President Ridge Bird Sanctuary is thriving
PRESIDENT RIDGE – The President Ridge Bird Sanctuary has been a place of tranquility since 1995.
Hundreds of bird species have made their home in President Ridge Bird Sanctuary, making the venue one of the most tranquil places in Joburg.
If you were to take a walk with volunteers of BirdLife President Ridge, you might happen upon a flock of parakeets flying back and forth over the dam, filling the air with their distinctive cry.
Guinea fowls shuffle along the ground while go-away-birds (grey loeries), thrushes and Cape white-eyes sit in the willow trees watching you as you cross one of the wooden bridges going over the Klein Jukskei River, or use the wheelchair-friendly paths to access the hide.
As many as six subspecies of kingfishers, as well as reed cormorants, yellow-billed ducks, families of geese and sacred ibises share the dam with the barbel fish.
“The bird sanctuary was opened in 1995 and we started BirdLife President Ridge, an affiliate of BirdLife South Africa, at that time,” said the group’s president and co-founder, Jill Hardingham.
“We planted 250 shrubs and carried maybe 80 buckets of water from the river here each day. There was a quarry nearby and they used to wash the sand here. Sasol paid for the hide that first year, and now 25 years later the sanctuary is beautiful.”
Access is controlled, so while residents of the neighbouring complexes can enter at any time, the public can only visit on weekends and public holidays. No dogs are allowed.
Volunteers and employee Luvo Nhose work hard to keep reeds and alien vegetation from growing out of control, while ensuring the ‘meadow’ in the sanctuary is cordoned off to allow bushes to produce seeds.
Other grass is cut by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo.
During the walk, BirdLife volunteer Celia Human pointed out some of the alien plants they needed to remove.
“Over the years people have also spotted water mongooses and leguaans,” she added.
“In terms of raptors, people have seen harrier hawks, Ovambo sparrow hawks and honey buzzards, among others.”
The group’s committee member, Denise Holahan encouraged the community to visit the sanctuary or find out how they could help conserve it.
The group also intends to resume its lectures and breakfasts this year.
Details: Denise Holahan dmhalexandrite@mweb.co.za, 073 255 9924.
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