|
EVENING TALK |
|
All members, and any
interested friends, are invited to attend our year-end
function. This will consist of "bring a plate of snacks to
share", drinks, socialising, student presentations, and a
talk by Nathan Myers. |
|
Details: TUESDAY 16 NOVEMBER , 19H30 FOR 20H00 |
|
Nathan Myers will give a talk on "Insect Collecting" and
show you the start of the Rietvlei insect collection. Whilst
birds and flowers are the more easily seen residents of
Rietvlei, what about all the insects??? Friends of Rietvlei
are supporting this project financially so come and take a
look. |
|
What we require from you: YOUR ATTENDANCE AND A PLATE OF
SNACKS TO SHARE |
SEE YOU THERE!!
|
|
LAST OPEN SATURDAY FOR
2004 |
This will be held on the
third Saturday of November : 20th from 09h00 to 12h00, with
a birding walk starting at 09h30. Do come!!
|
|
SPECIAL THANKS |
|
Audrey Van den Honert has made some lovely table cloths to
cover our grey metal tables in the Education Centre, and she
has also found some crockery for our kitchen. Well done! |
Also "THANK YOU" to all the members who have supported us
this year. May 2005 bring you peace and prosperity AND many
happy hours involved with Rietvlei.
|
|
ADOPT-A-BEACH ACTIVITY |
|
What a beautiful sunny morning greeted those Friends, and
the friends of Friends, who met at the coastal area of
Rietvlei Wetland Reserve on Tuesday 12 October at 09h30. Ten
people, including the reserve staff, spread out across the
beach between the high and low water marks and did a litter
sweep for about 100m along the beach towards Dolphin Beach.
For half an hour eyes were focused downwards looking for
litter. |
|
The group met back together at the starting point to discuss
the findings. While waiting to regroup Isobel trained her
binoculars on the sea and soon spotted a whale. Just beyond
the breakers in the calm sea the whale proceeded to give a
graceful display to those watching - perhaps to say thanks
for the clean-up?? |
|
The consensus from the group was that 90% of the litter
picked up was plastic. Drinking straws and plastic bottle
tops accounted for a large number of items.
Plastic/cellophane wrapping, including chip packets, were
abundant. Often there was just a small corner sticking out
of the sand but when pulled a large piece was revealed. A
few interesting items were lighters, bulbs, two or three
glass bottles, and Peter picked up what appeared to be part
of an upholstered chair, including a lot of rusty nails
sticking out - we were glad no-one had been walking
bare-foot along the beach. |
The group felt that in under an hour we had made a
difference to the beach, we had got fresh air and exercise,
and we had enjoyed the site of the frolicking whale in the
beautiful turquoise bay. SO.. we hope to see YOU at the next
clean-up. Please meet at the parking area closest to Dolphin
Beach Hotel (turn off Marine Drive at their entrance, go
round the circle in front of the restaurant and into the
coastal parking area) on Tuesday 23 November at 09h30.
|
|
SNIPPETS OF INFORMATION |
|
Following the interesting botanical talk by Adam Harrower
recently the nature conservation students at Rietvlei have
been collecting plants that are presently flowering at
Rietvlei. These plants have been photgraphed and scanned
successfully, before being pressed. The herbarium collection
will therefor be enhanced by pictures and pressings. Would
any member like to sponsor the colour-printing of the
digital pictures for use in the Education Centre? Please
contact Pat Titmuss 557 3748. |
|
Subsequent to the Environmental Impact Assessment done for
the upgrade and extensions of the Potsdam waste-water
treatment works, a further study and model has been done to
assess the impact of removing the treated effluent from the
Milnerton Lagoon. The computer model shows pictorially the
impact of water flowing out the Lagoon versus the changing
tides. Anyone interested in further information via a talk
or newsletter? Please let the committee know via e-mail or
on 5574990. |
|
The Royal Ascot development (old Milnerton racecourse) is
rapidly nearing completion. Have you noticed the stormwater
ponds on the corner of Racecoure Road and R27? The overflow
from these ponds has been linked up via a pipe to the Diep
River just north of Racecourse bridge. Koos Retief is
overseeing the rehabilitation of the area that has been
damaged by the construction machinery. |
The first "National Pelican Count" was held on 16 October
2004. Rietvlei Student Juan-Pierre did the official count
for Rietvlei and counted 7 pelicans.
|
|
RAINFALL RECORDED AT RIETVLEI |
| |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
|
January |
- |
16.00 |
57.90 |
3.50 |
8.00 |
|
February |
- |
2.00 |
10.00 |
6.00 |
0.90 |
|
March |
- |
0.00 |
10.10 |
32.20 |
7.00 |
|
April |
5.00 |
18.90 |
29.90 |
10.90 |
79.50 |
| May
|
26.10 |
48.70 |
38.60 |
22.20 |
2.25 |
|
June |
51.60 |
36.40 |
62.80 |
13.10 |
66.80 |
|
July |
46.10 |
175.70 |
69.50 |
27.30 |
65.75 |
|
August |
24.30 |
108.70 |
66.90 |
81.10 |
45.45 |
|
September |
49.30 |
61.50 |
19.50 |
53.80 |
17.75 |
|
October |
5.30 |
31.20 |
33.70 |
25.30 |
119.00 |
|
November |
8.80 |
22.50 |
13.20 |
2.80 |
- |
|
December |
2.50 |
10.50 |
20.10 |
15.50 |
- |
|
Total: |
219.0 |
532.1+ |
432.20 |
303.70 |
412.40 |
|
 |
| This newsletter comes to you with the kind
assistance of Caltex. |
