Marievale Bird Sanctuary is situated in the southern half of the Blesbokspruit River System, a major perennial river in Gauteng. Marievale extends from the Old Bridge near its northern end, built in the 1890's and which is the main water ingression site, and a naturally good bird viewing area, all the way to the southern end bordering the tar road that links Nigel to Devon making the sanctuary about 10 km² in size. The sanctuary comprises numerous large, shallow and not so shallow waterbodies dominated by tall, dense stands of Phragmites, Typha and Juncus reeds. Patches of grassland are found on both the eastern and western margins of the sanctuary. There are also stands of Eucalypts next to the picnic site. The far eastern side is bordered by two huge mine dumps and a rock dump. While on the western side the sanctuary is bordered by the Marievale Gold Mine in the central area and farm lands to the north and south. The Blesbokspruit River System of which Marievale is a part, was declared a RAMSAR site, while Marievale Bird Sancturary itself is a designated Important Bird Area (IBA SA021) in South Africa. It is controlled and managed by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment. 

Marievale Bird Sanctuary has over 280 species of birds and mammals that cohabit the Sanctuary. The mammal highlights include, Blesbok, Reed Buck, Black-backed Jackal, Cape Clawless Otter, Water Mongoose, Yellow Mongoose, Cape Hare and Porcupine.

Of the bird species, some of the specials include, Slaty Egret, Black Heron, Osprey, Pallid and Montague's Harrier, African and European Marsh Harrier, Black, Ballion's and African Crake, Baird's Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Caspian Tern, Red and Red-necked Phalarope, Ruddy Turnstone and Blackwinged Pratincole.

Some of the more common birds include, Goliath, Grey, Blackheaded, Black, Purple, Green-backed and Squacco Herons, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Bittern, ducks represented by SA Shelduck, Yellowbilled, Black, White-faced, Fulvous and even White-backed Duck. Three stork species, White, Black and Yellow-billed have been seen here though the most common by far is the Yellow-billed Stork. All the egrets are easy to get namely, Great White, Yellowbilled, Cattle, Little and Slaty (Slaty of course is not particularly easy to find!). Other birds that are relatively easy to find are African Rail, Blackwinged Stilt, Avocet, Egyptian and Spurwing Goose, Little Grebe on the water, while you will will find other species in the grasslands namely, African Quailfinch, Kurrichane Buttonquail and if you are lucky the occasional Corn Crake!

There are several hides at Marievale which make it easier for patient, quiet birders to see their target species. Of these the Flamingo and Hadeda are the most accessible with the Flamingo Hide at the main picnic site being the best suited for wheelchair access.

Map courtesy of Stan Madden, click for a full size image to print out.