APPROVAL OF MINUTES
AGM dated 12 March 2009 - Proposed: Heather Howell  Seconded: Peter Steyn

MATTERS ARISING:
No matters arising.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The full report for the period March 2009 to March 2010 can be found on the Cape Bird Club website. In his annual report, the chairman spoke about Bio-mimicry being the buzz and how that now more than ever, science is copying nature. We were reminded how nature has always been the blueprint for human invention and the seed of life-saving design. The bird was the inspiration for human flight and thus the feather has made our world a global village. He explained why the Beijing Olympic Stadium is called the “Bird’s Nest” as it is testament to the profound structural integrity of nest configuration by birds. The chairman expounded on how we at the Cape Bird Club have a different, but equally significant relationship with birds. We watch birds with our eyes, our emotions, our hearts and our souls. Birds to us are a subtle connection to our wild past and they help us to make sense of our place in the world. They remind us of a primordial bliss that once was, and they are our way of celebrating all that is good and beautiful in nature.

Birding in our club encompasses the broad spectrum of activities including ringing, talks, outings, photography, attending courses, writing poems and wearing bird-print t-shirts etc. All of this is done with passion and gives us great enjoyment. This, he proclaimed, is the rich, complex dynamic that makes a bird club flourish and ours flourishes more than most! 

The chairman further reminded us that we were the watches and were responsible for saving the planet. He quoted Sir Norman Meyers who said, “we are the unbelievably privileged generation”. We have the singular opportunity to save ourselves and all other creatures from a mass extinction. And Stephen Jay Gould who said, “This most portentous of all ecological disasters” is looming, No other generation in the history of humanity has had this great honour of rescue. No other species has ever possessed such power.

BLSA matters were briefly addressed. Problems with the membership system are being dealt with. A new Marketing Committee is underway, re-branding and repositioning strategies are coming into being. The chairman, however, wanted to talk more about the birders of The Cape Bird Club, bird watching and birds. He suggested that we are making a difference by watching birds and we were exhorted to continue to make a difference as birds were the most visible of wild creatures and a window to the broader changes in ecosystems and therefore an early warning system to which bird watches could become quickly aware. He exhorted us to report observed rings on legs of birds to SAFRING, to assist in CAR counts and CWAC counts as the findings contributed to all ongoing research.

We were reminded that this last year has seen the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, father of modern biology and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his famous book On the Origin of Species. He wondered what Darwin would say about us birders. He reminisced about a weekend, at the Berg River Camp, where a discussion about the process of specification took place. This for him was the essence of birding, whether you keep a day list, a trip list, a life list or no lists at all. We are all out there witnessing a changing world, learning and recording our own survival in the context of dynamic wilderness.

 The chairman ended his report with thanks to several people Peter Nupen for embracing the challenges of SABAP2 and for his leadership as Regional Coordinator. Prof. Les Underhill and his team at the ADU were thanked for setting a new standard internationally, in this exciting and important area of statistical science. The members of the Western Cape Birding Forum, now representing seventeen bird clubs (with well over two thousand members), were thanked for continuing to work together, addressing environmental issues and regional birding activities. Sylvia Ledgard, in particular was thanked for her work as Honorary Secretary and Brian Dennis, for his work as Honorary Treasurer. The Forum was successful this year in arranging a fund-raising week of lectures. We hosted our executive director, Mark Anderson, and he delivered a riveting series of talks on the breeding biology of the Lesser Flamingo to our local birding community. We were successful in raising R12 000.00 for flamingo conservation.
The Forum was also responsible for launching the first ever Seabird Festival in Cape Town. This was done in collaboration with the Seabird Division of BirdLife South Africa, its Albatross Task Force and the Dept. of Environmental Affairs. Dr Ross Wanless, his team at BLSA and Mel Tripp, Anne Gray, Frank Hallett and Janet Hallett were thanked for all their assistance in creating this wonderful event.
A Marine IBA Programme will be launched and we will be working in close collaboration with the Percy FitzPatrick Institute and the chairman warmly congratulated Prof. Phil Hockey, his staff and students on the 50th Anniversary of “The Fitz.”The Main Committee of the Bird Club was thanked for their creativity and enthusiasm, humour and experience. Heather Howell the vice-chairperson was specially thanked for her uniqueness and special success of the inaugural Beginners’ Birding Course. Due to this, the membership of CBC took a massive surge upwards.

Peter Steyn, was thanked for wise, quiet and gentle governing in his position of honorary president of the bird club. The chairman thanked him for his encouragement and for taking us under his strigine wing. Next Otto Schmidt and Jo Hobbs were thanked for their dedication and hard work in producing Promerops each quarter.
Anne Gray was thanked for her stewardship of the Bio-Diversity Expo at Kirstenbosch, The courses sub-committee under the leadership of Sylvia Ledgard was thanked for their efficient organisation of some excellent courses this year. A special thank you went to Mel Tripp for his graphic design excellence.
Our membership secretary Joan Ackroyd, was thanked for her unwavering commitment and her meticulous attention to detail.
Derek Longrigg, Dick Barnes and Eric Barnes were thanked for coordinating our monthly counts and Ann Koeslag was thanked for the beginners’ outings to Rondevlei.
Also thanked were Mike Buckham, our rarities man, Gavin Lawson our tireless webmaster; Gavin and Anne Greig, our booksellers; Jan Hofmeyer, our slide librarian, Des and Mary Frylink, our shopkeepers and of course Simon and Stella Fogarty, our memorabilia sales team.

The chairman ended his report with he words, “We are a rapacious species. Our 100 000 years on this Earth has not been kind to the environment. Perhaps as watchers of the avian dance, we can learn a little humility, tread a little softer and create birdness out of the chaos.”
Heather Howell proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman for his excellent leadership, his fund raising achievements, knowledge and people skills and modesty.

Adoption of Chairman’s Report
Proposed: Helm van Zijl
Seconded: Simon Fogerty.

CONSERVATION REPORT
David Whitelaw presented the conservation report and the main points are summarised below. The full report can be read on the Cape Birdnet webpage.

For the first time there is a vacancy on the conservation committee as for personal reasons Isabella Hayden has resigned and we are trying to fill her portfolio. Anyone interested, should let Dave know. Isabella was thanked for her valuable contribution to the committee especially for the way in which she handled the rather tricky portfolio of the Raapenburg Bird Sanctuary diligently and diplomatically.

The following issues were covered in the last year.
Strandfontein - Victoria Day / Asief Khan continue to make progress in managing the water hyacinth, water levels and general maintenance. The hyacinth is a major problem and several methods for its containment / removal have not been able to be implemented. Manual removal has been partly successful. The Information Centre is being revamped and should be open within the near future.. Funding for long term staffing will require intensive attention this coming year, as will the employment of bird guides and staff for the Julie te Groen Information Centre.
Raapenburg and 2 Rivers Urban Park - There is a threat of low cost housing. This could have a major impact on the wetland, as housing will extend virtually to the water’s edge. This issue is being pursued together with the Oude Molen community and Cape Trust.
Edith Stephens - In the coming year there will be a concerted effort to help get the Cape Flats Bird Club established.
House Crow - The registration of Starlicide is nearly complete, and baiting has recommenced. In December 2009/January 2010 nearly 1000 birds were killed.
Bantamsklip - Liaison has taken place with the Strandveld Tourism and Conservation Association to raise awareness and challenge the possibility of a nuclear power station in the Southern Overberg.
Wind Farms - There is an application to build a wind farm between Bot River and Caledon covering several thousand hectares. BLSA has decided to set up a study group to determine no-go areas for wind farms. Decisions will be made upon the facts found.
Flamienkvlei - The developers have resubmitted proposals to develop just the northern bank of the Berg River, but a number of aspects including the fish farming are not ecologically sound and Cape Nature has yet to comment.
Langebaan- The final phase of the Shark Bay development has been announced and it will probably go through. Compared to the vast development that has already taken place, it will not have a major impact on the lagoon.
Finally, there is an application to prospect for minerals on farms in the Boland and even closer to home. Recent press reports suggest that the application will be rejected. It is hoped that this will not happen but the committee will remain vigilant.

Adoption of The Conservation Report
Proposed: Peter Steyn
Seconded: Priscilla Beeton 

FINANCIAL REPORT
Julian Hare, the treasurer, presented the financial report
In the 2009 financial year, the Club earned revenue of R97 417. Of this, subscriptions received amounted to R74 158 and net revenue from courses was R 16 653.
Over and above this, R14 156 was earned from interest in the Club call account. Expenditure amounted to R112 178 of which the cost of producing Promerops was R 56 943.
Other allocations of funds were:

• R12 840 paid towards the new membership system
• R16 409 for new banners and posters for the club

This left a balance of R193 919 in the General Fund at 31 December 2009. At this date, on the asset side of the balance sheet, the Club bank account and call deposit account totalled R202 042.
The club is therefore in a satisfactory financial position to continue its activities in bird conservation in the current year.

Adoption of Financial Report
Proposed: John Magner
Seconded: Sylvia Ledgard.

ELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The following members were elected to serve on the committee for the next 12 months: Vernon Head, Heather Howell, Helen Fenwick, Julian Hare, John Magner, Anne Gray, David Whitelaw, Pricilla Beaton, Frank Hallet, Janet Hallet.

The committee at its first meeting would confirm the following appointments;
Chairman: Vernon Head
Vice Chairman: Heather Howell
Treasurer: Julian Hare
Hon Secretary: Helen Fenwick

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
SAB&T Incorporated were appointed as auditors for the next financial year.

GIFT PRESENTATION
The chairman presented Heather Howell with a gift as a small token of appreciation for all the hard work she put into making the Beginner’s Course the resounding success that it was.

There being no further business the meeting was declared closed at 8:50 p.m.