Bird Ringing with James Rawdon

Come join us for an exciting new event with renowned South African zoologist James Rawdon. He will be assisting Tacugama in identifying and ringing/banding bird species in the Western Area Peninsula National Park.

Guests (whether bird enthusiasts or not!) are welcome to join us for this event on the mornings of March 16, 17 and 18 to learn and assist with this vital research. Nets will be opened before light, packed up by midday and set up at a 2nd site each afternoon. Bird ringing will take place in the morning and lunch will be served afterwards. If guests are inclined, you can also assist after lunch to set up the nets for the following day.

After the Western Area, James will be continuing on to our project sites in Moyamba (mangroves) and Pujehun (an inland island). Guests are welcome to join these countryside trips and can contact info@tacugama.com for more information.

Bird Ringing Package Includes:

• 1 night’s stay in our eco-lodges
• Breakfast and lunch
• Sanctuary Tour
• 1 bird ringing session

Additional meals and drinks are not included.

Pricing:

(prices are all inclusive)

• Bruno & Julie lodge: $100 USD per person
• Augusta lodge: $120 USD per person
• Mumma Lucy/Phillip lodge: $120 USD per person
• Christo lodge: $120 USD per person

Prices are based on assumed full occupancy, which may include sharing a lodge if desired.

Julie and Phillip both house 2 single beds. Christo houses 4 people in 2 rooms (1 double bed and 2 single beds).

Please see our ecolodge page for more information.

Objectives of Bird Ringing:

• Research: Adding species checklists for each area, and collecting weights, measurements, photographs and other pertinent biological/veterinary data. Forest birding is very challenging with most species not actually being seen or recorded. The use of unseen nets, set up before the birds awaken each morning, allows us to catch shy, elusive species not normally seen.
• Community Outreach and Environmental Sensitization: Increase knowledge and awareness of birds and emphasize why they and their habitats should be protected. It is absolutely necessary to reach out to the communities if we want to stop the biodiversity, including birds, being lost.
• Education for local schoolchildren: Invite kids from the local schools to participate in the bird ringing process and to teach them about the birds and why they are important to the environment and ultimately themselves. Each child will have the opportunity to release a bird from the hand once all the measurements and photos have been taken. Subject of course to the number of birds captured. This hands-on experience is an absolute highlight to all kids and remains with them for years to come.
• Training: Tacugama staff and/or local community members will be trained in bird ringing with the longer-term goal to have qualified/licensed individuals to continue the research and take it to other areas in the country
• Ornithological Eco-Tourism: Assessing the potential for future eco-tourism ventures to assist Tacugama’s conservation mission.