106 | ERINDI IN THE BIRDING SPOTLIGHT

106

ERINDI IN THE BIRDING SPOTLIGHT

Fork-tailed Drongo – case of theft or kill?

Photos by Andrew Steyn and text by Stefan Rust (BirdsConTour)

2013

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

Erindi Private Game Reserve is an unrivalled destination for those in search for the very rarely Crimson-breasted Shrike Laniarius atrococcineus with a bright yellow belly rather than the characteristic crimson-red coloration.

Last seen late August and early September 2011, now again an individual was spotted during a game drive by the guide and the passionate birder Andrew Steyn on the 15^th of June.

As not being enough, Andrew had the opportunity to observe and photograph a Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis being busy slaughtering a Brubru Nilaus afer (14 cm). It is not sure how this “criminal” bird got hold of the Brubru. It is known that the Drongo kills small birds such as Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullata (9.5 cm) and Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica (12 cm) on the ground and carries the prey to a perch in its bill or feet. In case of the Drongo assuming of having killed the Brubru all by himself, then this will be the biggest reported feathered prey with the Brubru measuring 14 cm.

Predator-like this Fork-tailed Drongo holds down the Brubru with one foot and tears off bits of flesh to swallow.

Although mainly feeding on insects, the Fork-tailed Drongos are renowned for their aggressive behavior, often stealing food from other birds and raptors, called kleptoparasitism.

Sophisticated strategies, such as false-alarm calls, including the mimicking alarms of other species, are used to not only scare birds but also mammals such as Suricates Suricata surricatta and steal their food, including beetle larvae and small lizards.

Often they associate with foraging mammals to catch flushed prey, sometimes even perching on the mammals.

105 | BIRDSCONTOUR REPORT (09.06.'13 - 23.06.'13)

105

BIRDSCONTOUR REPORT (09.06.'13 – 23.06.’13)

Text from Stefan Rust

2013

(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.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WORK GETS DISTRIBUTED INTERNATIONALLY

Have a quick look if you, your site or neighborhood is included in this scientific informational work (alphabetically arranged):

Airport Jagd & Gästefarm (Uwe & Janet Trümper)

Birds in Words booklet (Birgit Leicher)

Campbell Malcolm & Louisa (Lovedale Farm Holidays)

Chamäleon Reisen

Delta Kindergarten (Sabine Gerber)

Elnatan Private School

Erindi Private Game Reserve

Gamkarab Farm

Gerber Sabine

Gillmann Martin & Regine (Kempinski Estates)

Gillmann Regine (John Meinert Printers)

Hähner Wilfried (Hitradio Namibia)

Helmeringhausen

Herrlich Heino

Hitradio Namibia (Wilfried Hähner)

John Meinert Printers (Regine Gillmann)

Kempinski Estates (Gillmann Martin & Regine / Heino Herrlich & Ute Schadt)

Leicher Birgit (Birds in Words booklet)

Lovedale Farm Holidays (Malcolm & Louisa Campbell)

Namib Sand Sea Unesco Natural World Heritage Site)

Onjala Lodge

Pack Peter (Pack Safari)

Pack Safari (Peter Pack)

Schadt Ute

Smith Jana-Marie (Travel News Namibia)

Stampriet

Steyn Andrew

Sossusvlei

Sperrgebiet NP.

Travel News Namibia (Jana-Mari Smith)

Trümper Uwe & Janet (Airport Jagd & Gästefarm)

UNESCO

Usieto Luca & family

Vermeulen Hugo (Private School Elnatan)

Voigtland Farm (Stephan & Gaby Voigts)

Voigts Stephan & Gaby (Farm Voigtland)

Dall Charles & Yvette (Farm Gamkarab)

BirdsConTour Report (Namibia) Personal Highlights:

“BIRDS IN WORDS” BOOKLET

INTERVIEW WITH HITRADIO NAMIBIA

NEW LOGO

WATER FOR SOSSUS BIRDS - PROJECT

Distance traveled: 2 385 km

09.06.'13  Kempinski Estates  Gabar Goshawk (1) The Wild Bird Support Station with its bird-friendly water tables on Gillmann’s property suits this bird of prey well because it bathes regularly.

12.06.'13  Otjiwarongo  Tawny Eagle (4) Being a multi-talented forager, predator, pirate and scavenger, he is often observed alongside roads scavenging at roadkills, making him vulnerable of becoming a roadkill himself.

12.06.'13  Farm Gamkarab  Bird & Birder Friendly Award As truly Namibian farmers with a passion for their beautiful farm and its nature, Charles and Yvette Dall registered with their camping facility and farm as a two penguin-rated bird and birder friendly establishment to enhance sustainability and to preserve their birdlife for themselves and for their guests to enjoy.

12.06.'13  Gillmann Regine, John Meinert Printing  New BirdsConTour logo Regine Gillmann designed and printed the new BirdsConTour logo at John Meinert Printing. Respond from clients and readers gave fantastic feedback, such as from Elke Hoeltzcke being a graphic designer in Germany: “Du hast ein sehr schönes, modernes neues Logo, wer hat dich so gut beraten?” (You have a very beautiful, modern new logo, who consulted you that well?) Thank you to Regine Gillmann from John Meinert Printing!

14.06.'13  Hitradio Namibia  Interview Wilfried Hähner from Hitradio Namibia interviewed Stefan Rust from BirdsConTour about the project “Water for Sossus Birds”. This project is managed under the “Travel gives Wings” division and it supports the Sossusvlei birds that are influenced by the ever-increasing numbers of visitors to this sensitive and arid attraction.

14. – 15.06.'13  Onjala Lodge  Preparations for a Rosy-faced Lovebird-friendly environment  The co-owner of Onjala lodge, Mr. Peter Pack, a keen photographer, is keen to lure this colorful parrot species back to the lodge property. Historically the Rosy-faced Lovebird occurred here but moved away due to unfavorable conditions. Now preparations of establishing a Lovebird-friendly environment are in progress to get them to choose this lodge as their home again. BirdsConTour supports these efforts and surely will keep readers updated about the progress achieved.

15.06.'13  Airport Jagd & Gästefarm  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  Described as hardworking and dedicated, Uwe and Janet Trümper from the Airport Jagd & Gästefarm are the proud recipients of the highest rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award, rated with three penguins, on the 15^th of June. Find out more about the projects on their land under www.birdscontour.blogspot.com, article 93.

15.06.’13  Farm Voigtland  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  Joining the ranks of bird conservation on the 15^th of June in a year of drought, food for wildlife is on the decrease but guests visiting Farm Voigtland are on the increase, the young and energetic couple Stephan and Gaby Voigts is recognized for their contribution to birdlife conservation with a two penguin rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award. More reading under www.birdscontour.blogspot.com, article 92.

15.06.'13  Erindi Private Game Reserve  Crimson-breasted Shrike (yellow morph) (1), Fork-tailed Drongo (1) Last seen late August and early September 2011, now again a very rare yellow breasted Crimson-breasted Shrike was spotted during a game drive by the guide and the passionate birder Andrew Steyn.

As not being enough excitement for one day, Andrew had the opportunity to observe and photograph a Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis being busy slaughtering a Brubru Nilaus afer. Further information is available under www.birdscontour.blogspot.com.

16.06.'13  Kempinski Estates  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  The environment in which Heino Herrlich and Ute Schadt are living is of primary concern to them. This area is the Kempinski Estate south of Windhoek and as the Gillmann family they too believe that bird conservation management must be in place and is important for long-term sustainability of the surrounding environment. In their strive to support birds in the surrounding where their house and their presence has an impact on the environment, they invited BirdsConTour to arrange a bird friendly garden through erecting a Wild Bird Support Station.

17.06.'13  Ludwigsdorf, Windhoek  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  It was a highlight rewarding Luca Usieto and his family with a two penguin-rated bird & Birder Friendly Award for their efforts in supporting their garden birds in Ludwigsdorf, Windhoek, with a by BirdsConTour supplied Wild Bird Support Station. Although this is not unusual and almost routine work, this occasion was of a particular highlight in that Luca is only seven years young. This qualification handed to him on the 17^th of June catapulted Luca Usieto right onto the top of being Namibia’s youngest Bird & Birder Friendly Award recipient.

18.06.'13  Private School Elnatan  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  Together with the principal of the private school, Mr. Hugo Vermeulen, Louisa and Malcolm Campbell are responsible for many excited pupil at the Private School Elnatan by having had the idea of getting BirdsConTour to register the school as a bird and birder friendly establishment. Article 96 under www.birdscontour.blogspot.com offers more information.

18.06.'13  Lovedale Farm Holidays  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  Thoughtful projects led to three penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award for Louisa and Malcolm Campbell. These projects are described under article 95, www.birdscontour.blogspot.com

20.06.'13  Windhoek  Birds in Words booklet  The demand by many people to get information about BirdsConTour on paper presented BirdsConTour with a challenging and important opportunity.

BirdsConTour now has its own Birds in Words booklet to showcase the organizations work, highlight bird conservation aspects and raise awareness about birds and their habitats. A big THANK YOU goes to Mrs. Birgit Leicher for her effort to create this booklet.

22.06.'13  Sossusvlei  UNESCO Namib Sand Sea and “Water for Sossus Birds” BirdsConTour congratulates Namibia for the inscription of the Namib Sand Sea on the World Heritage List!

It is scary what devastating footprints guests cause with their visit to Sossusvlei. A research showed that every guest climbing the dune Dune 45, walking to the Death Vlei and back and/or walking in the surrounding of Sossusvlei unconsciously kills with his or her stay an average of ±50 small animals (ants, beetles etc.). With hundred guests per day this is a loss of ±5 000 potential food items of in this case birds. Given the fact that most birds living in this hot and dry part of the Namib Desert prey on small animals to replenish their body moisture as an alternative to water, these footprints left behind by the guests cause a big loss in possible moisture for the feathered animals. This results in a severe decrease of the natural bird population in this area.

To counteract this negative influence and to help the birds to replenish their body moisture, BirdsConTour together with Pack Safari and Chamäleon (German travel company) came up with a solution – the “Water for Sossus Birds” project. More info under www.birdscontour.blogspot.com, article 88.

22.06.'13  Delta Kindergarten  Bird food sponsored  With the focus on bird conservation and planting the seed of interest in birdlife with children, BirdsConTour together with the Delta Kindergarten established a Wild Bird Support Station some time ago on the grounds of this Kindergarten. BirdsConTour remains committed to being the pride supporter of this Delta Kindergarten station. As such bird conservation and tourism sponsored various bird food that was handed to the manager Mrs. Sabine Gerber.

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.blog.com)

(For more information contact Stefan Rust on +264 (0)81 129 8415 or birdscontour@iway.na)

104 | BIRD FOOD FOR DELTA KINDERGARTEN

104

BIRD FOOD SPONSOR BY BIRDSCONTOUR

Delta Kindergarten supports birdlife

Photos and text by Stefan Rust

2013

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

It is important that our children, the future generation, receive adequate education, in all aspects of life, not forgetting the conservation part of nature whereupon all our lives depend.

   

With the focus on bird conservation and planting the seed of interest in birdlife with children, BirdsConTour together with the Delta Kindergarten established a Wild Bird Support Station some time ago on the grounds of this Kindergarten. BirdsConTour remains committed to being the pride supporter of this Delta Kindergarten station. As such bird conservation and tourism sponsored various bird food, handed over to the manager of the Kindergarten, Mrs. Sabine Gerber, by Mr. Stefan Rust from BirdsConTour on the 24^th of June.

         

Through the Wild Bird Support Station the children can be brought closer to nature, in this case birdlife and there will be a better understanding of birds within the children visiting the Delta Kindergarten.

088 | NAMIB SAND SEA AND ITS BIRDS

88

NAMIB SAND SEA - UNESCO NATURAL WORLD HERITAGE STATUS

BirdsConTour CONGRATULATES with launch of “Water for Sossus Birds” project

Photos and text by Stefan Rust

2013

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

BirdsConTour congratulates Namibia for the inscription of the Namib Sand Sea on the World Heritage List!

Namibia offers within its borders a number of remote areas of wilderness. At first glance some areas seem desolate and uninspiring but exploration showed that by sustaining the specialized and unique fauna, flora and landscape, these areas are valuable national assets. One such area is the Namib Sand Sea, a unique coastal fog desert with a diverse range of large dunes, being registered as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site on the 21st of June this year.

In history part of the Namib Sand Sea lying along the arid Namibian coast of the South Atlantic was protected for diamond-mining potential, but mining left no scars because it never happened.
Today this 30 000 square kilometer large Unesco Natural World Heritage Site lies within Namibia's Namib-Naukluft Park, bordered in the north by the Kuiseb River, in the east by Sesriem and in the south by the Sperrgebiet National Park.

One key issue is to prevent mineral exploration. Another key issue includes managing the increasing flow of visitors into this area and the thereby followed impact on nature, especially in Sossusvlei, a major attraction containing large dunes and a salt and clay pan, located in the heart of the Namib Sand Sea.

     
Water feeders for the Sossusvlei birds

Inappropriate management of this arid and thus highly sensitive area can have devastating consequences and therefore bird conservation and tourism (BirdsConTour), coordinated by Stefan Rust, took action in the matter of the birdlife by launching the project “Water for Sossus Birds” in Sossusvlei. This project underlies the division “Travel gives Wings” of BirdsConTour.

     

Devastating footprints  

It is scary what devastating footprints guests cause with their visit to Sossusvlei. A research showed that every guest climbing the dune Dune 45, walking to the Death Vlei and back and/or walking in the surrounding of Sossusvlei unconsciously kills with his or her stay an average of ±50 small animals (ants, beetles etc.). With hundred guests per day this is a loss of ±5 000 potential food items of in this case birds. Given the fact that most birds living in this hot and dry part of the Namib Desert prey on small animals to replenish their body moisture as an alternative to water, these footprints left behind by the guests cause a big loss in possible moisture for the feathered animals. This results in a severe decrease of the natural bird population in this area.

               

The water feeder gets either attached to the wiper, a tree or put onto the ground for the birds to replenish their body moisture. This "Water for Sossus Birds" project is a joint venture between BirdsConTour, Pack Safari and Chamäleon.

To counteract this negative influence and to help the birds to replenish their body moisture, BirdsConTour together with Pack Safari and Chamäleon (German travel company) came up with a solution. Every tour guide who leads Chamäleon guests into the Sossusvlei area takes a portable water feeder, constructed and funded by BirdsConTour, along. When the tour vehicle is parked at the 4x4 parking area, the guide fills the water feeder and hangs it to the wiper, a tree or puts it onto the ground close to the Pack Safari tour vehicle. With peace of mind, the Pack Safari guide together with the Chamäleon guests can now go and discover and enjoy the Sossusvlei area, while the birds can refill their needed body moisture with water as an alternative for the small animals that are destroyed unconsciously by each visitor. 

102 | ARTISTS GIVE TRAVEL AND CONSERVATION WINGS

102

ARTISTS GIVE TRAVEL AND CONSERVATION WINGS

Birds in Art

Photos by Birgit Leicher and text by Stefan Rust

2013

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

The creative project Birds in Art carries the message of promoting bird tourism and bird conservation to a far wider public audience than ever before through the communication medium of art.

                             

Exhibitions and similar are unquestionably one of the best options to spread the word of bird conservation and marketing tourism, particularly if one reaches beyond the borders.

103 | PART OF THE YOUNG BIRDERS?

103

ARE YOU AS A YOUNG PERSON PART OF THE

Young Birders project?

Photos and text by Stefan Rust

2013

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

Young Birders is perhaps the most important bird conservation project of BordsConTour.

We cannot effectively conserve birds in the long term if we don’t have young people to continue our work in the next generations.

Participants of the Young Birders have special opportunities to become involved in the precious birdlife.

        

Young Birders is an outdoor activity for young people of all levels and ages having an interest in birds.

This is a relaxed way for young people to observe birds and become active in bird conservation.

The emphasis is on having fun and getting young people excited about birds.

101 | REPRESENTING THE BIRDSCONTOUR REPORT PROJECT

101

REPRESENTING THE

BirdsConTour Report

Photos and text by Stefan Rust

2013

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

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.

Taking birding to new heights, Hobby-Ornithologist Stefan Rust together with BirdsConTour represents in this BirdsConTour Report 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 birds and their habitats.

It might be of advantage for establishments to be mentioned in this BirdsConTour Report because this scientific informational work gets distributed internationally. It therefore can be considered as a way of marketing.