The University of Pretoria’s Department of Facilities Management along with the Pretoria-based birding club, Bird Life Northern Gauteng (BLNG), recently hosted a birding census at Miertjie le Roux experimental farm, UP’s research and training feed mill. At the event, the birders walked routes across the farm with the aim of spotting possible bird species. Tukkievaria caught up with Ilze Ueckermann, Manager: Environment and Waste, UP, who organised the bird census

How did the birding census events start?

The initial bird census was triggered by the rehabilitation of the Hartebeestspruit, which runs through the Hillcrest Sport Campus, in 2015. This rehabilitation comprised of a three-year programme, whereby the first two years focused on the reshaping, stabilisation and planting of riparian and aquatic locally indigenous flora. Planting was conducted to recreate the natural habitats that would have occurred along the spruit prior to disturbance, but modified to cater for the storm water impacts of the modern environment.

With the re-establishment of the locally indigenous vegetation, Facilities Management hoped that it would attract avi-faunal (birds of a specific region or period) species to the area. Initially, we held the census to establish what species were available prior to the rehabilitation, and it then became a seasonal event where summer and winter species were compared.

This original event at Hartebeestspruit motivated some UP staff members interested in birding to approach BLNG in 2020, andwe agreed that whenever we planned a bird census we would communicate this with BLNG.

How does the birding event work?

During the course of the event, the birders walked routes across the farm in several different directions. The purpose was to register as many as possible bird species, to create a database for any future planned bird census events planned at Miertjie le Roux campus.

What is the purpose of the birding census?

These census events compare species and numbers of recorded birds.

How often are these events held?

Both the events at Miertjie le Roux were held in summertime, but we normally have a census in summer (February) and one in winter (May) in order to see how the bird population differs from summer to winter. We record any differences in numbers and species.

What was different about the most recent census?

This year we have adapted and used the birding list used by BLNG. The list is far more scientific and extensive in terms of identified species. The collaboration with BLNG will contribute to ensuring that this bird census goes from strength to strength.

Compared to the first event held in February 2021, where 73 bird species were identified, only 58 species were identified, but of these, 16 were new species.

Can other staff members join?

Staff are welcome to email me ([email protected]) and I will notify them when we plan to have a census event.