Raptor Rescue Plett

Raptor Rescue Plett invites scholars, families, artists, doodlers and creatives of all ages to help us collect 1000 owl artworks for a special exhibition celebrating creativity, community and conservation!
Draw • Paint • Collage • Doodle • Create an A5 owl artwork, there are no rules, just let your imagination take flight! Every artwork will be exhibited and sold for R100, supporting wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and education.

🍀Every entry is automatically entered into our Lucky Draw!
In addition we will also be selecting the following winners,
The people’s choice award, the artwork with the most visitor votes. The most creative owl award, for the most imaginative and original owl and lastly the school submitting the most artworks will be crowned our 2026 Conservation Champion School and win a FREE educational visit for one class!

📅 Submit by: Tuesday, 20 October 2026
🎨 Exhibition: 27–30 October 2026
📍 Raptor Rescue Plett @ The Heath
🦉 Part of the Bitou Birding Festival

Artworks can be dropped off at Raptor Rescue in Plettenberg Bay or at Cafe Marios in Knynsa, for those sending from further away please send to PostNet Market Square Plettenberg Bay. Please remember to add your full name, contact number and email on the back of your artwork. For more information please send us a WhatsApp message to 078 135 3611 or email us at [email protected]

Sometimes rescue means knowing when to step back and let nature do what it does best!
Yesterday, we received a call about some Amethyst Sunbird nestlings whose nest had fallen from a tree. Thankfully, Ronel and her family found the babies and contacted us for advice.
Rather than removing the chicks, we advised them to place the babies back into their nest and carefully secure it back into the tree, as close as possible to its original position.
With a little ladder work and some inventive string tying, the nest was safely secured, babies and all!
Within minutes, their parents returned to feed them.
This is a perfect example of mitigation rather than intervention. Whenever possible, wild babies are best raised by their own parents, who provide care and natural learning that humans cannot replace.
A common myth is that birds will reject their babies if humans touch them. This is not true. Birds generally have a poor sense of smell and will not abandon a chick simply because it has been handled. If a baby is cold, however, gently warm it in your hands before returning it to the nest, as the parents may reject a cold chick.
If you find a bird in need of help or are unsure what to do, please contact us for advice. We are always happy to help.
A big thank you to Ronel and her family for helping this little family get safely back together. 💜🙏

💜THANK YOU, PLETT SEA SCOUTS! 💜
A huge shoutout to the amazing Plettenberg Bay Sea Scouts Group for helping us give the centre a greener future!
They planted an incredible 22 of our donated trees, helping restore habitat and bring more biodiversity back to the grounds.
But, we’re not done yet! We still have plenty of trees waiting to go into the ground. 🌱
If you’d like to get involved and help us with planting trees, painting enclosures, clearing debris and invasive trees, please join our volunteer WhatsApp group to hear about our next volunteer day. Drop us a message on 078 135 3611
22 trees down. Let’s keep growing! 🌳

The 2026 Programme is Live | Build Your Birding Adventure Today!

There is something grounding about stepping away from the rush of everyday life, slowing your pace, and looking up.

We are thrilled to announce that the full programme and tickets for the Bitou Birding Festival 2026 (23–30 October) are now live on Quicket!

Whether you want to drift quietly down the Bitou River in a canoe, join Dr Mark Brown for early-morning bird ringing, or spend an enchanting evening at A Parliament Of Owls at the Raptor Rescue Plett , this year’s line-up is built around connection, conservation, and community.

Because we cap activity group sizes to protect bird habitats and ensure an intimate experience, spaces for guided walks and specialized outings are limited.

Explore the full schedule and curate your own adventure today.

EVENT DETAILS

Dates: 23–30 October 2026

Location: Festival Hub at Kwendalo, Plettenberg Bay & regional field locations
Bookings: Available now on Quicket
Full Programme: bitou.birdingfestival.co.za

Slow Down. Look Up. Reconnect.

https://www.quicket.co.za/events/392725-bitou-birding-festival-2026-slow-down-look-up-reconnect/?ref=link-campaign&lc=fb-launch


Conserve Eden Birdlife Plettenberg Bay BirdLife South Africa

Book tickets for Bitou Birding Festival 2026: Slow Down, Look Up, Reconnect Plettenberg Bay will once again welcome birders, nature lovers, and conservation champions from across South Africa and beyond when the Bitou Birding Festival returns from 23–30 October 2026.

🦅 NKOSI & YEMAYA’S NEW HOME IS COMPLETE! 🦅
After the May storms damaged their enclosure for the second time, we decided to turn a setback into an opportunity and build a bigger home for our two non-releasable African Fish Eagles.
Because when it comes to giving our eagles more space… bigger is most definitely better!
After a looong time in the making, we’ve also finally completed the installation of a new header tank and gravity-fed watering system, giving us greater security during power outages. It was a mammoth task, but one that will certainly be worth the effort for the future.

The enclosure is complete, but we still have an outstanding R15,000.00 to cover the remaining materials and labour, as well as to purchase the new solar pump needed to keep their drinking water flowing and fresh. If you’re able to help us get across the finish line, we would be incredibly grateful. Every contribution makes a difference! 🙏

Plett Raptor Conservation NPC
First National Bank
Bank Account 63000514067
Branch Code 210514
FIRNZAJJ

Please use your email address as your payment reference so we can personally thank you and send you an invitation to meet Nkosi and Yemaya in their brand-new home! If all goes according to plan, we’re hoping to move them into their new home on Monday! We can’t wait to update you!
For more information please send us a message on 078 135 3611 or email us on [email protected]