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Birdlife Northern Gauteng Birdlife Gauteng-Noord Newsletter of Birdlife Northern Gauteng Nuusbrief Van Birdlife Gauteng-Noord No. 133 Summer 2016 BirdLife Northern Gauteng BirdLife Gauteng-Noord Newsletter of BirdLife Northern Gauteng Nuusbrief van BirdLife Gauteng-Noord PO Box/Posbus 12563, Hatfield, 0028 Bank account: BirdLife Northern Gauteng/Gauteng-Noord, E-mail: [email protected] Nedbank, Hatfield. Website: www.blng.co.za Branch code: 160245 Account number: 1634010531 Committee 2015/16 Komitee President André Marx; 083 411-7674; [email protected] Chairperson – Voorsitter Philip Calinikos; 012 430-2168; [email protected] Secretary – Sekretaresse Rita de Meillon; 012 807-4002/ 083 391-2327; [email protected] Honorary Treasurer – Tesourier Pieter Heslinga; 082 551-0130; [email protected] PR and Website – Skakelbeampte en Webtuiste Annali Swanepoel; 082 789 2570; [email protected] Conservation – Bewaring Amanda le Roux; 082 841 7413; [email protected] Sub-committee: Ig Viljoen, Kagiso Mohlamme, Vincent Ward, Rihann Geyser Programme and Activities – Program en Aktiwiteite Elouise Kalmer; [email protected]; 083 626 1733 Sub-committee: Rob Geddes, Frik du Plooy, Gerrie Jansen van Rensburg, Alta Fraser, Wanda Louwrens, Michelle van Niekerk, Karin & Kobus Coetzer, Jeanette Heuseveldt Evening Meeting arrangements: Wanda Louwrens, Michelle van Niekerk, Rita de Meillon Bird Ringing – Voëlberinging Frik du Plooy; 078 524-4189; [email protected] Sub-committee: Paula Steyn, Johan Snyman Laniarius Editor – Redakteur Sub-committee: André Marx, Phillip and Jill de Moor, Ingrid van Heerden, Candice Mncwabe, Drinie van Rensburg (design & layout) SABAP2 Atlas Co-ordinator – Atlaskoördineerder André Marx; 083 4117674; [email protected] Notice to contributors Kennisgewing aan bydraers Laniarius is published three times annually. Laniarius word drie keer jaarliks uitgegee. Spertye Deadlines for contributions are 1 March, 1 July and vir bydraes is 1 Maart, 1 Julie en 1 November. 1 November. Articles should preferably be Artikels moet verkieslik per e-pos aan die redak- e-mailed to the Editor, but may also be posted to teur gestuur word, maar kan ook na die klub- the club post box. Contributions and advertise- adres gepos word. Aanvaarding van bydraes en ments are accepted at the discretion of the Editor. advertensies word aan die diskresie van die redak- Digital photographic images are always welcome. teur oorgelaat. Digitale foto’s is altyd welkom. TABLE OF CONTENTS Editorial/Redaksioneel ...........................................................................................................................................................2 Chairman’s Report/Voorsittersverslag ....................................................................................................................................3 BLNG Vulture Fundraising Raffle ............................................................................................................................................4 Voëlgeluide soos ek dit hoor ..................................................................................................................................................6 Caprivi camp .........................................................................................................................................................................7 Drie Devon dae .....................................................................................................................................................................10 Kalahari roofvoëltoer ...........................................................................................................................................................11 SAFRING species summary for the Crimson-breasted Shrike ................................................................................................15 Mandela-dag 67 minute ......................................................................................................................................................15 Report on demonstration of ringing activities at Serene Valley ............................................................................................16 Ringuitstappie na Marula Lodge ..........................................................................................................................................18 Squatting Down Under in Western Australia ........................................................................................................................19 Rondomtalierit .....................................................................................................................................................................21 Devon birding ......................................................................................................................................................................24 Tanzanië toer .......................................................................................................................................................................25 A Leaflove story ....................................................................................................................................................................29 South America: Iguazu Falls .................................................................................................................................................31 Spotted Crake – The Big Twitch ............................................................................................................................................33 Rarities and unusual sightings .............................................................................................................................................36 Credits Front cover: Crested Barbet/Kuifkophoutkapper by Gina Wilgenbus. Birding facts taken from Everything you Always Wanted to Know About Birds by Stephen Moss. Cartoons from The Crazy World of Bird Watching by Peter Rigby. Laniarius 133 1 Editorial/ Redaksioneel their adventures in different parts of the am writing this editorial as stand-in country. You had to use words to paint the editor as the first October rains have I picture of what you were saying as it was arrived. They have been late in coming, not possible to include photographs in an but those first welcome rains of the new article for a club newsletter! It was only in summer are such a joyous occasion and fairly recent times that with the onset of bring a burst of energy and provide fresh digital photography that articles could be impetus for whatever we are busy doing liberally illustrated with the subject matter or planning. The birds are galvanised by of the discussion. It has become a lot easier, the early rains and I usually note a spike in but it has also made some us take short breeding activity at this time and bird- cuts and forget that it is still necessary to song is particularly striking at this time of put your thoughts into words, and to share year. Already the Red-chested Cuckoo’s this with like-minded people. I know I distinctive song can be heard and the should do that more often. delightful African Paradise Flycatcher has I must say how appreciative the edito- arrived. What would our lives be with- rial team is with the contribution made by out these wonderful creatures? I cannot a number of regular contributors. Laniarius imagine a life without birds and not being would not be published without these con- able to observe them in their natural tributions and you just have to look at the environment. authors of articles to see how the exploits I have been involved with the Laniarius and opinions of many people regularly fill publication in one way or another for well these pages, and that without their writing over 20 years, either by contributing a this newsletter would just not be the same. regular column, or by being the editor for Thank you to those of you who heed the some of that time, or by being on the sub- call for contributions to Laniarius and who committee, sourcing articles, editing and share their experiences with other mem- sometimes helping with articles. A news- bers of the club. letter acts as a window to the club and This edition has a good mix of articles it is vitally important that we document about interesting trips undertaken by the club’s activities and keep a record of members, to experiences in the field, to the the projects and events that have taken enjoyment of finding a special bird. I trust place over time. When I look back over the you will enjoy reading the various accounts newsletters dating back to the first copies and that this will stimulate you to write I received over 30 years ago I can see how about what interests you! May I wish the technology has driven the changes in the very best of summer birding to all of you. club over the years and how birding – and birders – have evolved over that time. Regards/Groete Members used to write in evocative prose about birds that they found and about André Marx 2 Laniarius 133 Chairman’s Report/ Voorsittersverslag Philip Calinikos was lucky enough to have been gifted a bird on a higher pedestal than that of a run of the mill I book a number of years ago that was totally Birder. different to the others in my collection at the time. Twitching on the other hand is a British term It was titled Shakespeare’s Birds written by Peter used to mean “the pursuit of a previously located Goodfellow and beautifully illustrated by Peter rare bird”. The term originated in the 1950s, when Hayman. The book clearly portrays Shakespeare’s it was used for the
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