Greater  Zandvlei  Estuary  Nature  Reserve

 The first Zandvlei Saturday Open Day – December 2009

On 28th November 2009 the Zandvlei Nature Reserve northern section was open to members of the public on Saturday morning from 08h00 to 13h00. The initiative has been started to gauge the interest of members of the public wanting to access the northern trail section over weekends as this has been requested frequently in the last year.

photograph by David Muller                                                                photograph by Martin Struthmann

Tables set up near the wetland and ringing nets.             Cassy answering questions about the Reserve. 

The Zandvlei staff and members of the Zandvlei Trust were in attendance to welcome people. Approximately 60 visitors enjoyed the peaceful walk in the nature reserve and had a nice chat afterwards with the people directly involved with the management of the area. Maps of the circular route were handed out and the Zandvlei Trust sold coffee, tea, muffins, bird charts and leopard toad badges, the proceeds of which go to the Zandvlei Nature Care Fund for special projects. David Muller and Cassy Sheasby donated the tea, coffee and muffins.

photograph by David Muller                                    photograph by David Muller

Dalton Gibbs assisted by Cassy,             Cassy demonstrating aspects of the ringing process.
fitting a ring to the Coots leg.

There was also a bird ringing session, which took place at the “new wetland” – a previously disturbed area that was used as a dumping site next to the old nursery. Over the last two years it has been transformed into a wetland linked to the internal channels of the northern area. It has in the last two years become a safe breeding ground for Western Leopard Toads, River Frog and weaver birds and hosts an array of beautiful indigenous plants that were introduced in an effort to rehabilitate the site to a functional ecosystem. Birds caught include the Little Rush Warbler, a juvenile Southern Double collared Sunbird, Cape Weaver, Southern Masked Weaver, juvenile Common (European) Starling and two Coots.

photograph by David Muller

The Coot being released back into the reeds.

The atmosphere was one of community, awareness, networking and getting involved in the natural environment. Many people jotted down their names for future reserve events such as litter cleanups, bird ringing and future open days. Perhaps the highlight was the sighting of a Booted Eagle flying overhead and the appearance of a flock of 6 Red-faced Mousebirds.

The next Zandvlei weekend Open Day will be on Saturday 19th December 2009 from 08h00 to 13h00.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Cassy Sheasby.