Department of Statistical Sciences
University of Cape Town
| Avian Demography Unit
Department of Statistical Sciences University of Cape Town |
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ADU travels, expeditions and eventsLake Ngami
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 Photo V. Ward | Typical granite formations in the greater Namakwaland area. | |
 Photo V. Ward | The Vioolsdrift border post between South Africa and Namibia. | |
 Photo V. Ward | Crossing the Orange River. | |
 Photo V. Ward | Vast open spaces in southern Namibia. | |
 Photo V. Ward | The road to Lake Ngami is long... and straight... | |
 Photo V. Ward | A huge Sociable Weaver nest built in a Camel Thorn tree. | |
 Photo V. Ward | Telephone poles also make great sites to construct nests. Another Sociable Weaver nest between Stampriet and Gobabis. | |
 Photo V. Ward | On route to Gobabis the thunder clouds start to build up and the first signs of rain appear. | |
 Photo L. Bruinzeel | The sky is filled with heavy clouds... | |
 Photo L. Bruinzeel | as well as hundreds of African Black Swifts. | |
 Photo V. Ward | After approximately 1600 km we reach the Botswana border post. We are getting closer! | |
 Photo V. Ward | We thought this was the Trans Kalahari Highway. Definately for cattle, donkeys and horses! | |
 Photo V. Ward | Eventually on the 3rd day of travelling we reach Lake Ngami. The small town of Sehithwa is situated on the north western side of the lake. | |
 Photo V. Ward | Although the lake is only about a third full, the remainder of the lake bed is lush green with vegetation after good early rains. | |
 Photo V. Ward | A lone Marabou Stork accompanied by two African Sacred Ibis next to the water. | |
 Photo V. Ward | Lake Ngami is filled with all sorts of waterbirds, in their thousands, such as herons, egrets, pelicans, ducks, goose, plovers, lapwings, pratincoles etc. | |
 Photo V. Ward | The clouds grow ominously darker towards the east. | |
 Photo V. Ward | A group of Great White Pelicans feeding early morning. | |
 Photo V. Ward | Mistnets were mostly used to catch smaller birds such as waders along the shoreline. | |
 Photo V. Ward | A few duck traps were also constructed. These traps proved unsuccessful mainly due to birds not being interested in the bait being put out. | |
 Photo L. Bruinzeel | Spur length measurement being taken on a Blacksmith Lapwing. | |
 Photo V. Ward | Total head length measurement being taken on a Blacksmith Lapwing. | |
 Photo V. Ward | Kittlitz's Plovers were individually marked for follow up by BirdLife Botswana members who regularly visit the Lake area. | |
 Photo V. Ward | A beautiful specimen of a Marsh Sandpiper. | |
 Photo L. Bruinzeel | Wing measurement being taken on a Marsh Sandpiper. | |
 Photo M. Wheeler | A White-faced Duck with a beautiful chestnut coloured breast. | |
 Photo L. Bruinzeel | Pied Kingfishers were common in the net and many were ringed. | |
 Photo V. Ward | Most ringing took place at night thus bats were caught every now and again. | |
 Photo V. Ward | Some bush netting was done during day time. Species that were caught included Sedge Warbler... | |
 Photo L. Bruinzeel | Violeteared Waxbill... | |
 Photo L. Bruinzeel | and Grey-backed Camaroptera. | |
 Photo L. Bruinzeel | Grey-backed Camaroptera. | |
 Photo L. Bruinzeel | Thogho (BirdLife Botswana), Vincent and David around the ringing table. | |
 Photo L. Bruinzeel | A big part of the workshop was to train local people from Botswana, as well as meeting up with the Botswana Wildlife Department as well as BirdLife Botswana to exchange ideas and build relations. | |
 Photo V. Ward | From left to right. Marius, Thogho, David and Leo. | |
 Photo V. Ward | Wet weather was common during our stay at Lake Ngami. A typical afternoon storm coming in over the lake. | |
 Photo V. Ward | The roads instantly turned into a slippery muddy mess. Needless to say our vehicle got stuck many times. | |
 Photo L. Bruinzeel | Camping around the Lake was basic and with all the rain it sure was interesting! | |
 Photo V. Ward | Yet, despite all the rain, most mornings were beautiful with a view that can not be described by words. |
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Acknowledgements
The Avian Demography Unit (ADU) would like to thank everybody that participated in the ringing workshop held at Lake Ngami in particular the Botswana Wildlife Department for allowing this opportunity to have taken place. Furthermore we are grateful for the funding provided by AEWA as well as Peter Darcy and Pete Hancock from BirdLife Botswana for all the organisational support. Lastly to the Sehithwa community for allowing access to their land.
