|
|||||||||||||
 |
WhatsApp group for Wits Bird Club members
Please follow this link to join the group that we have created to send reminders for meetings, courses and outings. Joining the group is completely voluntary, but we trust it will help to keep members up to date with our offerings and with last minute reminders. Only Admins can post on the group, so that it is not used for replies or general chat. Please continue to email the secretary (witsbc234@gmail.com) for other matters. |
||||||||||||
FULLY BOOKED |
15-20 May – Extended Long Weekend Outing
Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve Green Twinspot – photo by Warwick Tarboton |
||||||||||||
| This is an outing over a longer weekend (Thursday to Monday) at Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve, about 70 km from Tzaneen. This small reserve is a hidden gem of diversity on the northern escarpment in Limpopo. The lower sections of the reserve comprise a mosaic of dense riverine woodlands, some forests in the narrow gorges, open deciduous woodlands, streams, wetlands, and secondary bushveld. As you go up the Orrie Baragwanath Pass, the vegetation changes rapidly, with the road going through patches of Afromontane forest, dry scrub on the steep rocky slopes, old fields, and high-altitude grasslands.
Bird diversity is high – target species lower down would include Gorgeous Bush Shrike, Narina Trogon, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, and Purple-crested Turaco. Along the streams, there are Mountain Wagtail, and in the fringing forest, Chorister Robin, Green Twinspot, and African Goshawk. The rocky areas and grasslands higher up bring a different suite of birds – Lazy Cisticola, Cape Grassbird, and widows are quite common. The reserve is a recognized butterfly hotspot with an endemic blue in the high grasslands. Dragonflies are equally diverse, with the localized endemic Elegant Malachite occurring along the main river. |
|||||||||||||
| Book: | witsbc234@gmail.com | ||||||||||||
| Leader: | Chris Hines (073 332 7578) | ||||||||||||
| 15 May
Thursday Evening Meeting ORT Wildlife Management Strategy |
 |
 .
Looking for a Special for your Life List? Is there a bird that you really want to see for your Life List? Let the club know and we will try and tailor a trip to find it. |
|||||||||||
| Melissa Hoffman’s core function for the past 21 years at ACSA has been to mitigate the risk of bird-strike-related incidents. ACSA together with EWT has created an environmentally sustainable approach to managing this risk and Melissa will share the results of this work will be shared during the presentation. | |||||||||||||
| Book: | witsbc234@gmail.com | ||||||||||||
| Time: | 18h45 for 19h00 | ||||||||||||
| Meet: | Linden Bowling Club | ||||||||||||
| Cost: | New pricing! Members free. R50 non-members. Tea, coffee, and snacks will be served. | ||||||||||||
 |
20 May – East Rand Bird Club’s Tuesday Evening Meeting
Wattled Crane – photo by Warwick Tarboton |
||||||||||||
| Dave Bentley will showcase some of the sightings of the East Rand Bird Club’s visit to Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve in Memel during November 2024. | |||||||||||||
| Time: | 18h45 for 19h00 | ||||||||||||
| Meet: | Country Life Retirement Village, Brentwood Park | ||||||||||||
| Cost: | R20 members inclusive of tea, coffee & snacks. R30 non-members. Tea, coffee and snacks will be served after the presentation. | ||||||||||||
| 25 May
Sunday Outing Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve Brown-crowned Tchagra – photo Warwick Tarboton |
 |
||||||||||||
| This is a great destination just a few minutes from the highway. There are several habitats to be found including wetlands, open grassland, rocky ridges, broadleaved woodland, acacia woodland, and even tall riverine forest around the Rademeyer Spruit. Specials include Lesser Honeyguide and Brown-backed Honeybird, with the occasional dash past of either an Ovambo or Little Sparrowhawk. This is a small reserve and very suitable for a family outing. | |||||||||||||
| Book: | witsbc234@gmail.com | ||||||||||||
| Meet: | 08h00 | ||||||||||||
| Leader: | Werner van Goethem (082 462 7108) | ||||||||||||
 |
31 May
Saturday Atlasing Day |
||||||||||||
| Atlasing days are held once a month to atlas the pentads falling within the Greater Gauteng area. You don’t have to be an expert to join in, you can travel with an experienced atlaser and learn how to atlas. If you would like to learn more or take part, please contact: Werner van Goethem on 082-462-7108. | |||||||||||||
PAYMENTS FOR ALL COURSES & OUTINGS TO BE MADE TO:BANK – NEDBANK CRESTA BRANCH CODE: 191-305 ACCOUNT NO: 1913 257 789 NAME OF ACCOUNT: WITS BIRD CLUB |
|||||||||||||
| MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS
Please note that as of 1 October 2024, all membership invoicing is handled by Wits Bird Club. BirdLife South Africa no longer issue invoices, and all membership payments are to be made to Wits Bird Club. Membership of BirdLife South Africa will be invoiced separately by their membership division. |
|||||||||||||
| President Ridge Bird Sanctuary
Volunteer Duties |
|||||||||||||
| Public Holiday 1 May: Abdul Petersen
Weekend of 3 & 4 May: Don & Wendy Mattison |
Weekend of 10 & 11 May: Jane Spowart
Weekend of 17 & 18 May: Celia Human |
||||||||||||
| Weekend of 24 & 25 May: Lorraine & Gordon Duncan
Thank you to all our volunteers who perform opening and closing duties at President Ridge Bird Sanctuary. |
|||||||||||||
| The Protection of Personal Information Act (aka POPIA)
came into effect on 1 July 2021. The act requires that we obtain your consent to communicate with you in the future. If you are happy to keep receiving emails from us there’s no need to do anything. If you wish to be removed from our mailing list or change your mind at any time in the future, please contact the club secretary on witsbc234@gmail.com |
|||||||||||||
