The 7th edition of the Bird Watching & Nature Activities Festival, which took place between 30 September and 5 October, had a total of 1,109 people taking part in various of the 300 activities on offer.
The Minister of the Environment, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, and the Assistant Secretary of State for the Environment, José Mendes, released two birds of prey from captivity, planted trees and generally smiled for the cameras.
The minister was cornered by Ria Formosa islanders, who had driven across the Algarve to see him, and gave them some of his valuable, almost priceless time to assure them that everything was fine and the demolition of their island homes was just in their imagination.
A total of 134 species of birds were observed as well as dragonflies and marine mammals.
The turnout was about the same as last year's event which again was sponsored by Vila do Bispo council and co-promoted by the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) and the Almargem Association.
The festival takes place at this time of year because it is the peak of autumn migration time, not because it is the start of the hunting season.
