Cape Bird Club
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ZANDVLEI CWAC COUNT

This is a working relationship with the Zandvlei Nature Reserve, the FitzPatrick Institute & the Cape Bird Club members and citizen scientists.

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.

SEE THE REPORTS OF PAST COUNTS.

This is an opportunity to learn about the birds at Zandvlei the only viable estuary on the False Bay coastline.
Become a citizen scientist by helping to count the birds.

2023

January 2025.

January 2024.

October 2024.

April 2024.

July 2024.

January 2023.

July 2023.

April 2023.

October 2023.

January 2022.

July 2022.

April 2022.

October 2022.

January 2021.

October 2021.

April 2021.

July 2021.

January 2019.

October 2019.

April 2019.

July 2019.

January 2018.

October 2018.

April 2018.

July 2018.

January 2017.

October 2017.

April 2017.

July 2017.

January 2016.

October 2016.

April 2016.

July 2016.

January 2015.

October 2015.

April 2015.

July 2015.

January 2014.

October 2014.

April 2014.

July 2014.

January 2013.

October 2013.

April 2013.

July 2013.

January 2012.

October 2012.

April 2012.

July 2012.

January 2011.

October 2011.

April 2011.

July 2011.

 2010 Counts.

 2009 Counts.

 2008 Counts.

 2007 Counts.

 2006 Counts.

 2005 Counts.

 2004 Counts.

 2003 Counts.

 2002 Counts.

 2001 Counts.

February 2000.

July 2000.

February 1999.

July 1999.

February 1998.

August 1998.

January 1997.

July 1997.

January 1996.

July 1996.

January 1995.

July 1995.

February 1994.

July 1994.

January 1993.

July 1993.