The Sasol Birds and Birding Fair will be held at the Johannesburg Zoo from 28 to 29 May 2011.The biggest of its kind in southern Africa, the fair attracts birding enthusiasts from all over South Africa. Both days at the fair will be packed with topical lectures, workshops, guided bird walks and activities for children.

 
This year the Bird Fair celebrates a global birding ambassador, the Barn Swallow, a non-breeding visitor to Africa. This small migratory bird spends the summer months in South Africa. The swallows start to arrive from early September, but the majority turn up from late-October to early November. The focus of the fair will be on educating the public about birds and bird conservation, raising awareness of bird -watching, important bird areas and migratory birds.
 
The Sasol Birds and Birding Fair is a project of Birdlife South Africa, sponsored by Sasol and is held annually at the Johannesburg zoo. Africa - Birds & Birding magazine is a partner to the fair. There will be a wide variety of exhibitors displaying their wares on the Centenary Lawn of the zoo: binoculars, camera equipment, bird books, bird feeders, indigenous plants and much more will be on sale. The Johannesburg Zoo has reduced the entrance fee to R35 per person (instead of R50) for the duration of the Sasol Birds and Birding Fair.
 
"We're thrilled to be involved in raising awareness of conservation issues and showcasing South Africa's bird population and in so doing entice South Africans to experience these feathered friends through various platforms. These include through sponsorship of natural history publications such as the popular Sasol -Birds Southern Africa field guide, commonly referred to as "Sasol", bird hides and birding weekends in National parks throughout South Africa " says Richard Hughes, Manager Sponsorships.
 
The fair also offers more exciting activities for both novices and seasoned campers, as they can spend the Friday night listening to the sounds of wild animals and nocturnal birds when they camp in the grounds of the zoo.
 
Campers will be greeted by the zoo's staff at 17h30 on the Friday, allowing enough time to pitch tents before the guided night tour begins at 19h30. The following morning there will be a guided walk led by Mark Anderson, CEO of BirdLife South Africa. Anderson says, "The Sasol Birds and Birding Fair brings together lovers of all things nature. Birds are amongst the most visible, and mobile, animals in our environments and are a critical component of any ecosystem. BirdLife South Africa believes that through the conservation of birds we can conserve the broader environment."
 
Sasol also supports the development of BirdLife South Africa's bird guides and the Endangered Wildlife Trust's Birds of Prey Programme and Southern Ground-Hornbill Project.
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Notes to editor:
 
For further information about the Sasol Birds and Birding Fair, contact Nikki McCartney on +27 (0)83-636-1060, fax +27 (0)86-581-9999, e-mail events@birdlife.org.za.
 
Highlights of The Fair
 
Saturday, 28 May 2011
 
09h00: Beginner bird photography workshop (half-day)
10h00: Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2 (SABAP2) – how atlasing assists conservation planning
12h00: Swallows, Swifts and Martins
14h00: Desert birds and climate change
16h00: Attracting birds to your garden
 
Sunday, 29 May 2011
 
09h00: Photographing birds in flight workshop
10h00: James Clarke on the funny side of birding
12h00: Weaver demography – ringing and PHOWNing (PHOtographing Weaver Nests)
14h00: Why YOU should start bird -watching
15h00: Common birds of Johannesburg