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The brainchild of Sir John and Dame Maria Sherry, the
waterfowl collection blossomed from a modest hobby collection in 1986 to
house more than 1 200 individual captive birds today, including some of
the world's rarest species, such as the South Georgian Pintail and the
Baikal Teal. While conservation has been a driving force behind
Treehaven, so too has education, but the sensitive breeding regimes
required for some species were not compatible with school groups being
led through the property.
An answer to the problem came with the Riviera Resort leasing
the former John van Eeden Park from the Vereeniging Town Council. The
park had originally been bequeathed to the people of Vereeniging,
ostensibly for use as a recreational area, but the condition of the area
deteriorated rapidly until, by early 1999, it had become a financial
burden and an embarrassment to the local council. However, after
negotiation with the Riviera Resort management, Treehaven Waterfowl
Trust was commissioned to transform the area into a wetland park that
would serve as both an educational enterprise and a tourism facility.
And so the Riviera Wetlands were born. Situated in the Three
Rivers area of southern Gauteng, Riviera Wetlands nestles on a bend of
the Klip River, adjacent to the confluence of the Klip and Vaal rivers
(the third river in the vicinity is the Suikerbos). Although it is only
a modest 11 hectares in extent, an enormous amount of work was needed to
turn the old park into a wetland. Hundreds of invasive plants were
ripped out and replaced with indi-genous vegetation (some 4 500 plants
to date), with a similar number of plantings planned for the next few
months. The excavation of four dams created the wetlands themselves,
while the surrounding area was landscaped to provide two walk-in
aviaries as well as a number of bird enclosures housing species from
throughout Africa.
The waterfowl brooder room at Treehaven was put to work in
earnest to provide surplus waterfowl to stock Riviera Wetlands.
Interestingly, Treehaven is still the only South African establishment
to have successfully bred all of the country's duck species. Emphasis
was placed on South Africa's 16 indigenous waterfowl species, and a
total of 74 of these birds were subsequently translocated from Treehaven
to Riviera Wetlands in 1999. The dams are now home to the majority of
the species, including Cape and Red-billed teals, Yellow-billed,
White-faced, African Black and Fulvous ducks and Cape Shoveler, as well
as Egyptian and Spur-winged geese (both of which are perching ducks, not
true geese). For fear that the diving ducks would be overlooked on the
dams, a separate enclosure was built for the Maccoa and White-backed
ducks, and the Southern Pochard.
Given the cold winters of the Vaal Triangle, it was decided to house the
two species more usually associated with warm climes, the African Pygmy
Goose and Hottentot Teal, under the protection of cover. As a result,
they are accommodated within the walk-in softbill aviary, where one has
to battle past East African specials such as Fischer's Turaco and
Yellow-breasted and Superb starlings to reach the modest water feature
that the ducks frequent.
Today the duck population of the reserve is no longer
restricted to trans-located individuals. While the original nucleus of
birds consisted almost exclusively of pinioned birds, it is immediately
apparent that the reserve now hosts large numbers of free-flying birds.
In fact, recent counts suggest that the reserve regularly accommodates
up to 266 ducks, well over the number of the original population. One
could be forgiven for thinking the diving-duck enclosure housed many of
the dam species as well, because the visiting Cape Shovelers and
White-faced and Yellow-billed ducks often outnumber its diving
inhabitants. Many of the wild birds are remarkably habituated and can be
approached to within a few metres before they take flight. Indeed, early
morning and late afternoon skies are characterised by skeins of wild
ducks travelling on their regular commuter paths to and from the
reserve.
Reserve management has decided that there should be no
further interference with the resident duck population, in the hope that
perhaps one day its inhabitants will all be free-flying. The dam ducks
have bred well, surpassing Riviera Wetland's best expectations, with
evidence too of interbreeding with wild birds. Confirmation of this came
from a householder neighbouring the reserve who, concerned that she had
a family of White-faced Ducks in her garden, contacted the reserve
staff. Closer examination revealed the parents comprised a ringed male
from Riviera Wetlands and an unringed wild female.
But Riviera Wetlands is not just about ducks. The reserve has attracted
a number of the local avifauna - spoonbills, herons, kingfishers, storks
and darters. Even wild flamingos have been lured in to join the
80-strong flock of Lesser and Greater flamingos. Other large birds
include a pair of both Pink-backed and White pelicans, as well as
Saddle-billed, White, Marabou and Yellow-billed storks. Within this
sanctuary these birds may yet breed, secure within the electrified
perimeter fence which was erected to protect them from the vagaries of
feral cats, mongooses and genets. One of the reserve's more important
activities has been its co-operation with the South African Crane
Working Group; as well as housing both Blue and Crowned cranes, the
reserve acts as a nursery for the critically endangered Wattled Crane.
For the visitor, access to Riviera Wetlands is from the
Riverfront Complex. Passing initially through a collection of exotic
waterfowl, the African section is reached by taking a pont ride across
the Klip River. Here one is confronted by various aviaries and
enclosures before reaching a grandstand and open arena that hosts
twice-daily raptor shows. This represents part of the reserve's
commitment to education, and the shows are particularly popular with
visiting school groups. Such groups are encouraged and upward of 3 000
schoolchildren visit the reserve annually. Special activity packs have
been developed for schools, while more detailed projects can be
negotiated with the staff. Birds flown at the raptor show include Barn
and Spotted Eagle owls, a young African Fish Eagle and a Lanner Falcon,
while cranes, Marabou Storks and a White-backed Vulture are enticed to
scavenge.
The dams themselves are situated towards the back of the
reserve and are overlooked by a large viewing hide, although, as the
birds may be more closely approached on foot, viewing platform might be
a more appropriate description. Picnicking here is only allowed by
special request through concern for the birds' diets, as visitors might
be tempted to share their lunch with them. However, catering at the
platform can be arranged and this makes an excellent place to sit and
eat a few sandwiches, or even tuck into a slice of fresh cake and a cup
of coffee. Alternatively, the nearby Riverfront Complex offers a number
of eateries that will appeal to different palates.
Riviera Wetlands is only 45 minutes' drive from northern
Johannesburg, or an easy one and a half hours from Pretoria, so there's
no excuse for people from the area not to make the trip. It is a
worthwhile destination - somewhere to come eye to eye with some of
Africa's bird species from up north, as well as the opportunity to get
better acquainted with South Africa's duck species.
Source: Africa - Birds & Birding magazine, Author: Tim
Jackson (2002)
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