Magazine Your Unique Estate
OCTOBER 20
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contents 05 07 09 14
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IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS FROM THE Estate MANAGER
FEEDBACK ON THE WATER OUTAGE BUDGET-WISE TIPS TO GET YOUR HOLIDAY ON IN DECEMBER 16 GOING AWAY IN DECEMBER?
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SECURITY UPDATE
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GET OUT IN YOUR CITY THIS OCTOBER FIRE PREPARATION
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THE AFRICAN STONECHAT
THE AESTHETICS COMMITTEE HEALTH & SAFETY GYM MANAGER
CREATE A BEE-FRIENDLY GARDEN THIS SPRING!
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Contacts
important
Main Gate 079 079 4711 Levy Enquiries Bianca van Niekerk 011 214 5200 biancav@trafalgar.co.za Netcare Pretoria East Hospital 012 422 2300 (Antivenom) Gym Manager Francois de Beer 062 608 1814 thehillsfitnesscentre@gmail.com
Advertise your business in our e-magazine Layout & Design Tobia von Zwiering tobia@k-studio.co.za | 082 962 8255 Sales Jandrie van Jaarsveld sales@k-studio.co.za | 074 111 2068
Estate Manager
Johan van Schalkwyk 082 711 8732 johanvs@trafalgar.co.za
Environmental Officer
Hannes De Wet 082 551 6015 hannesd@trafalgar.co.za
Security Manager
Jaco van Wyk 072 258 2239 jacovw@proteacoin.co.za
Carlita’s Restaurant 062 808 0015 | carlitasrestaurant@gmail.com
Disclaimer: This Newsletter is produced especially for residents/owners of The Hills to provide updates and useful information. It is produced by K-Studio on behalf of Trafalgar Property Management (Pty) Ltd. Although every effort is taken to ensure accuracy of content, Trafalgar Property Management (Pty) Ltd and/or the Publisher, cannot be held liable for any inaccurate information, and may not agree with all opinions expressed in this publication.
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from the
Manager
Dear residents, We jumped from winter straight into summer with a very short spring period. Challenges of great impact recently experienced is one of water outages and the inconvenience this cause, please see detailed article to follow. Water is something that we all should accept as a commodity that requires proactive planning as it is one aspect that we as humans cannot go without. We urge residents to invest in water harvesting mechanisms and facilities as much as possible. Water-wise gardening and plant selection are of great value for the years ahead especially with the current global increase in temperatures that will make us humans more water dependent. Speeding on the Estate is a high priority for us and we call on residents to actively participate in reporting and even educating transgressors. We call on stand owners that have not started with construction to have their stands cut and neatened both for aesthetic reasons and to reduce potential
fire hazards, we urge owners to adhere to the request soonest. Alternatively, we will cut the stands and add the cost on the owner‘s levy account. Owners in and around the eco areas are also advised to have a 2meter shortcut clearing around their properties as a firebreak. As we draw closer to the end of the year it is also time for our Grade 12 scholars to complete their school-going journey and wish them well in their final exams. Our students are also in the final stretch of the academic year and wish them well as well. In closing the very true words of Vincent van Gogh “Great Things Are Done By A Series Of Small Things Brought Together“
Regards
Johan van Schalkwyk 7
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Feedback on the water outage experienced recently The Hills Estate is supplied with water by City of Tshwane, from the Grootfontein reservoirs. From these reservoirs, there are two separate feed lines, namely a gravity feed line, which supplies the lower lying properties and a booster pump feed line, that supplies water to the higher located properties. Both these sets of pipes operate individually from each other, from the same reservoir system.
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entury Development supplied and installed the booster pumps some time ago, which is located at the reservoirs location, in a well secured building and is currently operated by City of Tshwane’s representatives as part of their infrastructure.
Rand Water is the bulk supplier of water to City of Tshwane, who then distribute to suburbs of which The Hills Estate is one of the receivers in this regard. Any disruptions, burst pipes, maintenance matters or similar aspects on the supply side will have an effect on the capacity of the reservoirs, which can result in water outages. In general, the higher lying properties are more exposed as the booster pumps are equipped with low pressure and flow protection to prevent damages to this costly infrastructure. Should the pump not be able to function, there will be insufficient pressure to feed water to the higher lying areas. Therefore, it is of critical importance to install proper measuring and monitoring equipment so that the HOA can be informed of any changes that might occur and effect the functionality in this regard. This was the exact result of what was experienced on the Estate where the levels of the reservoirs dropped significantly to the point where the feed into the pumps were too low and the pumps switched off. Rand Water then struggled to reach capacity in the reservoirs so that the pumps could be turned back on and build pressure. At the same time, the gravity feed line still operates as normal and the reason for the residents located in the lower lying properties still having water.
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It is quite an integrated system existing of several valves feeding into a large water reticulation grid of which The Hills forms part – something that is now well known to management. The HOA was involved from the outset and worked with the representatives from City of Tshwane to manage the situation to the best of our ability, in order to restore the water supply back to normal. High level expertise from Rand Water assisted us to regain the correct flow, which resulted in re-instituting water supply. These engineers also assisted in long-term resolutions to prevent similar re-occurrences and in a way that the HOA can manage the system proactively. We further engaged the ward councilor in this matter and did request a high level meeting so that the HOA can establish clear lines of communication and ensure quick response times and action from all responsible departments at City of Tshwane. Water is an essential part of our day-to-day livelihood and most definitely something that we should not take for granted. Residents are encouraged to invest in installing water harvesting and storage capabilities, something which will be to any individual’s own best interest, for days that we might experience a similar situation.
Please rest assure that the HOA team, in conjunction with the Board, always acts in the best interest of you the residents, and is 100% committed to going the extra mile, irrespective of the situation and what is humanly possible.
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2017 has been an exciting year for the Hills Estate. With the completion of the Atterbury road extension, as well as the soon to be completed Reddford College, we are entering the last stages of the developmental phase. Our first ever Home Show took place at the Estate which was an amazing success. The show welcomed almost 10,000 guests over the two weekends. Century also launched 116 stands in the final phase of The Hills of which only 44 stands are available. The Hills Estate has also grown in the number of families having taken occupation of their homes, with 281 families currently residing in the development and a further 194 homes under construction.
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Resident Estate Agent and Team Leader Werner de Waal from RE/MAX Infoglobe talks about market
trends and property growth within The Hills Estate. “The property market thus far in 2017 has continued to see growth which has surpassed even my expectations. As both a current resident and further investor I feel complete confidence in the financial security and sound investment this development is providing. Once again a strong number of sales and sales prices for the development have been achieved. Within this year to date period a total number of 10 completed homes were sold, with the average marketing price of R11,025 per sqm. We were able to achieve a 2.91% variance between marketing - and sales price, resulting in an average sales price of R10,704.17 per sqm. Vacant stands in the development still attracted most buyers wishing to build their own homes. This has resulted in an increase of 12.5% in sales prices. As we reach into the last few months of the year we expect the industry to see a lot more activity. To date The Hills Estate remains one of the most sought after developments in the Pretoria area. For any property related questions or for free valuations please do not hesitate to contact me on 083 445 0495’’
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Budget-wise tips to get your Financially, 2017 has not done anyone any favours. Which is perhaps why many households might not be going on the usual Christmas breakaway at the end of the year. Perhaps if you’ve planned better and saved more, the 11 months leading up to December might have been enough time to save up – but it is too late now. Or is it? With these budget tips even the late sleeper could get to go on a breakaway. But you have to act now!
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holiday on in December
Tip 1: Consult the budget & cut where you can
Where is the road less travelled you might ask… How about camping in Baviaanskloof or Bonneyvale? The Richtersvels, Vanrhynsdorp or Napier? Websites such as Airbnb, Lekkerslaap or Budget-Getaways can help you find great accommodation anywhere in SA within your budget.
Tip 2: Sell things you don’t use anymore
Alternatively, book an affordable house or apartment a little drive away from where the action is. This way you can have the best of both worlds.
You still have two to three months’ salaries to bend and stretch. Consult your budget to see where you can make cost cuts. For e.g. for the next two months don’t spend any money on luxuries such as clothing, entertainment, takeaways, restaurant dinners etc. Plan your grocery shopping resourcefully (i.e. buy bulk and freeze). That bicycle your son is too big for. The gym equipment you never use. That set of golf clubs that is gathering dust. Sell it all. These days it is effortless to sell the things you don’t use anymore for a decent price on OLX or Gumtree etc.
Tip 3: Opt for the road less travelled
Come December most of the holiday-goers board planes or take to the road with the most popular holiday spots in SA as their destination. The coast. The bush. The Garden Route. But what if you took the road less travelled and chose a different location? You’ll save, that’s for sure. On the price of accommodation, entertainment, food etc.
Tip 4: Cash in on your rewards
Your bank and/or your supermarket’s reward systems are there for a reason. Capitalise on them by using your rewards for your holiday. Rewards can fund some of your fuel and/or groceries, so make sure you know what you have. Some reward systems can even help you save on your local travel bookings.
Tip 5: Book now
The earlier you book the better.
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Going away in December? Plan ahead! Although there is still some time before the December holidays arrive, it is best to plan the care of your pets, home and garden well in advance. Pets
When you are gone your pets will become extremely lonely and depressed. You have to make provision for them either through a livein pet sitter or by taking them to a kennel. Your pets deserve the best, which is why it is essential to book their place early on, as pet sitters and kennels fill up quickly leading up to the holidays.
Garden
Although you and your gardener deserve the break, your garden will be on its post the whole holiday; growing thirsty and growing wild. Make sure to organise someone to tend to your garden while you are away.
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STOP
SPEEDING The HOA strives towards a safe environment for all members in the Estate, and despite our previous communications requesting everyone’s co-operation with regards to speeding, we are surprised to see that there are still residents who are driving above the speed limit in the Estate. Remember, once you’ve entered the Estate you are on private property, where padestrians, including children share the roads with you.
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We are asking all residents and visiting members to the Estate to not only adhere to the speed limit of 30Km/h but also the road signs in our Estate. This is one of the most important rules and we ask everyone to respect it.
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W
e are a local company that strives and excels when the impossible comes our way. Next year will be the tenth year that we will be contracted at The hills Estate and would like to thank you the residents of the Estate for your ongoing support.
other Estates to do maintenance there but firmly believe in quality, not quantity. Firstly, my customers get personal attention. My workers don’t need to wake up at five in the morning to go to work and arrive again at 7 just to cook and sleep. Balance in life is very important thus the reason for seasons in the year as well.
When we started at the Estate there was only enough money in the budget for one laborer. At the moment, we employ nine full-time workers at the Estate to maintain and develop the Estate’s public areas. The Estate as developed in leaps and bounds and as well Pretoria East I can still remember how we drove on a gravel road to go to town and now we have a traffic light on our front step.
Garden tips
We used to farm with cattle and hay but about 15 years ago we started with our instant lawn farm thus the name iLawn. The day I set foot in the Estate I knew I wanted to be part of this. Five minutes from town you enter the Estate and you get the feeling of the bush.
Estates that we service We are currently doing work in The Hills Estate, Mooikloof Glen, Mooikloof Heights and Mooikloof country residence. I was approached by various
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As the season has changed now and plants are starting to blossom we need to ensure that they are well looked after. As important as water the right amount of fertilizer is also very important. If it is either organic or chemical.
Organic fertilizer This is a mix of plant material, manure, and soil. Highly recommended for uneven lawns minimal topsoil layer in gardens. It gives the garden all the nutrients it needs and also helps with water retention. We are currently servicing about fifty stands with our lawn dressing mix and the difference is quite significant.
Chemical Fertilizer
This is sprayed over your plants either in liquid
or in pellets. We recommend this when you just need a top up in your garden. Where your lawn or plants just need some extra love. Either 18:1:5 or 5:1:5. The higher the Nitrogen the greener the plant.
Garden clean up Some plants need to be taken out and broken up in smaller plants after some years. They grow much better and the extra plants can help to fill some holes in your garden. We recently did the same on the island from the main gate to Royal Albatross. We only used the plants that were already there and some compost. The garden is now more fuller and will blossom in one month or so.
Irrigation Irrigation is very important for both your plants and pocket. Watering your plants works like a bandage. You cannot keep the bandage on the whole time and you cannot go without it. An average irrigation system in the Estate will use 4000l per cycle which needs to run two to three times a week. This will give even water sprayed over your garden at the right time of the day. If you use a pipe and sprayer you will need
to do this during the day which will cause water evaporation and sometimes someone naming no one will forget the tap open and we will have a new pool in our front yard.
Mowing of lawn It is always important to keep the blades of your mower as sharp as possible. Instead of tearing the leaves it cuts them off nicely which prevents drying out of the leaf. I also recommend keeping the cut shavings on the lawn. It helps to put some of the nutrients back in the lawn and also sun exposure on your soil base. Never leave your lawn to grow too high. The more you cut your lawn the greener it grows.
Rain harvesting Rain harvesting can be done on many different financial levels. From a basic container under a gutter to an automated system that will run together with either a municipal or borehole feed. With 10mm of rain, you will be able to fill 20 000L with 200sqm roof area this will be enough water to irrigate your garden for two to three weeks depending on your garden. There is also the option of adding your grey water from your showers, wash basin, bath etc to your rain harvester.
If you need any assistance in any of the above-mentioned feel free to contact me. I am on the Estate most of the time, and it would be my pleasure to help. My contact details Werner Nel wpilawn@gmail.com | 083Â 652 7967
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SECURITY UPDATE
Incident Report: Please be informed of a security breach that occurred in the early hours of Monday morning 11/09/2017. An investigation is underway but the facts to date indicate that two perpetrators gained entry to the Estate along Tier Road on our southern boundary parallel to The Oval. They made use of a tree branch that was cut to the specific height of the boundary wall to gain access to the perimeter fence and cut the electric fence. The intruders breached the wall and fence taking the make shift ladder “tree branch” with them to the inside of the Estate and used same to exit the Estate in the same manner. Three bicycles at two different properties in The Oval were reported stolen on Monday. No other reports of theft or break-ins have been received. Additional security patrols were deployed on Monday and will continue while we are investigating the incident. This incident has shown weaknesses in our guarding company’s processes and we have taken these up with senior management.
As we approach December, historically a period which sees higher crime stats, we urge all residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security.”
We have some positive feedback too. We are in the process to facilitate preenrolled contractors on a system-driven base with the aim of making access time as fast and accurate as possible without sacrificing security. To do so we will demolish and enclose the unfinished structure next to the gatehouse to facilitate Contractors. We are also in the process to install 48 perimeter cameras. We intend to have them operational before end of October 2017.
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GET OUT IN YOUR CITY THIS OCTOBER CRC Dreamweek 4 until 6 October 2017
CRC Auditorium, Silver Lakes, 9:00, R250 – R350 A 3-day spiritual event that will empower, educate and equip leaders, entrepreneurs and students to inspire a brighter future for South Africa.
Tshwane Picnic & Cocktail Experience Saturday 7 October 2017
Liquid Zone, Soshanguve, 12:00, R150 – R300 This year, in the fourth experience of its kind, the beach will be coming to Pretoria. Cocktails, beach volleyball, music and more all in a picnic setting.
Fairy Butterfly Saturday 7 October 2017
Hashtag Meat Café, Ga-Rankuwa, 17:30, R150 A girls’ night out where women’s beauty issues such as hair, nail and skin care, fitness, make-up etc. will be discussed. Enjoy some wine tasting in the process and grab a bite with your favourite gals.
Biltong & Pinotage Festival Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 October 2017
Leriba Hotel, Centurion, 11:00, R220 Apart from tasting interesting pairings of biltong and red pinotages and pinotage-alternatives such as rosés, champagnes and white pinotages, this is an event suited for the whole family with live music, food stalls and a purple and white dress code.
A Wildlife & Wine Affair Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 October 2017
Leriba Hotel, Centurion, 10:00, R80 – R100 When 20 game and eco-tourism reserves and 20 award-winning wine farms come together you get a day of venison and wine tasting, eco-tourism product shopping and hunting education, wine shopping at cellar prices and more. Brought to you in partnership with Wild en Jag, SANParks Honorary Rangers and AgriSA.
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FIRE PREPARATION Even though spring has sprung it is still incredibly dry in and around most parts of Gauteng. Due to this the risk of fires are extremely high and we request all residents to be vigilant by: keeping grass around the house short; ensuring that cigarette buds are put out safely and disposed of responsibly; practicing caution when creating braai fires and making sure all coals are put out afterward; and contacting the Estate Manager or Security immediately when you notice a fire.
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The Aesthetics Committee Francois van Wyk
Today, we would like to share some insight and elaborate on building lines, street boundary walls and paving to avoid costly and time consuming mistakes. PrArch 24751027 | MProf(Arch)(Cum Laude) UP
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What are building lines?
The Estate does allow you to relax these building lines to the following minimum dimensions from boundary lines:
According to the City of Tshwane Town Planning Scheme, a building line is defined as an imaginary line on a property that demarcates the Building Restriction Area and is at a fixed distance from any boundary of the property. A Building Restriction Area means the area on the site where no buildings or structure higher than 2,1 m may be erected.
Side boundaries: 2m Back boundaries (also referred to as midblock boundaries): 2m for single-story structures. Street boundaries: 2m for a garage and 3m for a house. These relaxations are however subject to the consent from The Aesthetics committee, the City of Tshwane Council, and the affected neighbour.
The building lines for your property in the Hills is situated 3m away from the side or back boundary, and 5m away from the boundary line on the street boundary. It is very important to understand that these building lines are prescribed by the city council and are always applicable.
On the stands that are larger than 750 m2, a 4 m building line will be applied by the council and applicable to the first floor. As you can see from the above, building lines can be a complicated matter. Therefore we recommend appointing an experienced architect that is familiar with the Estate guidelines and the City of Tshwane Town Planning Scheme.
Street boundary walls The vision of the developers is to create an outwardly focused built environment while maintaining the owner’s sense of privacy. In order to achieve this, the following guidelines apply: Solid walls may not be higher than 1,5 m and may not be more than 30% of the length of the boundary.
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The following materials may be used to enclose the entire street boundary: Solid wall at 750 mm high or lower. Stone pillar and wood railing combination at 1,5 m high or lower. Post and rail fence at 1,5 m high or lower. Planted hedge at 1,5 m high or lower. The Aesthetics Committee will also allow clear view or similar fencing to be used as an alternative material for the wood railing but must be used in conjunction with stone or brick columns at regular intervals. Clearview may be used without brick or stone columns if the fence is 1,2 m high or lower. The Aesthetics Committee will consider a relaxation of the wall height from 1,5m to 1,8 m upon written request in order to create more privacy around pool areas.
Paving The owner is entitled to make use of brick paving, concrete paving, natural stone or exposed aggregate concrete for the driveway inside their property. However, the paving between the street curb and the stand boundary must be Infraset Village cobble paving. All suggested paving must be submitted to the Aesthetics Committee’s office for approval and be constructed as per the approved plan.
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For any other clarity on guidelines or questions you may have, please contact our office via email: www.thehills@studious.co.za
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Oh so Fabulous Holiday Fruitcake! To avoid disappointment order your fruitcake for Christmas now 1kg rectangle moist & matured cake
ONLY R200 * image is for illustration purpose only * includes delivery to Pretoria
Contact Mientel 079 093 3104
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Health & Safety
Construction is a high hazard industry that comprises of a wide range of activities that exposes people to serious dangers such as falling from heights, unguarded machinery, electrocutions, being struck by heavy construction equipment, and the list goes on.
That is why the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Construction Regulations and other relevant regulations have been designed and implemented to protect builders and home owners from, not only the hazards and risks itself, but also the consequences of such risks resulting in injury/ death of persons. But what does this mean for Estate Management (EM), Home Owners Association (HOA) and Residents? Estate Management and the HOA are responsible for the safety of the residents, therefore it is highly advisable that EM and HOA take some time and effort to inform owners of their responsibility in terms of legislation when it comes to the building of their new home. As per section 5 of the Construction Regulations, the “client” – any person for whom construction work is being performed ¬– is charged with certain duties and responsibilities such as to: • Prepare a baseline risk assessment for the project • Prepare a site-specific Health and Safety Specification • Ensure that a Principal Contractor’s Health and Safety Plan is available • Ensure that periodic Health and Safety Audits are conducted • Ensure that the H&S File is kept and maintained by the Principal Contractor • Just to name a few.
We, as D&G Health and Safety Practitioners provide a realistic, practicable and sustainable, all-inclusive Occupational Health and Safety Service in representation of the owner as well as the builder to, as far as reasonably practicable, ensure compliance with relevant legislation and the protection of families and loved ones, so that the owners can focus on the vision of their dream homes, the builders can focus on the construction thereof while we take care of the legislation aspects thereof.
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Gym Manager With the temperatures currently rising to the late 20s and early 30s, it’s quite clear that ‘spring’ is in the air and that we are entering the month of October. September was Heart Awareness Month. Heart disease is a major cause of death in South Africa and according to a report released by the World Heart Federation, more South Africans are dying from heart disease, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases than ever before. According to this report, South Africa has the world’s highest rate of high blood pressure among people over the age of 50. Be proactive and prevent heart disease: The W.H.O. (World Health Organisation) adds that you can take other proactive measures to keep your heart healthy.
Things like eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and by being aware of the risk factors such as smoking, drinking, taking drugs, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and stress will all go a long way in protecting your heart. While you are exercising its also important to train according to your ‘training’ or ‘working’ heart rate. There is a very simple formula to follow should you wish to do so: Men: 220 - age = total x 65 - 85% Woman: 226 - age = total x 65 - 85% It is also very important to measure both you’re blood pressure (bp) and cholesterol on a regular basis. Member of the Month Name: Pieter Vermaak Stand no: 62 Goals: Body toning, general fitness, fat% reduction. Pieter is training 5-6 times a week and does a combination of compound, isolation and cardiovascular exercises. He has lost 10.7% fat in 8 weeks of training.
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CREATE A BEE-FRIENDLY GARDEN
this spring!
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The bee’s knees. A bee in your bonnet. As busy as a bee. Buzz. For such a small insect the bee has inspired quite a number of popular sayings. And rightly so. Irrespective of the painful or (for those with an allergy) deadly sting, the bee is an important facet of food security ensuring the pollination of 70% of the world’s crops.
Over the past decade, bee colonies across the world have dropped between 30 and 70% due to industrialisation, pesticides, climate change and disease. In the Western Cape alone the drought and wildfires have caused the Province to lose 40% of its honeybees. Each and every one of us can help protect and promote bee colonies by simply creating a bee-friendly garden.
How to create a bee-friendly garden: Step 1: Remove invasive plants from your garden. Step 2: Plant a variety of colourful indigenous plants. Bees like diversity, and prefer plants with blue, yellow and purple flowers that carry a floral scent. Plant several of each type together. Step 3: Choose plants that bloom at different times of the year. Step 4: Only use natural pesticides. Step 5: Create a drinking bath for bees by using a shallow container, dropping in a few stones and adding enough water that would evaporate by the end of the day. Fill daily with fresh water. Types of trees, plants and herbs to plant Trees:
• Karee • Sweet thorn • Bush willow • Tree fuchsia • Weeping wattle Plants: • Aloes • Clivia • Felicia • Euryops daisy • Cape violets • Agapanthus • Gazania • Asparagus fern • Lavender If you don’t have a lot of space your herb garden can still attract bees. Plant: • Thyme • Rosemary • Mint • Chives • Fennel • Oregano Click here for an extensive list of plants that are an excellent food source for honeybees.
Did you know? • In South Africa we have two subspecies of ho eybees namely the African bee and the Cape bee. As its name suggest the Cape bee keeps to the more southern parts of the country, whereas you’ll find the African bee more to the north, like here in Gauteng. • The African bee is a brighter yellow and produces larger crops of honey than the Cape bee.
• South Africa normally produces an average of 2000t of honey annually. This number has dropped drastically this year. • The country imports a further 1000t of honey per year. • Bees help pollinate a R20-billion food crop industry in SA, which consists of deciduous fruit, oilseed harvests, vegetables and fodder plants. • Creating a bee-friendly garden won’t only benefit honeybees but also other native bee species, such as the South African Carpenter bee, and other pollinators including butterflies and beetles.
Got stung by a bee? Home remedies Nobody likes to get stung by a bee but did you know there are some common household grocery items you can apply to lessen the pain? • • •
Honey – Apply honey to the area and cover with a plaster. Baking soda – Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply. Apple cider vinegar – Add vinegar to a large enough container/dish so as to soak the affected area.
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picturesque living 38
Thank you Iuliana & Leon Schnell for sharing these beautiful photos of our Estate!
To all keen photographers out there… why not forward your contributions for placement in the newsletter? We live in such a beautiful Estate, let’s share with one another what life offers in such abundance. We eagerly await your contributions! It would be super if you could name your contribution, who knows you might see your photo on the cover of our next issue. P.S: You don’t need to be a professional to be part of this.
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The African
Stonechat
The African Stonechat (Gewone Bontrokkie/Saxicola torquatus) is usually found in pairs in a wide variety of open grassland habitats, near marshes, dams streams and roadsides, like in The Hills, perching on low shrubs or fences , from where it watches the ground for insects. Hannes De Wet Environmental Officer 082 551 6015 | hannesd@trafalgar.co.za African Stonechat male in breeding colours.
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Both sexes can be identified by the white rump on the black tail while in flight. The African Stonechat utters a grating ‘task,task’ like sound. It sounds like marbles being struck together usually proceeded by a short, sharp whistle. The Stonechats is a very common bird species in The Hills. About 20 to 30 pairs of birds can regularly be seen in the Estate, next to the walkways, between houses and open stands. The Estate has a policy to not cut the natural veld grass too short, or too regularly. The strategy is to allow birds like the Stonechat, which nests in the long grass, to raise their young, normally 2-3 chicks, in peace. The birds are very vulnerable when the grass is cut, because long grass offers camouflage and the nests can be damaged in the grass cutting process. The Stonechat male is very territorial and will defend its territory from other intruding males. I’ve seen Stonechats swoop down on a car that was parked nearby their nesting grounds, to fight its own reflection in the car mirror. The Stonechat is a very beautiful and lively bird that needs to be protected and appreciated by residents.
Description The back of a male’s head is black, it has a white half-collar, a black back, a white rump, and a black tail. The wings are black with a large white patch on the top of the inner-wing. The upper breast is usually dark orange-red.
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Females have brown rather than black above and on the head with an indistinct paler eyebrow line. Buff rather than orange below the rump.
Female Stonechat sitting on stand post.
Male Stonechat sitting on pole in garden next to main road.
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ADVERTISE &
LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE! Book now for our November publication to avoid disappointment
For more info Contact Jandrie van Jaarsveld t 074 111 2068 e sales@k-studio.co.za 45