Birders get out and about
Birdlife Queenstown (previously called The Queenstown Birding Club) is a friendly club for people interested in wild birds, who get together, share their knowledge and experiences and enjoy a walk in the wild.
The club, which was started some 38 years ago, was the brainchild of Ian McEwan (Snr), Donnie Field and Kate Webber.
There are currently 28 members, from 13 to 80 years of age.
There are of course the “fundis” who take birding seriously but are always willing to share their knowledge with those less experienced. No offence is taken if some simply enjoy the outing without too much attention to the birds.
They meet at the golf course on the last Sunday of the month at 6am in summer and 7am in winter. From here, they visit various venues and identify as many bird species as they can.
After a break for coffee, which they bring along in their own flasks, they return to the golf club at about 11am.
Their trips include driving up Mount Shepstone and Madeira Mountain, walking on various farms or driving along interesting routes.
The club tries to organise a family weekend away once a year. Some of the places visited so far include the forests around Ugie, Kimberly, the Gariep Dam, Haga Haga and Port Alfred.
Each year, a team or two take part in “the big birding day” when clubs from throughout SA are given 24 hours to see who can identify the most species within a 50km radius of their chosen venue.
Teams from the local club have also competed successfully in the Mountain Zebra Challenge – a one-day event at the Mountain Zebra Park, with much fellowship.
In February, Birdlife Queenstown holds its AGM, followed by a social braai. The meeting takes 10 minutes and the braai at least four hours.
The membership fee is R100 per person per year for full members, and R50 for country members plus a contribution towards fuel at the monthly outings. New members are welcome.
For further information contact Ian McEwan (Jnr) at 083-659-5901 or Fin Weakley at 082-550-0883.