Marievale Bird Sanctuary
Site code: 26212830
Current compiler: Stan Madden
Photo © Stan Madden
Aerial view looking south over the sanctuary with Shelduck hide and boardwalk in the foreground
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| Map |
Map of Marievale Bird Sanctuary showing the location of roads, powerlines and bird hides within the sanctuary. Modified from a map drawn by Stan Madden. |
| Description |
Marievale Bird Sanctuary is situated in the southern half of the Blesbokspruit RAMSAR site, an area that is also a designated Important Bird Area (IBA SA021) in South Africa. The Blesbokspruit is a major perennial river in Gauteng which is flanked by extensive floodplains on either side. The sanctuary is about 10 km2 in size and comprises numerous, large, shallow waterbodies dominated by tall, sometimes dense stands of emergent vegetation consisting mainly of Phragmites, Typha and Juncus reeds. Small patches of grassland are found on the eastern margin of the sanctuary. It is controlled and managed by the Gauteng Departmnet of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment.
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| Ecology |
The floodplains and flow of the river have been seriously affected by the building of embankments, roads, railways, pipe lines and power lines across the low-lying areas of the Blesbokspruit, mainly due to the advent of gold-mining in the 1940s. This change impeded the natural flow and created large, open, shallow stretches of water. Nowadays, excess water is pumped into the system from nearby mines, sewage treatment plants and industries, and together with the impeded drainage, has created a vast system of 'dams', vastly different to the palustrine wetland it once was. Nevertheless, this has enabled waterbirds, and in particular, waterfowl, to fully exploit the area as a prime breeding and feeding locality.
In recent years, problems with reed growth and encroachment have arsien at the sanctuary, reducing the amount of open-water and shoreline habitat for many ducks and wading birds - overall numbers of waterbirds were significantly lower during this period. To alleviate this problem, Stan and the Friends of Marievale (WESSA) initiated a large-scale reed-spraying programme in the summer of 1998/99. Results showed that areas, once choked with dense stands of reeds, opened up, creating large open-areas of shallow water and exposing greater shoreline. Drainage improved and waterbird numbers subsequently increased with many ducks, moorhen, egrets and waders returning to utilise these new areas.
CWAC applaudes Stan and the Friends of Marievale for taking the initiative to help improve conditions at Marievale, which besides being beneficial to waterbirds has assisted in the overall improved functioning of the wetland in the Blesbokspruit RAMSAR site.
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| CWAC history |
Marievale was first counted in January 1993. Counts have since been conducted on a regular, six monthly basis by teams of observers made up from members of the Wits Bird Club, East Rand Bird Club and Springs/Nigel branch of the Wildlife & Environment Society of South Africa.
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| Waterbird highlights |
CWAC data shows that the sanctuary supports up to 65 different waterbird species and 3500 individuals, particularly during summer when there is an influx of migrants. It is one of the few places in Gauteng to see Goliath Heron, Great White Heron, Black Egret, Fulvous Duck and South African Shelduck. When conditions are good it supports large numbers of Reed Cormorant, Yellowbilled Duck, African Spoonbill and Ethiopian Snipe. Marievale also provides good habitat for many summer vagrants including European Marsh Harrier, Slaty Egret, Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Yellow Wagtail. The area is also a good rallid locality - African Rail, Black Crake, Purple Gallinule and Moorhen are all commonly seen at the sanctuary, with Redchested Flufftail being recorded less frequently.
| | Count data |
Click on the icon to view this site's page in the TOTAL CWAC report (pdf format)
This page summarises CWAC counts for Marievale Bird Sanctuary from 1993-97
Please note: mean and maximum counts for species are marked with asterisks where they reach certain thresholds: ** = 1% of the estimated global population and * = 0.5% of the estimated global population. |
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| | Breeding records |
Confirmed
Great Crested Grebe
Moorhen
Redknobbed Coot
Malachite Kingfisher
Suspected
Little Egret
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Threatened waterbirds
Barnes 2000 |
The following Red Data species have been recorded at the sanctuary and are often seen during CWAC counts:
Vulnerable
African Marsh Harrier
Grass Owl
Near-threatened
Yellowbilled Stork
Greater Flamingo
Lesser Flamingo
Caspian Tern
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| Other birding highlights |
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| Conservation issues |
| | Photo gallery |
These aerial pictures show the effect that reed spraying has had in opening areas that were once choked with reeds.
Stan standing on the 'old bridge" which was built in the 1880s and is now one of the favourite sites for visiting birders, and a Black Egret "mantled" under its canopy as seen from Hadeda hide.
Photos © Stan Madden |
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