Friends of Rietvlei
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.
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