First birding festival to offer unique experience

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The first and much-anticipated Bitou Birding Festival gets into full flight today, with unique birding experiences for all.

Bitou has become a sanctuary for birding enthusiasts as a result of the area's rich birdlife, and the festival, which starts on Friday 27 September and ends on 6 October, will be celebrating exactly that.

Various birding role-players in Bitou will be hosting the festival, to showcase the rich diversity of birdlife across many varied habitats in the area including Plettenberg Bay, Wittedrift, Keurboomsstrand and Nature's Valley.

Engage with experts

It is also set to include many highlights including allowing festinos to engage with experts through a variety of talks on birding-related topics.

Festivalgoers will also be able to take a self-drive birding route that will take them through various diverse birding habitats.

Other highlights include various expert-guided bird walks, birding activities like netting, ringing and recording with Dr Mark Brown, as well as a birding canoe adventure along the Bitou River.

Open-sea excursions

For the more adventurous there will also be open-sea excursions to learn more about pelagic birds.

Over the years many studies have been done around the benefits of birding on physical and mental health, and therefore the festival organisers also plan on offering birding-centred wellness activities - blending morning yoga and meditation with birdwatching.

Raptor display

Another highlight of the programme is a bird-inspired art and photography exhibition as well as photo competitions, lucky draws and social media contests.

Finally, there will also be a tour with a raptor display, a talk at the local raptor rescue and rehabilitation centre, and a fundraising dinner.

Festivalgoers would be able to experience wetlands, rivers, estuaries, fynbos habitats, Afromontane forest biomes, urban areas and grasslands, and coastal areas and pelagic zones.