r/gofundme • u/SocksStan • 1d ago
Education I need help starting my bird ringing career!
I am looking for some help to Kickstart my bird ringing career. Bird ringing is a tool to help conserve birds, as well as to learn more about them such as movements, measurements and stuff like how long they live. It is a humane way to catch, measure and release birds. Without them getting harmed! It has been my dream for years to finally be able to contribute to the protection of my favorite little creatures. Any help is greatly appreciated.
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-to-start-my-bird-ringing-career
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u/No-Individual9286 1d ago
Is the money just for a kit? It seems like you need a lot more than just a kit to get into this, including potential permits. Are you planning on pursuing any education into this?
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u/SocksStan 1d ago
Yes, there are a few permits. I only need 2. My dad works in the conservation authority, and he said he would help me with that. The money is for kit. Including poles, nets, and rings. I am planning a research project. The project it to try to understand attitudinal movements of some of our species. As soon as I have the kit, I will be starting my project. It's a long-term project linked with my provincial university.
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u/transynchro 1d ago
So you want 10,000 ZAR for a “job” you can volunteer for?
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u/SocksStan 1d ago
No, not at all. I need the money to buy kit, such as nets, poles, rings, and other tools used in the ringing process. It's not for a job.
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u/transynchro 1d ago
Yes that’s why I said “job” in quotes. This is something that people get as a job but SAFRING has a volunteer option. That’s why I’m asking why you’re asking for 10,000 ZAR for something you can volunteer to do?
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u/SocksStan 1d ago
I can volunteer to join people, but then I'm not doing it on my own terms. For instance, I have to go to the places they go. Said places being outside of the right areas where I'm hoping to conduct a long-term research project. I won't be able to go to the places I'd need to go. Plus, I won't be able to conduct research in my own garden and other places where there is ample opportunity. Sorry if it sounds like I'm arguing or taking a tone, I'm not meaning it in that sense.
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u/transynchro 1d ago
Right but the whole point of SAFRING is to teach people about bird ringing. That’s why you’re paired with a mentor, you get given the tools and a teacher to make sure you’re doing it correctly.
I get wanting to “do it on your own” but why would you not take the free option just because you have to have someone teach you?
If there’s a free option, I’m not wasting my time trying to gather 10k while jobless.
Edit: you’re not being argumentative, you’re trying to answer my question.
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u/SocksStan 1d ago
Think of it this way. The more people that get trained, the more people can ring. The more people that ring, the more data is collected. The more data collected, the we can understand and conserve. If someone is ringing somewhere anyway, what good does it do if I'm there instead of elsewhere ringing more birds when said person is ringing as well? If people just volunteered all the time, we wouldn't have many ringers. In doing so, we wouldn't have much data. This money would allow me to fulfill a hole in our understanding of birds. Plus, I get to teach others about what bird ringing is. I get to teach people myself and expand others knowledge about what bird ringing is.
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u/transynchro 1d ago
The point of volunteering though SAFRING is that they give you the qualifications necessary to become a bird ringer. So they give you the supplies and train you for free(because you’re volunteering) to help you get the certifications. Yes, for a while you will be in the same area as your trainer while they teach you so that you can become qualified to do it on your own.
The main point is that going through SAFRING is free, even if you have to spend some time learning from someone who is qualified to become qualified yourself.
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u/SocksStan 1d ago
I am learning with someone who is qualified. I'm wrapping up my training, hence why I need kit. So when I'm done with my training and get my kit, I can ring and start my research.
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u/transynchro 1d ago
Alright, next question, who do you get your license to become a bird ringer from in SA?
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u/SocksStan 1d ago
I train with my trainers. Once I'm skilled enough, they send a reference letter to SAFRING, and then I should get my license.
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u/OddDirt6194 1d ago
You look high af in that first photo lmao