Bird ringing course, Wakkerstroom, 3-10 January 2004
Organised by SAFRING and BirdLife South Africa.
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | In January 2004 the seventh national ringing training course was held in Wakkerstroom (the third in Wakkerstroom). This time there were 17 ringers and 19 trainees, ringing over 2600 birds in one week, the second highest total for a national ringing course (2656 were ringed at Witsand). Olivier Dehorter, of the French ringing scheme, paid us a visit for two days and gave some helpful hints! Selected photos below illustrate some highlights. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | The resident Crowned Crane pair at the vlei. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | On Sunday afternoon most of the lectures were given to the trainees. They were also given practice in putting up mistnets. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | Finding coordinates on maps. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | Netting in the reed beds. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | The Oschadleus camp. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | The Raimakers camp - ringing in comfort! |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | New net management method - Olivier demonstrated how a Pick 'n Pay plastic bag can be used to store a net, without ever getting the loops entangled. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | A full class for evening talks. |
 Photo Kobie Raijmakers | Corncrake - highlight of the week. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | Arie again made sure that the "pen-slaners Unie" was not forgotten. Here handing over a box of cornflakes to Dawie for a garbled message about corncrakes! |
 Photo Kobie Raijmakers | Yellowbilled Duck caught in a mistnet. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | Wood Sandpiper caught in taiwan net. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | Banded Martin. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | Pair of Orange-throated Longclaws. Male with the brighter throat is on the left. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | European Marsh Warbler - there was an influx at Wakkerstroom, and 21 were ringed. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | Whitethroat - note the rufous edges to the primaries. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | Golden Bishop male. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | Redbilled Quelea, male with white-faced morph. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus | Arie handing over the Flipper award to Mark Brown. |
The most ringed species for the week were Red Bishop, followed by African Marsh Warbler and then Masked Weaver. The previous two years Red Bishop and South African Cliff Swallow were at the top of the list. Click here to see Ringing totals