Biological Research and Conservation

New Projects 2012!

2011-07-19T01:50:00.000-07:00

Get involved with BRinK research on various taxonomic groups in 2012. We are looking forward to your applications.

January/February 2012 (23.01 - 17.02): Small mammal trapping

March/April 2012 (26.03 - 20.04): Bird predation and athropod abundance

May 2012 (30.04 - 25.05): Large mammal census using distance sampling

July 2012 (02.07 - 27.07): Black rhino monitoring and behaviour

Aardvark spotted in Kuzikus yesterday!

New Projects in 2011

2011-06-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Students,

There are two new, exciting projects for you to join.

The bird ecology project in September studies bird abundance, species and distribution in the wild.
Apart from an amazing wildlife experience, you will learn

to use wildlife sound recording methods,
to identifiy 140 species of bird by their call and sighting
to understand the technique of distance sampling for a densitiy estimation.

Application deadline for birds is 01 August 2011 - apply now!

The black rhino conservation project in November implements an innovative monitoring method using animal footprints with the help of a computer software and local bushmen trackers.
Apart from the unique opportunity to spot on one the most endangered megaherbivore in the world, you will learn

how to track black rhinos (Diceros bicornis bicornis) in the wild
to use a new monitoring method for endangerd species (WildTrack)
about real-time wildlife conservation in Africa

Appication deadine for black rhinos is 01 September 2011 - apply now!

Meet the BRinK-Team

2011-02-25T10:54:00.000-08:00

Dear all,
As a Kuzikus guest, volunteer or research scientist, you have the opportunity to meet up with us - we might just be next door until March 2011....

UK
Plymouth - 02.02 - 27.02 - email for appointment: alison.skeats@brink-namibia.com

Germany

Munich - 24. 02 until 28. 02 - FREE München - Halle A4 Stand 310

Switzerland
Lausanne - 23.01 until 28.02 - email for appointment: friedrich.reinhard@unil.ch

US
Durham, North Carolina - 23.01 until 28.02 - email for appointment: j.e.reinhard@brink-namibia.com

Apply for exceptional insect expedition

2011-02-17T07:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Volunteers,

440mm of rain - imagine what this means for life in the Kalahari Desert - it is thriving!

The timing for our entomological expedition is thus perfect! We are convinced we will find a couple of new species over there. It is truly a unique opportunity for researchers to come and visit Kuzikus now, collect data in an exceptional environment. In fact, we will have professional entomologists on site, a perfect opportunity for students to gain insights into field entomology and get in touch with the experts.

We would love to hear from you (see link)! Closing date is soon, so apply soon to get organised for a great adventure :-)

Best wishes,
Your BRinK-Team

Water in the Kalahari

2011-02-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

"Schakalposten"

"Schweineposten"

Your BRinK-Team

PS: Meet us in Hamburg/Germany and Reading University/UK this week! (see older post)

Arrival of Storks

2011-02-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

Over 350mm rain already, more than we expect in a year in this area. The pans are filled and lakes are everywhere. The vegetation is thriving and hundreds of black storks have arrived.....

This photo was taken from the Lapa at Kuzikus Lodge.

Your BRinK -Team

PS: Don't forget to meet up with us in Europe or US, we are around to inform you about Kuzikus and BRinK (see older posts).

Flamingos in Kuzikus

2011-01-26T05:26:00.000-08:00

Over 70mm rain in one day and the first Flamingo in thirty years! This is evidence of how variable our Kalahari Desert can be - a true paradise.

Kuzikus presents a regional hotspot, especially for wading birds, due to its open water sources (on the picture: pan "Ochsenposten"). This is probably why we have special encounters like these sometimes. We hope to welcome you on Kuzikus soon (again) to share amazing moments like these.

Your BRinK-Team

PS: Don't forget to come and see us to learn more about BRinK, since we are visiting the UK, Switzerland, Germany and US. See last post.

Meet us personally

2011-01-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

Dear all,
As a Kuzikus guest, volunteer or research scientist, you have the opportunity to meet up with us - we might just be next door until March 2011....

UK

Plymouth - 02.02 - 27.02 - email for appointment: alison.skeats@brink-namibia.com

Germany

Munich - 24. 02 until 28. 02 - FREE München - Halle A4 Stand 310

Switzerland

Lausanne - 23.01 until 28.02 - email for appointment: friedrich.reinhard@unil.ch

US
Durham, North Carolina - 23.01 until 28.02 - email for appointment: j.e.reinhard@brink-namibia.com

Happy 2011

2011-01-04T07:04:00.000-08:00

We are lucky with the rain again - the vegetation is lush, the animals are doing so well. Even the Eland (T. oryx) are very well off with five new calves. We observed them New Years Eve by the water and it is just wonderful!
We wish the best of luck and success for the year 2011 to all of you. Thank you for your support to BRinK, without you it would hardly be possible to learn and understand the vast nature in Kuzikus.

Your BRinK- Team

2010-12-17T09:08:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

Nice BRinK Christmas gifts for everyone! The newsletter is finally out reporting about the fun research season we had from July to November this year. And, on top of that, we offer all volunteers a 10% discount on all projects when they apply during their Christmas holidays. Offer ends when term starts, so get started now :-)

Your BRinK-team

Photos are up!

2010-12-07T02:44:00.000-08:00

Dear research volunteers!

New pictures of BRinK Season III are up - have fun! Click here

Rain in the Kalahari

2010-11-18T23:50:00.000-08:00

Hello there,

Good news! We had over 60mm rain in Kuzikus! This is the first rain after the dry season and means alot for the wildlife here. In this region of the Kalahari Desert it usually rains 200mm per year only. So look at the pictures - the natural salt lakes are filled with water and this lasts for a long time for animal drinking. These lakes can change the whole microhabitat - frogs will appear, tadpoles and many insect larvae. This brings about wading birds such as the spoonbill, herons, storks, ducks and geese that happily feed in the water.

If the water lasts, we can be certain to see all those species in February 2011 on the bird project!

We will keep you posted with the dramatic change that will appear after the rain in the Kalahari.

Your BRinK - Team

The end of BRinK projects 2010

2010-11-09T09:40:00.000-08:00

On sunday we celebrated our the end of BRinK's third season of projects! We all have achieved alot and now there is much data to be analysed and looked at.
The season started in July with a diversity and abundance study on birds endemic to Southern Africa. These are the birds that stay in Kuzikus all year long and do not migrate. However, they do loose the brightful feathers they wear in summer. Sometimes it was difficult to identify species, because they looked so different in winter (remember July is winter in the Southern hemisphere). Also they song differed, which in this case was rather a call.
After the birds, we studied the small mammal diversity on Kuzikus and captured 9 new and different rodent species. This was the first small mammal expeditioof its kind, for which it showed major success.
In September, two projects were successfully performed by research volunteers: One group was walking endlessly to count larger mammals in the Savanna. The others were studying tracks and signs of animals. With that we could determine the presence of the African Caracal and the Wildcat.
Finally, we had two more expeditions running simultaneously. The reptile expedition turned out to be hard work, as trapping was not that easy. However, we got to observe the huge monitor lizard in a treehole. At last we also found species of reptiles never seen on Kuzikus before! We learned: patience pays in field biology. The entomoloy expedition in turn, we captured many specimens and were kept very busy identifying them too. In the BRinK collection we have over 250 specimens!
Now it is time for BRinK leaders to analyse the data, produce the reports (which should be available soon) and propose new BRinK expeditions and studies for the years to come.

We are looking forward to your applications!

90 Small Mammals caught in live traps!

2010-09-05T11:31:00.001-07:00

Over 90 captures of 9 different small mammal species have been made during the month of August. This was the first study of its kind in Kuzikus and we are delighted about its success. More info about the project comes soon!

Find a chameleon!

2010-06-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

All indicators of distribution, habitat and diet conclude that the Namaqua Chameleon will be in Kuzikus. But we have yet to see it! You can join in our first reptile study in October 2010 and help seek out this fascinating and cryptic animal. This chameleon uses their colour-changing not only for camouflage, but also for warming itself by changing the side facing the sun dark to absorb heat, and the side facing away pale to minimize heat loss!

Game Catching

2010-06-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

Part of the management on Kuzikus is to catch wildlife in order to reduce population size of larger mammals.

Too many animals increase grazing pressure and populations need to be regulated. Animals are first counted with a helicopter and then the population to be caught identified. This years heli-count confirmed the results obtained by BRinK researchers using distance sampling techniques.

The image shows BRinK camp from above!