Ornithologist to give talk on seabirds
Including skuas, petrels,shearwaters and awe-inspiring albatrosses.
CROCWORLD Conservation Centre will host ornithologist, David Allan who will talk on ‘Deep-sea bounty – the magnificent seabirds of KwaZulu-Natal’s open oceans’ on Saturday, 11 July at 9am.
Allan’s talk will give guests an incredible insight into the pelagic birds that can be seen off the coast.
As the curator of birds at the Durban Natural Science Museum, he has plenty of experience with the birdlife of KZN. He is an expert on a wide variety of avian species, but is particularly passionate about pelagic birds.
After moving to Durban from Cape Town nearly two decades ago, he began leading deep-sea birding trips allowing others to experience the thrill of seeing these ocean-going species in their natural environment. He has led more than 60 such expeditions, and has become a renowned authority on pelagics.
Visitors will be regaled with stories from his expeditions, including the tale of how Allan and his team learned to attract rare seabirds to the vessel using a unique chumming technique. He will touch on some of his favourite pelagic species, including skuas and petrels, shearwaters, and of course, the awe-inspiring albatrosses.
Guests will learn about the amazing adaptations that allow these species to find food in the vast expanse of open ocean and to survive without seeing land for long periods of time. Best of all, Allan will illustrate his talk with the spectacular photos that he has collected during his time at sea.
Tickets for the talk are R70 per adult, and R30 for pensioners, students and scholars. It includes entrance into Crocworld Conservation Centre’s regular exhibitions, and guests are invited to stay on and explore the park after the talk finishes.
To make your reservation, contact Nolean Allun on 039-976 1103, 083-654-9651 or e-mail crocworld@cbl.co.za.
