Vincent Parker is a graduate of the Avian Demography Unit (MSc 1995), and is an Honorary Research Associate.

Qualifications and experience

Vincent completed a BSc in Mathematics and Statistics (1979) and a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics (1986) from the University of South Africa. Whilst studying Vincent was employed by South African Railways as a computer programmer (1980-1982) and he taught Secondary School Mathematics (1977-1979 and 1983-1989). He also worked as a statistician in the Haematology Department, Medical School, University of Cape Town) (1993-1994).

Vincent has been closely associated with the Avian Demography Unit since 1993, when he commenced studies for an MSc degree. Prior to that he was the Regional Atlas Coordinator for Swaziland of the Southern African Bird Atlas Project from 1985 to 1991 - the reality is that he undertook most of the fieldwork for Swaziland himself. His master's dissertation was a statistical analysis of the atlas data for Swaziland and he was awarded his degree in 1995. In addition he was regional co-ordinator for Swaziland and one of the editors of the The Atlas of Southern African Birds. As soon as he submitted his MSc, he initiated the Mozambique Bird Atlas Project, under the auspices of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (1994-2001).

Awards

December 1998: member of the BP Conservation Award winning expedition to Mount Namuli, northern Mozambique

1999: The editors of the Atlas of Southern African Birds were jointly awarded the John F.W. Herschel Medal for 1999 by the Royal Society of South Africa

1999: One of the Endangered Wildlife Trust's Top Ten Conservationists for 1999.

2001: The Mozambique Bird Atlas Project was awarded a Rufford Small Grant for international conservation by the Whitley Award Foundation

Selected publications

Allan, D.G., Davies, G.B. & Parker, V. 2000. The birds (Aves) of the middle Save River valley, Mocambique. Durban Museum Novitates 25: 18-24.

Allan, D.G., Gamble, K., Johnson, D.N., Parker, V., Tarboton, W.R. & Ward, D.M. 1987. Report on the Blue Swallow in South Africa and Swaziland. Blue Swallow Working Group, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg.

Barnes, K.N. & Parker, V. 2000. African Skimmer; Whitebacked Night Heron; African Finfoot; Pel's Fishing Owl; Natal Nightjar. In: Barnes, K.N. (ed.) 2000. The Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland - 2000. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg.

Harrison, J. A., Allan, D. G., Underhill, L.G., Herremans, M., Tree, A.J., Parker, V., & Brown, C.J. 1997. The Atlas of Southern African Birds Vol. 1&2. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg.

Nuttall, D.B. & Parker, V. 2001. An overview of the history and distribution of the Olive-headed Weaver , Ploceus olivaceiceps, with preliminary observations of a sub-population near Panda in southern Mozambique. Ostrich 72(1&2): 101-104.

Parker, V. 1994. The Swaziland Bird Atlas 1985-1991. Webster's, Mbabane.

Parker, V. 1995. The current status of some birds of prey in southern Mozambique. Journal of African Raptor Biology 10(1): 2-3.

Parker, V. 1995. Further observations on birds of prey in southern Mozambique. Journal of African Raptor Biology 10(2): 64.

Parker, V. 1996. Modelling the distribution of bird species in Swaziland in relation to environmental variables. Ostrich 67: 105-110.

Parker, V. 1997. The status of vultures in Swaziland and Mozambique. In: Boshoff, A.F., Anderson, M.D. & Borello, W.D. (eds). Vultures in the 21st Century: Proceedings of a workshop on vulture research and conservation in southern Africa. Vulture Study Group, Johannesburg: 90-92.

Parker, V. 1999. The Atlas of the Birds of Sul do Save, Southern Mozambique. Avian Demography Unit and Endangered Wildlife Trust, Cape Town & Johannesburg.

Parker, V. 1999. The use of logistic regression in modelling the distribution of bird species in Swaziland. S.Afr.J.Zool. 34(2):39-47.

Parker, V. In Press. Important Bird Areas in Mozambique. In: Fishpool, L.D.C. & Evans, M. (eds.) Important Bird Areas in Africa. BirdLife International, Cambridge.

Parker, V. & de Boer, F. 2000. The birds of the Maputo Special Reserve. Bright Continent Guide 2. Avian Demography Unit, Cape Town.

Ryan, P.G., Bento, C., Cohen, C., Graham, J., Parker, V. & Spottiswoode, C. 1999. The avifauna and conservation status of the Namuli Massif, northern Mozambique. Bird Conservation International 9: 315-331.

Underhill, L.G., Tree, A.J., Oschadleus, H.D. & Parker, V. 1999. Review of ring recoveries of waterbirds in southern Africa. Avian Demography Unit, Cape Town..