Author: moreletakloof

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Scorpion Walk 3 November 2011

Join us for a night Scorpion walk with Jannes de Villiers who will entertain you with interesting facts about scorpions. UV lights will be used, so please do not bring ordinary flashlights. This is without a doubt one of the highlights of the year at the Moreleta Kloof. Jannes brings along captive scorpions for the first part of the talk, then we head out into the veld with UV lights to find them in their natural habitat.

Date: 3 November 2011, 18:00

Venue: Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve. We will meet in the visitors parking area at the gate in Heliosstreet.

Cost: R35 per person. Proof of payment required to confirm your booking. Send the proof to info@moreletakloof.co.za with the reference: Scorpion3/Your Name. Space is limited to 24 people.

Payments To: Friends of Moreleta Kloof, ABSA Woodlands: Account Number:  9105029384 Branch Code: 632005

Please note:  No children under 14 years.

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Birdringing weekend on 15 and 16 October 2011 with Dirk, Karen and Stefan Stuyvenberg.

On the 15th of October from 09:30, the Animal Demography Unit (ADU – http://www.adu.org.za) will be presenting interesting talks at the National Botanical Gardens (Pretoria) about birdringing, the SA Bird Atlas, butterflies, Virtual Museums and Virtual Tree Terbariums among others. This will be followed by a picnic lunch and feedback session until 15:00. For the full program see below;

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The next day, on the 16th of October 2011 at 06:00, we will walk from the parking at the gate of the Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve where we will meet up with Dirk, Karen and Stefan Stuyvenberg. They will be setting up nets, in order to ring approximately two hundred birds. They will demonstrate the correct bird ringing methods  and also answer questions on how to become involved. This walk is a must for bird lovers and nature enthusiasts alike!

For more information please contact us on  info@moreletakloof.co.za

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Nag uitstappie in die Moreleta Kloof

Kom geniet n heerlike uitstappie in die Moreletakloof saam met Andrie van der Linde wat vir u die geleentheid sal gee om deur ‘n teleskoop die sterreprag te kan aanskou. Dit is werklik ‘n belewenis om in die nag in die veld te stap, ons sal vir u twee geleenthede gee om die naglig te aanskou en die aand afsluit met glassie wyn en ligte versnaperings, in die bos.

30 September 2011, vanaf 18:00 tot ongeveer 21.30. Ons ontmoet 18:00 in die parkering by die hek.

Die koste sal R70:00 per persoon beloop, om u bespreking te bevestig (slegs 30 persone) kontak ons op info@moreletakloof.co.za.

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Friends of Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve AGM

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF MORELETAKLOOF WILL BE HELD AT RADEMEYERS RESTAURANT, HELIOS STREET, MORELETAKLOOF NATURE RESERVE ON 4 OCTOBER 2011 AT 18:30

You are kindly invited to join us for this Annual Meeting to talk about matters concerning the Moreletakloof Nature Reserve, as well as new initiatives to make use of the Kloof for relaxation, walks and talks, and ways to assist Nature Conservation in the upkeep en preservation of the Moreleta Kloof.

Come and enjoy a relaxing evening with us in the Moreleta Kloof. The Agenda of this meeting, as well as the Minutes of the last Annual Meeting (18 May 2010), is available on the website.

The agenda for the 2011 AGM can be found here. The minutes of the 2010 meeting can be found here.

Please let us know if you will attend the meeting (info@moreletakloof.co.za).

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Moreleta Kloof: Omgee in ‘n Tekkie

Is jy lus om ‘n slag uit te kom? Wil jy die wonderlike natuurskoon beleef en ‘n goeie daad doen? As jou antwoord ja is op hierdie vrae, kom stap dan saam met ons by Moreleta Kloof Natuurreservaat op die 17de  September 2011. Die geld word geskenk aan die resevaat om dit meer rolstoel-vriendelik te maak.  Slegs 100  inskrywings!

Plek: Moreletakloof Natuurreservaat

Koste: R40 p/p (onthou dit is vir ‘n goeie saak!)

Tyd: 06:30

Besprekings: amandareit@vitalitybroadband.co.za 082 8400 641

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Roll and Walk Challenge 27 August 2011

Moreleta Kloof  Roll and Walk Challenge in aid of Pathways Studio Training Centre. NPO 042/851  Article 18A (SARS)

To be held on the 27th of August 2011 at Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve, at 08:00.

Aiming to give a better future to differently-abled adults and develop and Discovery and Sensory Trail in the Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve.

This can be a very special outing for people who are differently abled, People who are blind or have sight problems and who love to enjoy nature in a safe environment.    You could enjoy a ride in your wheel chair on the trail in the nature reserve,   there are a few buck and zebras around, beautiful trees and birds and scenery.

We hope that you will join this very worthy and enjoyable Roll a Walk Challenge to the benefit of Pathways Studio.

This is a non-profit organisation for the development and training of differently abled young people, regardless of race, culture, gender or religion. This training centre was established in 2002 in response to the critical need for the training of disabled young people in South Africa.

The studio is closely situated to Moreletakloof which enables our students to regularly enjoy walking or rolling on the safe route through nature whilst enjoying the feeling of freedom and closeness to nature.

Pathways Studio en Jeannie du Plessis van Irene, wil asseblief sowat 15 stappers elk uit Irene, Wingate en Agape Hardloop Klubs uitnooi om op die 27ste Augustus om 8 uur saam met sowat 40 gestremde persone in rolstoele, as ook blinde en swaksiende persone, aan n uitdaging genaamd “Walk and Roll Challenge” deel te neem. Ander klubs is ook meer as welkom! Ons wil net graag n aangename gees skep op die ongeveer 5 kilometer roete in die Moreletakloof, en daar sal n sertifikaat sowel as n ‘goodybag’ uitgedeel word. Die Irene Klub sowel as Run-a-waysport sal help met die aanbieding.

Pathways Studio poog om gestremde jong mense weer terug te kry in die gemeenskap, asook om hul op te lei sodat hulle kan aansoek doen vir werk in die ope mark en om meer onafhanklik te wees.

Daar is ongeveer 32 studente by hul sentrum op die hoek van Vincent en Witdoringstrate, in Moreletapark waar daar nog baie werk gedoen moet word om dit meer rolstoel vriendelik te maak.

Ons poog om vir elke persoon van Pathways Studio n borg van R1,000 te bekom, om fondse vir die sentrum in te samel.   Wat ons voor  stel  is dat elke gestremde persoon R40.00 inskrywing betaal en stappers wat so gaaf sal wees om n vrolike gees te skep R100.00 sal betaal. Al die fondse gaan direk aan Pathways Studio.

Hierdie roete sal deel uitmaak van die beplande “Discovery and Sensory Trail” n Projek  wat deur die Vriende van Moreletakloof aangepak sal word sodat hul voldoende fondse ingesamel het om Moreletakloof meer toeganklik te maak.  As u moontlik van gestremdes weet wat sal wil deelneem, op hierdie baie mooi roete in die Moreletakloof Reservaat, in Helios straat, Moreletapark, Pretoria, of belangstel om n student te borg, kan u die volgende persone kontak.

For further information contact:

Elize 0824556970 – elize@qdi.co.za

Jeannie 0829274673 Friends of Moreleta Kloof – info@moreletakloof.co.za

Evanthe 0827792295 – ems@webafrica.org.za

 

To RSVP see http://eventbookings.co.za/ or contact the above mentioned persons.

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Voting Day 18 May 2011

Join us in the Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve on voting day,  this coming Wednesday the 18th of May 2011 with your family and friends for a lovely walk and lots of fun in the Kloof and at Rademeyers.

The Conference centre at Rademeyers in the Kloof will be used as a voting station for the ward, so why not make use of this opportunity to get out in nature and go for a walk on the Kloof’s beautiful hiking paths? While  will enjoy a carnival atmosphere, with fun demonstrations about Nature and lots to eat and drink.

We will have live music so you can relax while you stand in the queue to vote. There will be lots of information available on how to get involved in the nature reserves in your area.

You can sit and enjoy a talk by Ella Janse van Vuuren and her husband about everything from frogs to wild flowers to trees and how to keep our earth healthy. This will also be enjoyed by the youngest kids, young at heart adults and everybody that loves nature.

We would also like to extend a special invitation to people with disabilities and the elderly to join us between 10:00 and 13:00 on the day for walks along the planned discovery and sensory trail. Mathys Roets will be joining us on the day. For more info regarding the project please see https://moreletakloof.co.za/discovery-and-sensory-trail/.

For more information please contact us on info@moreletakloof.co.za or give Jeannie a call on 082 927 4673

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Bird Ringing Report: Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve

Background:

The South African Bird Ringing Unit (SAFRING) administers bird ringing in Southern Africa, supplying rings, ringing equipment and services to volunteer and professional ringers in South Africa and neighboring countries. All ringing records are curated by SAFRING, which is an essential arm of the Animal Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town. The Bird Ringing Scheme in South Africa was initiated in 1948, so 1998 saw the 50th anniversary of the scheme. During this period over 1.7 million birds of 852 species were ringed. There have been a total of 16 800 ring recoveries since the inception of the scheme. This gives an overall recovery rate for rings in Southern Africa of marginally less than 1%, averaged across all species. This probability varies enormously across species. The traditional objective of SAFRING is to establish a database of recoveries of Southern African birds that can be used to establish information about movement and survival. Every bird ringed, no matter what species or where it was ringed has the potential to contribute to the SAFRING recovery database. Since 1982, this database has been supplemented by a re-trap database, supplied by ringers on a voluntary basis. This contains ringing and latest re-trap details of birds recaptured at least 12 months after being ringed. The database as a whole is a resource which may be used by researchers, conservation biologists and managers, and primarily provides answers to questions related to movement and survival. Research into bird populations of importance to fisheries, agriculture, conservation and water management authorities involves bird ringing. Ringing provides a cost- effective tool for monitoring our environment and commonly draws attention to pollution, poisoning, power-line incidents, long-line fishing fatalities and other hazards.

There are currently ±200 active ringers operating in South Africa and neighboring countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. About 70 000 birds are ringed annually. Ringers, both amateur and professional, have to pay for all rings used. Bird ringing in South Africa is very strictly controlled by the “CODE OF ETHICS FOR BIRD RINGERS”

Training:

The intensive “training before qualification” consists of at least one year active ringing under the mentorship of an A1 ringer to master correct identification of birds, accurate data capturing and looking after the well-being of the birds during the processing of birds.

Projects:

SESAW: Survival Estimates in Southern African Weavers, Aug 2009 – Dec 2012

A new study has been launched to ring weavers in a way to maximize data for geographic variation in survival rates. Weavers are fairly easy to catch in large numbers, making them ideal candidates for large-scale studies. Species that could work well include Southern Red Bishops and Southern Masked Weavers. The key is to ring at sites where weavers are often recaptured. Ringers are able to contribute to this project in their normal ringing sessions. Due to the ideal habitat it was decided to register Moreleta Kloof for the SESAW project.

The aim is to measure geographic variability in survival rates of weavers in southern Africa over 3.5 years (2009-2012).

A normal ring session will typically start at ± 04h00 in the morning and could last up to 15h00 depending on weather conditions, temperature and numbers caught. During our recent visit to Moreleta Kloof we were fortunate to be able to ring a significant number of Weavers, Bishops, Thick-billed Weavers and Cape Weavers amongst many other species as was the case during previous ringing sessions in Moreleta Kloof.

The species ringed and released during our last ringing session is listed in the attached documents. In total more than 3825 birds have been ringed over a period of 8 years.

We would like to convey our special thanks to Adelene Marais, Functional Head: Nature Conservation and Ina from Rademeyers restaurant for allowing us to ring at Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve.

Many thanks

Dirk, Karen and Stefan van Stuyvenberg

Moreleta Kloof Ringing Report April 2011 Summary

Moreleta Kloof Ringing Report April 2011 Bird Listing