Get Inspired: Discover the Passions of Our Leading Local Birding Experts!
Get ready to enrich your birding knowledge at the Bitou Birding Festival with our captivating lineup of expert talks & workshops! This series brings together top bird specialists and passionate conservationists to explore fascinating topics right in the heart of the Garden Route. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re an experienced birder, these engaging sessions will leave you inspired and more in tune with the avian world around us. Join us to share in the excitement!
Our Speakers
Prof. Pierre Pistorius
Marine Apex Predator Unit, Coastal and Marine Research Institute, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Talk: Penguins: The most charismatic species inhabiting our oceans.
Penguins are among the most charismatic species inhabiting our oceans. They are often also important indicators of environmental changes so can tell us lots about the world they live in. Pierre and his research group (https://mapru.mandela.ac.za/) have been deploying tracking devices and minituarized video cameras on a range of penguin species from South Africa through to Antarctica to study their behaviour and conservation challenges that these birds face. In this talk he will take us on a journey through the world of penguins, highlighting some of the more important research findings from studying penguins inhabiting these different environments. He will show some of the remarkable underwater footage captured by these penguin-born cameras demonstrating the value of being able to observe the underwater world like the penguins do. This in order to not only better understand the threats they face but also to demonstrate how beautifully they are adapted to the underwater environment.
About the speaker
Prof. Pierre Pistorius is a leading marine ecologist whose work focuses on the behaviour, ecology, and conservation of seabirds and other marine top predators. Based at Nelson Mandela University, he integrates cutting-edge biologging technology with conservation science to better understand how species like penguins, seals, and dolphins are responding to climate change and environmental pressures.
With field research spanning Marion Island, Aldabra Atoll, the Falkland Islands, and South Africa’s coastline, Pierre has dedicated his career to using seabirds as ecological indicators — helping us understand the health of our oceans and guiding marine conservation efforts. His work not only contributes to global research but also informs local conservation strategies, including the role of Marine Protected Areas along the Southern Cape.
Melanie de Morney
Terrestrial Fauna Biotechnician, SANParks Scientific Services
Talk: Crowned Eagles of the Garden Route - Monitoring Africa’s most powerful eagle
These magnificent forest-dwelling raptors are apex predators and are currently listed as Vulnerable in South Africa. In her talk, Melanie will share insights from ongoing monitoring efforts and highlight some of the latest findings from the project.
About the speaker
Melanie de Morney, a Terrestrial Fauna Biotechnician with SANParks Scientific Services, leads the Crowned Eagle Monitoring Project in the Garden Route.
Dr. Mark Brown
Ornithologist – Conserve Eden / Discover Eden
Talk 1: Sunbirds and Sugarbirds - Jewels of the Fynbos
Join Dr. Mark Brown for a captivating exploration of two of southern Africa’s most dazzling and ecologically important bird families — the sunbirds and sugarbirds. Discover how these energetic nectar-feeders have evolved extraordinary adaptations, from specialised beaks and high metabolic rates to their intricate role in pollinating the fynbos.
Through striking visuals and fascinating insights, Dr. Brown will reveal how these birds sustain the floral tapestry of the Cape — from vibrant proteas to delicate ericas — and why their conservation matters to the health of the entire ecosystem. This talk promises to deepen your appreciation for the delicate balance between birds, plants, and the landscapes they call home.
About the speaker
Dr. Mark Brown is a conservation biologist who is passionate about sharing his career experience with budding ecologists. With over 25 years field experience mentoring conservation students, almost 40 postgraduate students supervised, and overo 100 scientific publications under his belt, Mark is an experienced biologist and conservationist. As a practicing researcher, he has been a key role player in some of the best conservation work being done in the region.
Lauren Moriarty
Rivers and Estuaries Programme Manager, NVT Tsitsikamma
Talk: From Binoculars to Biodiversity: Connecting Communities through Conservation and Citizen Science – Why Your Observations Matter
Birds are more than just beautiful creatures to watch – they are indicators of ecosystem health and powerful connectors between people and landscapes. In this talk we explore how citizen science initiatives, from waterbird counts to iNaturalist observations, are helping conserve key corridors for wildlife along the Garden Route. Drawing on stories from NVT’s work, highlighting how everyday observations contribute to scientific knowledge and conservation action.
Whether you’re a casual birder, a seasoned scientist, or simply curious about nature, this talk will show why your sightings truly matter.
About the speaker
Lauren Moriarty is the Rivers and Estuaries Programme Manager at NVT Tsitsikamma, where she focuses on conserving and restoring the ecological integrity of riverine and estuarine systems along the Tsitsikamma and Garden Route. Her work blends field research, community engagement, and conservation action, with projects ranging from long-term waterbird monitoring and invasive plant clearing to otter research and environmental education. Passionate about connecting people with nature, Lauren believes that citizen science and community participation are key to protecting biodiversity and the wild spaces we all depend on.
Mike Bridgeford
Honorary President – Birdlife Plettenberg Bay
Talk/presentation: Special Birds of the Bitou
Join Mike Bridgeford for a fascinating journey through the rich birdlife of the Bitou region — one of the best places in South Africa to see a remarkable number of endemic species. Drawing on years of local knowledge and meticulous records, Mike will highlight the birds that make this area so unique and explain why Plettenberg Bay is considered one of the most rewarding birding destinations in Southern Africa.
About the speaker
Mike Bridgeford is the honorary president of Birdlife Plettenberg Bay – our local Plett birding club. Mike’s passion for birding started in the then Rhodesia over 40 years ago, he has been involved with the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Birdlife SA along with birding luminaries such as Dr Aldo Berutti. He served as chairman of Birdlife SA for four years, as Chairman of Birdlife lnkwazi, and for 4 years as chairman of Birdlife Plettenberg Bay. He is one of the best-known bird photographers in the area and has been a passionate birder for many years with a Southern African Life List of 860 species. He is a keen citizen scientist whose observations have helped many research projects over the years, he is one of the top contributors to SABAP2 in the area and has been a resident of Plettenberg Bay since 2010. He is among the most well-known birders and birding experts on the Garden Route.
Why not book your stay at the Kwendalo Manor House?
This fully fenced and gated private estate is situated in the Rietvlei/Bitou Valley just off the N2 heading towards Gqeberha. The estate is a mere 2.5 km away from the beautiful holiday town centre of Plettenberg Bay with its breathtaking scenery and lovely beaches.
Kwendalo means ‘of nature’ in local isiXhosa and our country estate is situated on 16 hectares of regenerative nature. Our location distills the belief that our environment and our place within it contributes significantly towards wellness and we invite you to refresh yourself in our gardens and natural surroundings. Please note that accommodation is available to all visitors to Plettenberg Bay; our treatments are available to our guests but are not a prerequisite of booking.
Set with sweeping views across the grounds of Kwendalo, the Manor House offers accommodation in spacious and gently renovated suites. Each suite has been lovingly and stylishly decorated to create an atmosphere of absolute ambience and tranquillity. The suites are positioned in such a way as to offer maximum privacy to guests as well as providing stunning views over the picturesque countryside, lush green lawns and mountains of the estate.
Each suite has a fully equipped kitchen, well-furnished lounge, its own bathroom, a hairdryer, and a flat-screen TV with DStv. Each suite has a private patio with a braai and a table to sit and relax. Wi-Fi is available in most of the suites. We invite you to be at ease at Kwendalo, envelope yourself in comfort and calm, and find serenity and peace while you stay with us. You are encouraged to embrace mornings of contemplation in nature, afternoons of gentle exercise or treatments, and evenings around the fireplace.
