The first virtual Birdathon week is set to take place from Friday 23 October 2020 to 1 November 2020 and school learners and residents are encouraged to explore the abundant birdlife and beauty of Cape Town’s False Bay Nature Reserve.
‘We are going to miss seeing all the families, especially the communities surrounding the City’s False Bay Nature Reserve (FBNR), coming out together to enjoy the annual Birdathon. The FBNR is host to some of Cape Town’s best wetlands and diverse birdlife. We are calling on learners especially to go out into the reserve over the Birdathon week and enjoy some quality family time outdoors, and to embrace and learn about our beautiful birdlife’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.
The FBNR is regarded as the most significant natural asset in the Cape Flats District and in 2015 was declared a Ramsar Site, which is a wetland of international importance.
- The event will run for one week from 23 October to 1 November 2020, and coincides with the short school holiday period. This year videos and activities will be posted online to equip all participants as they go about exploring reserve at their own time.
Through this event, the City hopes to encourage greater use of the area and create awareness about the importance of the reserve and the birds, animals and plants that it supports. The City, working together with partners such as Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET), BirdLife South Africa (BLSA) and Cape Bird Club (CBC), actively conserves these areas.
‘In extending the conservation message to the greater Cape Town community we hope to broaden awareness of the False Bay Nature Reserve, and in turn encourage our youth to become custodians of their natural heritage,’ said Dr Anthony Roberts, CEO of CTEET.
‘We hope that the Birdathon week will, as before, bring families together. I’m confident that the event may even introduce many to the area for their first visit. After the year that we have experienced, everyone needs some fresh scenery and nothing refreshes and enlightens the mind more than nature,’ said Alderman Nieuwoudt.
Virtual Birdathon details
• School groups are encouraged to preregister by e-mailing events@cteet.co.za to receive the registration form. ALL pre-registered school groups will receive printed activity booklets to complete during the assigned week. Educational videos and activity books will also be available online.
• All participants may access the videos and activity booklet via the Changing Lives Through Nature by CTEET channel HERE.
• A lucky draw with spot prizes for all participants will take place. Participants can enter the lucky draw by uploading a photo of themselves to Facebook using the hashtag #VirtualBirdathon2020. The photo will need to show that they are in the False Bay Nature Reserve with the activity book, or at home watching the videos and completing the activity book.
• The annual prize of a CTEET Education Day Programme will also be awarded to one lucky pre-registered school group.
Important announcements pertaining to the week will be posted on the following social media pages: Twitter: @CTEnviroKid Instagram: @changinglivesthroughnature LinkedIn: Cape Town Environmental Education Trust Facebook: Cape Town Environmental Education Trust and Changing Lives Through Nature
See also Cape Town Green Map
WHAT: Virtual Birdathon Week
WHERE: Cape Town’s False Bay Nature Reserve.
WHEN: Friday 23 October 2020 to 1 November 2020
The first virtual Birdathon week – school learners and residents encouraged to explore the birdlife and beauty of Cape Town’s False Bay Nature Reserve.
Virtual Birdathon, False Bay Nature Reserve, Cape Town Green Map, MapMyWay, Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET), BirdLife South Africa (BLSA), Cape Bird Club (CBC), #VirtualBirdathon2020,
