African Spoonbill chick about to be ringed.
Cattle Egret chick on nest.
Glossy Ibis chick on nest. Notice the egg about to hatch and the use of a chip packet as building material.
Glossy Ibis chick which look nothing like the adults.
Glossy Ibis chick showing metal and colour rings. Water birds have been rung for several years as a study by Dr Douglas Harebottle in order to establish their movements. About half the water birds in Cape Town that breed in reed beds nest at Rondevlei.






Magnificent pictures thank you. Good to know that these birds are breeding so well at Rondevlei and it highlights the importance of ‘our’ eco park!
Lovely photos. Do they ever need help with the bird ringing or do you need to be an expert?I’d love to help:)
Hi Emma
There is ringing of land birds on the second Sat of every month at Rondevlei at the entrance. The water bird ringing takes place only once or twice a year and involves walking into the reed beds which can be tricky and very muddy. You are welcome to contact me or Tamaryn Allan in September to see when it is happening and come along if you want to.
WOW!! Thank you so much for sharing this. truly special and we are so very blessed.
so beautiful! wish i could have been part of it! have wetsuit and booties and keen and willing spirit. time is of course another thing at the moment!
i will certainly try join the landbird ringing in the meantime.
thanks Dalton and Tracy.
Is there any ringing coming up? I would love to get involved
There is ringing of land birds on the second Sat of every month at Rondevlei at the entrance. You can connect with the ringers here, the waterbird ringing doesn’t have a schedule but they will be able to tell you.