Department of Statistical Sciences
University of Cape Town
| Avian Demography Unit
Department of Statistical Sciences University of Cape Town |
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Allert Bijleveld Masters student  |
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Allert is a biology masters student from the Netherlands, or “the low lands” as it is translated literally. After High School, Allert travelled for 2.5 years to see what was out there. In between trips he worked at a luxury hotel in Amsterdam as a cleaning maid, bellboy and cook to earn some money for his trips. Allert did voluntary work in India and Malawi as a primary school teacher. This was a great experience and he learned a lot. It was on his trip to Zimbabwe and Malawi that he fell in love with Africa. To find a reason to be able to travel more and visit Africa again he started a study in biology in September 2000 at the University of Amsterdam. Allert has a bachelors degree in General Biology and is obtaining a masters degree in Animal Behaviour and Ecology. For this masters study, he previously did a project with Prof. Dr. T. Piersma on the foraging behaviour and spatial distribution of Red Knots (Calidris canutus). Now, he has the opportunity to work with Prof. Henk Visser and Ralf Mullers on Cape Gannets (Morus Capensis) for his second and last masters project. Allert's project will involve assisting Ralf with fieldwork and will investigate parental conflict between Gannet parents and the growth of their chicks. Fieldwork will be conducted on Malgas Island in South Africa and on Ichaboe Island in Namibia. So far his stay has been great and he loves South Africa and the friendly people (and avoiding winter back home!). |
