The Cape Bird Club

Projects to improve bird habitats at Strandfontein

June 2008 –  Aerial photograph of the new Bird Information Centre construction in the centre of "the wagon wheel" of the pans.

April 2008 –  Eben reports; 

• An island has been created on pan S3 (see below) where we are busy putting branches on it as there are between 100 -150 birds roosting on the island.

• Another bit of news is that I am planning a nice entrance to the birding area, with signage and a new boom gate that will open at 07h30 in the morning and close at 19h00 at night.

• I am just awaiting a fire permit before we can start burning the reeds around pan P2 (see below)

• I am also in the process of getting a sponsored 4x4 for use at Strandfontein.

• Other news is that we are in the process of building a big canal bypassing the hyacinth pan so that we can try and remove the hyacinth by drying the pan completely.

photograph by Morne Carstens

A new pan constructed in the south western corner which has filled with rain this winter.
It will be a seasonal wetland. It was utilised by birds very soon after filling with water.

photographs by Morne Carstens

Fire management to reduce the annual dry brush load.

photograph by Morne Carstens

The new picnic site on the northern side of pan S8.

Management and regulating the water level of the pans

The importance of dropping water levels was highlighted from a short lived experiment which the Cape Bird Club conducted some years ago. A pan was selected in conjunction with the Management at the Sewage Works and water to the pan was diverted. This resulted in a progressive lowering of the water level.

Montlhy counts were conducted at this experimental pan and an adjacent control pan. The results revealed a dramatic change; both in the number of species and bird numbers.

With Morne operating as from January 2006 he has worked at lowering a number of pans water levels and is monitoring the bird activity.

photograph by Morne Carstens

P2 pan just before the level was being dropped in February 2006.

photograph by Morne Carstens

S3 pan island visible at the begining of lowering in March 2006.