Raising the Fish Eagle platform
– 28 May 2002.

On the 28 May 2002 in the pouring rain the Reserve staff Pottie snr, Gavin, Clifford, Elzette, Erika, Glendon, with help from Gavin Lawson and Cherry Giljam in her peddle boat, finished installing the nesting platform in the Zandvlei Nature Reserve at the edge of the water in the northern section of Zandvlei.
The 8 meter tall gum tree branch is secured in a drum, in concrete. The peddle boat was used to ferry the dry concrete mix in relays from the land to the work site. The rest of the equipment was carried through knee deep water. Thankfully the Estuary mouth was open to the sea, allowing the water level to drop about 40cm below the average level when closed at this time of the year.

A lot of research, planning and preparation went into this project, selecting a gum tree, cutting it down, drying it out and then having to cut it 6 metres shorter before transporting it from the forest to the site.
The nesting platform is 1 metre square wooden frame covered in welded steel mesh. It is hoped the Fish Eagles will utilise the platform, which is based on designs used successfully elsewhere.
It remains to be seen which species of bird makes itself at home first, in this prime avifaunal condo.

Photographs by Gavin Lawson.