This if a friendly reminder of the 2012 BLNG AGM to be held on the 21st of February at the Sci-Enza Centre, University of Pretoria, Hatfield.

You can find the minutes from the 2011 AGM in the donwloads section, or from this link.

Please join us for the AGM – find out what your committee have been up to in 2011 and plans for an exciting 2012. It is important that we have as many members there as possible. After the formalities have been handled, Peter Greaves will enlighten us on the joys of birding in Peru and Bolivia. Snacks will be served afterwards.

In September 2011 Peter flew via Buenos Aires to Lima to join Naturetrek on their 18 day “Macaws and Machu Picchu” tour. Coinciding with the end of that tour Peter flew to Bolivia and joined another 18 day tour to search for some rare and endemic birds in this very new birding destination. Peru has a bird list of almost 1800 whilst Bolivia has over 1400 so there was a great deal to see and do.

This talk will take us to all the major habitats of Peru, including Coastal desert and prolific off shore islands, the Amazon basin rain forest, Andes eastern slope cloud forest, and the high Andes of over 4,000 m including Machu Picchu. In Bolivia the only missing habitats are coastal and offshore, but the scenery of the high Andes and especially the altiplano above 3,800 m with walks at up to 4,800 m (15,750 ft) make up for the gap. Lake Titicaca is back dropped by snow-capped mountains. Birds include the famous Hoatzin, Sungrebe, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Macaws, Parakeets, and Parrots. Top mammal was a 3-toed Sloth but there are monkeys and other animals everywhere. Peter also visited the Inca city of Machu Picchu.

Directions: Sci-Enza Centre, University of Pretoria, Hatfield. From Duncan Street in Hatfield turn into Prospect Street (in a westerly direction towards the university). The entrance to the University is at the end of Prospect Street. The Sci-Enza Centre is the large white building on the right. The entrance is facing east.

Sluit asb by ons aan vir die AJV – kom hoor wat die komitee in 2011 bereik het en vind ook uit watter opwindende aktiwiteite vir 2012 beplan word. Dit is baie belangrik om soveel as moontlik lede daar te hê. Na afloop van die formele sake, sal Peter Greaves ons vergas op sy voëlkykervarings in Peru en Bolivia. Versnaperings na die tyd.

In September 2011 het Peter via Buenos Aires na Lima gevlieg om by ‘Naturetrek’ aan te sluit vir hulle 18 dae “Macaws and Machu Picchu” toer. Aan die einde van die toer het Peter na Bolivia gevlieg, en by ’n ander 18 dae toer aangesluit om te gaan soek na skaars en endemiese voëls in hierdie nuwe land vir voëlkyk. Peru het ’n voëllys van byna 1800 terwyl Bolivia oor die 1400 het. Daar was dus heelwat te doen en te sien.

Hierdie praatjie neem ons na al die belangrike habitatte in Peru, insluitend die kuswoestyn en produktiewe kuseilande, die Amasonebekken, reënwoud, wolkwoud van die Andes se oostelike hange, en die hoë Andesgebergte van oor die 4,000 m, insluitend Machu Picchu. In Bolivia ontbreek habitatte soos kusgebiede, maar die natuurskoon en veral die ‘altiplano’ bokant 3,800 m met staproetes van tot 4,800 m (15,750 vt) maak op vir hierdie tekortkoming. Die Titicacameer word gesien teen die agtergrond van sneeubedekte berge. Voëlsoorte sluit in die beroemde Hoazen, Sungrebe, Andiese Cock-of-the-rock, Macaws, parkiete en papegaaie. Die hoogtepunt van die soogdiere was ‘n drietoonluidier, maar daar is oral ape en ander diere. Peter het ook die Inkastad van Machu Picchu besoek.

Aanwysings: Sci-Enza Sentrum, Universiteit van Pretoria, Hatfield. Vanuit Duncanstraat in Hatfield draai af in Prospectstraat (weswaarts in die rigting van die Universiteit). Die ingang na die Universiteit is aan die einde van Prospectstraat. Die Sci-Enzasentrum is die groot wit gebou op regterhand. Die ingang wys oos.