Greater Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve
In
and around the Reserve – 2007
12. 06/12/2007 – This young Cape Clawless Otter was found in the Westlake River in the Kirstenhof area. It was sighted a number of times away from the river in peoples gardens, and eventually the SPCA were called and it was taken to the Grassy Park dept.
photograph by Greg Sneddon
If you find any animals in distress
or away from their natural habitat, please call
Cassy Sheasby (Manager of
Zandvlei Nature Reserve) on 021 701 7542.
11. 20/11/2007 – The beginning of a new wetland. Mark has started moving soil to create the wetland near the palm tree parking.
Mark and the
digger
Eddie using the quadbike to tow a dead tree away.
10. 06/11/2007 – New seasons birds in the Reserve. Cassy reported that the Cape Bulbul nest was raided soon after she took these photos and everything including the nest disappeared.
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
A Cape Bulbul nest with chick and two remaining eggs.
9. 02/10/2007 – The New Offices have been started on 01October. Yeah!!
photographs by Cassy Sheasby
Eddie and Mark laying the bricks for the new offices at the Reserve.
8. 16/09//2007 – The Malachite Kingfishers have made a nest in have a nest in a nearby compost heap. Mark Arendse reports he found one of the adults on the ground near the nest with string and threads around its feet!! He managed to disentangle the threads and release the bird. The threads and string were in the compost heap material.
The nest holes of the Malachite Kingfisher.
7. 14/09//2007 – The Fish Eagles have reared another chick in 2007. Careful monitoring and management of the area, has allowed the next ofspring to start a new life. Hopefully it wont be long before the young Fish Eagle arrives at Zandvlei to be taught how to fend for itself by the adults.
Photographs by Graham Searll
The Western Cape Raptor Research Programme - volunteers monitor and help manage the breeding sites.
6. 01/08//2007 – Karoo Robin introduced back to the Zandvlei Nature Reserve.
photograph by Doug Harebottle
On the 13th of July, the first of six Karoo Scrub-Robins (Cercotrichas coryphaeus) was successfully moved from the Sewage Works in Strandfontein to the GZENR. These birds are being brought to Zandvlei as a student research project.
Read more about this important research project.
5. 27/05/2007 – A Bark Spider (Caerostris sexcuspidata) female, found on a recent night search in the Reserve.
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
A Bark Spider (Caerostris sexcuspidata)
4. 13/05/2007 – Fairuz is going to start with her project to research the possiblity of the reintroduction of the Karoo Robin to Zandvlei. The proposal has been accepted this week by the Technicon for her final year practical.
photographs by Cassy Sheasby
An old Cape Robin nest found in the Reserve, cellophane, plastic packaging material and wool was used together with grass to build the nest.
Cassy suggests that this should be even more of a motivation for us to recycle our waste responsibly. Use the glass and paper recycling igloos.
3. 12/04/2007 – The
current brochure for recreational fishing for RSA is as below and available from
the GZENR during office hours.021 701 7542.
DEAT are working on the update presently and there could be changes to the
fishing parameters in the new document which will become available later in
2007.
Angling licences are required at
Zandvlei and are available at all Post Offices for R60.00, valid for 1 year. The
receipt needs to be attached to the permit and be in the posession of the angler
when fishing. Permits are also available from fishing equipment supply shops.
All the daily bag limits and descriptions are in the document.
Responsible angling is sustainable.
2. 10/03/2007 – The water quality in the Marina canals is evident by these photos taken by Ken Williams in Halyard Walk.
photograph by Ken Williams
The mullet or haarders are in clear water with sunlight patches on the bottom. The water weed also gives the fish cover when chased by predators.
photograph by Ken Williams
The estuary offers them protection from the large fish and turbulent seas in the summer months.
photograph by Ann Koeslag
1. 09/02/2007 – The
juvenile Fish Eagle chick at Zandvlei.
Fairuz (Conservation student) reported seeing it with the adults in early
January. The wingtag is clearly visible without binoculars
at 100 meters and seen late in January again.
Keep a watch out and report any sightings to the Reserve 021 701 7542 or Ann
Koeslag 072 357 0909.
In and around the Reserve in 2006.
In and around the Reserve in 2005.
In and around the Reserve in 2004.
In and around the Reserve in 2003.
In and around the Reserve in 2002.
