Learning basic birding skills with BirdLife Rustenburg

Rustenburg – In Rustenburg, bird watching has soared to become one of the fastest-growing hobbies globally — and it’s easy to see why. Simply step outside into a garden or park, and you’ll be surrounded by our feathered friends. Bird watching hinges on keen observational skills, making each bird sighting a delightful puzzle to solve.

On Saturday 25 May 2024, BirdLife Rustenburg will host a practical course titled “Eye Language,” designed to sharpen your birding skills. The course emphasises rapid information processing — a critical skill for any birder. It’s about storing mental snapshots that you can later reference, checking details you might have missed or confirming those unique characteristics remembered. Accuracy is key; without it, your recollections might blend too creatively with your field guide, leading to misidentification.

“Eye Language” offers a straightforward system to manage this flood of information effectively. The session starts at 08:30 at the President Kruger Guesthouse, located on Old Johannesburg Road, Waterkloof. While the course is complimentary for BirdLife Rustenburg members, non-members are encouraged to join for a fee of R50. Participants will need to purchase a workbook for R30.

Secure your spot by contacting Estie van der Merwe on 074 603 0976 or Gerda Welman on 082 927 1330 for more details. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or new to the hobby, this course is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your birding prowess.