Saturday, February 19, 2022 – Photo of the Day – Ship’s Bow At Sea

Chris Harbard Ornithologist

Chris is a well-known British ornithologist and conservationist living in Southeast Arizona. He has traveled the seven continents in search of birds, from his first trip abroad to Austria to far-flung places like Antarctica, Greenland, Saudi Arabia (to monitor the effects of the Gulf War on birds), and South Africa (to help penguins following the Treasure oil spill).

After working for 24 years with the world’s largest bird conservation organization, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Chris moved to the Austrian optics company Swarovski and managed their birdwatching website for several years. He is now a freelance author, editor, broadcaster, and lecturer, as well as a bird guide in SE Arizona where he and his wife run the Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival.
Chris writes for Birdwatch magazine and was editor of the ‘Birdwatchers’ Guides’ series of books. His own books include ‘Birdwatch, Songbirds, A Birdwatcher’s Quizbook, A First Guide to Birdwatching’. He was also an occasional contributor to the BBC’s natural history radio output.
Chris has also been working as a naturalist lecturer onboard expedition cruise ships for the last thirteen years in remote areas of the Arctic, Antarctic, Atlantic, and Pacific. Although his main area of interest is birds, especially seabirds, he also enjoys a range of other wildlife such as cetaceans, butterflies, dragonflies, and plants.

2:15 Enrichment Lecture with Chris Harbard (Ornithology) Today’s Topic: Seabirds and Shorebirds of Southern Africa. Join birder Chris for a look at the special birds which can be seen in these waters, from plovers to pelicans and sandpipers to spoonbills.

Rob Caskie Historian and Story-Teller

Rob thrives on the challenge and reward of entertaining audiences in the theatres of their imagination. Growing up in the Natal Midlands of South Africa, Rob graduated with a BSc. Hons. Degree in Agriculture in 1990 and subsequently made his mark on the guiding profession as a photographic safari guide and wildlife film-maker in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. His expertise in this field earned him a place as official photographer on Kingsley Holgate’s 1993 Afrika Odyssey expedition along the waterways of Africa from Cape to Cairo.

With travel, people,, and photography firmly under his skin, Rob embarked on a four-year round-the-world expedition which took him through the UK, Europe, Israel, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Alaska. This global voyage cemented his interest in people, cultures, and history.
Rob has presented his stories to both corporate and private clients. His achievements were recognized with the honor of being invited to speak at the Royal Geographic Society in London, Hong Kong, and Singapore to full houses, and being inducted into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame in 2019.
Rob’s talk ‘Going South with Scott & Shackleton’ fulfilled his lifelong passion for Antarctica. He has been privileged to relate various Antarctic stories on early explorers for the passengers cruising in the Antarctic Peninsula for 10 seasons. With stick and trademark shorts, Rob prides himself in unique storytelling.

3:15 Enrichment Lecture with Rob Caskie (History)
Today’s Topic: An African Odyssey ~ A romp through the last 200 years.

MAJORICA PEARL THE BOUTIQUE
With over 120 years history Majorica maintains its artisan creation processes thanks to which it produces the best pearls in the world. Luxury, quality, elegance, tradition and modernity. Join us as we discover the alluring gems from this breathtaking region will be featured in designs by Majorica Pearls.

6:45 Pre-Dinner Showtime: “All That Jazz!” with Olivia Rooks
Olivia performed a show packed with jazz and musical theatre classics featuring the songs of Barbra Streisand, Etta James.

BLACKJACK TOURNAMENT
FROM 3:00PM TO 4:00PM CASINO, DECK 5
Come to the Casino and join our Blackjack Tournament. Visit the Casino on board and try your championship skills! Whether you are a new player
or a Blackjack veteran, taking part in Blackjack Tournaments can be a lot of fun! What makes tournaments popular is the competition among players. Unlike traditional Blackjack, where it is you against the dealer, in tournament play it is a player against player.