News

In a technological age where our youth spend so much time on cellphones, video games and a host of other high tech distractions, the South African National Parks Honorary Rangers in the Camdeboo region are commended for their initiative to provide the children of Graaff-Reinet with something different, wholesome and positive to do at Camdeboo National Park”s Education Centre.

They hosted their second annual Interschool”s” Birding Weekend from 22 to 24 October. The weekend kicked off with learners from the junior grades from all the Graaff-Reinet schools. The day entailed an introduction to birds, walks in the veld and assessments. The Honorary Rangers say they were aware that they couldn”t expect the learners to know the different birds after such a short amount of time, which is why were assessed more on their ability to pay attention and on their passion for the birds and nature in general. They say it is not necessary to have a lot of knowledge to be able to love and appreciate nature.

It was the turn of the higher grades on the Saturday. As expected, some of the learners knew some of the birds, but again the emphasis was on the appreciation of nature and how birds fit into the ecosystem.

Professor Adrian Craig, an ornithologist from Grahamstown, and his wife, Cheryl, came for the weekend and demonstrated to the learners how to catch and ring birds. This added a wonderful dimension into birding at a more complex level for the captive audience of learners.

On Sunday all the children returned to the Park for the final bird hike, which was followed by the prize giving ceremony. Hoër Volkskool took the overall win in the senior schools category, while Thembalisizwe Primary came out triumphant in the junior version.

The Honorary Rangers would like to thank the following sponsors: Camdeboo National Park, Montego Pet Nutrition, Pick n Pay Graaff-Reinet, Shoprite Graaff-Reinet, Spandau Spar, L”ormarins, Bush Transport, McNaughtons Book Shop, Kens Radio, Mesh Steel & Weld and Mr Paint. A special word of thanks as well to the following: Members of the Graaff-Reinet Bird Club, Alan Collet, Zorb and Judy Caryer and the South African College for Tourism.

The team”s aim for the 2018 Interschool”s Birding Weekend is to involve more schools from the surrounding areas and to involve more parents to join in on the festivities with their children.

Issued By

South African National Parks (SANParks) Frontier Region Communications
Tel: 082 888 0201

Enquiries

Fayroush Ludick
Regional Manager: Communications, SANParks
Tel: 082 888 0201
Email: [email protected]