2014 Bird calender for sale

We are now taking advance orders for the 2014 Birdlife Port Natal calendar.

 Only R90.00 each or R250.00 for 3*

 Stocks will be available for collection from mid September.

Postage can be arranged at R10.00 extra per calendar.

The club will not be keeping surplus stocks, so to order your copies please email Andy Ruffle on andy_ruffle@yahoo.co.uk with BIRD CALENDER in the subject line or telephone 039 695 0829 before 31st August 2013.

The Verreaux's Eagles of Roodekrans

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Field Guide to Shorebirds of South Africa

This new book, by our friends Roy Cowgill & Steve Davis from Port Natal Bird Club, has just been launched. Available from all good book sellers.

E-book - Cranes of South Africa published

Trogons of the World

Trogons (the birds that is) are currently in the spotlight in the United States as a result of a wonderful article in the July issue of ''Birding'', the magazine of the American Birding Association.
The article, “Trogon Quest” , features artwork and text by internationally acclaimed wildlife artist Albert Earl Gilbert. Gil’s field adventures in Southeast Asia are described, in which he relates his first hand observations and experiences he and his party encountered doing the research for his Award Winning book on Tropical Birds entitled TROGONS. Published in 2010, Trogons was honored as the winner of the “BEST BOOK DESIGN” category in the 2010 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS (IBA), the publishing world’s Oscar. The book also received an award as Finalist in “BEST COVER DESIGN”category.

Albert Earl Gilbert of Bridgewater, CTpainted over 80 full color illustrations for the book authored by Joseph Forshaw, designed by Derrick I. Stone, and co- published by Princeton University Press and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. TROGONS is a natural history of this spectacularly beautiful tropical bird family that includes the Quetzal, the sacred bird of the ancient Mayans and Aztecs

 
To download the very interesting and beautifully illustrated article click....here
(warning it is 5.1mb)

Thanks go to Diane Gilbert Madsen for forwarding this information to us.

Trogons:
A Natural History of the Trogonidae
Joseph M. Forshaw
Illustrated by Albert Earl Gilbert

ISBN: 9780691141589

Available to order through Loot.co.za 

'The Beach Book' launched 23rd July 2011

Jerry Gosnell & his wife
(Photo Andy Ruffle)

Trogons member Jerry Gosnell's new book 'The Beach Book' was launched at Ramsgate Stationers on 23rd July 2011.

This delightful pocket-size (A6) guide to the common plants on the dunes and the seaweed of rock pools along the east coast of South Africa.

published by the Flora & Fauna Publications Trust.

The Rear and Fore dune plants section will particularly appeal to folk living just behind the dunes and battling with rehabilitation and gardening.

A smorgasbord of flora from beach dune to coastal forest covers dune scrub, grasses, the colourful Marguerite, Vygies, Gazania and many more, to creepers and the magnificent coastal aloes & Kniphofia, shrubs, the renowned Natal Wild Banana and the hardy coastal trees including the beautiful Coastal Redmilkwood, the Natal Guarrie and the Lagoon Hibiscus.

Seaweeds: An exciting range of the Green, Brown and Red seaweeds covering the Sub-Tidal fringe (below Low Water Spring Tide), through Lower, Mid and Upper Inter-tidal zones

to High Water Spring Tide. The role of seaweeds in the marine environment is well covered as is their reproduction and uses.

Great pleasure is to be had identifying seaweeds whilst precariously balancing on the edge of a pool ...!

Size : 152 pages : 148mm x 105mm in portrait : 150grams

ISBN no.978-0-620-50296-2

June Stannard 1922-2011

June Stannard passed away peacefully on Sunday 8th May 2011.

June was not only a well-known writer on birdlife and other conservation issues, but is best remembered as a pioneer in recording bird-song.

A memorial service for her was held on 13th May 2011 at Munster. Our condolences go to her family and all those who knew her. Her passing is another great loss to the birding community.

For more information about June and her book 'Birds Sing for Us' see.....here

BirdLife Partnership in Africa launches Local Conservation Groups report

'The BirdLife Partners in Africa have published a report on their experience of working with Local Conservation Groups (called Site Support Groups – SSGs in Africa).  Launched at a colourful ceremony in Kinangop, Kenya, the report underlines the principle that biodiversity conservation must coincide with sustainable natural resource management for the benefit of the local people. Members of the local community and other Kenyan SSGs, plus other NGOs and Government and donor representatives, were among those who attended the ceremony.'

Read more and download report....here

Source: Birdlife International