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GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — Friday evening, March 17, saw the start of the SANParks Honorary Rangers’ Camdeboo Region’s 8th Birding Weekend held at the Camdeboo National Park.
Each entrant received a goody bag, enjoyed a welcoming cocktail evening at the Drostdy Hotel, attended the launch of “Glimpses of Eden” at the hotel’s Imibala Gallery and met fellow birders from as far afield as Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Grahamstown.
Saturday had an early start for birders with coffee and rusks as the reception of the Camdeboo National Park whereafter groups of birders set off in all directions!
Some went kayaking on the Nqweba Dam, some ventured on a walk next to the dam, and two game viewing vehicles set off - one to Drie Koppen and the other to Winterhoek. Brunch at the Lapa of the Camdeboo National Park followed where birders compared notes on the number of birds spotted and more excursions were planned for the afternoon.
On Saturday evening, a gala dinner was held at the Drostdy Hotel where guest speaker Peter Steyn - who hails from Cape Town - entertained all with tales from his many years of birding out of his newly published book; “Memoirs of a Birdwatcher”.
Amid the evening's festivities, a lucky draw was done and with the generous donations of the weekend's sponsors, every entrant went home with a fabulous local gift!
Early Sunday morning a picnic was enjoyed by birders where they could watch bird catching and ringing demonstrations being conducted by ornithologist Dr Adrian Craig from Grahamstown. The birders found it fascinating to watch him measure and weigh the birds while making notes in order to update the database before releasing them.
Don't miss next week's edition of the Advertiser which will feature a list of sponsors and an update on the Camdeboo Park’s birding list.
With the money raised through this event, the SANParks Honorary Rangers plan to host yet another inter-schools birding weekend for local youths in October this year!
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