Birdathon aims to educate youth

* Participants of the fun walk could explore the Strandfontein section of the reserve.

Thousands of people enjoyed what the False Bay Nature Reserve had to offer at the annual Birdathon, held annually to expose residents of the surrounding areas to the beautiful nature reserve right on their doorstep.

It was hosted by the Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET) in partnership with the City of Cape Town, Birdlife SA and the Cape Bird Club on Saturday October 19.

Over 680 children preregistered for the walk, with participants choosing a 4, 5 or 6km fun walk where they learnt about all the birds.

There were environmental education exhibits from various organisations including the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal
Birds (SANCCOB), the Cape Bird Club, Sharkspotters, Eagle Encounters, Save our Seas and Birdlife SA.

Each stall had a range of activities to educate the youth at the festival on the environment and what each of them can do in their daily lives to make a real positive impact on the world we live in. Vicky Johnson, CTEET events co-ordinator, said the aim of the festival was to educate the youth so that they can become custodians of the area’s natural heritage. “To teach them about recycling and saving our natural resources, and to show them the nature reserve and the unique bird life that live in this wetland park. We feel it was a huge success and that every person at the festival came away having learntsomething new,” she said.

Next year’s Birdathon will
be held on Saturday October
17.