Clifton School Spots Wattled Cranes!

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Three groups of Grade 7 learners from Clifton Prep School visited the KZN Crane Foundation recently to learn about cranes and explore the Bill Barnes Crane and Oribi Reserve. Nkanyiso Ndlela and Warwick Fraser were there to welcome them. Copy of IMG_6436 Nkanyiso explained the work of the KZN Crane Foundation before playing fun life skills games to warm up. IMG_6431 Nkanyiso introduced the Windows on our World Wetland game by asking the learners questions about cranes and wetlands. This game helps learners to develop the skill of identifying and analyzing environmental problems and it shows connections, interdependencies, and cause and effect relationships.   Their teacher, Wayne Talbot (who organised the excursion), asked the learners if they knew how an ox bow lake is formed and illustrated by drawing on the board.

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“I was pleased that the learners knew that wetlands are habitats for cranes and other animals. They enjoyed the game, responded positively and were fully involved, asking lots of questions, which is the sign of interest and learning.” commented Nkanyiso. Nkanyiso showed them the three stuffed cranes and asked them to identify which was which. Learners were able to identify all three cranes and mentioned that the Wattled Crane is their favourite. They enjoyed dressing up in the crane costumes. IMG_6523 Then it was outside into the sunshine and grasslands. IMG_6491 The learners were taken to the Crane Nursery where the second Wattled Crane eggs will be incubated. They were shown the crane domes where the chicks would be taught to forage and fend for themselves by their costumed crane mother.  The reason for using the costume is to prevent the young chick from imprinting on people. A crane costume and puppet is worn by the crane mother to disguise human features. This method of rearing chicks is known as isolation rearing or costume rearing. Learners were quite amazed. IMG_6449 Warwick led a walk in the Reserve and explained about the animals, plants and soils in the Reserve. IMG_6443 The Watsonia densiflora were flowering beautifully. IMG_6504 as was the Brunsvigia undulate. There were lots of white storks below the wetlands. IMG_6477 We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw a pair of Wattled Cranes – everyone was very excited!  We also saw Reed buck, Amur falcon, Oribi and identified footprints of other animals. All learners and teachers felt that the trips were the great success. IMG_6441 Andrew Ferendinos, Chair KZNCF “On behalf of the KZN Crane Foundation, I would like to thank those teachers and pupils of Clifton School Nottingham Road who visited, not only for coming but also for their generous donation of well over R 1000 towards Ann Burke’s medical costs”  Make your donations to: Account Name Ann Burke; Account  no.9291220193; ABSA Branch code 632005; Swift code ABSAZAJJ IMG_6447

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About Midlands Conservancies Forum

Welcome to the Midlands Conservancies Forum Blog. The conservancy movement in South Africa has its roots in KZN Midlands with Balgowan being the first conservancy established in 1978 by landowners in the area who were concerned about the reduction in the number of game and general degradation of the environment. Today there are 14 conservancies within or overlapping the Umgeni Local Municipality. In keeping pace with international environmental issues and the ever-increasing threat to our dwindling biodiversity the conservancy movement has expanded its influence to include challenges way beyond the founding concerns for the reduction in game and general degradation of the environment. The fact of the matter is that, at the very least, the state of the environment in the KZN Midlands is of vitally and direct importance to well in excess of 3 million people who depend largely on this region for their fresh water. In terms of global the planet has 34 biodiversity hotspots which are the Earth’s most biologically rich and threatened areas. These hotspots hold especially high numbers of unique species, yet their combined area now covers only 2.3 percent of the Earth's land surface. South Africa is home to 3 of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots and the Midlands not only falls into the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot but is one of the 21 priority nodes that have been identified by the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund for investment aimed at securing existing biodiversity. The Midlands Conservancy Forum is proud to have been awarded a two year grant that has been used to establish the MCF Biodiversity Stewardship project that is working closely with KZN Wildlife. The reality of the Conservancy movement is that it has until know been championed by volunteers who are landowners and, in many cases, have precious little time and therefore this needs to be used to the maximum potential. This has lead to the establishment, and current success, of the MCF. It is an ideal forum to share knowledge, experiences and collectively tackle common issues in the most co-0rdinated and effective way possible. It is also a forum that has the capacity, through its landowner support base, geographical influence and biological inventory, to attract funding for critical environmental projects. It is also a forum for any and all government departments, NGOs and industries to engage with environmentally minded landowners. Through this blog we hope to promote the aims of the MCF in general and the sharing of information in particular. It is your platform to express and respond to ideas and concerns. Please use it wisely and respectfully!

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