Marievale Bird Sanctuary
Interactive map of Marievale Bird Sanctuary
Location	Blesbokspruit
Nearest city	Nigel
Coordinates	26°21′35″S28°30′32″E / 26.35972°S 28.50889°E /-26.35972; 28.50889
Area	1,526.01 ha (3,770.9 acres)
Established	26 April 1978
Administered by	Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Camp sites	2
Website	Marievale Bird Sanctuary

Marievale Bird Sanctuary is aprotected area inGauteng, South Africa. It is aRamsar site^[1] about 15 km² in size, and situated on theEast Rand on the southern half of theBlesbokspruit wetland. The Blesbokspruit is a major perennial river in Gauteng which is flanked by extensive floodplains on either side. Nearby is theSuikerbosrand Nature Reserve.^[2]

In 1978, a reserve 524 ha in extent was established.^[3] This was further extended to 1,526.01 ha.^[4]

The Blesbokspruit wetland, in which the sanctuary is situated, is designated as anImportant Bird Area.^[5] Almost 300 bird species frequent the wetland,^[1] according to the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA),^[6] with the best time to visit being between spring and the start of summer.^[2][7]

Birds found at the wetland include:^[2][7]

In addition to birds, mammals have also been observed in the sanctuary:

• Blesbok
• Cape clawless otter
• Three species ofmongoose
• Southern reedbuck
• Cape hare

Within the wetlandphragmites,typha andjuncus reeds can be found between thewater pans.^[1] A grassland biome occurs near the eastern border.^[1]

There is a conference centre and 2 chalets in the sanctuary.^[2] There are fourbird hides at the water pans^[2] (named Flamingo, Hadeda, Duiker and Shelduck) and a public picnic site in the reserve.^[1]

The flow of the Blesbokspruit has been hampered by the surrounding industries, i.e. goldmine tailings,sewage treatment plants, farmland expansion and urban development in some parts of the wetland, creating disjointed pans of water in the wetland.^[7][8] Previously the river had fewreed beds and few open stretches of shallow water. With the profusion of vegetation likesedges,bulrushes,duckweed and reeds, and the dumping of several large sand embankments through urban expansion, the landscape has since changed, resulting in the reduction of suitable habitat on the river.^[8]

• Selection of species from the Marievale Bird Sanctuary
• 
  Red-knobbed coot
• 
  African swamphen
• 
  Spotted-necked otter
• 
  Amoorhen family in the sanctuary
• 
  African darter
• 
  Lesser flamingo flock
• 
  Black-headed heron
• 
  Cape shoveler
• 
  Greater flamingo
• 
  Purple heron
• 
  White-throated swallow
• 
  Black crake
• 
  African rail
• 
  Greater striped swallow
• 
  Juvenile maleSouthern red bishop

• Media related toMarievale Bird Sanctuary at Wikimedia Commons

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