The Flufftail Festival is BirdLife South Africa’s annual awareness event, held around World Wetlands Day (2 February) since 2015. It takes its name from the White-winged Flufftail, a Critically Endangered wetland specialist. Using this elusive species as a flagship, the festival teaches communities, and school learners in particular, about the importance of water, wetlands and waterbirds, and about the threats facing South Africa’s high-altitude wetlands. Over the years it has taken many forms, from zoo-based school events and puppet shows to educational excursions, online activities and community outings, and the most recent edition was held in Dullstroom, where the species’ first confirmed breeding record in South Africa was made. Developed with partners such as Rand Water’s Water Wise team, the resources gathered here are designed to help educators, learners and wetland enthusiasts join in and help protect the places these birds depend on.
Two children’s storybooks from BirdLife South Africa bring wetlands to life for young readers.
Run Until You Can Fly is a lyrical, watercolour-illustrated story about Saro, a young White-winged Flufftail who wishes he could fly. Along the way he and his friends Oryx the otter and Gus the crane meet surprises that test their friendship. The story introduces wetland ecology, threats such as drainage and pollution, and simple ways children can become “wetland ambassadors”.
Piffy and Zenzi Go Birding follows two curious poodles who wonder what “birding” means. On a day out with their human friends, they discover the birds and other creatures that live in wetlands and how they are adapted to life in water.
The books suit different age groups. Physical copies are available from BirdLife South Africa’s Shop for the Birds.
These digital copies are free to distribute and use for educational purposes.
Produced by BirdLife South Africa, Water Wise (Rand Water), the Pick n Pay School Club, and other partners for the Flufftail Festival, this two-part activity book teaches learners why wetlands, water and the White-winged Flufftail matter. Part 1 covers wetland basics through experiments and food-web games. Part 2 turns to the flufftail, threats to wetlands and taking action, with a board game, raps, a pledge and a field survey. It suits teachers, parents, learners and anyone running environmental education, and is free to distribute and use for educational purposes, with accompaniment by this letter which explains why the activity book exists and how it fits into classroom teaching.
These illustrated cards tell the story of the White-winged Flufftail and the wetlands it depends on in a few simple, colourful steps. They show why flufftails are in trouble, how the loss of wetland homes affects many other animals, and why healthy wetlands matter to people too, by slowing rivers to prevent floods and cleaning our water. They work well as a quick introduction for learners, a classroom display, and are free to distribute and use for educational purposes.
This illustrated poster, created by artist Linette Ferreira for Water Wise (Rand Water), shows a wetland at work beneath a mountain escarpment, and explains ways learners can help protect wetlands. This poster is free to distribute and use for educational purposes.
