467 | Birding against cancer

WELFARE

What is cancer?

Cells are the very small units that make up the human body, actually all living things. These billions of cells in each person's body are produced by an existing cell copying itself and splitting to produce two new cells.

Cancer happens when cells that are not normal grow and continue multiplying even when the body does not need them. This is called uncontrolled division of abnormal cells. Normal body cells grow and divide and know when to stop growing and over time they also die. Whereas cancer cells just continue to grow and divide out of control and don't die when they are supposed to. These uncontrolled growing cancer cells clump together resulting in tumors. These growths are considered either benign or malignant. Benign tumors are rarely life threatening, do not spread to other parts of the body and they can often be removed. Malignant tumors, however, destroy the normal cells around the tumor, damage the body's healthy tissues and organs and can make someone very sick.

Sometimes cancer cells break away from the original tumor and travel to other body areas where they can form new tumors. This is called metastasis.

Risk factors:

- Being overweight can lead to cancer later in life.

- Regular exercise helps prevent cancer 

- Stop smoking 

- Limit alcohol consumption 

- Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables each day

Cancer Free Future (CFF) initiative by BirdsConTour

BirdsConTour takes action in supporting children with cancer by having founded the Cancer Free Future (CFF) initiative. CFF renders a welfare service to children with cancer by BirdsConTour making a donation to people who take care of children with cancer for each booked BirdsConTour tour.

Art classes to children with cancer.

Photo by R. Gillmann

Hereby a first money donation was handed over to Mrs. Regine Gillmann on the 24th of February with the start of the Namibia Compact Birding Tour.

Some children never had the opportunity to hold a drawing pen in their hands.

Photo by R. Gillmann

Mrs. Gillmann offers art classes on a voluntary basis to children with cancer in Windhoek once a week  and can use this donation to buy much needed art products. Read more under www.arttherapynamibia.blogspot.com

466 | Order Your Birds Of Namibia Birthday Calendar Now!

CONSERVATION

Photos by Birgit & Thalia Leicher and Stefan Rust

BirdsConTour, in corporation with beeline design, is proud to present its Namibian birds birthday calendar.

Each month-to-view page is accompanied by a stunning full-colour photo, sourced from some of beeline design's top bird photos.

Printed and produced to good standards on quality paper. The size of the calendar is 17 x 30 cm (closed and opened).

To place your order, e-mail us at birdscontour@iway.na or phone +264 (0) 81 129 8415.

DELIVERY OPTIONS & PRICES:

- Purchase price of calendar collected        directly from BirdsConTour at 36 Von Falkenhausen Street, Pionierspark, Windhoek: N$ 190.-.

- Purchase and postage in Namibia

(delivery 7-10 days): N$ 235.-.

- Purchase and postage in the rest of Southern Africa, surface mail (delivery approx. 4 weeks): N& 255.-.

- Purchase and postage in the rest of Southern Africa, airmail (delivery approx. 2 weeks): N$ 274.-.

- Purchase and postage overseas, surface mail (delivery approx. 8-10 weeks): N$ 264.-.

- Purchase and postage overseas, airmail (delivery approx. 10 days): N$ 337.-.

DIRECT PAYMENT DETAILS: Nedbank, Windhoek, Namibia, Acc No. 12000037018, Branch Code 461038, Swift Code NEDSNANX. (Please use your initials, surname and BIRTHDAY CALENDAR as your reference when making payment.)

Please note that part of the proceeds will go to Namibia's wetland conservation in celebration of Namibia's Bird of the Year 2017 - the African Fish Eagle!

Namibia's Bird of the Year 2017

African Fish Eagle

464 | The African Fish Eagle is Namibia's Bird of the Year 2017

CONSERVATION

Photo by Stefan Rust

Without water there would be no life. Water is a precious, indispensable resource for man. And who does not know better than the inhabitants of Namibia, this country that is considered to be the driest country South of the Sahara.

As a representative for all wetland inhabitants, BirdsConTour has chosen the African Fish Eagle as Bird of the Year 2017 in Namibia. It is intended to promote the conservation of the threatened habitat of wetlands and to raise awareness among the general public of the needs of wetland-dwelling animals. Wetland inhabitants are indispensable elements of species diversity. We Namibians should do everything to protect them, to stabilize their populations or to increase them.

Photo by Stefan Rust

Description:

The adult African Fish Eagle is unmistakable. Characteristic is the strikingly white head, the short white tail and the wide dark wings. Their dark claws, beaks and eyes are responsible for their being known as ancient fish eagles.

Origin of name:

Its Latin term Haliaeetus vocifer translated directly means noisy (vocifer) sea eagle (haliaeetus).

Measurements:

The African Fish Eagle is a large bird, with the female, at 3.2-3.6 kg, is 10-15% larger than the male. Females have a broader white chest and wingspans of 2.4 m, the body length is 63-75 cm.

Behaviour:

Couples are very territorial. When groups of this kind are seen, it is mostly parents with their offspring, or young birds, who have not yet established their own territories.

Food:

At the top of the menu on our bird of the year is mainly fish. But it also feeds on carrion and it may catch a variety of small animals. He usually hunts from a perch, gliding towards a surface-swimming fish, grabbing him and returning to a perch.

Habitat:

The African Fish Eagle is mostly at home at larger bodies of fresh water, but also coastal lagoons and estuaries.

Status and Threats:

A serious threat to this species, classified as vulnerable because of its surprisingly small population of fewer than 600 birds, is over-fishing by humans. This drives away birds from otherwise suitable rivers. But degradation of the water quality and the surrounding environment through the use of pesticides and destruction of large trees continues to be a threat.

Actions:

To increase the numbers of this bird of the year and many other animals that depend on suitable wetland areas, prevention of over-fishing, establishment of river-based conservancies, protection of large riverine trees and strict control of pesticide use shall be implemented and adhered to.

Get involved:

Birthday calendars in aid of wetland conservation.

BirdsConTour offers the opportunity to buy this amazing birthday calendar and support wetland conservation with every purchase.

Buy a Birds of Namibia Birthday Calendar for you or as a gift from BirdsConTour for only N$190.-. (excluding shipping costs) by ordering via birdscontour@iway.na or +264 (0) 81 129 8415 / +264 (0) 81 230 7506 and know that a percentage of the proceeds is helping support wetland conservation in Namibia.

Our Birds of Namibia Birthday Calendar Sale is raising much needed funds. If the BirdsConTour logo is on the calendar you know that N$10.-. of the purchase will help protect wetlands.

Since 2013, BirdsConTour chooses the Bird of the Year in Namibia.

2013 Common Ostrich

Photo by Stefan Rust

2014 Kori Bustard

Photo by Birgit Leicher

2015 House Sparrow

Photo by Birgit Leicher

2016 Lappet-faced Vulture

Photo by Birgit Leicher

2017 African Fish Eagle

Photo by Birgit Leicher

463 | All-in-one Bird Feeder Station by BirdsConTour

CONSERVATION

At BirdsConTour we have the so-called all-in-one Birdie Snacks Bar for the birds in your garden.

Constructed to hang or stand it allows you to position this easy to maintain bird feeding station exactly where you want it in your garden. This all-in-one Birdie Snacks Bar holds a water tray and nine food trays for all different kinds of bird food, including one for nest material and one for seedlings, so your garden birds get everything they need from one central point.

Our all-in-one Birdie Snacks Bar allows for quick and easy food replacement through a unique concept, the BirdsConTour Birdie Snacks Bar Refill Pack, that can be ordered from BirdsConTour, plus delivered and on request we refill your station/s.

By buying our Birdie Snacks Bar and Refill Packs you support welfare and conservation because it is not only the people in need which are involved who appreciate your purchase, now having a purpose in life and an income; the wild garden birdlife benefits from these products too.

Supporting our product is your good deed for the day!

465 | Birthday calendars in aid of wetland conservation

CONSERVATION

BirdsConTour offers the opportunity to buy this amazing birthday calendar and support wetland conservation with every purchase.

Buy a Birds of Namibia Birthday Calendar for you or as a gift from BirdsConTour for only N$190.-. (excluding shipping costs) by ordering via birdscontour@iway.na or +264 (0) 81 129 8415 / +264 (0) 81 230 7506 and know that a percentage of the proceeds is helping support wetland conservation in Namibia.

Our Birds of Namibia Birthday Calendar  Sale is raising much needed funds. If the BirdsConTour logo is on the calendar you know that N$10.-. of the purchase will help protect wetlands.

African Fish Eagle (bird of the year 2017) in a wetland habitat

Photo by Birgit Leicher

461 | Orumbonde books kindly supports bird conservation

CONSERVATION

Mr. Wolfram Hartmann from Orumbonde Books

Antiquarian, historian and master bookworm, Wolfram Hartmann from Orumbonde Books situated next to the Arta & Crafts Centre in Windhoek, Namibia, recently discovered the joy of bird watching as a relaxing pastime for himself. In this regard he obtained a bird feeder from BirdsConTour to attract wild birds to his garden. In an effort to motivate other citizens to do the same, he kindly offered to display an All-in-one Bird Feeder from BirdsConTour in front of his book store.

All-in-one Bird Feeder from BirdsConTour 

If you too are a bird lover and are also interested in luring birds into your garden or supporting the existing garden birds, you can visit Orumbonde Books and have a look at the feeder. You can submit your orders at Wolfram.

462 | European Honey Buzzard in Namibia

CONSERVATION & TOURISM

Photos by Mrs. Birgit Leicher

Female barred European Honey Buzzard Wespenbussard / Pernis apivores

The private nature reserve of the Kempinski Estates, situated 20 km south of Windhoek (Namibia) in the Auas Mountains, currently hosts a palate for bird and animal lovers. Since around the beginning of December this year, residents regularly observe a raptor in the splendid nature surrounding their houses. When Mrs. Birgit Leicher reported this sighting and sent her photos to BirdsConTour, this bird of prey could be identified as a non-breeding Palearctic migrating European Honey Buzzard, which is classified as uncommon to rare in Africa. Mrs. Gudrun Middendorff from the Namibian Birdclub confirmed the photos as the European Honey Buzzard.

This species shows an interesting nutritional behavior. As the species name already testifies, they mainly feed on wasps, but also on other insects such as termites. Different hunting methods are used. They snatch wasp nests from trees or from under the house roofs. Insects are also caught in flight or on the ground. They even go so far that they dig up wasp nests from out of 40 cm depths from the ground with their powerful claws. They are protected against the dangerous insect stings thanks to thick head feathers and thick scales on their legs.

Because this species keeps the wasp populations in check, it is alwa a welcome guest.