Page 180 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

wetlands in the floodplain of the Diep River and Cape Flats laub’s Gull bred at the site in 1982 and 1986. No breeding
dune strandveld vegetation. The vlei drains into Table Bay has been recorded since 2004.
via the Milnerton Lagoon.
Conservation status: The Rietvlei Wetlands Reserve was Pinelands
established in 1993 and prohibits angling in much of the Coordinates: 33.9392 S, 18.4857 E
reserve and boating in its southern sector. It was registered Description: Breeding was on the northeast bank of the
as a wetland of international importance under the Black River to the northwest of Pinelands.
Ramsar Convention (Barnes 1998). Conservation status: It is not protected.
Species and numbers breeding: Up to 1,200 pairs of Species and numbers breeding: 26 pairs of Hartlaub’s
Hartlaub’s Gull and 11 pairs of Grey-headed Gull bred at Gull bred there in 1981 (Williams et al. 1990). None have
the wetland until 1995 but neither species was recorded done so since 2004.
nesting there subsequently. Details of numbers of pairs
breeding in different years are shown on the previous Black River
tables applicable to these species. Coordinates: 33.9483 S, 18.4487 E
Description: Breeding was along the south bank of the
Caltex oil refinery Black River in the vicinity of Rondebosch Golf Course.
Coordinates: 33.8349 S, 18.5260 E Conservation status: It is not protected.
Description: Wetlands and surrounding land on Caltex Species and numbers breeding: 60 pairs of Hartlaub’s
property near the Diep River. Gull bred there in 1999 but none have done so since 2004.
Conservation status: There is restricted access.
Species and numbers breeding: More than 1,000 pairs Athlone Waste Water Treatment Plant
of Hartlaub’s Gull bred at the site in 1997, 1998, 2005 and Coordinates: 33.9548 S, 18.5141 E
2006 and 100 pairs in 2018. Two pairs of Grey-headed Gull Description: It is located in Athlone south of the Black
bred there in 1997. Fuller details of numbers breeding are River and Settlers Way. Birds bred on land in and around
shown on the previous tables applicable to these two spe- treatment ponds.
cies. Conservation status: It is not protected but has restricted
access.
Century City Species and numbers breeding: 2,694 pairs of Hart-
Coordinates: 33.8893 S, 18.5148 E laub’s Gull and three pairs of Grey-headed Gull (Brooke et
Description: Intaka Island is a 16-ha nature reserve at al. 1999) bred at the site in 1992.
the north of Century City that can be accessed by walk- Note: An unrecorded number of Hartlaub’s Gull bred at
ing across a bridge over a canal. Formerly a part of the adjacent Old Athlone Power Station (north of Settlers Way)
Blouvlei wetland, it was created in 2001 and comprises in the 1980s (Williams et al. 1990).
three islands, wetland, seasonal pans and fynbos. It has
a visitor centre and a number of bird hides. Hartlaub’s Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area
Gulls bred at an island in a floodwater retention dam Coordinates: 33.9943 S, 18.4850 E
(Upfold and Underhill 2000). Cape Grysbok (Raphicerus Description: Wetland habitat in the Kennilworth Race-
melanotis) were reintroduced to the wetland. course Conservation Area.
Conservation status: It is administered by Century City. Conservation status: It is not protected.
Species and numbers breeding: 1,215 pairs of Species and numbers breeding: A solitary pair of Hart-
Hartlaub’s Gull bred in 2000 and 928 pairs in 2001. laub’s Gull bred in 1976 (Williams et al. 1990).
Three pairs of Grey-headed Gulls bred in 2001. None were
recorded since 2004.
Cape Town waterfront and surrounds
Ysterplaat Airfield Coordinates: 33.9062 S, 18.4228 E
Coordinates: 33.9006 S, 18.5024 E Description: The Cape Town waterfront, harbour and
Description: A military airfield with substantial grounds. nearby buildings in Green Point, including Somerset Hospi-
Conservation status: It is operated by the South African tal. Cape Cormorants bred on unused boats in the harbour.
Airforce and has restricted access. Hartlaub’s and Grey-headed gulls and Greater Crested
Species and numbers breeding: 3,000 pairs of Hart- Terns nested on rooftops. Hartlaub’s Gulls also nested on
laub’s Gull bred at the base in 1964 and 2,000 pairs bred in the ground in fenced-off storage depots near the harbour
1987. No breeding has since been recorded. and near the Two Oceans Aquarium, which was later
converted to parking space.
Paarden Eiland Conservation status: It is not protected and nests have
Coordinates: 33.9169 S, 18.4788 E often been cleared off rooftops. Sometimes chicks removed
Description: The Zoarvlei Wetlands are situated along from roofs were been reared in captivity and returned to
the Diep River Vlei between Paarden Eiland Industrial the wild by the Southern African Foundation for the
Centre and the suburbs of Rugby and Brooklyn. Most of Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB).
the 140 ha of wetland is a dense mat of tall reeds, with a Species and numbers breeding: Up to 28 pairs (in 2016)
small stretch of open water near Brooklyn Chest Hospital. of Cape Cormorant, 1,183 pairs (in 2007) of Hartlaub’s Gull,
It forms a congregation site for water birds. one pair (in 2012) of Grey-headed Gull and 4,000 pairs (in
Conservation status: It is not protected. Illegal dumping 2018) of Greater Crested Tern bred at the site. Details
occurred at the site but it is being rehabilitated. of numbers of pairs breeding annually are shown on the
Species and numbers breeding: Solitary pairs of Hart- previous tables applicable to different species.

174