Report back on Spring Alive launch

By Joe Peu

Spring Alive project Africa was launched  

    The Spring Alive project was launched on 3 September at Mt Moreland, one of the largest Blue Swallow roosting places in South Africa. The event was attended by 50 people, 12 of whom were local community members. The rest of the attendees were from two schools from around Mt Moreland. Angie Wilken, the local Mt Moreland and Barn Swallow ambassador in the area, spoke about the Barn Swallow and the area. Joe Peu spoke about National Bird Week and introduced the Spring Alive website to the attendees. The day was ended with a migration game which the learners enjoyed very much.

The same event was held at Chrissiesmeer on 7 September with 23 learners from Lakes Chrissies High School attending. The event was also attended by Barbi Forsyth from the Witwatersrand Bird Club, a representative from EWT and the members of the local ANC Youth League. There were also meeting to (1) discuss recruiting new members of the community for the upholstery project, and (2) plan for the environmental rights workshop (on 16 September) and biodiversity monitoring workshop (17 September). The group was then taken on a tour of the Kwachibikhulu Community Development Centre. In reciprocation, these community youth leaders joined the team during the afternoon at Boetsepan for the Bird of the Year launch event. This event was attended by 24 Grade 8 and 9 learners and their teacher from Lake Chrissie High School. Joe Peu did a fantastic job motivating, enthusing and educating the children, and a fun time in the sun was had by all. Afterwards, Ursula Franke (EWT) taught us how to do power line collision and electrocution monitoring, in preparation for the Chrissiesmeer biodiversity monitoring workshop.  

The Wakkerstroom event was attended by the local Income Generation Group members, many of whom are elderly. The week’s activities ended with an event with Gauteng Alliance learners at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve on 9 September. The learners came from Monde, Reahile, Dawn Park and Skeen primary schools. 

Community members are encouraged to visit Spring Alive website to register their 1^st sightings of Barn Swallow, swifts, cuckoo, European Bee-eater and the White Stock on www.springalive.net . There are also exciting interactivities games for children and also adult. To see these exciting activities on the Spring Alive website, click “To Peck” and enjoy.