"A bird in the hand........"

A very pleasant and enjoyable morning.

Our bird club (BLNG), is assisting the Pretoria Country Club with their environmental management plan, and the establishment of a birding group among their members.
To this end, a bird ringing session on the property was arranged, and was attended by around 50 interested and enthusiastic members and management.

The collage reflects but a few of the birds which were caught and ringed as part of the demonstration.

Clockwise from top left:
-Arrow-marked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii) undergoing the process of ringing and measurement.
-Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) a non-breeding palaeartic migrant and widespread summer visitor to S. Africa. This specimen weighed a mere 9 grams. It is hard to comprehend that this little bird migrates all the way from the far north of Europe, Russia and China.
-Karoo Thrush (Turdus smithii) a common to abundant resident in the SW (excl. coastal) and central parts of the country. The bird is calmly accepting the fact that it will now sport a bit if silver 'bling' as the ring is secured on its tarsus.
-Crested Barbet (Trachyphonus vaillantii) a common to abundant resident in the central & NE parts of the country. Ringed and ready for release.