GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - South Africa's birding fraternity is preening itself in anticipation of Birdlife SA's annual "Flock to Wilderness" birding event towards the end of May.

Bird experts from the Garden Route are involved in the event.

The annual extravaganza, a highlight on the South African birding calendar, will see about 150 birding enthusiasts from across the country, plus a few foreigners, descend on the Garden Route, boosting the economy of the region.

Flock to the Wilderness will cover the Lakes Birding Club, including Knysna, Sedgefield and Wilderness and specialists from these areas, while Plettenberg Bay will provide expert assistance, said Dr Melissa Whitecross, Landscape Conservation Programme manager of BirdLife South Africa, the South African national partner organisation of BirdLife International.

The heart of the programme takes place at the Wilderness Hotel.

"We will have a learn about birds (LAB) conference on 25 and 26 May, where participants will discuss some of the latest ornithological research and host layman's LAB talks on a range of bird-related topics," said Whitecross.

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