Greater Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve
In and around the Reserve – 2010
7. 28/02/2010 - The Open Day at the Reserve - We had a visitor from Alaska, who wanted to know whether the songs he was hearing were from a black-eyed Bulbul. My knowledge tells me they were a Cape Bulbul, and while standing in the parking lot under the shade of that palm tree, we spotted one, upon which he immediately hauled out his little notebook and made an entry. Wonder if you get bulbuls in Alaska.
Another couple a retired German teacher and his partner had a wonderful walk through and came across the juvenile Fish Eagle but on returning found their car wouldn't start.
Even with Leif's jumper leads the battery was just to old to accept the power.
Finally Marisa and Margit, her student towed them to harder ground where it caught and they returned home safely.
(story by David Muller)
photograph by David Muller
photograph by David Muller
Margit and Marisa sensibly
staying out of the sun. The "manned" information
desk was there to
meet the visitors.
photograph by David Muller
photograph by David Muller
Leif Petersen, Vanessa and Sally de Jager (Petersen). The stuck bakkie with no battery power.
6. 18/02/2010 - The chameleon relocation from Bokmakierie Park was successful, as we had many hands, eyes and torches to help.
A group of about 25 local residents came to help with the exercise.
5. 10/02/2010 - The reed cutter was seen working at Zandvlei today. Most people will not have seen it yet as it is used extensively at Rondevlei, which has a large reed over growth problem.
photograph by Lucia Rodrigues
Marisa and Eddy of to cut weed and reeds in the Sand River mouth.
4. 05/02/2010 - Cassy reports "Thank you to everyone who helped us get it right to fell the Eucalyptus trees at the bottom of Henley Road! Clifford, you’ll be proud to know that they have finally been dealt the final blow.
Thanks to the following people for making this happen;
Rob Erasmus for doing the climbing and lumberjack work! This was very well executed!
Marisa de Kock for organising the site inspection with Rob,
Dalton Gibbs for donations to Zandvlei Nature Care Fund,
Nicky Atkinson for organising amazingly quick payment for the operation,
Tamaryn Allen for letting us use Rondevlei’s chainsaw,
Louise Stafford for letting us use the IAS chainsaw,
Myrna Scholtz and Eric Bunu from Bracken for giving us some of their Chopper herbicide,
Eddie Moses for just being the most awesome foreman ever and doing all the hard slicing work on the ground,
Margit van Heerden for being so willing to help and learn – well done on the chainsawing!
Mark, Corinna and Kersten for all your moral support after the school groups in the morning and moving branches.
You are the reason this worked so well, thank you all – you’re fantastic!
Here are some pics from the operation:
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
First few cuts: this shows how massive these trees were.
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
Going, going...
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
Going, going...
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
TIMBERRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
Margit learning to chainsaw with Mentor Eddie Moses.
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
Cassy delivers the final blow.
We left some branches on the last tree which was ring barked for raptors as we know there is an owl in the area.
And the adjacent residents like it too, they can now see the whole area from their houses with no obstructions"!
3. 05/02/2010 - Cassy reports "Today marked the release of the 4 month old Rock Kestrel (Falco rupicolis), who was brought to us on 28th November 2009 after being kicked out of the nest of a Capricorn factory when his 2 siblings fledged.
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
He looked very shabby and still had a lot of baby fluff when I got him.
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
I taught him what food looked like and he got the idea very quickly. Soon he was eating rodents on his own. About 2 weeks after he was brought in, he had replaced all his baby down with proper feathers and was flying around confidently.
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
In January I decided that he should be ringed so that I could release him in Feb. Anthony van Zyl was kind enough to come through to Zandvlei and do the ringing. Rupicolis was extremely unimpressed with this idea and gave us quite a few good bites in reprimanding us!
In January he was moved to the Rondevlei enclosure where Do was fantastic at helping to feed and look after him.
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
He was then moved back to Zandvlei in preparation for his release. A hacking cage was built so that he would still have shelter and food if he needed it.
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
Today I was very proud to be able to say goodbye and watch him take to the skies above Zandvlei. He was able to fit in a good nip just before I let him go!
photograph by Cassy Sheasby
He looked confident as he left to perch in a tall tree.
Please look out for him. He has a metal ring on his right leg and a green colour ring on his left.
Please report any sightings to the Zandvlei office or to the Avian Demography Unit.
Many thanks to all the people that contributed to the rehabilitation and release of this raptor. Let’s hope that he goes off to find many a rodent and hopefully a female as gorgeous as he is".
2. 02/02/2010 - David Muller recorded this sighting of this seasons juvenile African Fish Eagle on the platform at Zandvlei.
photograph by David Muller
Juvenile African Fish Eagle.
1. 28/01/2010 - Rosemary Barson recorded this sighting of an African Openbill Stork at the Rutter Road Pond. This is a first and a new species for the list.
photograph by Rosemary Barson
African Openbill Stork.
In and around the Reserve in 2009.
In and around the Reserve in 2008.
In and around the Reserve in 2007.
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.
