Residents enjoy stargazing and bird watching event at Marievale Nature Reserve
The past weekend people from Nigel, Heidelberg, Springs and Benoni enjoyed WESSA's bi-annual event.
People from Nigel, Heidelberg, Springs and Benoni came to join Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa’s (WESSA) bi-annual stargazing and birdwatching event at Marievale Nature Reserve on Saturday.
The day started with a nature walk where Stan Madden enlightened the attendees on the more than 250 species of birds that are found in the reserve. He said the reserve is a treasure and has been rewarded the status of an international Ramsar site. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
Madden said that the reserve has many species of birds that only stay here during the summer months. They then fly to places as far as the Arctic Circle.
“During March and April you can see how important this wetland area is on the migration route for birds throughout the world. Marievale plays a significant role not only in protecting our resident breeding species, but also those species of birds that are coming through and flying six to nine thousand kilometers to places where they are breeding.
“If it wasn’t for this protective area, we would lose those species so Marievale plays a role in protecting species of birds that are breeding in the Arctic,” Madden concluded.
The day ended with star gazing under the guidance of astronomers Andrew Helsdon and Tim Cooper.
Marievale Nature Reserve also has other creatures such as different species of otters, water mongoose, jackals and sivet cats. If you want to find out more about WESSA and how you can help to protect Marievale Nature Reserve, phone Justin on 011 734 2812 or 072 373 7151.
