Birds ‘the big winners’ in competition
BIRD watching isn’t only a pastime for elderly folk. Four South African youngsters have taken the birding world by storm.
Two students from Cape Town were part of a four-member team who went to southern Israel as part of the Champions of The Flyway (COTF) competition last week.
The race pitted teams from all over the world against each other in a gruelling 24-hour race to identify as many bird species as possible. The event also helped raise funds and awareness around the illegal killing of birds along their migratory flyways.
UCT students Andrew de Blocq, 24, and Jessleena Suri, 25, along with John Kinghorn and Werner de Walt from Johannesburg, competed as Youth Africa Birders.
There was not just one title up for grabs at the competition but three that the teams were competing for.
Youth Africa Birders managed to walk away with the “Guardians of the Flyway” title for their efforts in raising close to R13 000 for bird conservation – R3 000 more than any other team.
These young SA birders were also awarded the “Knights of the Flyway” title for their awareness campaign that included various social media and even canvassing at street lights in creative outfits.
The team unfortunately missed out on the “Champions of the Flyway” title which is given to the team that amassed the biggest list of bird species they saw on race day.
This was won by a Finnish team who recorded 181 species.
The Youth Africa Birders only recorded 144 bird species and came in 8th place.
“Attending COTF 2017 was one of the most inspiring things I have ever had the privilege of doing,” said Jessleena Suri.
“I am a complete raptorphile, so a highlight for me was definitely the thousands of buzzards, kites and eagles that could be seen migrating over the Eilat Mountains on a daily basis.
“Migration becomes a real spectacle when you can see it on such a massive scale with your own eyes.”
“The Champions of the Flyway is so much more than a bird race,” Andrew de Blocq added.
“The event brings people together from all over the world to help contribute to a problem that transcends political, religious, and geographical boundaries. A joint Palestinian-Israeli team competed in the race, showing that it’s possible for conservation topics to transcend even the most bitter feuds.
“It was a hugely moving experience to see how our contributions to the competition in terms of funds and awareness were received. We were all very emotional up on stage, and at the end of the day the birds were certainly the biggest winners, which is what is important.”
Some of the funds raised was donated to Do a Derne i, BirdLife International’s affiliate in Turkey.
They are undertaking a number of programmes to mitigate the illegal killing of migrant birds on Turkish soil, including educational programmes with the children of Syrian refugees.