|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Newsletter |
November/December 2001 |
|
|
|
From the Hide |
While the water level is
still fairly high around the hide, migrant wading birds are
showing themselves in good numbers in the shallow pans. At
the October count, a small flock of Flamingos were counted,
plus some Pelicans and plenty of small waders. A Curlew and
a Whimbrel were observed, not common birds for Rietvlei,
plus the usual Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers. Our Fish
Eagles have become regular visitors at this time of the year
and were also counted. The path to the hide is still
somewhat muddy but persistence will get you there. From now
on through January, conditions can only get better, so get
yourselves down there and don't forget to let us have some
feedback about your observations for the January newsletter.
|
|
Evening Talk |
|
Our last evening meeting
of the year takes place in November and we will be hosting
an interesting discussion on the unusual topic of Bats. If
you know nothing at all about these fascinating creatures,
here's your chance to learn about them. The local Bat Group
will be visiting us and would welcome all your questions. I
don't know if we have bats at Rietvlei - maybe they will
tell us whether we do or not! |
Date: Thursday 8th November 2001
Time: 7.30p.m. for 8p.m.
Venue: Milnerton Aquatic Clubhouse, off Pentz Drive, Table
View
Topic: 'Bats and their place in our lives'. A slide
presentation by the Bat Group. |
|
All members and friends will be welcome, tea, coffee and
snacks will be available and the bar will be open. |
We apologise for the delay some new members are experiencing
in obtaining their membership cards. We are trying to devise
a system that will produce these speedily and would be
grateful if any member can help us with this problem.
|
|
New Members |
We welcome the following new members:
Felicete Ekermans and Christian of Bloubergrant
Hugh and Brenda Hodge of Milnerton
Gerrie and Liz Horn of Parklands
Dr. van Wyk and family of Bloubergrant
|
|
Snippets around Rietvlei |
Our Arbor Day tree planting which was postponed to the 13th
October was highly successful. The holes did not fill with
water as had previously occurred and with the willing help
of some of our members, all bushes were finally put into the
ground. Many thanks to those who did attend.
|
|
Open Day on Sewage Works Expansion |
The Draft Scoping process for the expansion of the Potsdam
Wastewater Treatment Works seems to us to contain many
flaws. We are concerned that no fauna and flora study has
been deemed necessary and that the consultants seem to feel
that any expansion of the Works and increase in the effluent
flow down to the Lagoon area below the Otto du Plessis
bridge will have no effect on that section of Rietvlei. We
will be commenting on our concerns in a report to the
consultants.
|
|
Late Summer Dust Problem at Rietvlei |
The CSIR Final Report on the above has been placed at Table
View and Milnerton Libraries and is available on their
website www.csir.co.za/enviromentek/rietvlei. The best
recommendation appears to involve pumping water from the
North Lake, but we sincerely hope after the good recent
rains this problem will not occur again!
|
|
The Committee of the
Friends of Rietvlei would like to wish all our members and
their families a Joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
