The University of Pretoria (UP) will be hosting its second bird census on 26 November 2022 after successfully hosting one in October 2022. These censuses, which have not been held in two years due to restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, are important events for those with a keen interest in natural ecosystem preservation and are free of charge.

The initial bird census was sparked by the rehabilitation of the Hartbeestspruit stream, which runs through UP’s Hillcrest sports campus. The first two years of the three-year programme focused on reshaping, stabilising and planting indigenous riparian and aquatic flora. Planting was conducted to recreate the natural habitats that would have occurred along the stream prior to the damaging floods of 2011. The planting was also modified to cater for the storm water impacts of the modern environment.

With the re-establishment of locally indigenous vegetation, UP’s Department of Facilities Management hoped that avi-faunal species (birds of a specific region or period) would be attracted to the area. Initially, the bird census events were held to establish which species were available prior to the rehabilitation. It then changed to a seasonal event where summer and winter species were counted and compared to previous censuses.

This original event at Hartbeestspruit motivated some staff members interested in birding to approach BirdLife Northern Gauteng (BLNG). The Facilities Management team approached this group just before lockdown in March 2020, and it was agreed that whenever a bird census is planned, it would be communicated with the BLNG.

The purpose of the census is to register as many bird species as possible to create a database for any future events of this nature that are to be held on Miertjie le Roux farm, located between Pretoria and Emalahleni. The BLNG was keen to do bird census events on this UP-owned farm as it is a natural, unbuilt environment with a wetland.

Similarly, at Hillcrest sports campus, birders record bird species and numbers to compare annual and seasonal changes.

UP staff and students can join in the upcoming census free of charge. Please book in advance, as access needs to be arranged.

After the census, there will be a small social gathering, so attendees are requested to bring along a blanket or camp chair and a picnic basket.

Please contact Ilze Ueckermann at [email protected] to register for the census.

The November bird count will take place as follows:

• Where: UP Hillcrest sports campus at the Uitspan area; GPS coordinates: -25.74749S 28.24814E
• When: Saturday, 26 November 2022
• Time: 7am – 11am
• What to bring: Your bird knowledge, a hat, sunscreen and binoculars