Twitchers expected to score high
MBOMBELA - Calling all twitchers, ornithologists and casual bird watchers: BirdLife SA’s (BLSA) annual Birding Big Day (BBD) is taking place on December 3, and once again, the Lowveld teams are expected to score high and scoop some of the top prizes.
Birding Big Day encourages birding teams from all over the country to record their sightings over a 24-hour period. Teams log the birds they see and hear across either a 50km radius from a single chosen point, or across a 6km radius. They then submit the sightings to BirdLife.
This is one of the most accurate ways of conducting a census of South Africa’s bird species. All sightings count equally, but submitting sightings of rare and endemic species, including Red Data species, helps BLSA better understand the viability of our local bird populations.
The chairman of BirdLife Lowveld, Don Williams, said, “The competition is stiff as teams from around the country vie for the top spots and prizes. The teams from Mbombela have, in previous years, done exceptionally well and have often taken the top prizes.”
On the big day, the teams are invited to log their sightings on the mobile app, BirdLasser. The sightings will automatically be displayed on a dedicated BirdLasser BBD event page. In order to participate, one team member must enter the data on BirdLasser while birding.
Afrit is the 2022 corporate sponsor for the day. They are also funding the revision of the Red Data Book for Birds, which is currently undertaken by BirdLife.
This year, BLSA is hoping for a lot more converts to one of the world’s most popular leisure time activities. Sceptics might be encouraged to learn that birders often see more game than game watchers.
“It’s a question of patience,” says the 42-year-old birder, Henry Turner, who is coming to Mpumalanga from Cape Town with his family especially for the occasion. “We’re going to Wakkerstroom on Birding Big Day.
For more information on BBD, go to bbd@birdlife. org.za.