BirdLife South Africa marked International Vulture Awareness Day 2026 at the South African Bird Fair with a vulture-themed scavenger hunt (a pun that we are rather proud of!)
Players worked their way around the fair venue searching for clues about South Africa’s vulture species, using what they found to answer questions and complete a worksheet. It proved a good way to get visitors of all ages looking closely at a group of birds that too often goes unnoticed, and to start conversations about the threats they face.
A winner was drawn at random from all the completed worksheets. Congratulations to Emma Oberholster, winner of BirdLife South Africa’s 2026 Vulture Scavenger Hunt, who receives a copy of Faansie’s Bird Book 2, Faansie Peacock’s field guide for children.
The team from the Firefinch app added to the occasion with a life-sized Lappet-faced Vulture cutout for visitors to pose alongside, which drew a steady stream of photographers throughout the day.
Our thanks to everyone who took part, and to the Firefinch team for their contribution.
