A different kind of birdie at Parkview Golf Club
PARKVIEW – Community members learnt about the rich bird life their suburb has to offer.
With binoculars and cameras at the ready, five groups of 12 local residents and Parkview Golf Club members spent two hours in the cool, early morning striding the edges of the golf course fairways, not carding birdies but seeking birdlife where golfers usually search for lost balls.
They were guided by Africa Nature Training (ANT), founded in 2002 to offer conservation and environmental education and programmes to provide accredited teaching, both for the nature enthusiast and individuals keen to follow a career in field guiding.
“Parkview is clearly a rich source of bird life,” said guide Marilyn Donaldson.
A black sparrow hawk, white-breasted cormorant, lesser honeyguide and steppe buzzard were all seen among the trees just a few kilometres from the bustle of Johannesburg’s city centre – so were African black duck, an African harrier hawk, paradise flycatcher, rose-ringed parakeet, and bronze-winged mannekin. The birds and many more were spotted and identified by birding enthusiasts during the Parkview Golf Club’s Summer Bird Walk arranged recently as part of its centenary celebrations.
“It was one of the several events the club has planned for the year… to involve local communities in the celebration of the club’s 100 years centenary celebrations. Responses confirm it was appreciated and enjoyed. We will be holding another walk later in the year,” commented Franco Pellegrini, chairman of the club’s centenary committee.
The walk ended at the clubhouse with a breakfast and many comparisons of who had seen what. “I’m not even a birder and I loved it. Even though it started at 6.30am there was a full house by 6.05am, in the drizzle. We managed to see some very special birds that even the regular birding golfers hadn’t seen before,” enthused community member, Theresa Gibbon.
Details: Parkview Golf Club 011 646 5400.
