Experts to present two-part talk on Bird Migration at Crocworld Conservation Centre

18 August 2016
By Olivia Jones Communication

Experts to present two-part talk on Bird Migration at Crocworld Conservation Centre

On September 10th, Crocworld Conservation Centre will continue its monthly lecture series with a talk by renowned ornithologists Graham Grieve and David Ehlers-Smith. The talk, which is to be titled Long-Distance and Intra-African Bird Migration, offers birders and nature-lovers alike the opportunity to gain an expert insight into the lives of some of Africa’s most fascinating migratory birds.

Grieve and Ehlers-Smith will deliver the talk in two parts, with each focusing on their particular areas of expertise. Grieve, a qualified bird ringer, will reflect on his experiences ringing birds as part of an international project in Tsavo West Game Reserve, Kenya. In doing so, he will explain the life histories of some of the continent’s rarest Palearctic migrant species. These are the northern hemisphere birds that travel long distances each year to spend the summer here in southern Africa.

Ehlers-Smith, on the other hand, will look at the species that inhabit the Indian Ocean Coastal Forest Belt. In particular, he will focus on resident migratory species, and those that travel from other areas to spend the winter in the coastal forests. Part of Ehlers-Smith’s talk will be dedicated to the issues threatening these forest habitats, including habitat degradation and the land-use pressures triggered by increasing agriculture and urbanisation. Both Ehlers-Smith and Grieve will be speaking from extensive personal experience.

Although Grieve qualified as a Civil Engineer and eventually became a concrete specialist working in the fields of road construction and road materials design, he pursued his love for ornithology after retiring. He undertook a post-doctorate research project on forest phenology and related bird presence in the Ngele area, and has ringed more than 9,000 birds in his capacity as a qualified bird ringer. Ehlers-Smith holds a PhD in Conservation Biology and Primatology, for which he spent time researching the primates and birds of Borneo.

With so many anecdotes and experiences to draw from, Grieve and Ehlers-Smith’s talk on September 10th promises to be an unmissable event. Guests should arrive in time for registration and welcoming at 8:30am, ready for the talk to begin at 9:00am. Grieve and Ehlers-Smith will speak for approximately one hour, after which there will be plenty of time for questions before complimentary tea and coffee are served. Tickets will include entry into the park and cost R75 per adult and R35 for pensioners and scholars.

Guests are invited to stay after the talk to discover the rest of the park. Birders will relish the opportunity to explore the park’s aviaries, which house endemics like the Blue Crane as well as local favourites like the Knysna Turaco. The park is also home to an impressive collection of snakes, crocodiles and alligators, while more than 200 wild bird species have been spotted on its grounds. Refreshments will be available for purchase at sea-view restaurant Le Rendez-Vous, while those with an interest in gardening should pay a visit to on-site Izinyoni Indigenous Nursery.

To ensure availability, tickets for the talk must be reserved in advance. To book your place, contact: Nolean Allun, Crocworld Conservation Centre on (039) 976 1103/ (083) 654 9651 or e-mail crocworld@cbl.co.za.Account Details: Crocworld (Crookes Brothers Limited) Banking Details: FNB, Branch: Scottburgh, Branch Code: 220227, Account Number: 53640119111. Please fax the proof of payment to (039) 978 3279.

For more information about Crocworld Conservation Centre, visit www.crocworld.co.za, @CrocworldCC on Twitter, or Crocworld Conservation Centre on Facebook. To find out more about Izinyoni Indigenous Nursery, which is located on the grounds of the centre and open to the public from Monday to Saturday between 08h00 and 13h00, visit www.izinyoni-nursery.co.za.