From page 39
realisation that a bird's life is
very far from the idyllic scene
The author delves into bird
that can often be glimpsed by
behaviour and uncovers its
the casual birdwatcher.
purpose and meaning. But
Actually a bird's life is often
this is more than just an
inside look at bird behaviour, unusual and surprising, but
as this book also represents a above all it is brief and much
personal journey of discovery. darker than you might think.
What starts as a desire to
learn more about the birds
encountered on a regular
father-and-son walk through
the woods leads to a
BOOKSHELF
asset, will make information
readily available to all users.
The forum has partnered with
Agri Connect to produce a
predation management
manual in collaboration with
industry experts Dr Gerhard
Verdoorn and Niel Viljoen.
This manual is a one-stop
tool aimed at helping farmers
and smallholders to identify
the predators on their
properties and to choose the
best methods to control
them.
The manual gives information
about the PMF and its Code
ivestock owners on
of best practices. It introduces
smallholdings are
the concept of integrated
always aware of the risk predation management,
of losing animals because of
discussing preventative and
predators.
remedial measures. Veld,
The Predation Management
small-game and livestock
Forum (PMF) provides a
management are unpacked,
platform for liaison and
followed by a detailed
coordination of activities of
chapter on identification of
commodity organisations in
predators. Readers are also
the livestock and game
helped at the post-predation
ranching sectors, aimed at
stage in terms of identifying
reducing losses incurred as a cause of livestock death.
result of predation by means
of ecologically and ethically
acceptable methods which
protect the biodiversity of
South Africa. The wool,
mohair, red meat and wildlife
industries have pooled their
resources to create a space
for collating and analysing
reliable information on
predation and predation
management methods, which
will be made available
continuously to a manage-
ment information system
(MIS). This system, a national
Predation
Management
Forum Manual &
Code
of Best Practice
L
41
www.sa smallholder. co.za
The manual is available, free
of charge, in English and
Afrikaans. Go to
www.sasmallholder.co.za and
find the download under the
Q&A tab.