Introducing kids to bird watching

GRAAFF-REINET — In a technological age where children spend most of their time on cell phones, video games and a host of other high tech distractions, local resident Johan Bouwer, and his South African National Parks (Camdeboo Region) honorary ranger team, are to be commended for their initiative to provide the children of GraaffReinet with something very different, wholesome and positive to do at the Camdeboo National Park’s Education Centre.

On Friday, October 20, the junior grades from all the different schools in Graaff-reinet were introduced to birds, taken on birding outings and assessed.

It is asking a huge amount for the children to know the birds well after only a couple of outings.

They were assessed more on their ability to pay attention and on their passion for the birds and nature in general. It is not necessary to have a lot of knowledge to be able to love and appreciate nature.

On Saturday it was the higher grades’ turn and as is to be 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 whole scheme of things.

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

On Sunday the children returned to the park and the final bird hike proceeded after which the various winners and winning schools were celebrated.

Hoër Volkskool took the overall win in the senior schools’ category with students SanMarie de Goede from Hoër Volkskool taking first place, Theodor Dörfling, also from Hoër Volkskool, taking second place and Alzane Loff from Asherville Secondary School taking third place.

Primary schools were won by Thembalisizwe Primary. Students, Robyn Ludrick from Narsing Straat Primary took first place, Jaydene Vaaltyn from Laer Volkskool took second place and Xhobani Konogo from Isibane Primary took third place.

The Camdeboo region’s honorary rangers would like to acknowledge Montego Pet Nutrition, Pick n Pay Graaff-reinet, Shoprite GraaffReinet, Spandau Spar, L’ormarins, Bush Transport, Mcnaughton’s Bookshop, Kens Radio, Mesh Steel & Weld, Mr Paint and Camdeboo National Park as sponsors to the weekend.

As well as the following members of the Graaff-reinet Bird Club: Alan Collet, Zorb and Judy Caryer and the South African College for Tourism for their support with the students in the culinary department.

The Graaff-reinet community and the Camdeboo National Park’s honorary rangers would like to honor the following schools for partici- pating in the event: Laer Volksool, Lincolm Primary, Graaff-reinet Primary, Adendorp Primary, Isibane Primary, Thembalisizwe Primary, Narsingstraat Primary, Ryneveld Primary, Hoër Volkskool, Nqweba Secondary School and Asherville Secondary School. Without these schools showing interest the event would not have been such a success.

The Camdeboo National Park’s honorary rangers enjpoyed a braai on Saturday evening to round off a very worthwhile birding weekend at the Education Centre.

The aim for the 2018 National Park’s Birding Inter-schools weekend is to involve more schools from the surrounding areas and to involve more parents to join our festivities with the children over the weekend!