Spring has sprung and we are so excited to enter this season with more opportunities for outdoor activities with our schools’ program and projects.
In this issue:
- Stanford Mill Stream Clean-up – ICC Day
- Public Talk – Ridiculous reptiles
- Hawston Paddavlei Project
- Stanford Mill Stream project
- October Public Talk
- Chameleon Project
- SANCCOB and BirdLife South Africa Petition
Stanford Mill Stream Clean-up – ICC Day 2024
On the 18th of September, Whale Conservation did a clean-up at the Millstream with fifty-four Grade 4 learners from Die Bron Primary School. This is part of the International Coastal Clean-up Day campaign in which WCC partners with Die Bron Primary every year to clean around the Mill Stream in Stanford. A total of 20 bags of litter were collected. Analysis of the litter revealed that chip packets and sweet wrapping paper (738 items) were the most numerous; plastic items were the second highest (257 items). The learners enjoyed the outdoor classroom session (and yummy cake and cool drink afterward) and are taking responsibility for a clean environment.
Public Talk – Ridiculous Reptiles
Mike Bruton, renowned South African biologist and science communicator, was the guest speaker at the WCC Annual General Meeting in September. Mike is known primarily for his work on fish biology, particularly his contributions to the study of the coelacanth. In this talk, “Ridiculous Reptiles”, Mike discussed the wonderful world of reptiles within the broader context of conservation and natural history.
Reptiles are one of the most ancient groups of animals, with origins tracing back over 300 million years. Their evolution began during the Carboniferous period when reptiles diverged from amphibians. A key evolutionary development was the amniotic egg, allowing reptiles to reproduce on land, giving them a significant advantage over amphibians. The earliest reptiles were small and lizard-like but, over time, reptiles diversified. This led to two major evolutionary branches: mammals on the one hand and the majority of reptiles, including lizards, snakes, and dinosaurs on the other.
During the Permian period, reptiles flourished, but the first great extinction about 252 million years ago caused the greatest loss of species in Earth’s history. However, reptiles survived and diversified into various groups, particularly during the Mesozoic era, known as the Age of Reptiles. This is when dinosaurs ruled the earth. (Did you know that dinosaurs were warm-blooded?)
The second great extinction 66 million years ago marked the end of the dinosaurs and the rise of mammals. However, several reptile groups survived and continue to thrive today. For example, crocodiles have changed very little over millions of years. Lizards have diversified into numerous forms, from geckos to large monitors, while snakes evolved later, losing their limbs and developing adaptations such as flexible jaws to swallow large prey. Turtles are notable for their protective shell, an adaptation of their ribcage and vertebrae.
Despite the mass extinctions, reptiles survived and continue to thrive, showing their adaptability across various environments. Modern reptiles like crocodiles, snakes, and turtles carry forward their ancient legacy.
—
Hawston Paddavlei Project
Our reed shredder has been reconfigured to improve the cutting function. This means that we can forge ahead with the making of animal feed.
A lot of cleaning took place too. It’s a mammoth task but fortunately, we have enthusiastic and able Paddavlei Eco-Group members.
—
Stanford Millstream – Chelsea Flowers Show Stall
Tourism monitors have been busy making fynbos flowers using old books to sell at the Chelsea Flower Show which is currently running at Stanford. WCC has a stall in the St Thomas Church hall selling these flowers plus other goodies such as children’s story books, chameleon print serviettes, chameleon wrapping paper, and our colourful new shopping bags. Please visit our stall at the St Thomas Church hall in Stanford; we are there until the 6th of October.
—
October Public Talk
We invite you to our public talk by Curtis Baileyon on Thursday 17 October. The talk will start at 17h30. The topic of the talk is; Decoding Climate: How the El Nino Southern Oscillation is Shaping the Future of Greater Hermanus
Join us for an engaging and insightful public talk where we delve into the pressing issue of climate variability in the Greater Hermanus region. Nestled in South Africa’s winter rainfall zone, this region is facing growing challenges driven by both human activity and environmental factors. One of the key players in this climatic drama is the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)—a global climatic phenomenon with the power to influence climate and weather patterns across the globe, including our very own winter rainfall.
But how exactly does ENSO impact the winter climate in Greater Hermanus? And what does this mean for our environment, agriculture, and wildfire management? This talk will unravel the complex relationship between ENSO phases and local precipitation patterns, offering insights based on a detailed 50-year study. Our exploration will highlight how El Niño phases tend to bring drier winters, while La Niña phases contribute to wetter conditions—a pattern that holds significant implications for the future. With recent La Niña events linked to some of the wettest winters on record, and El Niño to drier ones, the stakes for effective environmental management have never been higher.
Don’t miss this opportunity to understand how these findings can inform smarter, more sustainable practices in the face of climate change. Whether you are a concerned resident, a professional in environmental management, or just curious about the science behind our weather, this presentation promises to equip you with valuable knowledge and actionable insights.
—
Chameleon Project
Chameleon surveying continues once a month. Volunteers use GPS devices to mark points where we find our chameleons. We use this data to map where the chameleons occur.
—
SANCCOB and BirdLife South Africa Petition
SANCCOB and BirdLife South Africa, with the support of ocean conservation charity Blue Marine, are urging the South African government to take immediate action and establish effective no-take zones to protect the birds. The organizations have launched an OnlyOne petition – for signature https://only.one/act/save-african-penguins – to garner greater support for the cause.
We’d greatly appreciate you signing the petition and using these social assets https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g5gBfPdEyPzsaz8BvuibsL4czits28R0/view to spread the word across your social media platforms, so we can show the government that this issue is one that can’t be ignored.
—
Our sponsors
