2014 - [Vol 1] 'The devil's in the detail'

2013 was, in many ways, a steep learning curve for us. If the future stands tall on a spoonful of good intent, then 2014 promises more of the same.

For context we'll be spending at least 3 months in Brazil, in fortnightly stints, preparing for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. Ostensibly business-related & spent largely indoors, we've found enough latitude in our scheduled itineraries to allow for some local birding.

Although we've traveled extensively, the birding-bug bit at noon rather than at breakfast which means Brazil is a 'birding-first'. There is something to be said for a fistful of field guides all-a-shiny & raring for action...

What of home? Whilst 2013 proved insightful & in many ways a watershed adventure, which is fair enough I think, we wanted to do something a little more creative, more thoughtful this year. As a consequence & certainly not cast in stone; perhaps more accurately fresh off the idea-press, are a few mini-projects of our own which we'd like to tackle.

Without putting too much emphasis on the point, the specifics of each mini-project, a cumulative effort we've dubbed 'Project 2014', remains for the time-being, work in progress. Notwithstanding & I concede the devil's in the detail, Project 2014 will / should include:

1. The launch of WEzine, an e-mag for birders by birders. 
2. The completion of the '800 Challenge' manuscript.
3. The sourcing of an appropriate SP to facilitate multi-night pelagic-birding excursions off the region's continental shelf.
4. The hosting & facilitation of formal fund-raising events for appropriate institutional recipients.
5. The rejuvenation of Southern Africa's citizen-science, long-distance migrant, monitoring programs.
6. The facilitation of regional education programmes with specific emphasis on unsustainable resource exploitation. 
7. One or two personal projects including:

• The ringing / banding of 3000 passerines in & around the region; and
• time permitting, we'll participate in the Wider-Gauteng's 400 Challenge; to keep us honest..

By all account we'll be busy.