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 

303 | SEND A GREETING CARD

303


Art. # 303

AIDING WINGS
SUPPORT AWARD
WORDS OF FEATHER
NATURE CONSERVATION MEASURES

Send a Greeting Card
and support welfare and conservation

Photos and text by Stefan Rust
2014

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


To the recipient of this greeting card directly from BirdsConTour, by purchase or as a thank you, BirdsConTour confirms his / her support of welfare, conservation and / or tourism

      

You can contribute to the various welfare, conservation and tourism projects undertaken by BirdsConTour through the purchase of such a BirdsConTour greeting card. The proceeds of the sale will go to the welfare and conservation projects.

Please dial +264 (0) 81 129 8415 or email birdscontour@iway.na for your BirdsConTour greeting card.

302 | OKAVANGO TOUR BIRDING REPORT

302


Art. # 302

Okavango Tour BIRDING REPORT
(13.07.’14 – 23.07.’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):

Batoka Gorge, Zimbabwe
Chamäleon Reisen
Chobe NP., Botswana
Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana
Dqae Qare San Lodge, Botswana
Gcadikwe Island Camp, Botswana
Gorges Lodge, Zimbabwe
Kasane, Botswana
Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
Mankwe Bush Lodge, Botswana
Moremi NP, Botswana
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Onjala Lodge, Namibia
Pack Safari
Planet Baobab, Botswana
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls NP., Zimbabwe


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)

13.07: (A) Gorges Lodge & Batoka Gorge (26 species)
14.07: (A) Gorges Lodge (2 species, additional) (B) Road from Gorges Lodge to Chobe 
           Safari Lodge (10 species), (C) Victoria Falls NP (13 species), (D) Chobe Safari
           Lodge (23 species)
15.07: (A) Chobe Safari Lodge (3 species, additional to yesterday), (B) Chobe NP (68
           species)
16.07: (A) Chobe Safari Lodge (1 species, additional), (B) Road from Chobe Safari
           Lodge to Planet Baobab (25 species), (C) Planet Baobab (16 species)
17.07: (A) Planet Baobab (10 species, additional), Makgadikgadi Pans (37 species)
18.07: (A) Planet Baobab (7 species, additional), (B) Road from Planet Baobab to    
           Mankwe Bush Lodge (23 species), (C) Mankwe Bush Lodge (23 species)
19.07: (A) Moremi NP, Gcadikwe Island Camp & Okavango Delta (81 species)
20.07: (A) Gcadikwe Island Camp & Okavango Delta (21 species, additional)
21.07: (A) Gcadikwe Island Camp, Okavango Delta & Moremi NP (12 species,
           additional), (B) Mankwe Bush Lodge (1 species, additional)
22.07: (A) Mankwe Bush Lodge (1 species, additional), (B) Road from
           Mankwe Bush Lodge to Dqae Qare San Lodge (19 species), (C) Dqae Qare San
           Lodge (24 species)
23.07: (A) Dqae Qare San Lodge (4 species, additional), (B) Road from Dqae Qare San
           Lodge to Onjala Lodge (29 species), (C) Onjala Lodge (27 species)


Total Distance traveled:

1 854 km


Personal Highlights:

BLACK STORK
COLLARED PALM-THRUSH
DENHAM’S BUSTARD
GREY-HEADED BUSH-SHRIKE
SADDLE-BILLED STORK
WATTLED CRANE
WHITE-BACKED VULTURE (tagged)
YELLOW-THROATED SANDGROUSE

13.07.’14  Gorges Lodge & Batoka Gorge, Zimbabwe  Black Stork (3) Zimbabwe is the only country in southern Africa where this species is classified as not-threatened. With this breeding pair in the Batoka Gorge, classified as an Important Bird Area (IBA), there is an extra bird present at the nest, this occasionally happens. Sometimes Black Storks share the nest cliff with Cape Vultures, Southern Bald Ibis, Verreaux’s Eagles, Peregrine Falcons or Lanner Falcons.

14.07.’14  Victoria Falls NP, Zimbabwe  Schalow’s Turaco (5) General habits of this uncommon species are undescribed as well as their nests.

15.07.’14  Chobe Safari Lodge  Collared Palm-Thrush  This species favours thicket areas with palms, usually near water and around human settlements with mixed bushwillow-mopane. BirdsConTour regular records this species here in the gardens of the Chobe Safari Lodge and now after the main construction activities on the ground of this specie’s territory concerns are gone that it might have withdrawn from this site. Chobe Safari Lodge really needs to take good care of this rarity.

16.07.'14  Kasane, Botswana  Egyptian Goose (15) How clever these geese are proves their adaptation towards human. Although one thinks that these geese have increased their range in may parts of southern Africa, it is not true. It’s only their numbers that have increased, especially in areas where plantations and artificial dams are. They thrive in man-made environments with presence of humans because in such areas natural predators are scarce and open areas of land and water are plentiful, thus providing safe conditions. The clever Egyptian Goose learned that the presence of humans protects them from their natural enemies.

17.07.’14  Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Botswana  White-headed Vulture (1) Except taking carrion from carcasses of all sizes this vulture is also able of killing  small mammals and kleptoparasitising eagles. The White-headed Vulture grips its food with the strong inner toes.

18.07.'14  Planet Baobab, Botswana  Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl (1) These large night hunters, sometimes by day, drop on their prey after a fast glide. If the missed their prey they may remain on the ground waiting for the prey to re-emerge. If they hunt roosting game birds, they often crash into the foliage, causing panic under the intended prey. Sometimes they might emerge by day to continue feeding on prey that they caught in the night.

19.07.’14 Moremi NP, Botswana  Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (2) What separates hornbills from all other birds is their breeding habit where females seal themselves into their nest cavities. Only a narrow gap is left through which the male feeds the female.

19.07.’14 Moremi NP, Botswana  White-backed Vulture (2) Although uplisted to endangered, the White-backed Vulture is the most widespread and common vulture in Africa. About 3 km in front of the Moremi NP South Gate next to the bush road a White-backed Vulture with a tag was seen sitting on its nest high up on a tree. The tag read P8 on it. Vulture tagging is undertaken to be able to follow their traveling and survival.

20.07.’14  Gcadikwe Island Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana African Pygmy-Goose (1) Pairs have a strong and long-lasting bond. It is observed that unmated males harass paired females, possibly to test their bond.

21.07.’14 Okavango Delta, Botswana Wattled Crane (1) Wetland destruction and degradation lead to this species being categorized as globally vulnerable and as critically endangered in South Africa.

21.07.’14 Moremi NP, Botswana Yellow-throated Sandgrouse (2) Little is known about this near-threatened species’ population and demography and movements and migrations.

21.07.’14 Mankwe Bush Lodge, Botswana Hamerkop (1) In western Africa one pair of Hamerkop build in average three nests per year because of nest piracy.

22.07.’14  Dqae Qare San Lodge, Namibia  Support Award For the unremitting social, conservation and tourism efforts BirdsConTour rewards the Dqae Qare San Lodge with a three penguin rated Welfare, Conservation and Tourism Support 2014 Award.
Read more in the electronic newsletter Words of Feather (www.birdscontour.com) (click news) in article 301.

22.07.’14  Dqae Qare San Lodge, Namibia  Travel & Help, Support Award  By traveling directly with BirdsConTour or making use of a guide from BirdsConTour you support welfare, conservation and tourism. To say THANK YOU, every tour participant receives a Support Award at the end of the tour.
Today eight German and five Swiss guests were rewarded with one penguin-rated Tourism Support 2014 Awards.
Read more in the electronic newsletter Words of Feather (www.birdscontour.com) (click news) in article 71 and 274.

23.07.’14  Windhoek, Namibia  Support Awards, Words of Feather  BirdsConTour announces its new Greeting Cards campaign to promote welfare, conservation and tourism by BirdsConTour. To the recipient of this greeting card directly from BirdsConTour, by purchase or as a thank you, BirdsConTour confirms his or her support of welfare, conservation and / or tourism.


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)

-Acacia Pied Barbet   17.7.(A) / 22.7.(C) /
-African Black Swift   13.7.(A) / 14.7.(C) /
-African Darter   14.7.(D) / 15.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-African Fish-Eagle   15.7.(B) /
-African Green-Pigeon   19.7.(A) /
-African Grey Hornbill   13.7.(A) / 15.7.(B) / 16.7.(B) / 17.7.(B) / 18.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B) /
-African Hoopoe    19.7.(A) /
-African Jacana   14.7.(D) / 19.7.(A) /
-African Marsh-Harrier   19.7.(A) /
-African Mourning Dove   21.7.(B) /
-African Openbill   14.7.(D) / 15.7.(B) /
-African Palm-Swift   16.7.(B) / 18.7.(B) / 20.7.(A) /
-African Pied Wagtail   14.7.(C) / 15.7.(B) /
-African Pipit   15.7.(B) / 17.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-African Pygmy Goose   19.7.(A) /
-African Red-eyed Bulbul   22.7.(C) / 23.7.(C) /
-African Sacred Ibis   15.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-African Scops-Owl   19.7.(A) /
-African Skimmer   14.7.(D) /
-African Spoonbill   15.7.(B) /
-African Stonechat   20.7.(A) /
-Ant-eating Chat   17.7.(A) /
-Arrow-marked Babbler   15.7.(B) / 18.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) /
-Barn Owl   15.7.(A) / 17.7.(A) / 23.7.(A) /
-Bateleur   14.7.(B) / 16.7.(B) / 18.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B) /
-Black-chested Snake-Eagle   16.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Black-collared Barbet   13.7.(A) / 18.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Black Crake   14.7.(D) / 15.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Black-crowned Night-Heron   20.7.(A) /
-Black-crowned Tchagra   21.7.(A) /
-Black-headed Oriole   18.7.(C) /
-Black-shouldered Kite   15.7.(B) / 16.7.(B) / 22.7.(B) / 23.7.(C) /
-*Black Stork   13.7.*(A) /
-Black-throated Canary   17.7.(A) / 23.7.(B) /
-Black-winged Stilt   15.7.(B) / 21.7.(A) /
-Blacksmith Lapwing   15.7.(B) / 16.7.(C) / 17.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Blue Waxbill   13.7.(A) / 14.7.(B)(D) / 15.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(C) /
-Bradfield’s Hornbill   16.7.(B) /
-Brown-crowned Tchagra   17.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(C) /
-Brown Snake-Eagle   20.7.(A) / 23.7.(B) /
-Brubru   17.7.(A)(B) / 22.7.(C) /
-Burchell’s Starling   17.7.(B) / 18.7.(B)(C) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B)(C) / 23.7.(B) /
-Cape Crow   17.7.(B) / 23.7.(B) /
-Cape Glossy Starling   16.7.(B)(C) / 17.7.(B) / 18.7.(B) / 22.7.(C) / 23.7.(B)(C) /
-Cape Turtle-Dove   14.7.(D) / 15.7.(B) / 16.7.(B)(C) / 17.7.(B) / 18.7.(B)(C) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B)(C) / 23.7.(B)(C) /
-Cape Wagtail   15.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) / 23.7.(B) /
-Capped Wheatear   16.7.(C) / 17.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Cardinal Woodpecker   13.7.(A) / 19.7.(A) /
-Cattle Egret   14.7.(C) / 15.7.(B) / 17.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler   22.7.(C) /
-Chinspot Batis   20.7.(A) /
-Chirping Cisticola   15.7.(B) / 20.7.(A) /
-Cinnamon-breasted Bunting   13.7.(A) /
-*Collared Palm-Thrush   14.7.*(D) /
-Collared Pratincole   14.7.(D) / 19.7.(A) /
-Collared Sunbird   20.7.(A) /
-Comb Duck   15.7.(B) /
-Common Ostrich   17.7.(B) / 22.7.(B) / 23.7.(C) /
-Common Quail   17.7.(B) /
-Common Scimitarbill   13.7.(A) / 17.7.(A) / 22.7.(C) / 23.7.(B) /
-Coppery-tailed Coucal   14.7.(D) / 15.7.(B) / 18.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) /
-Crested Barbet   20.7.(A) /
-Crested Francolin   15.7.(B) / 16.7.(B) / 18.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B) /
-Crimson-breasted Shrike   19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B)(A) / 23.7.(C) /
-Crowned Hornbill   13.7.(A) /
-Crowned Lapwing   15.7.(B) / 16.7.(C) / 17.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B) / 23.7.(B)(C) /
-Dark-capped Bulbul   13.7.(A) / 14.7.(C)(D) / 18.7.(C) /
-Dark Chanting Goshawk   14.7.(A) / 19.7.(A) /
-Denham’s Bustard   17.7.(B) /
-Dickinson’s Kestrel   18.7.(B) /
-Double-banded Sandgrouse   15.7.(B) / 23.7.(B) /
-Drongo Flycatcher   19.7.(A) /
-*Egyptian Goose   15.7.*(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove   13.7.(A) / 14.7.(B) / 16.7.(B) / 18.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B) /
-Familiar Chat   13.7.(A) /
-Fiery-necked Nightjar   15.7.(B) / 20.7.(A) /
-Fork-tailed Drongo   13.7.(A) / 15.7.(B) / 16.7.(B)(C) / 17.7.(B) / 18.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(C) / 23.7.(B)(C) /
-Freckled Nightjar   23.7.(C) /
-Gabar Goshawk   16.7.(C) / 17.7.(B) /
-Glossy Ibis   15.7.(B) / 21.7.(A) /
-Goliath Heron   15.7.(B) /
-Great Egret   15.7.(B) / 21.7.(A) /
-Great Sparrow   23.7.(C) /
-Greater Blue-eared Starling   14.7.(B) / 15.7.(B) / 16.7.(B) / 20.7.(A) /
-Greater Kestrel   17.7.(B) / 23.7.(B) /
-Green-backed Heron   15.7.(B) /
-Green-winged Pytilia   18.7.(A) /
-Green Wood-Hoopoe   15.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Grey-backed Camaroptera   15.7.(B) / 18.7.(A)(C) / 19.7.(A) /
-Grey-backed Sparrowlark   17.7.(B) /
-Grey Go-away-bird   15.7.(B) / 16.7.(B) / 18.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B) /
-Grey-headed Bush-Shrike   14.7.(D) /
-Grey-headed Gull   14.7.(D) /
-Grey Heron   15.7.(B) / 18.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Groundscraper Thrush   16.7.(B) / 23.7.(B) /
-Hadeda Ibis   19.7.(A) /
-Harlequin Quail   17.7.(B) /
-Hartlaub’s Babbler   18.7.(C) / 21.7.(A) /
-*Hamerkop   19.7.*(A) /
-Helmeted Guineafowl   13.7.(A) / 15.7.(B) / 17.7.(B) / 18.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B) / 23.7.(C) /
-House Sparrow   16.7.(B) / 23.7.(B) /
-Jameson’s Firefinch   14.7.(C) /
-Kori Bustard   15.7.(B) / 17.7.(B) / 21.7.(A) /
-Lanner Falcon   18.7.(B) /
-Lappet-faced Vulture   15.7.(B) / 16.7.(B) /
-Lark-like Bunting   17.7.(A) /
-Laughing Dove   14.7.(D) / 18.7.(A)(B) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(C) / 23.7.(B) /
-Lesser Striped Swallow   15.7.(B) / 18.7.(B) / 20.7.(A) /
-Lesser Swamp-Warbler   20.7.(A) /
-Lilac-breasted Roller   14.7.(B) / 15.7.(B) / 18.7.(A) / 19.7.(A) / 23.7.(B) /
-Little Bee-eater   18.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) /
-Little Egret   15.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Little Swift   23.7.(C) /
-Long-billed Crombec   18.7.(A) /
-Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah   23.7.(B) /
-Long-toed Lapwing   15.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Luapula Cisticola   19.7.(A) /
-Magpie Shrike   15.7.(B) / 16.7.(B) / 17.7.(A)(B) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B) /
-Malachite Kingfisher   15.7.(B) / 20.7.(A) /
-Marabou Stork   14.7.(B) / 15.7.(B) / 16.7. (B) /
-Marico Flycatcher   19.7.(A) /
-Marico Sunbird   19.7.(A) /
-Martial Eagle   16.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Meves’s Starling   19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B) /
-Meyer’s Parrot   16.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) /
-Mountain Wheatear   23.7.(C) /
-Namaqua Dove   14.7.(A)(B) / 16.7.(B) / 17.7.(B) / 20.7.(A) / 23.7.(B) /
-Namaqua Sandgrouse   23.7.(B) /
-Natal Spurfowl   13.7.(A) /
-Northern Black Korhaan   17.7.(B) / 23.7.(B) /
-Orange River Francolin   23.7.(C) /
-Pale-winged Starling   23.7.(C) /
-Pearl-spotted Owlet   15.7.(A) / 16.7.(C) / 18.7.(C) / 23.7.(A)(C) /
-Pied Crow   13.7.(A) / 14.7.(B) / 16.7.(A)(B)(C) / 17.7.(B) / 18.7.(B) / 23.7.(B) /
-Pied Kingfisher   15.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Pink-backed Pelican   21.7.(A) /
-Pririt Batis   22.7.(C) /
-Purple Roller   17.7.(A) /
-Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver   16.7.(C) / 17.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B) /
-Red-billed Firefinch   13.7.(A) /
-Red-billed Hornbill   15.7.(B) / 16.7.(C) / 17.7.(B) / 18.7.(B)(C) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(C) / 23.7.(B) /
-Red-billed Oxpecker   15.7.(B) / 17.7.(B) / 18.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Red-billed Quelea   22.7.(C) / 23.7.(B) /
-Red-billed Spurfowl   22.7.(C) / 23.7.(B)(C) /
-Red-billed Teal   15.7.(B) / 16.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) /
-Red-crested Korhaan   17.7.(B) / 23.7.(B) /
-Red-eyed Dove   13.7.(A) / 14.7.(D) / 18.7.(B) / 20.7.(A) /
-Red-faced Mousebird   14.7.(D) / 19.7.(A) /
-Red-necked Falcon   16.7.(B) / 18.7.(B) /
-Red-winged Starling   13.7.(A) /
-Reed Cormorant   14.7.(D) / 15.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Rock Martin   13.7.(A) / 23.7.(B)(C) /
-Rosy-faced Lovebird   23.7.(C) /
-*Rufous-bellied Heron   14.7.*(D) / 20.7.(A) /
-Sabota Lark   17.7.(B) / 22.7.(C) /
-Saddle-billed Stork   19.7.(A) /
-Scaly-feathered Finch   17.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Schalow’s Turaco   14.7.(C) /
-Senegal Coucal   20.7.(A) /
-Shaft-tailed Whydah   22.7.(C) / 23.7.(C) /
-Slaty Egret   19.7.(A) /
-Sociable Weaver   23.7.(C) /
-Southern Black Flycatcher   18.7.(A) /
-Southern Black Tit   19.7.(A) / 21.7.(A) /
-Southern Grey-headed Sparrow   15.7.(B) / 16.7.(C) / 17.7.(B) / 18.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) /
-Southern Ground-Hornbill   16.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Southern Masked-Weaver   19.7.(A) / 20.7.(A) / 22.7.(C) / 23.7.(C) /
-Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk   23.7.(B) /
-Southern Pied Babbler   18.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) / 23.7.(A)(C) /
-Southern White-crowned Shrike   16.7.(B) / 18.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(A) /
-*Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill   15.7.(B) / 16.7.(B)(C) / 18.7.(B)(C) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B)(C) / 23.7.(B) /
-Speckled Pigeon   23.7.(C) /
-Spectacled Weaver   14.7.(C) /
-Spike-heeled Lark   17.7.(B) /
-Spotted Eagle-Owl   23.7.(A) /
-Spur-winged Goose   15.7.(B) /
-Squacco Heron   15.7.(B) / 20.7.(A) /
-Swainson’s Spurfowl   15.7.(B) / 16.7.(B) / 18.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) /
-Swallow-tailed Bee-eater   17.7.(B) / 23.7.(C) /
-Swamp Boubou   20.7.(A) /
-Tawny Eagle   18.7.(B) / 22.7.(B) /
-Tawny-flanked Prinia   14.7.(C) / 19.7.(A) /
-Temminck’s Courser   17.7.(B) /
-Terrestrial Brownbul   14.7.(C)(D) / 15.7.(B) /
-Tropical Boubou   14.7.(D) /
-Trumpeter Hornbill   14.7.(C) / 15.7.(A) /
-Verreaux’s Eagle   13.7.(A) /
-*Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl   17.7.*(A) /
-Village Indigobird   13.7.(A) /
-Village Weaver   20.7.(A) /
-Violet-eared Waxbill   18.7.(C) / 22.7.(C) /
-Water Thick-knee   15.7.(B) /
-*Wattled Crane   21.7.*(A) /
-*White-backed Vulture   15.7.(B) / 19.7.*(A) / 23.7.(B) /
-White-bellied Sunbird   13.7.(A) /
-White-breasted Cormorant   23.7.(B) /
-White-browed Coucal  21.7.(A) /
-White-browed Robin-Chat   14.7.(C)(D) / 15.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-White-browed Sparrow-Weaver   13.7.(A) / 14.7.(B) / 16.7.(B) / 18.7.(B)(C) / 19.7.(A) / 22.7.(B)(C) / 23.7.(B)(C) /
-White-crested Helmet-Shrike   14.7.(B)(C) / 17.7.(A) /
-White-crowned Lapwing   15.7.(B) /
-White-faced Duck   15.7.(B) / 18.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-White-fronted Bee-eater   15.7.(B) /
-White-winged Tern   14.7.(D) /
-Wire-tailed Swallow   15.7.(B) /
-Wood Sandpiper   15.7.(B) /
-Yellow-bellied Greenbul   13.7.(A) / 14.7.(C) /
-Yellow-billed Duck   19.7.(A) /
-Yellow-billed Egret   15.7.(B) / 18.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) /
-Yellow-billed Oxpecker   15.7.(B) / 19.7.(A) / 21.7.(A) /
-Yellow-billed Stork   15.7.(B) /
-Yellow Canary   23.7.(C) /
-Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird   13.7.(A) /
-Yellow-throated Petronia   17.7.(A) / 19.7.(A) /
-*Yellow-throated Sandgrouse   21.7.*(A) /


Total number of species identified:

215


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)