveling from Zimbabwe via Namibia to Botswana, assisted in pushing a small truck in an attempt to get the engine running again, but without success. But towing the truck with the tour bus was successful. The breakdown incident forced the operators of the truck to sleep next to this remote road while during this night the temperature dropped to only 1 degree Celsius above freezing point. The Botswana people were thankful and smiling for the help by the tour members and the guests in return enjoyed lots of fun.

Cooka Boo and social guests:

      

BirdsConTour initiative Aiding Wings supports tuberculosis (TB) and HIV management by having delivered First Aid products, generously sponsored by Mrs. Olivia Koch, Mrs. Dagmar Goetz and Mrs. Brigitte Böker, to Cooka Boo, a TB and HIV management station in D’Kar, situated within the remote Ghanzi district of Botswana.

The managers, Mrs. Goitshwalamgemang Ditsheko (left) and Mrs. Onkemetse Maruping (right) of Cooka Boo confirm the fact that the Ghanzi district has the highest TB notification rates in the country. Knowing that the underlying cause of TB is poverty and that with the advent of HIV and AIDS, Botswana reached by 2005 a TB notification rate of 602 per 100 000 (one of the highest globally), the Kuru Family Of Organisations (KFO) fights TB with a systematic programme, targeting this primarily poor people’s disease by having assigned this task to its subsidiary, the Letloa Trust.
‘Cooka Boo’ and ‘Re Batla Botshelo’ means ‘We Want Life!!!’

BirdsConTour would like to thank the Sponsors, Volunteers and Contributors to the Aiding Wings program! 

275 | TRIGGERING TRAVELING

275


Art. # 275

TRIGGERING TRAVELLING (Tourism division)

Triggering Travelling

Photos and text by Stefan Rust
2014

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belongs to Stefan Rust)

   

Traveling with BirdsConTour gives reason to scream out loud full of joy, because our mission is: Welfare and conservation through traveling! Doesn’t that give you peace of mind while exploring the world?

It is appropriate to add this ‘Triggering Travelling’ space to the Words of Feather editions, electronic and paper. Up till this stage BirdsConTour has grown so well that people are longing to read about fascinating aspects that one can encounter while travelling. The wonderful thing about this column is that BirdsConTour will be writing about a broad spectrum of subjects, some you might have come across while travelling, sending you down memory lane, or some subjects that might trigger your interest in wanting to pack your travel suitcase and head off to new experiences.
BirdsConTour has travel experience all around the globe:
Ecuador-Galapagos, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Germany

Botswana – a brief history



Magma erupted from deep below onto the surface about 90 million years ago, creating huge craters, leaving solidified fissures of rock or kimberlite pipes, now supplying Botswana with diamond wealth. During this time the Limpopo River drained the vast northern region of southern Africa. But when around 60 million years ago an uplift began to cut off the Limpopo River, inflowing water accumulated north of the rising ridge, forming the Makgadikgadi depression. Simultaneously rainfall in the interior of southern Africa was reduced by a natural reorganization of the continents through that Antarctica became isolated and the southern oceans cooled, leading to a high-pressure system cutting off the moisture supply from the Atlantic. This resulted in the development of grassland and in response the herbivores began to diversify.
Some 20 million years ago, the rift faults of the encroaching East African rift have routed the Okavango River into an 1.5 million ha sized fan known as the Okavango Delta. Environmental changes in the last 2 million years, fluctuating from being wet and dry, caused the 60 000 square kilometer large Makgadikgadi lake to fill up or being dry as for now. Sometime in this period human appeared on stage as stone tools document, dating back hundreds of thousands of years. Some 2 000 years ago people with domestic cattle arrived and up till today the domestic cattle has remained.

      
Okavango Delta                            Cattle                                                  Diamond – A girls best friend

Today Botswana’s tourist industry depends on these cattle, kimberlite diamonds, and the grassland-adapted herbivores with their natural hunters and the country’s myriad ethnic groups.

Have a safe journey
BirdsConTour

Your partner in travel business!

Tuesday, 17 June 2014

281 | BIRDING REPORT 1.6.-13.6.2014

281


Art. # 281

BIRDING REPORT
(01.06.’14 – 13.06.’14)

Text and photos from Stefan Rust
2014

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belong to Stefan Rust)




Dear birding friends, 

as birdwatching is a relatively new and one of the fastest growing and a most popular pursuit, it attracts people of all ages around the world. There can hardly be a better place than southern Africa (Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, South Africa) to nurture an interest in birds as it supports almost 1000 bird species, which is about 10 per cent of the world's entire bird. Taking birding to new heights, Hobby-Ornithologist Stefan Rust together with BirdsConTour represents some of the ontour bird sightings and several other interesting birding aspects to showcase the fun of birding, promote citizen science, highlight conservation, indicate where to view what birds and raise awareness of southern Africa's (sometimes international) birds and their habitats.
All countries that BirdsConTour is involved with are mentioned in these Birding Reports, such as Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WORK GETS DISTRIBUTED INTERNATIONALLY


Have a quick look if your name or business is included in this scientific informational work (alphabetically arranged):

Amadeus Garden Guesthouse, Zimbabwe
Böker Brigitte
Bwabwata NP., Namibia
Chamäleon Reisen
Chobe NP., Botswana
Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana
East Gate Rest Camp, Namibia
Fronhoff Katrin
Goetz Dagmar & Wolfgang
Gondwana Collection (Namushasha Lodge), Namibia
Koch Olivia
Madikubu Houseboat, Botswana
Mahangu NP., Namibia
Moremi NP, Botswana
Namushasha Lodge (Gondwana Collection), Namibia
Nunda River Lodge, Namibia
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Okavango Delta Panhandle, Botswana
Okavango River, Namibia
Popa Falls, Namibia
Saalbach Gabriele & Kurt
Thamalakane River Lodge, Botswana
Tsodillo Hills, Botswana
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls NP., Zimbabwe
Windhoek, Namibia
Winkelmeyer Sybille
Xaro Lodge, Botswana


Sites and countries visited during this period incl. amount of species per site:
(0-0 - Haven’t been there myself)
(single letter – indicates several sites per day)

01.06: (A) Amadeus Garden Guesthouse and Victoria Falls (29 species)
02.06: (A) Amadeus Garden Guesthouse and Victoria Falls (3 species, additional to
           yesterday), (B) Victoria Falls NP. (14 species), (C) Road from Victoria Falls to
           Chobe Safari Lodge (11 species), (D) Chobe Safari Lodge (25 species)
03.06: (A) Chobe NP. (68 species), (B) Chobe Safari Lodge (14 species, additional)
04.06: (A) Chobe Safari Lodge (3 species, additional) (B) Road from Chobe Safari Lodge
           to Namushasha Lodge (20 species), (C) Namushasha Lodge and Bwabwata NP.
           (43 species)
05.06: (A) Namushasha Lodge and Bwabwata NP (34 species, additional to yesterday)
06.06: (A) Namushasha Lodge (1 species, additional to yesterday), (B) Road from
           Namushasha Lodge, Gondwana Collection, to Nunda River Lodge (16  
           species), (C) Nunda River Lodge and Popa Falls (45 species)
07.06: (A) Nunda River Lodge and Okavango River (2 species, additional to yesterday),
           (B) Road from Nunda River Lodge to Xaro Lodge (16 species) (C) Mahangu NP.
           (Bwabwata NP) (35 species), (D) Xaro Lodge and Okavango Delta Panhandle (39
           species)
08.06: (A) Xaro Lodge and Okavango Delta Panhandle (2 species, additional to
           yesterday), (B) Road from Xaro Lodge to Madikubu Houseboat (21 species), (C)
           Tsodillo Hills (12 species), (D) Madikubu Houseboat and Okavango Delta (29
           species)
09.06: (A) Madikubu Houseboat and Okavango Delta (45 species, additional to
           yesterday)
10.06: (A) Madikubu Houseboat (1 species), (B) Road from Madikubu Houseboat to
           Thamalakane River Lodge (30 species), (C) Thamalakane River Lodge (19
           species)
11.06: (A) Thamalakane River Lodge (3 species, additional to previous day), (B) Road
           from Thamalakane River Lodge to Moremi NP. and back (13 species) (C) Moremi
           NP. (54 species)
12.06: (A) Thamalakane River Lodge (4 species, additional to yesterday), (B) Road
           from Thamalakane River Lodge to East Gate Rest Camp (36 species), (C) East
           Gate Rest Camp (1 species)
13.06: (A) East Gate Rest Camp (1 species, additional to yesterday), (B) Road from East
           Gate Rest Camp to Windhoek (38 species)


Total Distance traveled:

2 157 km


Personal Highlights:

AFRICAN BROADBILL
AFRICAN DUSKY FLYCATCHER
PEL’S FISHING OWL


01.06.’14  Amadeus Gardens, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe  African Broadbill (1) This unobtrusive, easily overlooked species, is not globally threatened, but forest loss has an impact on the population.

02.06.'14  Victoria Falls NP., Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe  Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike (4) Although known to be shy birds, hiding in the tree canopy, early in the morning a pair was seen feeding two juvenile birds about 2 meters above the ground in a bush. Usually they are more often heard than seen.

03.06.'14  Chobe Safari Lodge, Kasane, Botswana  Levaillant’s Cuckoo (1) The Golden Orb Web spider is not the largest spider, but makes the largest and strongest web. Sometimes birds get trapped in it. A Levaillant’s Cuckoo was observed using its weight to plunge from a branch above into the web, catching the Golden Orb Web spider and with its prey dropping onto the ground beneath, killing its prey and then swallowing it head first. According to the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa, V11th edition, the foraging behavior of this species is undescribed, therefore this observation is quite interesting.

04.06.’14 Namushasha River Lodge, Namibia  Hartlaub’s Babbler (4) Not much is known bout their diet. A juvenile Levaillant’s Cuckoo is been fed by a group of Hartlaub’s Babbler in the garden of the Namushasha Lodge. As more wetland establishes during more wet seasons in northeast Namibia, they expand their range.

05.06.’14 Namushasha River Lodge, Namibia  Plain-backed Pipit (10) Burnt or overgrazed areas are in favor of these birds. They even visit burnt areas in otherwise unsuitable habitat.

06.06.'14  BirdsConTOUR  Birds in Words  Today the ‘Triggering Travelling’ space is added to the Birds in Words editions, electronic and paper. Up till this stage BirdsConTour has grown so well that people are longing to read about fascinating aspects that one can encounter while travelling. The wonderful thing about this column is that BirdsConTour will be writing about a broad spectrum of subjects, some you might have come across while travelling, sending you down memory lane, or some subjects that might trigger your interest in wanting to pack your travel suitcase and head off to new experiences.

07.06.'14  Xaro Lodge, Okavango Delta Panhandle, Botswana  Pel’s Fishing-Owl (2) Often these birds share the roosting riverine roosting and nesting trees with the Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl and therefore occasionally fights to the death occur between these two species. In the 1.5 million ha area of the Okavango Delta live only estimated 100 pairs of the Pel’s Fishing-Owl.

08.06.'14  Madikubu Houseboat, Okavango Delta, Botswana  Bat Hawk (1) Its prey are bats, caught in flight. The prey is caught in the feet, transferred to bill, and then swallowed whole in flight, average 5-6 bats per feeding session. Its entire daily food requirement is caught within 20-30 minutes, mainly at dusk.

09.06.'14  Okavango Delta, Botswana  African Golden Oriole (1) The movements of this shy and unobtrusive intra-African breeding migrant species is not well understood.

10.06.’14  Road from Ghanzi to Maun, Botswana  BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat  Whilst having a lunch picnic under a large camelthorn tree alongside the road from Ghanzi to Maun the area around the picnic site was cleaned by BirdsConTour and members of the Moremi Tour organized by Chamäleon Reisen and Pack Safari, led by BirdsConTour.
Read more in the electronic newsletter Birds in Words (www.birdscontour.blogspot.com) article 273.

11.06.’14  Moremi NP, Botswana  Red-footed Falcon (1) The entire world population, more than 150 000 pairs, migrates to southern Africa, arriving in southern Africa in October till November and departing April till May.

11.06.’14  Thamalakane River Lodge, Botswana BirdsConTOUR for conservation  By traveling directly with BirdsConTour or making use of a guide from BirdsConTour you support bird conservation and create an economic platform for local livelihoods. Sometimes travelers also participate in another BirdsConTour project. To say THANK YOU, every tour participant receives a Bird & Birder Friendly Award at the end of the tour.
Today eight German-speaking guests were rewarded with one penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Awards.
Read more in the electronic newsletter Birds in Words (www.birdscontour.blogspot.com) article 274 and find more awardees in article 71.

12.06.’14  Cooka Boo, D’Kar, Ghanzi district, Botswana Aiding Wings BirdsConTour initiative Aiding Wings supports tuberculosis (TB) and HIV management by having delivered First Aid products, generously sponsored by Mrs. Olivia Koch, Mrs. Dagmar Goetz and Mrs. Brigitte Böker, to Cooka Boo, a TB and HIV management station in D’Kar, situated within the remote Ghanzi district of Botswana.
Read more in the electronic newsletter Birds in Words (www.birdscontour.blogspot.com) article 276.

13.06.’14  Gobabis, Namibia Kori Bustard (2) On the Common Ostrich as the bird of the year 2013, for the first time introduced in Namibia, follows this year the much smaller Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori kori). And in contrast to the frequent Ostrich, a few thousand, the existence of the Kori Bustard in Namibia looks quite a bit different. Although Namibia and Botswana in southern Africa are still considered as strongholds of this species, you will encounter them mainly in protected areas.
Read more in the electronic newsletter Birds in Words (www.birdscontour.blogspot.com) article 184.


Index to bird species observed in this period:
(English names and date when seen)
(*  - See text about species on according date above)
(A or B – Appears when species is recorded at different sites on same day, specifying where on according date beneath species list)

-*African Broadbill   01.6.*(A) /
-African Cuckoo Hawk   07.6.(C) /
-African Darter   02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(C)(D) / 08.6.(D) / 11.6.(C) / 13.6.(B) /
-African Dusky Flycatcher   01.6.(A) /
-African Fish-Eagle   02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(B)(C)(D) / 08.6.(D) /
-*African Golden Oriole   06.6.(C) / 07.6.(B)(D) / 09.6.*(A) /
-African Green-Pigeon   04.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 10.6.(A) /
-African Grey Hornbill   03.6.(A)(B) / 04.6.(B)(C) / 06.6.(B)(C) / 07.6.(B) / 08.6.(C)(D) / 10.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(A) / 13.6.(B) /
-African Harrier-Hawk   03.6.(B) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) /
-African Hawk-Eagle   11.6.(C) /
-African Hoopoe    01.6.(A) / 09.6.(A) / 13.6.(B) /
-African Jacana   03.6.(B) / 07.6.(C) / 08.6.(D) / 10.6.(C) / 11.6.(C) /
-African Marsh-Harrier   07.6.(D) /
-African Mourning Dove   04.6.(C) / 09.6.(A) / 10.6.(C) /
-African Openbill   03.6.(B) / 04.6.(B) / 06.6.(C) / 10.6.(B)(C) / 12.6.(B) /
-African Palm-Swift   03.6.(A) / 10.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-African Paradise-Flycatcher   02.6.(A) / 04.6.(C) /
-African Pied Wagtail   03.6.(B) / 06.6.(C) / 08.6.(D) /
-African Pipit   05.6.(A) /
-African Pygmy Goose   03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 09.6.(A) /
-African Quailfinch   07.6.(D) /
-African Sacred Ibis   02.6.(A) / 03.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 11.6.(C) /
-African Scops-Owl   11.6.(A) /
-African Spoonbill   03.6.(B) / 07.6.(C) / 11.6.(C) /
-African Stonechat   03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 08.6.(D) /
-African Wattled Lapwing   04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(C) /
-African Wood-Owl   05.6.(A) /
-African Yellow White-eye   03.6.(A) / 09.6.(A) /
-Allen’s Gallinule   09.6.(A) /
-Ant-eating Chat   13.6.(B) /
-Arrow-marked Babbler   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(C)(D) / 03.6.(B) / 05.6.(A) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 10.6.(C) /
-Ashy Flycatcher   06.6.(C) /
-Banded Martin   04.6.(C) / 07.6.(C) / 09.6.(A) /
-Barn Owl   04.6.(A) / 07.6.(A) / 08.3.(A) / 11.6.(A) /
-*Bat Hawk   08.6.*(D) /
-Bateleur   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(B) / 04.6.(B) / 06.6.(B)(C) / 07.6.(C)(D) / 08.6.(B) / 10.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) /
-Black-backed Puffback   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(C)(D) / 05.6.(A) /
-Black-chested Prinia   08.6.(C) / 11.6.(C) / 13.6.(B) /
-Black-collared Barbet   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(C)(D) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 08.6.(D) / 10.6.(B) /
-Black Crake   04.6.(C) / 08.6.(D) /
-Black Cuckooshrike   08.6.(B) /
-Black-faced Waxbill   13.6.(B) /
-Black Heron   09.6.(A) /
-Black-headed Oriole   10.6.(C) /
-Black-shouldered Kite   13.6.(B) /
-Black-winged Stilt   03.6.(B) /
-Blacksmith Lapwing   03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(C)(D) / 09.6.(A) / 10.6.(B)(C) / 11.6.(C) /
-Blue Waxbill   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(B)(D) / 03.6.(B) / 05.6.(A) / 06.6.(B) / 07.6.(C) / 08.6.(C) /
-Bradfield’s Hornbill   09.6.(A) /
-Bronze Mannikin   01.6.(A) /
-Brown Firefinch   08.6.(D) /
-Brown-headed Kingfisher   02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) /
-Brown-throated Martin   04.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 08.6.(D) /
-Brubru   09.6.(A) /
-Burchell’s Sandgrouse   03.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) /
-Burchell’s Starling   02.6.(B) / 04.6.(B) / 05.6.(A) / 06.6.(B) / 07.6.(C) / 08.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 10.6.(B) / 11.6.(B)(C) / 12.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Cape Crow   10.6.(B) / 12.6.(A)(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Cape Glossy Starling   12.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Cape Teal   05.6.(A) /
-Cape Turtle-Dove   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(B) / 03.6.(A)(B) / 04.6.(B)(C) / 06.6.(B)(C) / 07.6.(B)(C)(D) / 08.6.(B)(C)(D) / 10.6.(B)(C) / 11.6.(B)(C) / 12.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Cape Wagtail   03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 09.6.(A) /
-Capped Wheatear   03.6.(B) /
-Cardinal Woodpecker   01.6.(A) / 05.6.(A) / 07.6.(D) /
-Cattle Egret   05.6.(A) / 07.6.(C) / 09.6.(A) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(B) /
-Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler   12.6.(B) /
-Chinspot Batis   04.6.(C) /
-Chirping Cisticola   05.6.(A) /
-Collared Pratincole   03.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) /
-Collared Sunbird   05.6.(A) /
-Comb Duck   03.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) /
-Common Fiscal   13.6.(B) /
-Common Ostrich   11.6.(C) / 13.6.(B) /
-Common Scimitarbill   12.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Coppery-tailed Coucal   02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 10.6.(C) /
-Coqui Francolin   01.6.(A) /
-Crested Barbet   03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 09.6.(A) /
-Crested Francolin   08.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 11.6.(B) /
-Crimson-breasted Shrike   04.6.(B) / 07.6.(C) / 11.6.(C) /
-Crowned Hornbill   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(B) /
-Crowned Lapwing   03.6.(B) / 07.6.(C) / 08.6.(C) / 10.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(B) /
-Dark-capped Bulbul   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(C)(D) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 10.6.(C) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(C) /
-Dark Chanting Goshawk   04.6.(B) /
-Double-banded Sandgrouse   04.6.(C) / 11.6.(C) /
-Egyptian Goose   03.6.(B) / 05.6.(A) / 07.6.(A)(C) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(B) /
-Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove   02.6.(C) 03.6.(B) / 04.6.(B) / 05.6.(A) / 07.6.(B) / 08.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 11.6.(B)(C) / 12.6.(B) /
-Fork-tailed Drongo   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) / 04.6.(B)(C) / 06.6.(B)(C) / 07.6.(C) / 08.6.(B)(C)(D) / 10.6.(B)(C) / 11.6.(B)(C) / 12.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Freckled Nightjar   04.6.(A) /
-Gabar Goshawk   03.6.(A)(B) /
-Giant Kingfisher   04.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 09.6.(A) / 10.6.(C) /
-Glossy Ibis   03.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 11.6.(C) /
-Golden-tailed Woodpecker   07.6.(D) / 09.6.(A) / 11.6.(A) /
-Golden Weaver   02.6.(C) / 04.6.(C) /
-Great Egret   02.6.(A) / 03.6.(B) /
-Great White Pelican   10.6.(B) / 12.6.(B) /
-Greater Blue-eared Starling   02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) / 04.6.(B) / 06.6.(B)(C) / 07.6.(B)(D) / 08.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 10.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) /
-Green-backed Heron   03.6.(A) / 06.6.(C) / 08.6.(D) /
-Green-winged Pytilia   08.6.(C) /
-Green Wood-Hoopoe   02.6.(B) / 03.6.(B) / 05.6.(A) / 07.6.(B)(C) / 11.6.(C) /
-Grey-backed Camaroptera   02.6.(C)(D) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 09.6.(A) / 10.6.(C) /
-Grey Go-away-bird   03.6.(A)(B) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(B)(C) / 07.6.(B)(D) / 08.6.(C)(D) / 10.6.(B)(C) / 11.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Grey-headed Bush-Shrike   01.6.(A) /
-Grey-headed Gull   03.6.(B) /
-Grey Heron   03.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) / 13.6.(B) /
-Groundscraper Thrush   06.6.(A) / 13.6.(B) /
-Hadeda Ibis   02.6.(C) / 04.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 09.6.(A) /
-Harlequin Quail   05.6.(A) / 08.6.(C) /
-*Hartlaub’s Babbler   04.6.*(C) / 06.6.(C) / 09.6.(A) / 10.6.(B)(C) /
-Hamerkop   05.6.(A) / 07.6.(C)(D) /
-Helmeted Guineafowl   02.6.(C) / 03.6.(B) / 05.6.(A) / 11.6.(C) / 13.6.(B) /
-House Sparrow   10.6.(B) / 12.6.(B) /
-*Kori Bustard   04.6.(B) / 13.6.*(B) /
-Lanner Falcon   11.6.(C) /
-Lappet-faced Vulture   09.6.(A) / 12.6.(B) /
-Laughing Dove   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 05.6.(A) / 06.6.(B)(C) / 07.6.(B)(C) / 08.6.(B)(C) / 09.6.(A) / 10.6.(B) / 11.6.(B) / 12.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Lesser Striped Swallow   04.6.(A)(B)(C) / 06.6.(B) / 07.6.(B)(D) / 08.6.(D) /
-*Levaillant’s Cuckoo   03.6.(A) / 04.6.*(C) / 09.6.(A) /
-Lilac-breasted Roller   03.6.(A)(B) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(B) / 07.6.(B)(C) / 08.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 10.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Little Bee-eater   03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(C) / 08.6.(B)(D) / 11.6.(C) /
-Little Egret   02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) / 08.6.(D) /
-Little Rush-Warbler   08.6.(D) /
-Little Sparrowhawk   08.6.(B) / 12.6.(B) /
-Long-billed Crombec   01.6.(A) /
-Long-toed Lapwing   03.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 11.6.(C) /
-Luapula Cisticola   05.6.(A) /
-Magpie Shrike   04.6.(B) / 06.6.(B) / 08.6.(B)(D) / 10.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(B) /
-Malachite Kingfisher   04.6.(C) /
-Marabou Stork   03.6.(B) / 05.6.(A) / 12.6.(B) /
-Marico Flycatcher   07.6.(C) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Marico Sunbird   05.6.(A) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 09.6.(A) / 12.6.(B) /
-Martial Eagle   10.6.(B) / 12.6.(B) /
-Meves’s Starling   07.6.(C)(D) / 08.6.(B) / 10.6.(B)(C) / 11.6.(C) /
-Meyer’s Parrot   05.6.(A) / 06.6.(C) / 08.6.(C) / 11.6.(C) /
-Mosque Swallow   07.6.(B) /
-Namaqua Dove   05.6.(A) / 09.6.(A) / 12.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Namaqua Sandgrouse   08.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Natal Spurfowl   01.6.(A) /
-Northern Black Korhaan   12.6.(B) /
-Northern Grey-headed Sparrow   02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) /
-*Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike   02.6.*(C) /
-Osprey   06.6.(C) /
-Pale Flycatcher   04.6.(C) /
-Pearl-spotted Owlet   03.6.(B) / 05.6.(A) / 11.6.(A) /
-*Pel’s Fishing-Owl   07.6.*(D) /
-Pied Crow   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(B)(D) / 04.6.(B) / 10.6.(B) / 12.6.(B) /
-Pied Kingfisher   03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(C)(D) / 08.6.(D) / 12.6.(A) /
-*Plain-backed Pipit   05.6.*(A) /
-Purple-banded Sunbird   06.6.(C) /
-Purple Roller   06.6.(B) / 10.6.(B) /
-Racket-tailed Roller   07.6.(B) /
-Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver   04.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 11.6.(C) /
-Red-billed Firefinch   02.6.(C) / 05.6.(A) / 06.6.(C) /
-Red-billed Hornbill   02.6.(B) / 03.6.(A)(B) / 05.6.(A) / 06.6.(B) / 08.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 10.6.(B) / 11.6.(B)(C) / 12.6.(B) /
-Red-billed Oxpecker   03.6.(B) / 05.6.(A) / 07.6.(C) / 11.6.(B)(C) / 12.6.(B) /
-Red-billed Quelea   13.6.(B) /
-Red-billed Spurfowl   02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) / 04.6.(B)(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(C)(D) / 08.6.(C) / 09.6.(A) / 10.6.(C) / 11.6.(B)(C) / 13.6.(A) /
-Red-billed Teal   05.6.(A) / 13.6.(B) /
-Red-eyed Dove   03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 08.6.(D) / 10.6.(B)(C) / 11.6.(B) /
-Red-faced Crombec   01.6.(A) /
-Red-faced Mousebird   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(D) / 05.6.(A) / 06.6.(B)(C) / 07.6.(D) / 09.6.(A) /
-*Red-footed Falcon   11.6.*(C) /
-Red-winged Starling   01.6.(A) /
-Reed Cormorant   02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) / 04.6.(B) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(C)(D) / 08.6.(D) / 13.6.(B) /
-Retz’s Helmet-Shrike   07.6.(D) /
-Rock Martin   13.6.(B) /
-Sabota Lark   13.6.(B) /
-Scaly-feathered Finch   11.6.(C) /
-Senegal Coucal   11.6.(C) /
-Sharp-tailed Starling   06.6.(B) / 07.6.(B) /
-Slaty Egret   11.6.(C) /
-Southern Brown-throated Weaver   09.6.(A) /
-Southern Grey-headed Sparrow   07.6.(C) /
-Southern Ground-Hornbill   02.06. / 04.6.(B) /
-Southern Masked-Weaver   06.6.(C) / 09.6.(A) /
-Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk   13.6.(B) /
-Southern Pied Babbler   13.6.(B) /
-Southern White-crowned Shrike   08.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(B) /
-Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill   03.6.(B) / 08.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 10.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Spotted Thick-knee   12.6.(C) /
-Spur-winged Goose   03.6.(B) / 07.6.(C) / 08.6.(D) /
-Squacco Heron   03.6.(A)(B) /
-Striped Kingfisher   09.6.(A) /
-Swainson’s Spurfowl   03.6.(B) / 11.6.(B) /
-Swallow-tailed Bee-eater   08.6.(B) / 12.6.(B) /
-Swamp Boubou   02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 08.6.(D) / 10.6.(C) /
-Tawny Eagle   03.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Terrestrial Brownbul   03.6.(A)(B) / 06.6.(C) /
-Tinkling Cisticola   11.6.(C) /
-Tropical Boubou   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(C) / 03.6.(A)(B) / 04.6.(C) /
-Trumpeter Hornbill   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(C) /
-Village Indigobird   01.6.(A) /
-Village Weaver   02.6.(D) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 08.6.(D) /
-Violet-backed Starling   05.6.(A) /
-Violet-eared Waxbill   08.6.(B) /
-Wahlberg’s Eagle   11.6.(C) /
-Water Thick-knee   03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 08.6.(A) /
-Wattled Starling   07.6.(B) / 12.6.(B) /
-Whiskered Tern   02.6.(D) /
-White-backed Vulture   02.6.(B) / 03.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(B) /
-White-bellied Sunbird   03.6.(A) /
-White-browed Coucal   03.6.(B) / 06.6.(C) /
-White-browed Robin-Chat   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) / 05.6.(A) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 08.6.(D) /
-White-browed Sparrow-Weaver   02.6.(B) / 07.6.(C) / 10.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-White-crested Helmet-Shrike   11.6.(B) /
-White-crowned Lapwing   03.6.(B) /
-White-faced Duck   03.6.(B) / 05.6.(A) / 07.6.(C) / 08.6.(D) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(A) /
-White-fronted Bee-eater   03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) /
-White-winged Widowbird   07.6.(D) /
-Wire-tailed Swallow   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(D) / 03.6.(B) / 04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(C)(D) / 08.6.(D) /
-Woodland Kingfisher   04.6.(C) / 10.6.(C) /
-Yellow-bellied Greenbul   01.6.(A) / 02.6.(C)(D) / 03.6.(B) / 06.6.(C) /
-Yellow-billed Egret   04.6.(C) / 06.6.(C) / 07.6.(D) / 09.6.(A) / 11.6.(C) / 12.6.(B) / 13.6.(B) /
-Yellow-billed Oxpecker   05.6.(A) / 07.6.(B)(C) / 08.6.(B) / 09.6.(A) / 11.6.(C) /
-Yellow-billed Stork   03.6.(B) / 11.6.(C) /
-Yellow Canary   13.6.(B) /

Total number of species identified:

214


Enjoy Birding, 
Stefan Rust
Please note: Most scientific information has been taken from Roberts Birds of Southern Africa, V11th edition!
(For further reading see www.birdscontour.blogspot.com)
(For more information contact Stefan Rust on +264 (0)81 129 8415 or birdscontour@iway.na)