educational and publicity outreaches - we are most grateful for all that you contribute to the club. Our team of dedicated ringers also deserve unqualified applause - Garth Aiston, Andrew Pickles and James Rawdon. I particularly enjoy reading Andrew's postings of the ringing of the Umzumbe Swallows, and of course 'his' Yellow -billed Kites. We enjoy exchanging notes of what his pair and my pair are up to. Please take the opportunity of joining one of these ringing sessions - the bug might bite you, and you'll learn a whole lot more about birds. (Slide 15).

At the AGMin 2013, we were honoured to bestow life membership on Derek Spencer and Lyn Bingham, whose contributions to conservation and birding in this area over many years were recognised. Two courses were offered in 2013 - Dave Bishop's Forest Birds in May and Roy and Steve's Swifts and Swallows in October. Both were well supported. Watch our website and email list for more details of Dave's April course, and Roy & Steve's later in the year, and thanks to all those members who indicated what courses they would like to have.

Although National Bird Week is no longer with us, the club continued its partnership with the Botanical Gardens' education department in May and June, focusing on Waterbirds with no White-winged Flufftail in sight. We also had a successful afternoon with young birders from the Upper Highway area at this venue in October, where despite the rain, a small grouop of enthusiastic young people watched Arnia's presentation and then had a short walk in the NR. Speaking of Flufftails, everyone was completely bowled over when Marius van Rooyen was involved in the rescue of one at the uShaka Airport. It spent a little time in his office recovering from its meeting with the grass cutters and was then released. David Allan was out in the harbour at the time and I share here with you a photograph of the area in which it was found. (Slide 16).

Member Sheryl Flugel invited Arnia and myself to give a presentation to the tourism students of the FET Coastal College on 23 July 2013 on avitourism. We spoke to approximately 160 students. The campus is inland from Amanzimtoti, and many of the students were enthusiastic and keen to learn more about bird guiding. Thanks to the college for their generous support for our travel and printing costs. (Slide 17).

The 2014 Bird of the Year is the Tristan Albatross, and perhaps our guest speaker will be able to give us more information about this critically endangered bird later this afternoon. (Slide 18).

Krantzkloof Birds have had an extremely successful year with some very interesting speakers, namely David Johnson, Craig Nelson, Adam Riley, Peter Spence, David Bishop and Shane McPherson. Wenow seem to get between 60 and 80 people at our talks which, at R20.00 per head, has brought us in a fair amount of revenue. This we have distributed to various causes being the Krantzkloof Reserve, Iphithi Nature Reserve and most recently the Nelson Mandela's Childrens Fund. Wenormally try and give the money to environmental causes, but decided to give the last donation to the Nelson Mandela's Childrens Fund in honour of one of South Africa's most amazing heroes as the meeting was held the day after Mandela died.

We were once again involved in a few publicity outreaches during 2013 - May 1 at Beachwood Managroves which is always very popular, June saw us at Kloof Open Gardens and September was the BotSoc Plant Fair. We also had a stand at the Hobbies Fair. The numbers of people visiting these affairs has dwindled perceptibly, so we are re-thinking our contribution and perhaps will rather produce a brochure on gardening for birds for instance which can be distributed to the public.

The club contributes to the BirdLife South Africa commitment to conservation, by organising the twice-yearly CWAC counts at the Umngeni Estuary and Baynead, by holding the monthly Bird Monitoring and Conservation group meetings and by attending the bi-annual KZN Forum in Howick where all 6 BirdLife clubs in KZN come together to listen to a variety of excellent speakers on what is being done in our province to protect Important Bird Areas, and I really recommend to members that they come up to WESSA on Saturday 1 March for the day and meet and listen to the conservation being undertaken, and perhaps see where you could