PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Bitou has become a hub for birding enthusiasts due to the area's rich birdlife and the time has come to celebrate this gem.
Later this year, various birding role players in Bitou will be hosting the inaugural Bitou Birding Festival to showcase the rich diversity of birdlife across many varied habitats in the area including Plettenberg Bay, Wittedrift, Keurboomstrand and Nature's Valley.
The festival is set to take place from 27 September to 6 October this year and includes many highlights. Organisers said that festinos would be able to engage with experts through a variety of talks on birding-related topics.
Festivalgoers will have the opportunity to do a self-drive birding route that will take them through various diverse birding habitats.
Other highlights include various guided bird walks with experts, birding activities like netting, ringing and recording with ornithologist Dr Mark Brown. For the more adventurous there will be a canoe birdwatching expedition along the Bitou River as well as open-sea excursions along the coastline to learn more about pelagic birds.
According to the organisers, festivalgoers will be able to explore different habitats including wetlands, rivers, estuaries, fynbos habitats, grasslands, Afromontane forest biomes as well as coastal areas and pelagic zones.
Over the years many studies have been done around the benefits of birding for physical and mental health and therefore the festival organisers also plan on offering birding-centred wellness activities – blending morning yoga and meditation with birdwatching.
Other highlights on the programme include a bird-inspired art and photography exhibition, photo competitions, lucky draws and social media contests.
The final tour of the programme includes a raptor display and talk at the local Raptor Rescue Rehabilitation Centre, concluding the event with a fundraising dinner.
Bookings will go live in July, but until then interested birders can visit the festival website for updates, information, the self-drive route map and various other updates. The website is www.bitou.birdingfestival.co.za.
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