MOSSEL BAY NEWS - One of the highlights of the Garden Route SPCA AGM on Saturday 21 July will be an address by Colin Ralston, a retired geologist and renowned, local amateur photographer.
"My self-appointed mission is to photograph all forms of life at the Garden Route Botanical Garden (GRBG) and other places that I get to, and make these records available to scientists," explained Colin. "This is partially done via a website called ' iNaturalist', which is a citizen science project and online social network of naturalists, citizen and amateur scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the globe. "To date some 925 species have been recorded at the GRBG alone, including over 142 birds, 53 butterflies and 10 frogs, with the help of other scientists and photographers.
"One academic paper has been published in collaboration with a Professor of Entomology and work on a second is in progress, again, with a professional co-author." Colin will show and explain a selection of his most interesting and colourful images for the presentation which will include beetles, bugs, moths, butterflies, wasps, birds, reptiles, fungi, frogs, dragonflies and mammals in the Botanical Gardens.
"Really, a glimpse of life not usually seen by casual walkers, in the Garden [GRBG] and surroundings, just the tip of the iceberg. The presentation will show 20 slides, allowing a minute of description for each," Colin concluded. The AGM will be held at the George Museum Hall in Caledon Street, George, just behind the library, at 10:00.
Everyone is welcome to attend and entry is free. The actual meeting will be interesting and quick and feature fascinating, short presentations by the SPCA inspectors and Education Unit. A delicious tea and coffee and eats get together will round off the morning.
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