Make birding buddies with the Ballito Bird Guide
The online community offers a space to share and identify local species.
The North Coast’s newest birding group provides all levels of bird and wildlife enthusiasts a chance to enjoy educational walks and workshops.
Photo: Gary Uys.
The Ballito Bird Guide was founded in 2024 by Dino Coundourakis and has already notched up more than 550 followers on Instagram. Dino’s popular Ballito Birding WhatsApp group also has 150 avid members.
Alongside the in-person birding, the Instagram platform also allows photographers in the group to share their best bird pictures taken in their respective estates and areas.
Photo: Gary Uys.
Coundourakis, a first responder for IPSS Search & Rescue, said another objective of the group is to share information about and document birds within estates as well as surrounding areas. He is currently focused on Fairview, Elaleni, Seaward, Palm Lakes and Zimbali Estates.
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“Eco estates have an abundance of birdlife because their varied eco-systems and habitats allow for diverse range of bird species to occur,” said Coundourakis.
“They all have indigenous trees and plant species which are perfect for diverse birdlife to live. The grasslands and coastal thickets are especially abundant and important on these estates.”
Photo: Gary Uys.
After five years working on a private game reserve in Zululand, Coundourakis moved to Sheffield Beach in 2023. He soon began giving guided bird walks through Elaleni’s protected swamp fig forest.
One of the 32-year-old’s favourite birds is the Narina Trogon, found throughout forested areas along the North Coast, with individuals spotted in various eco estates in Ballito.
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“Trogons are predominantly insectivores. They are one of the most sought after birds in the forest and they nest in the holes of the dead and living trees.”
Aside from birding, Coundourakis also assists in ringing birds and has joined many local ringings with Richard Mckibbin and James Rawdon. Ringing, which is the placement of a ring on the bird’s leg, is done to collect data on lifecycles, breeding patterns, survival rates, habits, populations and movements.
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“I’ve been a birder since I was a kid, and my dream was to one day become a guide in a game reserve – I love all wildlife!”
Some of Coundourakis’ other personal favourite birds are grey crowned cranes and the rare spotted ground thrush.
Photo: Calvin Harris.
“It’s an endangered ground-dwelling bird that holds a special place in my heart, but it has become endangered due to over-development, and the increase of domestic animals which put pressure on them in their limited habitats within residential areas.”
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To find out more about the bird group, visit @ballito_bird_guide on Instagram or WhatsApp Dino at 083 408 4438.
This article first appeared in the May 2025 edition of FastFinder – The North Coast Courier’s biannual business directory.
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Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.
