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Thought i would just update the work Friends of Rondebult in conjuction with the EMC have done at Rondebult BS over the last 18 months. As Doug rightly said in an earlier review there is still work to be done and the sanctuary could become the flagship birding spot on the East Rand. I spend a lot of time here due to the fact it is so close to where i live in Alberton and have seen the improvements take place. Firstly over 8000 fish where introduced 18 months ago by Percy Mitchell the regional director of the PSSA and chairman of Friends of Rondebult with financial help from some camera clubs. The car park construction has been completely paved and more parking bays put in. CCTV has also been installed in this area. Security gates have been installed on all the hides and the keys are available from the security guard. If you are a member of PSSA you are able to access the hides from 5am in summer and winter. Normal visitors from 6 am. The sanctuary closes at 4 pm in winter and 5 pm in summer. Hides 5,6 and 7 are currently closed to the public as work still needs to be done in clearing out the reeds from in front of the hides and there are a couple of blown down trees we need to remove. As most places on the highveldt in winter it is brown and not really pretty at the moment but an enjoyable time can be had by birders and photographers alike.Water levels are currently very high due to the fact that discussions where held with the metro council and the water flows continuously now. Algae is not a problem currently and i have seen as much algae at Marievale as i have at Rondebult.The algae is on the bottom of the pans and very little is on the surface. There are no sewage smells that i have noticed.. I have seen many old species return to the sanctuary over the last 9 months and my list is over 265 currently. Birds like Giant kingfisher,little bittern,cormorant, black crowned,green backed,grey,black headed and purple heron,african rail,purple swamp hen and many grassland species are seen regularly. As with many places in South Africa we are reliant on the councils to do there part but finances are diverted to more needy causes, EMC have done some work and paid for the paving and pay the security company. A note of caution although you are safe within the sanctuary if visiting keep the hides locked while you are inside. The area is also semi industrial and farmland and as with anywhere you need to be vigilant while driving to and from the sanctuary. Due to the cold weather and low water temperatures birding is a little quite right now but a good list is still possible and the photo opps are always great. Summer sees the arrival of many migrants and you can easily build a list of 100 birds in a morning.
As we move into spring and summer i will organize a simply birding morning and hopefully meet some more of you folk...
Rating:  [ of 5 Stars!]
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