Excellent Gift Idea – 2010 Calendar of Botswana’s Birds
Oxpecker on Kudu photo by Warwick Tarboton
The BirdLife Botswana organization recently sent for my review their latest fundraiser calendars. Producing and selling these calendars is their biggest annual fundraiser. The BirdLife Partnership strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources.
For 2010, BirdLife Botswana has created three calendar sizes to help keep track of the. This year their theme is on the twelve designated ‘Important Bird Areas’ of Botswana. Each month of each calendar features an excellent bird photo and also information and location of one of Botswana’s ‘important birding areas’.
I must say that these calendars feature some really fine photography. I particularly liked the medium sized calendars featuring a Kori Bustard on the cover (Kori and Company size). Some of my favorite photos are:
- Violet-backed Starling – This beautiful violet bird was photographed by Warwick Tarboton with an insect in the beak.
- Saddle-billed Stork – Image by Joyce Bestelink features a head close-up of the bird.
- Gold Weaver – Pete Hancock photographed this beautiful bird building the nest. The nest beautifully frames the bird.
- Red-billed Oxpecker – Another photo by Warwick Tarboton. In this image, Mr. Tarboton captured the bird on a kudu’s back. The kudu is passively looking back at the bird.
In addition to the primary photos for each month, there are also 2 smaller bird photos on the bottom edge of each month.
Photo contributors include: Joyce Bestelink, Tim Jackson, Warwick Tarboton, Willie Blackstock, Simon Paul, Robin Weeks, Vincent Grafthorst, Kevin Shakespeare, Ian White, Pete Hancock, Eugenie Skelton and Kerri Wolter.
BirdLife Calendar makes an ideal marketing tool and end-of-year gift to suppliers and clients. For company orders, the organization has incorporated space for company logos and/or by-line (available for orders of 50+ ).
As a non-African, but visitor to southern Africa, I think that the BirdLife Calendars are ideal and practical souvenirs for visitors/tourists to take away either for themselves or as gifts. Buying BirdLife Botswana calendars will contribute significantly to the conservation of our environment and preservation of one of Botswana’s most spectacular assets: its birds. From discussions I have had with membership of BirdLife Botswana, I know that your support is greatly valued.
May on mid-size Calendar - Violet-backed Starling - Copyright: Warwick Tarboton
Here is a review of the options available:
Carmines & Colleagues – This is the largest and popular flagship A2 portrait-style hanging calendar. This calendar will create significant impact to your wall space: ideal for office, board room or home. For 26 years I worked for an international company. I can tell you that everyone always coveted the wildlife calendars in this size that our South African office offered each year. You will too. This monster calendar is 420mm x 594mm (about 16½” by 21” ). Pricing is 125 pula ($20) plus packaging and postage for up to 100 calendars and discounts for larger orders.
Kori & Company – This is an A3 wall hanging calendar opens up to stunning bird photography on the top half and the bottom half gives a ‘bird’s eye’ view of the month with space for notes: ideal for corporate or family use. Opened for hanging, this calendar is approximately 11½” x 18”. Pricing is only 75 pula ($12) plus packaging and shipping for up to 99 units, 78 Pula for 100 to 249 and 75 Pula for greater than 250.
Oxpecker & Friends – This is a smaller table/desk-top calendar designed to fold into a triangular cross section. It’s designed to be two sided so that the excellent photography faces outward while the opposite side shows the month with space for notes. It would be ideal for corporate or family desktop use. (210mm x170mm). It is priced at 50 pula ($8) plus packaging and postage for up to 249 and additional discounts for greater than 250 units.
For Comparison - a stack of all 3 calendars
Again special thanks to Harold Hester and the team at BirdLife Botswana for my copies!
Link to the BirdLife Calendars
For more information or orders please contact Molebi or Harold at BirdLife Office. Harold: haroldh@accelerate-it.bw or Molebi: marketing@birdlifebotswana.org.bw
Using my Canon 100-400mm lens for a size illustration on the largest calendar
Septermber - The Golden Weaver, photo copyright Pete Hancock
July's Saddle-billed Stork, photo copyright Joyce Bestelink