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Pigeon Valley is a Natural Heritage Park and formally declared municipal nature reserve in Durban, South Africa. It is an unusual example of an urban reserve with very high levels of biodiversity. It was established to provide protection for the Natal Elm (Celtis mildbraedii) and other forest giants of the coastal climax forest. Another rare tree that occurs here is Oxyanthus pyriformis which is endemic to the Durban area and to oNgoye Forest. Pigeon Valley is about 11ha in extent, and is situated on the Berea, overlooking Durban Bay. Its unusual north-south orientation may contribute to the biodiversity, with the south-facing slope covered in canopy forest, while the north-facing slope has thorny thickets. An adjoining reservoir, previously part of the reserve, provides a patch of coastal grassland.

Animals

The Park is home to Red Duiker and Blue Duiker. There is a troop of Banded Mongooses as well as Slender and Water Mongooses. Various species of forest birds are found here including; Green Twinspot (Mandingoa nitidula), Cape White-eye (Zosterops virens), Southern Boubou (Laniarius ferrugineus), Spotted Ground-Thrush (Zoothera guttata), Purple-crested Turaco (Tauraco porphyreolophus) and African Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis). The Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus) is known to breed here. Another bird that is seldom seen but that is constantly present is Buff-spotted Flufftail (Sarothrura elegans). Recent unusual sightings of note include European Nightjar, Mountain Wagtail, Black-throated Wattle-eye and Black Cuckoo.

• Caption1 Male Buff-spotted Flufftail, Pigeon Valley, 26th January 2014 Caption1 Male Buff-spotted Flufftail, Pigeon Valley, 26th January 2014

Plants

There are over 110 species of trees occurring in Pigeon Valley, almost all of which are locally indigenous. Pigeon Valley is also notable for large stands of Isoglossa woodii which grow in more open areas under the forest canopy and in forest glades. In recent years there have been a few discoveries of plants not previously identified. The following table presents the listing of indigenous trees of the reserve.

An asterisk (*) indicates that the tree was probably introduced

Community

An active grouping, Friends of Pigeon Valley, undertakes clearing of invasive alien plants, ensuring that the Park is unusually free of alien species. There is a Facebook page with that name.

References

1. Bodenstein, J. (2009)
2. Birds in Reserves, ADU
3. Hemson, C. (2014)

Bibliography

• Pooley, T. and Player, I. (1995). KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Destinations. ISBN 1-86812-487-8.

See also

• Forests of KwaZulu-Natal

29°51′52″S 30°59′19″E / 29.86444°S 30.98861°E / -29.86444; 30.98861

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