A REED bed is such a busy, fascinating place, with all sorts of birds, insects and mammals making use of this dynamic habitat.
From a birding point of view it is always worthwhile hanging around the reeds. With a bit of patience you are likely to spot all sorts of shy water birds that like to play hide and seek in the reeds and there is a good chance of seeing a few interesting weaver species weaving their intricate homes.
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I know of three extensive South Coast reed beds that are used by the barn swallows as roosts during our summer months. What an amazing spectacle the reed beds present
as thousands of these little aviators come in to roost every evening.
Not all reeds are good for our environment, however. The giant or Spanish reed (Arundo donax), originally introduced from the Mediterranean areas for ornamental purposes and screening, has become a menace in South Africa and has made our invasive alien list.
According to the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (Wessa) guide to the Invasive Alien Plants of KwaZulu-Natal, it is a robust reed that grows about 6m high and rarely branches.
It has large, pale greenish leaves, with persistent leaf sheaths on the stems and cream to brown silky spear-shaped inflorescence.
Unlike our indigenous reeds (Phragmites australis and mauritianus) it does not necessarily grow in damp places. It invades watercouses and disturbed land. You can distinguish this pest from our indigenous common reeds by its spear-shaped inflorescence – our reeds have more fluffy inflorescence – and by its height – our reeds seldom grow taller than about 2m.
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