New South Wales’ Capertee Valley is gearing up to host a truly special event this Spring: a three-day festival dedicated to feathered friends. The inaugural Capertee Valley Bird Festival is the result of a unique collaboration between local community associations and BirdLife Southern NSW.
For over three decades, the Capertee Valley local community has shown a remarkable commitment to protecting the local wildlife. Working closely with BirdLife Southern NSW as part of the bird conservation charity’s Capertee Valley Regent Honeyeater Recovery Project, they’ve transformed farmlands by planting more than 100,000 native trees and shrubs. This habitat restoration has been vital for safeguarding the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and other threatened woodland birds that call this area home.
Festival-goers will get to explore bird habitats in places not normally open to the public, increasing the chance of encounters with the Capertee Valley’s 39 vulnerable and endangered bird species, including Regent Honeyeaters, Diamond Firetails, and Turquoise Parrots.
The festival offers over 25 bird and nature-themed activities. Highlights include a dedicated session for beginner birdwatchers, a captivating bird book club, and opportunities to explore bird life while kayaking on the stunning waters of Ganguddy. The program also offers unique ways to connect with local Indigenous culture and unleash creativity through workshops with local artists. A very special photography exhibition will also follow the journey of local Sue Harvey, who for more than a decade has created an amazing record of the birds of the Capertee Valley.
For the truly dedicated birders, the Birders Pass-ticket offers the ultimate experience, providing full access to an exclusive range of expert-led activities. This includes a minimum of six hours of guided bird walks, a dedicated bird photography class as well as insightful talks from Australia’s leading bird experts – it’s your VIP ticket to deeper birding discovery!
When: Friday 19 September (from noon) to Sunday 21 September (finishes 1pm)
Session Times: Friday 19 September, Noon – 9:00 pm. Saturday 20 September, 7:00 am – 9:00 pm. Sunday 21 September, 7:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Where: The festival hub is at Glen Alice Community Hall, 4045 Glen Alice Road, Glen Alice NSW 2849.
Tickets: Starting from $0 (20 activities are free). $26 – $98 for evening social events and five other activities. $250 for a Birder’s Pass; a 15 hour package including three bird walks and five speaker sessions led and delivered by experts.
For more information, head to the festival website.
Since 1994, over 150,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted as part of the Capertee Valley Tree-planting project.
If you see a Regent Honeyeater, let us know as soon as possible.
