The Cape Bird Club
Conservation Committee
photograph by Dave Whitelaw
The "new stick islands" at the Strandfontein Sewerage Works, July 2005.
Background.
Conservation is an item low on many peoples agendas. It is fast growing in importance, as the human pressure continues to develop the remaining natural areas for housing, farming and industry in the Fynbos areas.
The Cape Fynbos areas have recently been declared a World Heritage Site. The fybnbos biome is unique on the planet, in that, it has the highest number of plant species per square meter in some areas and takes up less than 1% of the worlds land mass. Many of these habitats have plants with host insects, which have sybiotic relationships, others are pollinated by our birds. New species of plants and insects are still being found. There is not enough money or people allocated to this subject, much remains to be studied, conserved and managed, so that future generations can enjoy the remaining natural areas we tend to take for granted.
Strandfontein – April 2004
The Conservation Committee.
It was started in 1988 and the Chairman is Dave Whitelaw. The present members are; Felicity Ellmore – Secretary, Frank Wygold, Clifford Dorse, Doug Harebottle, Isabelle Hayden, Suretha van Rooyen and Gavin Lawson.
We meet every 6 weeks to report back on the
topics we deal with at our meetings, some of which will be published here in the near future.
Over the years we have dealt with many issues, the following are some recent
past examples we helped make a difference there are many others;
- The Club raised money which was matched by Pick n Pay to sponsor the production of our "Bird Pack" in the mid 1990's. This project has now been taken over by The Ubuntu Foundation and with minor modifications is used in hundreds of schools throughout the country. This was a combined project with the S.A.Museum and The Ubuntu Foundation.
- Bridging funding was provided to keep Clifford
Dorse employed at the Zandvlei Nature Reserve
for 4 months, until he was appointed to the position in 1999. - Bridging funding was provided to keep Erica
Foot employed at the Zandvlei Nature Reserve
for 3 months, until she was appointed to a contract position in 2004. - We funded the Black Oystercatcher Project with R30 000.00 over the initial 3 years.
- We have recently paid out our last instalment
of the R30 000 donation,
for the Western Cape Raptor Research Programme. - The CAR project is funded to a limited extent - basically covering the costs of analysing the Western Cape data.
- We provided funding to the Knysna Warbler project.
- In 2002 we donated R3000 to fund the employment of a part time gardener (previously unemployed) and the purchase of indigenous plants (Strandveld - habitat rehabilitation) for the Westlake Wetlands Walkway garden at Lakeside, near Muizenberg.
- Past and present members regularly monitored the Cape Town International Airport runways for birds as potential flying hazards to aircraft. This was in conjunction with management staff. Various habitat changes were implemented to try discourage large birds frequenting the areas surrounding the runways.
These are some examples of how the Cape Bird Club has played a positive role in Conservation and Environmental Education in the Western Cape.
Black
Oystercatcher.
What we do.
The members;
- have to read many varied documents and correspondence, try and make sense of the myriad of legislation and procedures,
- participate in numerous EIA's (Environmental Impact Assessments),
- follow up media discussions with articles for the press and radio,
- visit areas to gain information (detective work),
- attend meetings,
- get involved with the players, build up relationships and correspond with networks of like minded people and groups.
- We work with all City and Western Cape Government, also Provincial Nature Conservation planning, engineering and management authorities and many other officials.
- We lobby City, Provincial and National Government by letter writing, with personal visits and by phone calls.
- We are directly and indirectly involved with education at Zandvlei Nature Reserve, Rondevlei, Edith Stephens, Strandfontein, Paarden Eiland Wetlands and others.
- We organise"a hacking group" (clearing of exotic invasive plants and trees). With the correct management, previously infested lands may, return to a once original condition, with very little human intervention. The reason is; - often the seed stock has been suppressed into dormancy.
With knowledge, our members can be important 'watch
dogs', to monitor local and other areas we visit, when bird watching.
We need
your help and assistance. Report back any new roads, buildings, farm fields and
developments in areas previously a natural area. Even better, if you become
aware, before such developments take place, find out what is being planned.
Become involved.
Zandvlei Nature Reserve – Central pan in mid
summer 2001.
Some of the local areas monitored;
Strandfontein,
Zeekoevlei,
Rondevlei,
Princessvlei,
Zandvlei,
Silvermine River,
Wildevoelvlei,
Glencairn vlei,
Raapkraal,
Liesbeeck and Black River ways,
Paarden Eiland Wetlands,
Milnerton Lagoon area,
Rietvlei,
Blouberg Conservation area and surrounds.
There are many more areas that should be monitored. Please help, when visiting your favourite areas, by being vigilant and enquiring.
Do not take the present natural areas for granted.
Without sustainable habitats, there will be fewer species of birds for us to see
and appreciate.
It is up to all of us, to become
responsible and take care of our natural heritage and its environment.
Contact; Dave Whitelaw ph (021) 671 3714
Crowned Plover at Zandvlei Jackass Penguins
