The Sagres Birdwatching Festival returns in October to take full advantage of the migratory season for many species.
The largest event dedicated to birds in Portugal, the Sagres Birdwatching Festival, will fill Sagres and Vila do Bispo with visitors between 2 and 5 October 2014, enabling participants to take advantage of all sorts of activities linked to nature, with a special emphasis on birds.
The event is in its fifth year and aims to attract those interested in the birds and the nature of the Algarve region.
The event is organised by the Vila do Bispo council, bird organisation SPEA and nature conservation body, ALMARGEM.
This year, the bird to look out for is the Subalpine Warbler (sylvia cantillans) which despite not being the most abundant migratory bird over Sagres, is one of many species of migratory birds during the late summer and early autumn.
The big draw for many will still be the storks, eagles, vultures, hawks and other soaring birds in the sky above Sagres.
Visitors will be able to join in a range of activities such as birdwatching field trips, short courses of various themes, sea trips to watch birds and dolphins, horseriding, photography, walks with donkeys and environmental education activities for younger ones.
There will be discounts on accommodation, restaurants, shops and with local tourism companies.
Nuno Barros from SPEA commented that in the post-mating season for most bird species and between August and November the Sagres peninsula "becomes one of the most extraordinary places in Europe for birdwatching," with thousands of migratory birds concentrated in the area.
Anabela Santos of ALMARGEM pointed out that the event has gained notoriety, "not only at a national, but also at an international level," bringing dynamism to Sagres with many tourists returning to Sagres at other times of the year.
The Mayor of Vila do Bispo, Adelino Soares said that the festival is part of the council strategy for the development of nature tourism
The events programme will be announced during August when registration opens.
This type of event brings visitors from all over Europe and beyond, and fulfills the regional tourist authority's professed desire to attract different tourism segments, especially those that visit outside of the main summer season.
Many serious 'birders' as they are called, also will visit the Salgados area near Armaçao de Pêra where the newly adapted lagoon is starting to attract visitors in good numbers despite the poor facilities installed.
The surrounding countryside is rich in birdlife and this may be the last time it is available as property development company Finalgarve's plans to build the huge Praia Grande tourism resort with golf course and three hotels is set to encompass 360 hectares for private use.
The head of the Algarve's regional tourist board has not voiced an opinion on this development, and he won't as the post is a highly political one. Opposition has been left to a collective of concerned organisations and 32,000 individuals who have signed the 'Save Salgados' petition, set up by local bird expert Frank McClintock (pictured).
See: http://birdwatchingsagres.com
To sign the petition:
Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans) Photo copyright Frank McClintock 2014
The 'Friends of Lagoa dos Salgados' platform includes the following organisations:
A Rocha, Aldeia, Algarve123, www.algarvedailynews.com, Almargem, Birding in Portugal, Birdwatching Algarve, LPN, Portugal Resident, ProActiveTur, Quercus, SPEA
