TO ALL OUR FRIENDS OF THE OYSTERCATCHER TRAIL........... BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS MAKE NEWS IN AMERICA AS WELL..........FOR THE BIRD OF THE YEAR !!

The matching good news for all those who have hiked the Oystercatcher Trail and who will still be doing the Trail is that our Oystercatchers have increased in numbers along the coast from Mossel Bay to the Gourits River.

It is thanks to all the focus that has been placed on this magnificent bird during the past number of years.Those who have walked the Trail and have carried the message forward and by the great backing of the national and international media regarding the plight of the bird, has been paying off. 5 to 6 Years ago and before, there was actually negative population growth. In spite of a decrease in natural habitat all along the South African coast, the recovery from near disaster due to the decline in the species numbers have definitely increased on our 50 km`s of coast line of the Oystercatcher Trail.

I am sure that if our African Black Oystercatchers knew about the Bird of the Year competition in America..they would have voted for their cousins across the waters on the other side of the world..

It is now the height of the breeding season, which will go through to about March 2012....We are doing all we can to ensure that holiday makers who will be visiting our beaches are aware of the fact that the birds should not be disturbed or prohibited from feeding on our shores to keep their chicks alive.....

Click on the Google alerts and see how their populations are doing in America....