Zoarvlei - Cape Bird Club

2CHAMPIONS OF THE VLEIChairperson Peter Albert explains the aims and history of the Friends ofthe Paardeneiland WetlandsThe Friends of the Paardeneiland Wetlands groupwas founded in 1993 with the assistance ofWessa (Wildlife and Environmental Society of SA).The first committee comprised Pema’s (Paarden Eiland& Metro Association) environmental body,concerned Brooklyn residents – Hazel Petrig is stillserving as secretary – and interested individuals.Meetings were held at Klein Zoar, home of Davidand Jos Baker.The objectives were, and remain, the preservationof the remnant of Zoarvlei, which is an extension ofthe Deep River; bird life, plant species and to preventfurther degradation due to building activities.Support was sought from property owners on theedge of the wetland, Pema, schools, and residents.The active involvement of Pema was particularlywelcome due to the wider membership of industrialists.There was much enthusiasm for the concept,with its modest membership fees, and AGMs werewell attended, with about 30 active participants.The group has remained active through itsparticipation on the forum of the Zoarvlei ManagementAction Committee,(ZMAC), which is the ongoingmunicipal involvementover the status of thevlei. The achievementshave been concentrated onDr Frank Wygold’s West Coast Field Studies Centre(WCFSC) and its educational programme viaschools, with scores of pupils benefiting.Bird counts have been undertaken for nationalCo-ordinatured Waterbird Count (Cwac) studies,and pathways established through funding fromTotal. Other on-going activities include alien vegetationremoval, monitoring of water levels and pollution,plus prevention of squatting and dumping.Education in this sphere is essential, as is the incentiveto improve and maintain adjacent propertyvalues. No-one wants to live on the border of a rubbishdump!We need the enthusiastic response and participationof an enviro-friendly community and welcomeyour interest in our activities.The waterways were well tended bythe City during the yearCALL TO INDUSTRIALISTSBy Patricia Tallant, manager of Paarden EilandCity Improvement District and deputy chair of theFriendsDespite being on the edge of a wetland, most industrialistsin Paardeneiland seem unaware ofthis precious asset right on their doorstep.This is a wake-up call. Recently granted ‘‘voluntaryconservation area’’ status by the City, thePaardeneiland Wetlands, or Zoar vlei, is under enormousstress. Support for plans to alleviate problemswould be more constructive than complaints.For several years most businesses close to thewetland area (particularly Milner, Gray and parts ofAuckland streets) have complained of the unpleasantand damaging effects on staff and property bythe seasonal dispersing of bulrush seeds, degradationcaused by the invasion of displaced people settingup camp sites and the continued dumping ofrubbish in the area. A huge fire allegedly started inone of the camps a few years ago brought into focusthe vulnerability of buildings and other assets closeto the vlei.The prime objective of the Friends is to upgradeand preserve the area, yet interest from businesses isdecidedly poor.To page 4

4SPOT THE BIRDS!Ronel Scheffer goes bird-counting with Frank WygoldThe top count was 150 species in the days when Cape Bird Club carriedout bird counts on Zoarvlei (they stopped in 2003). On one Iattended, spotters were rewarded with a dozen Ethiopian Snipes, an interestingmottled brown bird with a bill twice as long as its head.These days only a Cwac (Co-ordinatured Waterbird Count) is doneand there’s a perception not much is happening bird wise on our vlei. Yeton a recent Sunday morning when Frank and I went to check out thesituation, we logged 40 species in just 90 minutes!The total would’ve been even higher if the “red masked weaver” Iwas excited about hadn’t turned out to be a plastic bag and the bobbingbrown bottle Frank called had indeed been a blacknecked grebe.The tally included the usual ducks, pigeons, gulls and starlings butalso the European swallow, Alpine swift, reed warbler, yellowbackedwidow and red bishop, purple gallinule, shoveller and dikkop.Our three locations were the footbridge in Wemyss Street, behindBayview soccer club and opposite the Grey Street container yard.At the footbridge we were welcomed by a very laid-back pair ofbanded martins, who have a nest under the bridge. Reed cormorantsseem plentiful because we spotted one at all three sites. As we packed upopposite Klein Zoar a tiny pintailed wydah, sporting an extra-long tail,waved us off.Clearly you won’t be disappointed going bird-watching on Zoarvlei!From top: Frank Wygold. A reedcormorant shows off the Gray Streetcontainers and a banded martin atthe Wemyss Street footbridge.Right: Newly created shallows toattract waders.call to industrialists From page 4A concerted joint awarenesscampaign could prevent the gradualdisappearance of this uniquehabitat – and provide a relaxinggreen area for staff lunch breaks.The Paarden Eiland City ImprovementDistrict is committedto improving the state of the wetlandsby assisting the Friends intheir challenging tasks.We appeal to industrialists tohelp save our wetlands from furtherdegradation by supportingthis initiative. Your contribution,in cash or kind, will benefit manymore beyond the borders ofPaardeneiland.Page sponsored by committee members of Friends of the Paarden Eiland Wetlands –towards promoting greater awareness of Zoarvlei and the need for its conservation.

5MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VLEILannice Woulidge stepped it out for youDo you live in Brooklyn, Ysterplaat or Rugby?Or work in Paardeneiland and need time out?Then explore Zoarvlei right on your doorstep. It’s anoasis of greenery, birdlife and tranquil vlei watersbetween the hubbub of industrial Paardeneiland andfrenetic Koeberg Road.You can walk, jog or cycle or enjoy lunch besidethe water. The new galvanised steel benches on theeast and west banks are far more comfortable thanthey seem at first sight. Although the paths round thevlei are overgrown in certain areas, if you have anexploratory streak, or need exercise, you won’t havemuch trouble in getting around.The distance around Zoar Park, from BoundaryRoad to Section Street and including the wetland/vlei area, is about 7 km.NORTHERN WATER BODY Entrance in DonegalRoad at the northern end via a tarred path, or atthe cul-de-sac at the southern end, where a lateritepath leads to the water’s edge. Coot and variousducks rule here, but if you’re lucky you’ll also seeheron. There’s a useful bird watching mound.Head north past the back of the Portuguese andItalian Clubs (this area is dirty and overgrown andthe bridge across to Milner Road on the Paardeneilandside has been vandalised). You emerge nearthe popular weekend flea-market on Marine Drive:Neighbourhood kids take advantage of the vlei, wherewild flowers were spectacular this year.make it a pit-stop for a bite or bargain.Going is easier, though littered, along the pathbehind the factories to the MyCiTi bus station, andthe footbridge across the vlei leads to a path to thebird mound where you started. The round trip isabout 2,5 km.SOUTHERN WATER BODY Entrance in ForridonStreet next to Good Hope Flats. The path is hardgravel and suitable for cycling, jogging and strolling.A grey heron keeps watch here and the lush lobelia-coveredwetlands spread out to an extent notguessed at from one street away. The path leads tothe Salt River Canal. Retrace your steps or take GrayStreet on the western side of Zoar Park, over awooden bridge and onto the flat and easy red buslane. The round trip, which passes Bayview soccerclubhouse and the cottage Klein Zoar is about 2,5km. Though the path to the south is overgrown, theview of Table Mountain is spectacular.The Friends hope to raise funds to clear the paths.They would like to see cycle/obstacle-course eventsfor the local community become a reality to promotesport in a nature environment.The Brooklyn Ysterplaat & Rugby Residents’ Association appeals to the community tokeep our wetlands clean so all can enjoy it. Tel (021) 511 3515 for membership details.

JOIN NOW!membership applicationFriends of the Paarden Eiland WetlandsName .............................................................................................................Address ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Postal code .....................Tel ....................................................................................................................E-mail .............................................................................................................Signed ....................................................... Date .........................................membership category – annual feeStudent R5 Pensioner R10 Individual R25Family R50 Corporate/Institution R250Donations welcomeCheque payments:Friends of the Paarden Eiland WetlandsBank: First National Bank, PaardeneilandBank code: 201 009Savings account number: 6201 049 3584PO Box 12066 Mill Street 8010083-338-9319, fax 021-510-1382e-mail petrigpr@iafrica.comSupermarketunder new ownership236 Koeberg RoadRugby, Cape Town021 510 0635e-mail: john@the-hut.co.zaOUR CAPE SAND FROGThe frog on our logo is themedium sized, mottled andrather toad-like Cape sandfrog, found in flat, lowlyingsandy areas in coastallowlands. Fingers are notwebbed, but toes have somewebbing and a hard ridgeon the heel of each hind foothelps dig it into the ground. Burrowingrapidly, the frog spends a large portionof its time underground. Its call isdistinctive: a series of short, ringingnotes at about 10 a second, mostlyheard in early summer.■ Did you know that frogs shed theirskin once a week and then eat it?KULU MOTORS RUGBY449 Koeberg RdRugby, Cape Town021 506 7920e-mail jwkulu@mweb.co.zawww.kulumotors.co.zaNewsletter produced byFriends of the Paardeneiland WetlandsEditor: Jos BakerAssistant editor: Ronel SchefferLayout: Barbara MowattContributions and photographs welcomed!E-mail: josbaker@adept.co.za