STANFORD STRETTON'S BIRD FAIR

30th September to 2nd October 2011

The 8th Stanford Bird Fair was sponsored for the second year by Edward Snell & Co under one of their brands, Stretton's London Dry Gin, to whom go our sincere thanks and appreciation. Our thanks also go to Afrimat Aggregates for their kind donation towards our expenses.

The Stanford Bird Fair goes from strength to strength and is therefore able to attract speakers of the highest quality in the birding world. This year was no exception, all speakers being undoubted experts in their field. Talks and outings were well attended and even the unfortunate cancellation of our annual highlight, the mini pelagic boat trip on the Apex Preditor due to inclement weather, did little to dampen the weekend. Full programme details plus a synopsis of our guides and speakers may be accessed here

The Stetton’s Gin tasting was highly successful, lasting well into the early hours. In conjunction with this event we hosted our best yet Bird Festival Photographic competition with some outstanding local and international entries. During the evening, at their request, Random House/ Struik Publications launched Vol Four of their Sasol Bird Guide, one of the country’s most prestigious avian guidebooks - further evidence of the esteem in which the Stretton’s Bird Fair is held.

Over and above these activities special events aimed at children from the larger Stanford Community were held with great success. These included an exceptional hand puppet workshop held at the pre-prep school in our informal settlement, De Kop, which was very well supported (80 learners). We are grateful for the financial support from E Snell & Co for making this possible. (Photographs of this already submitted.) Added to this was an excellent art exhibition in the form of mosaics of SA’s bird of the year, the Barn Swallow, produced by the Okkie Smuts Primary school. As always the children (and parents) were enthalled by the wonderful "Eagle Encounters" show which is always a show stopper.

On the Saturday evening the committee hosted a Stretton's sundowner evening followed by a light meal at Reiersvlei , Colin Brown’s beautiful estate on the Kleinrivier. In addition the home was used as a base for five of our speakers over the weekend. This generous gesture by Colin was very much appreciated by all.

We were particularly grateful to receive a variety of marketing aids and products from E Snell & Co which enabled us to give complimentary bottles of Stretton’s Gin and Glendower Whisky to all of our speakers, tour guides and service providers.

During the fair we erected 177 Correx boards throughout the Overstrand and printed 8,000 fliers promoting the fair in nine different Overstrand towns via their local postboxes.

In addition extensive use was made of the ten Stretton’s and Glendower feathers as well as posters of Stretton’s Gin and fifty specially printed posters of the event which were positioned throughout the Overstrand. Added to this we had various coverage in publications including Country Life, SA Birds & Birding, RiverTalk, Hermanus Times and Die Burger. Once again the internet was also widely used as a medium to publicise the event and the results of this are contained in a separate email produced for us by Philippa Castle.

  For further information:

Amazing prizes to be won
to enter click here
The competition will close on Friday 23rd September 2011.
Email all entries to info@stanfordbirding.co.za
Prizes will be awarded at the Stanford Strettons Gin Tasting function on the following Friday, at about 5pm
Here are some of the exciting prizes to be won this year
The ultimate shark cage diving experience Marine Dynamics, a diving operation specialising in encounters with the Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias), is based in the fishing village of Gansbaai, Western Cape, South Africa. Six nautical miles away is Dyer Island, possibly the best place in the world to engage the Great White shark value R2700
Meet the mighty marine mammals... http://www.dyer-island-cruises.co.za Anyone who has had the joy of meeting a mighty whale face to face will tell you just how magical it is. Huge, gentle, mysterious, curious. Can you imagine a giant friend, like none other? As captivated by you as you are by him. A whale longer and wider than the boat in which you sit. value R1800
5 course dinner for two at "Red Indigo" Grootbos Forest Lodge!
A Rosie Breuer Book specialises in Nature books for children in 2 or more languages and other attractive books. Rosie Breuer Books.
2 Full Colour copies of Annalize Mouton's "Portrait of a Village" first published in 2009 by Village Life, an imprint of Icon Communiations cc.
Gina and Otto would love to welcome you to "Haus Giotto", a small and intimate B&B in the peaceful village of De Kelders. 2 nights in Febuary 2012 Haus Giotto
One years subscription to Africa Birds and Birding Africa Birds and Birding
One years subscription to Africa Geographic Africa Geographic
Ist Prize, Youth Category Win a tour with Hermanus Adventures for a group of 4 kids on a tree top slide tour!! Value = +- R1700
1 year’s subscription to Stanford River Talk

Stanford Birding Photographic Competition 2010 Winners