Cape Town - Birding isn’t only for the old – two students from Cape Town are part of a four-member team set to take part in the Champions of The Flyway competition in Israel on March 28.
Andrew de Blocq, 24 and Jessleena Suri, 25, are at UCT, along with John Kinghorn and Werner de Walt from Johannesburg, and will be competing as Youth Africa Birders in Israel. “There’s been a South African team for the last two years, and this year there wasn’t a team going, so the people in charge of Youth Africa Birders decided let’s take over the reins,” De Blocq said.
“We had six weeks to learn about 250 (Israeli) bird species. We had to learn what they looked like from a book, then download their calls from the internet and listen in our spare time.”
Every member of Youth Africa Birders is 25 or younger. The team is one of two youth teams participating. “Andrew always says how birding is mainly for older people,” Suri laughed.
“There are three titles up for grabs in this competition,” De Blocq added. “We’re hoping to have a go at all three, but we’re mainly in need of help with the funds.
“We really need the assistance because we’re competing with the dollar, the pound and the euro. We have a goal of raising R50 000."
“There is a website for those interested in donating and the information is on our team Facebook team page, www.facebook.com/Beyouthafricabirders.”
“We’re proud to be these young up-and-coming guys who are coming in to upset the whole bird watching fraternity,” Andrew said.