BirdLife eThekwini KZN Chair’s Chirps

Mid-winter is upon us as you get this issue. I hope this chirp finds you all in good spirits and filled with the joy of birdwatching as you read this update on the activities and progress of BirdLife eThekwini KZN (BeKZN) from March 2023 to June 2023.

Our dedicated committee has been hard at work, on a variety of fronts and I am thrilled to share some ofthe highlights with you all.

Activities: Our club is really proud that we are able to provide our members with a wide range of activities to choose from. We continue to provide between 6-8 activities a month ranging from walks to sit-ins, to outreach events and online learning and guest presentations. These are always well attended with most fully booked and showing little sign of declining. We are delighted that our members remain so enthusiastic about participating and this is really the grist for our mill to keep us looking for new and exciting ways to keep the interest going. Our June and July calendar have been published online and anyone interested in joining us may do so FREE as a member or with a donation to our conservation fund as a visitor - all welcome. The BeKZN Diary can by found at https://blpn. org/activities/birding-diary-2023/

Conservation: conservation efforts continue and include our Colour Me Green eThekwini Atlas activities with individual members contributing to this initiative as well as formal activities included as part of our calendar. This is an exciting citizen science project, inviting members to contribute their bird sightings, which will enhance our understanding of bird distribution in the region.

The monitoring of a created wetland offset area continues and we will be submitting a second report to eThekwini Municipality on this during July 2023. In addiion our concerns regarding the issue of House Crow invasion and spread has been formalised in a letter whcih will be sent to the relevant authorities.

Steve Davis continues to coordinate our summer and winter CWAC counts and these data continue to be important in understanding the state of estuaries, wetlands and other aquatic habitats in our region.and birdwatching events. These initiatives aim to raise awareness about the importance of bird conservation, promote sustainable birding practices, and foster a love for nature among people of all ages. Our winter CWAC count is scheduled for the 22 July and anyone interested in joining from any of the KZN Clubs is most welcome.

Outreach and Collaboration: BeKZN believes in the power of communication to inspire change. To that end, Nicolette Forbes as Chair was requested to present four or five bird talks to various garden clubs and others duirng May and June. Nicolette was also the invited guest speaker for BirdLife Sani’s AGM increasing the close collaboration between our two KZN clubs.

As we reflect on these activities I must acknowledge the dedication and passion of our members, volunteers, and partners who have contributed their time and expertise to make these endeavours a success. BirdLife eThekwini KZN is privileged to have such a vibrant community united by a common love for birds and their conservation.

John Field from St Lucia Bird Club has managed to get a date for a birdingonly visit to the Zimanga Aloes and we have again mooted this as a KZN Rendezvous for all KZN birders and clubs. Please see the back page of this e-mag for more details. You can register to attend to be added to a temporary Whatsapp group to get messages about logistics, sightings, directions etc. A number of people will be staying over at uMkhuze Game Reserve to bird and get together as well as braai after the aloes. Please join us.

In closing, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have supported BirdLife eThekwini KZN thus far. Your continued involvement, whether as members, volunteers, or advocates, is crucial to the success of all the bird conservation and awareness raising initiatives from a local club level through to our national partner BirdLife South Africa.

Happy birding!

Nicolette Forbes Chair BirdLife eThekwini KZN and Chair BirdLife KZN Forum