Zandvlei waterbody is open for recreation on 23 February 2022, after being closed on 25 May 2021 due to faecal coliform counts exceeding those for safe recreational contact.
Background of the Zandvlei CWAC.
Brian Herman co-ordinated these counts from 1993 to 2011 and then Gavin Lawson took over the co-ordination, which is part of the National Water Bird Census and done quarterly at Zandvlei.
See the roster for the future dates and do come and participate.
- In January 1993 the upper Zandvlei designated area was registered by Brian Herman with the first CWAC count taking place at what was then called the Wildwood Bird Sanctuary, land donated to the City of Cape Town by Anglo American the developers of the Marina da Gama suburb at Zandvlei.
- Subsequently in January 2001, the additional areas of the Westlake Wetlands (which includes the Rutter Road Pond) and in July 2001 the Zandvlei lower was registered by Brian, as we now had a permanent Manager appointed at the Zandvlei Nature Reserve (name changed from Wildwood Bird Sanctuary). This management appointment was through lobbying by the CBC Conservation Committee members.
- In 2011 the Marina da Gama canals were designated as north and south areas as per the registered MyBirdPatch layout. The north is incorporated into the Zandvlei upper area and the south is incorporated into the Zandvlei lower area.
Notes for the quarterly counts.
- The counts take place in January, April, July and October.
- The count duration is about 2 – 3 hours.
- You do not need to be an experienced birder to participate.
- This is the way to learn how to identify the birds at Zandvlei.
- If you have a canoe and wish to paddle the canals in the Marina and help count birds you are very welcome too.
- Wear suitable clothing for the weather conditions.
Meeting Place: is at the Main Gate of the Zandvlei Nature Reserve.
For more information contact Gavin Lawson on 021 705 5224 or glawson@axxess.co.za
See the 1974 Zandvlei Report by G.W.Begg
See this YouTube article about Zandvlei used for Estuary Management by the International Ocean Institute – Southern Africa (IOI SA) based in Cape Town, South Africa, functioning as the African regional training centre within the IOI global network.