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Smithfield is for the Birds - Rich Prizes for a Bird-Friendly Smithfield
by Carmel Rickard
THE visit by BirdLife Free State last November was exactly what Smithfield needed. We increased the number of birds on the official village list from just over 100 to 200, among them some highly sought-after species. “Well,” I thought, “what more could we ask? Now Smithfield can boast that we are a good birding destination. We can start to market ourselves to visitors as an even more desirable place to spend time. Not only can we offer good beds, good food and good cycling – we can also spog with some fabulous birds.”
The news though, gets even better. Over the holidays birding friends came to stay, and with keen local birder Lynden Lund they have increased the bird list even more. As the president of BirdLife South Africa, Rick Nuttall, said when he visited in November, “Smithfield is a gem for birders.”
What I’d like to see happen this year – and into the future - is that the whole village becomes birder-friendly. Suppose we have signs at all the entrances to the town that say “Welcome”, and that have a birder-friendly message on them? Suppose all the tourism-related establishments have flyers that tell people who to get hold of if they are interested in birds? Suppose the schools include information about birds and their place in the environment and in tourism as part of the curriculum? And suppose that parents stop their kids shooting birds?
There’s even an idea brewing in the heads of the powers-that-be in BirdLife South Africa that Smithfield should be included as part of a still to be set up Free State birding route. Not only that, but that we might eventually be the place where guides from a wide area around Smithfield are trained to take keen bird-watchers out into the field. Although the guides would be brought here for training, at the end of their course they would work in many different places around South Africa.
As you can see, there are plenty of possibilities for birding to help Smithfield grow in ways that can benefit many people. The Smiffie editor has asked me to write a regular piece about birds and birding. I’ve agreed because I’d love to help make us all more aware of our local birds and of their importance to Smithfield – and of the importance of birds in the wider world.
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Be like a postage stamp, stick to it until you get there.
Harvey Mackay
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