Jan

2015
Limpopo Hub

Improvements to long term internship: New skills, surveys and data-sharing

One of our empowerment objectives at Karongwe is to make improvements to our long term intern-
ship program, through introducing new surveys and thus skills learned by the interns; This is turn
ticks another long term objectives box that is our conservation impact by increased contribution to
outside conservation organizations and citizen science initiatives.

The Karongwe Hub is introducing a number of new projects to the long term internship that focus on
increasing the volunteers skill levels, allowing them to conduct a number of different biological sur-
veys and thus contribute to a variety of conservation-orientated surveys supported by outside or-
ganizations. In January the interns were introduced to birds, received lectures and training in inden-
tifying birds, and then undertook 3 bird surveys in conjunction with national conservation organiza-
tion Birdlife SA.

We made contact with the national conservation organization Birdlife SA and asked them how we
could assist with their project. We were given instructions on how to conduct bird surveys on Ka-
rongwe GR that would fit into their nationwide survey and then how to submit the data to them in a
format that is useful. Karongwe fits into three of the Birdlife SA survey pentads and therefore we can
conduct surveys in three different areas of the reserve and submit the results accordingly.

To involve the interns in the project we assigned their first month on base to Birding Month. This is
the first phase of internship development whereby the interns learn new skills and get involved in a
wider range of biological surveying.

The Birding Month started with an introductory lecture on birds, followed by one week of research
drives dedicated to learning how to ID birds, in combination with our regular research activities.
Week 3 and 4 then involved 3 dedicated birding drives where the interns and a staff member un-
derwent bird surveys in accordance with the Birdlife SA guidelines.

Over the 3 surveys the volunteers spotted and identified over 60 different species of birds by sight
and sound and the results were submitted to the Birdlife SA survey. At the end of the 3 months on
base the interns will sit a fun Bird ID test to show them just how many species of birds they have
learnt during their short time here.

The introduction of birding to the program has benefitted and been enjoyed by the interns on a
number of different levels. It made them feel valued as they were learning new skills and contrib-
uting beyond the average volunteer. The internship will progress in the same vein in month two and
three. They will focus on tracking and spoor surveys along our fence lines in the 2nd month that will
contribute to our roadkill assessments (EWT); In the 3rd month they will learn tree identification and
participate in a vegetation survey that is connected to a university study on the reserve.

Our interns are helping us contribute to important conservation oriented research, with well re-
spected organizations, and gaining additional skills and hands-on experience in the process. By giving
interns a schedule of training, conducting surveys and then testing them, we are able to follow and
monitor their progress with an obvious end-goal.

GVI.2015.1