The Sugarbush Ridges Coalition (SRC) is hosting the annual Black Eagle Mountain Run at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden on September 15.
“The Black Eagles of Roodekrans are remarkable. They are probably the most successful urban-adapted breeding pairing of black eagles that have ever existed anywhere,” says Belinda Cooper, chairperson of the Proteadal Conservation Association, one of the coalition partners of the SRC.
“Their nesting site on the high cliffs of the Roodekrans Ridge along the Witpoortjie Waterfall has been monitored by conservationists for nearly 90 years. They may likely have been breeding here for much longer.”
How have the eagles survived?
Black eagles live for about 50 years. Over the last century, there have been several successful eagle pairings using the nest site alongside the Witpoortjie Falls in the now-protected Botanical Garden.
Each time the surviving member of the pair, who remains in the territory, finds a new mate and guides it to adapt to its new surroundings and hunting grounds. Their successful adaption and breeding are owed to the available undeveloped ridge habitat where the eagles hunt for food, a last wilderness in a sea of urban expansion.
Why conserve the ridge habitat?
The ridges are not only critical black eagle hunting grounds for prey species such as guineafowl, scrub hare and dassies but also support several other threatened plant and animal species, including the last remaining viable population on earth of the critically endangered Albertina Sisulu Orchid, as well as a healthy herd of endangered Mountain Reedbuck. This conservation asset is also a highly scenic open space which contributes enormously to the sense of place of the West Rand region and is an important conservation area for Gauteng and South Africa.
The conservation story
The SRC is an environmentally focused group of NPOs and volunteers, focused on the northwest ridges and waterways of the far west rand.
“These ridge systems are maintained as a relatively pristine wilderness, in excellent ecological condition,” says Cooper. “This is no mean feat in an urban environment, and the SRC coalition is very proud of this achievement, however, it requires volunteers, resources and constant vigilance to keep these ridges remarkable.
“All profits raised through the annual Black Eagle Mountain Run are used to fund the salaries and equipment for two full-time conservation rangers that prevent the many urban pressures that threaten this precious biodiversity and environment.
“Some of these threats include indiscriminate snaring and poaching, protea wood harvesting, illegal off-road vehicles, erosion, illegal dumping and the spread of invasive alien plants and trees.”
The SRC is encouraging all residents around the ridges to support the run and enjoy a spring day in the garden, with a live band, food stalls, spot prizes and a chance to win a helicopter flip over the ridges. This year VIP entrants are pensioners and disabled who get to do the wheelchair friendly 2km route free of charge. Kids under eight can also enjoy the free wildlife explorer’s challenge.
For race info and to book please use this link: https://bit.ly/3WheMEF
If you cannot join on the day, donations can be made directly to the SRC. For donations and section 18A tax certificates, or queries, contact Cooper at proteadal@gmail.com, or on 083 236 6978.
