B i r d  I s l a n d...

Who needs binoculars if you can actually look a bird in the eye? 
Experience a face-to-face encounter with a Cape gannet on a rocky island off the Cape West Coast.
Bird Island Nature Reserve provides shelter and protection for thousands of sea birds, particularly Cape gannets, various species of cormorants and gulls, and African penguins.
Especially the encounter with the Cape gannets is a highlight. From your vantage point in the double-storey bird hide, you have the opportunity to come within a mere wingspan of more than 25 000 blue-eyed Cape gannets. 

Who needs binoculars if you can actually look a bird in the eye? 
Experience a face-to-face encounter with a Cape gannet on a rocky island off the Cape West Coast.
Bird Island Nature Reserve provides shelter and protection for thousands of sea birds, particularly Cape gannets, various species of cormorants and gulls, and African penguins.
Especially the encounter with the Cape gannets is a highlight. From your vantage point in the double-storey bird hide, you have the opportunity to come within a mere wingspan of more than 25 000 blue-eyed Cape gannets. 

The ticket office lies at the foot of the causeway that connects the island with the mainland.  

Interpretative signage on the island gives the tourist the chance to stroll around

and learn a lot about sea birds in the process.

New tourism facilities on the island have recently opened, and provide an insight into the history of the island and its seabird population.

Cape Nature Conservation manages the island in collaboration with the people of Lambert's Bay as a sustainable eco-tourism project in support of community development.
The three hectare island, a proclaimed nature reserve, is connected to the Lambert's Bay harbour by means of a causeway. It is approximately three hours drive from Cape Town. 
From the modern double storey bird hide, visitors can witness the unique mating dances (April - September) and captivating vocalising of thousands of gannets. Comprehensive information is given on these birds and their way of life. 
Visitors will enjoy exploring the island by following the new interpretation trail on the island, with its extensive informative signage. The visitors' centre is home to a guano museum where one can read about an island steeped in history and humour. The boisterous and stormy times of egg and guano collection, and the guano "war" of 1844, are some of the stories told.

The visitors' centre is also home to:

• an aquarium portraying sea life on the West Coast 

• a penguin pool (feeding times at 10:00 and 15:00) where rehabilitated penguins are kept

• an auditorium with video shows in English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and German

• a coffee and curio shop

• guided tours (on request)

Please note:

• Visitors are welcome from 07:00 tot 19:00 in the summer and from 07:00 to 17:00 in the winter
• No advance booking is required
• Rough seas may prohibit access to the island across the causeway
• For general information contact the reserve manager at 083-726-2207 or the Cape Nature Conservation office in Portervlle on (022) 931-2900.

For more information, contact Engela Duvenage eduvenag@pawc.wcape.gov.za