Birds of a feather

I don’t know much about birds.

I know they are pretty and sing beautifully and I can identify one or two, but that is about the extent of my knowledge.

This weekend the annual Bird Fair will take place at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Ruimsig, where the Roodepoort Record and Northsider will have a stall to publicise our Name the Eagle Chick competition.

This is the second year that we are assisting the Black Eagle Project Roodekrans with the naming of the chick, which I suppose might be a juvenile by now. We already have more than 200 entries, but I hope we can make it a record year with the most entries thus far. There are some fabulous prizes up for grabs which you can only win if your name is the one chosen for the eagle chick.

We have been following the Black Eagles closely for many years and it is very exciting to see how the chicks develop into magnificent birds soaring through the air.

I also know the raptors are unique to our area, but are monitored from all over the world. Besides the eagles, the botanical garden is one of the most beautiful places to visit. The wildlife is amazing and did you know a very rare orchid has been discovered by our very own botanist, Andrew Hankey. He named the orchid after the late Albertina Sisulu. Very fitting I think.

If you are not aware of the Bird Fair yet, pack a picnic basket and visit – I promise you will not be sorry and you might learn something new.

Apart from that, you can visit the many stalls on display, stroll through the garden, watch the eagles and visit the waterfall. It really is the most stunning sight.

I truly hope to see you all there. Until next week, take care of one another.