Sagres Welcomed Participants from All Continents for Four Days of Birdwatching and Nature Activities
The 17th edition of the Birdwatching & Nature Activities Festival, which took place from 2 to 5 October in Sagres, reaffirmed its status as an international gathering for birdwatchers, experts, and nature enthusiasts.
Throughout the festival, 1,568 participants representing 30 nationalities took part in a programme featuring 305 activities dedicated to birdwatching, nature, and biodiversity.
Key highlights of this year’s event included the recording of 165 bird species, notably Eleonora’s falcon, a rare bird of prey in Portugal that provided a memorable sighting for many attendees.
Friday, 2 October, saw a particularly strong migratory passage, creating exceptional viewing conditions across several locations in the region. Sites such as Vale Santo, Cabranosa, and Ponta da Atalaia recorded large numbers of whinchats, common redstarts, and northern wheatears, among other species.
Marine biodiversity was also featured, with sightings of eight marine megafauna species, including Bryde’s whale and the smooth hammerhead shark, highlighting the area’s rich biodiversity both on land and at sea.
The festival also provided opportunities for learning, networking, and knowledge sharing among participants, experts, and environmental organisations, connecting diverse audiences with the region’s species and habitats.
Promoted by the Municipality of Vila do Bispo and organized in partnership with the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA-BirdLife) and the Almargem Association, the festival reinforces Sagres’ position as a leading destination for birdwatching and nature tourism.
