BirdsaPlenty Festival 2012

  For an event programme click here

When: Friday 21 September ‐‐ Sunday 21 October

Where: Out and About, Inside and Out the Eastern Bay of Plenty—Whakatane, Matata, Opotiki, Rotorua

Who: All age groups ‐young and old, school children, toddlers and adults

The 10th Annual BIRDSaPLENTY Festival is a celebration of the wonderful bird life in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Bringing you lots of different activities, this year’s festival has something for everyone. Whakatane is the Kiwi capital of the World and boasts the largest Pohutukawa Forest on the main land. During the festival local Environmental Care Groups invite you to join them to see how they are sustainingand improving bird habitats.

Appealing to those with artistic interests will be a photographic exhibition and an evening with local photographers including Mandy Hague, our nationally acclaimed wild life photographer and artist.

The hugely successful Bird Spotting Walk along the picturesque Whakatane river bank is a popular event with children.

The festival finale will be our annual visit to Ohiwa Spit to welcome the annual return of the bar‐tailed godwits.

September 2011

Saturday 24^th        “Cut the Cake” and celebrate 10 years at the Festival Opening. 5.30pm at REAP House

Sunday 25^th          Field trip in Opotiki

Friday 30^th           Ruud Kleinpaste TV ONE’s “The Bug Man” entertains us with his talk – “Our biodiversity in Whakatane – privledge and responsibility.” At Whakatane Little Theatre 7pm.

October 2011

Saturday 1^st          Dotterels of Port Ohope – Talk and walk with DOC experts. 10am at Ohope Surf and Sand Holiday Park

Sunday 2^nd            Nukuhou Salt Marsh Care Group – Opening of Cheddar Valley Inanga Loop Track and BBQ. 8am

2^nd, 4^th, 6^th, 9^th      Nocturnal Kiwi Listening Walks with Whakatane Kiwi Trust. 7.30pm

Monday 3^rd            Historical NZ Bird Art with Narena Oliver. 7pm at REAP House

Tuesday 4^th          Bird Spotting along Whakatane River bank. 4pm at the Ampitheatre

Thursday 6^th          Waiotane Reserve – A 5 hour walk.  Learn about the Kiwi Project and check traps. 9am at the beginning of Te Kooti Rd.

Friday 7^th              “The Birds of Ohiwa” talk from the Regional Council. 7pm at REAP House

Friday 7^th             Evening of Bird Photography with talented local experts. 7pm at REAP House

Saturday 8^th          Field trip to Motuhora (Whale Island)

Saturday 8^th         Forest and Bird Plant Sale. 9am at Fortunes Rd, Whakatane

Monday 10^th         Life Force: New Zealand – A film evening. 7pm at REAP House

Wednesday 12^th      Coffee and Cake at Cheddar Valley Pottery. 2.30pm

Saturday 15^th        Manawahe Kokaho Trust – Walk, bird viewing and BBQ. 7am.

Saturday 15^th        Tramp and overnight in Te Urewera National Park to hear the dawn chorus.

Sunday 16^th          Welcome back the Godwits at Ohiwa 9.30am

For venues and further details please visit www.whakatane.com  or email Jacquihughes@xtra.co.nz