Index of /depts/fitzpatrick/docs - Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African ...

taken over the production and maintenance of BIRD; and hasensured its existence (and financing) into perpetuity. Thecontributing authors of Roberts have, and will always have, fullaccess (through the Percy FitzPatrick Institute) to this databasefor purposes of Roberts’ text and revision.valuable role in enabling the birding community to becomeactively involved in data gathering and helping to fill some ofthe gaps that exist in our knowledge of southern African birds.In many instances, the unpublished data received from thebirding public are the only source of reference available to us.Continued web-postings will be made until final proofs areready for printing. This will serve well to keep the birdingcommunity enthused about the final product.The editors of Roberts have been invited to interviews andseveral broadcasts have been aired on local radio stationsacross South Africa. These, together with continuedpublications in birding magazines and bird club newslettershave contributed to keeping the birding community up to datewith the progress of the new Roberts.PublicationBlack Eagle Publishing has been contracted to publish RobertsVII. We have been in constant contact with the publishing teamand have been submitting final species texts for layout andproof printing. This has been an extremely demanding time forthe Roberts team; with deadlines to adhere to on an almostdaily basis, scrutinising page proofs, design and layout, andtracking down the final bits and pieces to complete speciesaccounts.AcknowledgementsJohn Voelcker Bird Book Fund and the Tony and LisetteLewis Foundation for funding the project.‘News from the Percy FitzPatrick Institute’ – articles in birdingmagazinse like Africa - Birds and Birding keep birders up to date withthe progress of Roberts.ArtworkSeven local artists were commissioned to produce a total of 80colour plates for the new edition of Roberts. The standard ofthe artwork has been over and above our highest expectations!The editors, together with some local birding experts, havereviewed all the illustrations and have instructed the artists tomake the necessary changes. Only the colour and electroniccorrections are now outstanding and these will be completed atthe printing house before publication.Internet and mediaThe FitzPatrick Institute’s web-site has provided an idealopportunity to make draft texts available to birders for commentand input. This idea has been warmly received, and hascreated the opportunity for enthusiastic birders to have a sneakpreview of the contents of the new Roberts. It also played a36 Percy FitzPatrick Institute Annual Report: July 2002 - June 2003