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Monty Brett Environmental and Cultural Courses Newsletter |
July 2010 |
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How amazing it
has been in the last months to be a South African. Wasn’t it just divine to see the whole
country rising to the occasion, supporting Bafana Bafana, and then adopting other
teams to support? And even though it’s
over, it’s great to see so many still flying the flag. We really do live in the most wonderful
country in the world, and the World Cup was a timely reminder of that. If you’ve never
attended Baroque in the Bush
before but always wanted to, now’s your chance: I’ve got a bit of hutted accommodation
available, but you’ll need to move quickly if you want to get in first. See further down for full details. This is what’s coming
up in the next few months: Bird Identification Course – Wanderers
Club Our annual Bird
ID course starts on August 16. Held
over 10 evenings, this course is comprehensive and detailed, and gives an
excellent overview of the intricacies of birding. Yes, it covers general identification of the
different species, but it also delves into other interesting topics such as
breeding habits, plumage and display, migration and more. Lecturers: Geoff
Lockwood, Clive Hopcroft, Marion Melville, Monty Brett Duration: 10
evening sessions, 25 hours in all Dates: August 16,
19, 23, 26, 30, September 2, 6, 9, 13 and 20. Times: 18h30 to 21h30
each evening Venue: Wanderers Club,
North Street, Illovo Field Trip: An
early morning outing. Date and venue
to be advised on the course. Cost: R1 550 per
person. This includes a copy of our
bird-call CD and a book of course
notes, which will be given to you on the first evening. To book, contact
Kim on 033 266-6954 or kim@montybrett.com. Baroque in the Bush: 24 – 27
September This is a
weekend of Baroque music concerts held at Shingwedzi in the Kruger National
Park. Dr Richard Cock conducts 16
members of the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra in the midday and evening
concerts, and Clive Hopcroft will give a bird lecture and also lead a short
birding walk around the camp. Accommodation
for this event is usually like hen’s teeth, so why not grab this opportunity
and join us for an event you’ll never forget. This is what’s
available – first come, first served: One 3-bedded hut with loft, bathroom and
kitchen @ R4 080 per person sharing One 2-bedded hut with bathroom and kitchen @ R3 990 per person sharing Three 2-bedded huts with bathroom, no kitchen,
@ R3 740 per person sharing. Five permanent tents at the Research Camp,
about 2kms outside the Shingwedzi fence, @ R2 850 per person sharing. And of course,
there’s always whacks of camping space,
so you’re welcome to bundle up your gear and come join us, @ R2 350 per
person. Remember that we have the whole
camping ground to ourselves so there’s oodles of
place to spread out. Prices include
the accommodation cost, dinners on all three nights, and all musical and
birding events for the weekend. Please contact
me immediately if you’re keen to take one of the huts available, on 033
266-6954 or kim@montybrett.com. Bird ID Course – Shingwedzi If 10 evenings
is just too demanding on your busy schedule, why not consider coming to this
course, which is similar to the one we hold in Johannesburg, but condensed
into 4 days. The course is ideal for
anyone coming to Baroque in the Bush this year, as it follows straight on
from that weekend. Clive Hopcroft,
Marion Melville and Monty will be lecturing. Dates: 13h00 on
September 27 to midday on October 1. Venue: Conference
Centre, Shingwedzi Camp, Kruger National Park. Costs: The costs below include the course plus
the accommodation. Also included is a
book of course notes and our bird-call CD.
Meals are not included. 2-bedded hut with bathroom and
kitchenette: R2 820 per person sharing 3-bedded
hut with loft, bathroom and kitchenette:
R2 780 per person sharing Camping:
R1 850 per person Guests can self-cater or have meals in
the Shingwedzi restaurant. To book, please
call Kim on 033 266-6954 or email kim@montybrett.com. Monty and Clive’s Guide to South African
Birdsong We have two CDs
available, Part 1 and Part 2, both of which are newly updated with the latest
name changes. The cost is R100 per CD,
plus R30 for packaging and postage.
You can order them through Kim on kim@montybrett.com. Until next time,
stay well and happy. Warm regards, Monty Brett Courses Tel: (033) 266-6113 Fax:
086 652-7662 Cell: 082 824-9378 email: kim@montybrett.com website:
www.montybrett.com |
Our contact details Monty & Kim Brett P O Box 314 Nottingham Road 3280 Tel: (033)
266-6113 Email: kim@montybrett.com Fax:
086 652-7662, or (033) 266-6970 Web: www.montybrett.com |
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Quotes |
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When everything
seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against
the wind, not with it. Henry Ford There’s no trick
to being a humourist when you have the whole government working for you. Will Rogers If my critics
saw me walking over the Thames, they would say it was because I couldn’t
swim. Margaret Thatcher |
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Primate
trivia |
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Did you know
that all Colobid monkeys lack an opposing thumb. These include the Red Colobus and the Pied
Colobus monkeys. The name Colobid
comes from the Greek word “colobe” meaning “cripple”. Gelada Baboons,
which are found in Ethiopia, are primarily grazers. Most of their food comprises grasses
plucked blade by blade, and most of their eating is conducted seated. The Japanese
Macaques, or snow monkeys, live farther north than any other monkey or
ape. They have long shaggy hair which
protects them from the bitter cold, and they frequently warm up in the area’s
hot springs. Borneo’s Proboscis
monkeys are notable for their outlandishly huge noses, but did you know that
they are also excellent swimmers and have partly webbed hands and feet to
help them in the water. |
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Important
Note |
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Unwanted emails are a headache. If you would
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I will remove your name without a quibble. |
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Parting
Thought |
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Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. Mahatma Gandhi |