|
EVENING TALK "BIRD
CALLS" |
|
The next evening talk
will be by Kirsten Louw, one of our members, who is
currently studying for a Masters Degree in Ornithology.
Kirsten will discuss birdcalls and the reasons why and how
birds sing. We really look forward to seeing our members at
this meeting. Please invite your friends to join us. |
Date: Thursday 23rd October
Venue: Milnerton Aquatic Clubhouse, off Pentz Drive, Table
View
Time: 7.30 for 8p.m
Contact: Margaret on 557-4990 |
PLEASE DIARISE THURSDAY 20 NOVEMBER FOR OUR NEXT EVENING
GET-TOGETHER. YOU MUST BE THERE!!!
|
|
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
CENTRE |
|
Hopefully quite a number of our
members have been down to the bird hide recently to see the
extensive birdlife Rietvlei has to offer. On your way to the
hide you should have seen our "cabin" going up. Work
commenced at the end of September. Koos Retief and the
Rietvlei Nature Conservation Students set up an
Environmental Management Plan for the contractors to follow
whilst working at Rietvlei. The contractors were also given
a briefing on the environmental sensitivity of the site and
the working area was demarcated. Koos and the students have
been undertaking regular visits to the site to ensure that
the builders have been complying with the plan. The builders
have been doing an excellent job and the site has been kept
clean and tidy. |
|
The building operations are due to be completed by the end
of October and as of writing this in mid October the roof is
on, the floors are being completed, internal panelling has
been going in and it is really starting to look like a home
for Friends of Rietvlei and environmental education. DETAILS
OF THE OPENING WILL BE SENT TO YOU NEXT MONTH. |
REQUEST: Friends of Rietvlei has a huge amount of material
gathered during our existence. We would like to produce some
posters/displays for the centre and we need some volunteers
to help with this. Please email us or phone Margaret on 557
4990 or Pat on 557 3748 with your offer to help. WE NEED
YOU!!!
|
|
NEW MEMBERS |
|
We are happy to welcome the First Milnerton Sea Cubs, under
the leadership of their Akela, Shelley Donaldson, as new
members. The children have paid a few visits to Rietvlei and
the bird hide and have now decided to become more involved
by tackling a project. The Rietvlei NC students have been
assisting with project ideas and will be assisting the cubs. |
PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS, COLLEAGUES TO
BECOME MEMBERS - GET A MEMBERSHIP FORM BY EMAILING OR
PHONING MARGARET ON 557 4990. THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!!
|
|
RAINFALL UPDATE |
|
Total Rainfall for Rietvlei (mm) for 2000-2003 |
| |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2003
Century City |
|
January |
- |
16 |
57.9 |
3.5 |
5 |
|
February |
- |
2 |
10 |
6 |
19 |
|
March |
- |
0 |
10.1 |
32.2 |
63 |
|
April |
5+ |
18.9 |
29.9 |
10.9 |
22 |
| May
|
26.1 |
48.7 |
38.6 |
22.2 |
40 |
|
June |
51.6 |
36.4 |
62.8 |
13.1 |
39 |
|
July |
46.1 |
175.7 |
69.5 |
19.5 |
59 |
|
August |
24.3 |
108.7 |
66.9 |
- |
124 |
|
September |
49.3+ |
61.5+ |
19.5 |
- |
107 |
|
October |
5.3 |
31.2 |
33.7 |
- |
33.7 |
|
November |
8.8 |
22.5 |
13.2 |
- |
13.2 |
|
December |
2.5 |
10.5 |
20.1 |
- |
20.1 |
|
Total: |
219+ |
532.1+ |
432.2 |
- |
|
|
Just for interest, please see that the last column gives the
figures for rainfall measured at Century City (and therefore
for Blouvlei/Intaka Island) They seem to get a consistently
higher rainfall than Rietvlei!!
|
|
SNIPPETS |
|
MILNERTON LAGOON MOUTH: For those of you who drive to town
occasionally or regularly you will see some changes
happening there. Nelis Visagie has been attending the
Environmental Liaison Committee (ELC) meetings for this
project, which originally commenced in 1996. Spinnakers is a
block of apartments at the southern end that has had an
impact on the dune system. This development has not had a
good record of environmental compliance and the September
audit report by the Environmental Control Officer
highlighted NINE areas of non-compliance. The Lagoongate
development commenced in early October and they have had to
be chased to ensure they adhere to the Environmental
Management Plan. This development will overlook the
Milnerton Lagoon and consists of hotel and apartments. |
|
ROYAL ASCOT: Margaret Macivor is the FofR representative on
this ELC. Of crucial importance now is ensuring the
apartments known as Sandown Crescent do not impact the
adjacent conservation areas. These apartments are being
built on a portion of the old horse race track following the
crescent shape. The new stormwater ponds, at the corner of
Racecourse/R27 roads, are shaped and the indigenous
vegetation is starting to grow. The stormwater will flow
from these ponds to Rietvlei. These ponds should help to
slow down and clean up the water before Rietvlei has to
"handle" it. |
 |
| This newsletter comes to you with the kind
assistance of Caltex. |
