Bhoops

Nestled amongst the dense concrete structures in the heart of Century City, Cape Town, lies a birding paradise named Intaka Island. The Island was created as a compromise solution to preserve the pre-existing wetlands that were threatened when shopping mall, residential and other structures at Century City were built many years ago. The site offers a wide year round variety of birds coupled with security, two features that are a birder's dream. There are approximately four functioning ponds that filter the recycled sewerage water which eventually flows around the canals at the Canal Walk shopping centre. A few of the bird species that can be found at Intaka Islad are depicted below.  On one visit lasting three hours, I photographed 2 malachite kingfishers, many waxbills, cape weavers, one pied kingfisher, pigeons, cormorants, african darters, sacred ibises, glossy ibises, plovers, bishops, double collared sunbirds, egrets, ducks, egyptian geese, coots and herons; g...

FIFA, the controlling body of international soccer insisted that a new stadium be built at Green Point for the 2010 soccer world cup. The stadium was duly built. The staging of the tournament was regarded as a resounding success more so as this was the first time that the soccer showpiece was staged in Africa. The Cape Town Stadium received very favourable praise. Then everything was over and the new stadium began collecting dust, literally. There was just one little aspect that remained outstanding. During the construction phase, reference was made to the development of an urban park in the stadium precinct. The impression created was that this park would be completed at or before the commencement of the 2010 soccer world cup. Now there was some development and landscaping around the stadium at the time of the world cup. I for one thought that this was the sum total of the urban park that was envisaged for this area. Well, I was wrong. The development of the urban park was kept unde...

The Two Rivers Urban Park, conceived as long ago as 2002 is till in the development phase. It is situated at the confluence of the Black and Liesbeeck Rivers. The eventual plan is to amalgamate a huge area stretching from Hartleyvale Stadium, across the Valkenberg Psychiatric complex to the Alexandra Institute on the Pinelands side. The park is a good concept in planning for the recreation needs of the urbanites of greter Cape Town, South Africa. It has huge potential. The added bonus of visiting the Tow Rivers Urban Park is its abundance of bird life. This site will inevitably feature on the Cape Town birders list of must visit sites. It has in addition enormous eco-tourism potential if handled and marketed properly. The site incorporates the Raapenberg Bird Sanctuary. Critical to this aspect of the Urban Parks success shall be the guarantees required for maintaining the security of persons and expensive equipment that birders normally carry.  The Bird Sanctuary boasts approxi...