Intaka Island, Century City

Intaka Island is a 16 hectare wetlands and bird sanctuary situated in the centre of Century City.

"Intaka" means "bird" in Xhosa.

The island boasts 7 habitats in the wetlands where 70 of the 120 bird species can be seen regularly.

Intaka Island, Cape town Nature, Cape Town

Canal surrounding the Island

The 7 habitats with the most common birds seen are:

Open water - Whitebreasted Cormorant, Reed Cormorant, Redknobbed Coot
Shallow water and shoreline - Winged Stilt, Blacksmith Plover, Sandpipers
Reedbeds - Purple Gallinule, Moorhen, Masked Weaver

Intaka Island Wetlands, Cape town Nature, Cape Town

Bush and trees - Guinea Fowl, Red Eyed Dove, Cape Robin
Open grassy areas - Cattle Egret, Sacred Ibis, Egyptian Goose
Open bare ground - Red Capped Lard, Rock Pigeon, Cape Sparrow
Open air / sky - Pied Kingfisher, Brown Throated Martin

Intaka Island, Cape town Nature, Cape Town

Entrance to the Island

Intaka Heronry

In 2001 the first man made islands were constructed to encourage birds to roost and breed. These islands proved to provide an ideal breeding habitat and water birds returned in numbers as soon as the islands were built.

The continued success of the three islands that were built in the Intaka Island conservancy, had presented a new challenge as the amount of guano produced by the water birds was having an effect on the capacity of the wetland to purify the canal water.

The solution had to prevent the guano from entering the water but still provide a natural and undisturbed area for the birds to roost and breed.

Submerged plastic tanks were placed in the water to collect the guano. The tanks are linked by a large pipe at their bases to enable water to be sucked from them.
This nutrient loaded water is used as part of the fertilizing program for the landscaping and lawned areas.