Birding is his therapy
Werner van Goethem is a qualified electrician, but dedicates most of his time to atlasing and photographing different bird species.
BCT: Why have you chosen to settle in Benoni, despite being born abroad?
WvG: I was born in Belgium in 1962 and arrived in South Africa in 1967, but moved to Farrarmere just over 10 years ago.
We have always lived on the East Rand, but we have found Benoni to be calm and peaceful.
BCT: Tell us about your journey with birds?
WvG: Birds are a good indicator of the quality of our natural environment.
There are several methods in which the birds – and other creatures and plants – are monitored by citizen scientists (everyday people doing the collection of data to be analysed by scientists at universities).
My first foray into citizen science was bird atlasing; this is noting which bird species are observed within a grid – I still do this every day.
I have been atlasing since November 2013 and have submitted almost 1 300 cards.
Next, I became involved in the Co-ordinated Waterbird Counts (CWACs) shortly after joining the East Rand branch of the Wits Bird Club in 2014.
I have been leading counts since 2015.
These surveys are conducted twice a year; once in summer and once in winter.
These are concerned with the number of birds at pans and dams and determining if they are breeding.
I also participate in Co-ordinated Avifaunal Road (CAR) counts, which are specific routes.
I focus on Bronkhorstspruit into Ezemvelo Nature Reserve.
BCT: Where else do you participate in notings?
WvG: I participate in CWACs at Korsman Conservancy, Bullfrog, Rolfe’s, Parkhaven, Blaauwpan and Elandsvlei (Dickin’s Pan) pans, and the Vaal Dam.
BCT: Tell us about your personal life?
WvG: During my electrical apprenticeship I completed my N3 at Germiston Technical College and qualified as an electrician in 1983.
I find that getting out into nature restores the balance in my life and recharges my batteries.
I have been happily married to Julie for 27 years and we have two sons, Marc and Jake van Goethem.
BCT: What are your goals and achievements?
WvG: I aim to obtain a photograph of each bird species that I see.
I have also put together a family tree of my family and linked families consisting of 1 500 individuals, dating back to 1555.
I hope to continue making meaningful contributions in the workplace and in the birding community for many years to come and to observe most of the bird species in Southern Africa.
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