News update: last bird ringing trip and Rebecca......

The bird-ringing group that visited in November 2010 - here with their table prepared for bird handling, measuring, recording.  They are led by Malcolm Wilson (on left) and supported by Rebecca, from the Park (employed by WWF). 

The twitcher's gaze!  A passing Bateleur Eagle is spotted

This was the third year of visiting - birds are caught in nets set up on regular transects along the forest ride below the house.  It requires a lot of experience and training to handle birds and carefully fit a small metal ring on one leg without stressing them.  These photos were taken very quickly before the birds are set free.

Nets are strung along the ride at dusk and checked at dawn

Bird names to be added ...help needed?

Note from Malcolm: 'the sunbird is Scarlet-chested, of the race 'gutteralis'! also the African Broadbill from the previous trips'

Cluster of C F Helmet Shrikes!

We have just learnt that Rebecca's contract was NOT renewed and she left the Park in January.  A great shock and loss for us.  She had worked for the Park developing specialist tourism for many years and is highly affective and respected.  And she encouraged Malcolm to visit... as well as being my friend and translator (as a fluent Portuguese speaking Brit).

It looks like Malcolm won't visit in the near future (his May visit has been cancelled) unless funding can be found for his travel. Just as we were gathering great data and welcoming all sorts of interesting bird-lovers to Mareja.  A really frustrating step backwards.

The new eco-guest rooms in pictures

Grass roof being prepared, it must lie flat and straight

A big project and attempt to build using traditional methods and with only local materials...termite soil, grass, sand...mixed, moulded and applied with many hands and cooked with fire or finished with lime.

Buidling began 2009 and completed just in time for Christmas 2010, NY 2011.

Floor tiles made by a women's group -
lots of experimenting with firing and mix: termite soil, sand and some grass



New furnace under construction - chimneys to be added



A lot of grass needed...







View from the back - windows finished with 'matopa' and lime.





Plumbing is a huge challenge - materials are imported and paper thin plastic.  Dominik nearly went mad from pipes bursting before being fitted

 

Interior wall showing brick work and arch to loo





Tarpaulin curtains on to the large veranda,
made from confiscated illegal timber





Walls before they dried and view of tiled bathroom floor



Finally curtains from local matket -
tied back with repurposed rope from confiscated snares

A bit of decoration - encouraged by Dominik I used pigment and burnt out battery charcoal.  This is the Lesser Striped Swallow that nests around the house

The tiles have been decorated too - some have numbers to signify
the women who made it or prints.  Here is the delicate print of the mighty Kudu



Lime finished walls - and here thumb prints of all who applied the mud render



A muddy and exhausting process!



The view on a particularly beautiful day - although sunshine is guaranteed



Here is the 'Vallejo' or Old Carpenter, that is his
official title as elders command respect. 
Here he is with his assistant preparing the verandas



The new furnace being burnt...to try to bake the soil used and make it water-proof...seems to be semi successful.

But we will see when we return after rainy season how much is left standing



Finished!  Many many people worked to make the new houses, everyone here played a part
(apart from the chicken who just wanted its photo taken)