cape parrot big birding day report...1 17th annual parrot count- report on the 2014 cape parrot big...
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17th
Annual Parrot Count- Report on the 2014 Cape
Parrot Big Birding Day.
Colleen T. Downs*
School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209,
South Africa. Email: [email protected]
*Cape Parrot Working Group Chairperson.
Background
The Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robustus) is the only parrot species endemic to South
Africa and is currently one of South Africa’s Endangered birds. Skead (1971)
highlighted that the numbers of Cape Parrots had declined since the early 1900s,
particularly in the 1950’s. In 1989 Boshoff estimated less than a 1000 in the wild. So
this raised questions: were these declines real and how many Cape parrots were
there in the wild? Standard bird counting techniques are unsuitable for Cape Parrots
as they are nomadic feeders with unpredictable movements. Parrots’ cryptic
colouration combined with dense forest habitats often make them difficult to locate
once perched but their loud harsh calls whilst in-flight make their presence known.
They are most active during the first few hours after dawn and before sunset,
(although during misty conditions these periods can be extended), when they leave
and return to their roosts in forest patches. These characteristics allow for a ‘total
count’ of the parrots. Consequently the Cape Parrot Big Birding Day (CPBBD) was
initiated in 1998, and has been held annually since as part of the conservation effort
of the Cape Parrot Working Group. The aim is to determine their occurrence and
obtain an accurate population estimate of the Cape Parrot. Over the recent years
less than 1600 have been counted in the wild (Downs et al. 2014). Factors
contributing to the parrots decline vary in their effects and extent at different locations
and include: the loss or change in the quality of their preferred forest habitat; food
and/or nest-site shortages; illegal poaching for the pet trade; disease (especially
psittacine beak and feather disease virus (PBFDV)); avian predators; and
accelerated climate change.
The Cape Parrot, a forest specialist, is now mainly restricted to patches in a
mosaic of afromontane southern mistbelt forests from Hogsback in the Eastern Cape
through to the Balgowan and Karkloof areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN); with a disjunct
population in the Magoeboeskloof region of Limpopo Province. Though they are seen
feeding on fruit in Protea patches, gardens, orchards or coastal forests at certain
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times of the year. Absence of parrots in some forest patches during certain periods
are not local extinctions, but are likely due to the absence of food, as the fruiting of
their preferred yellowwoods may be sporadic and absent in some years.
Figure 1. Juvenile Cape Parrots feeding on pecan nuts near Creighton, KwaZulu-
Natal in May 2014.
CPBBD 2014
South Africa celebrated twenty years of democracy in 2014 with an election close to
the time that CPBBD is usually held, consequently it was pushed further into May.
The CPBBD is generally extended over the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning
of the following day. One reason for this is that often the weather is poor on one of
the days. This allows an afternoon and a morning estimate. The higher of these for
each province is then used to give the maximum number counted.
The areas of South Africa covered by the count included the Eastern Cape,
KZN and Limpopo Provinces. This year at least 253 volunteers were posted at 96
localities in the three provinces. Some localities had Cape Parrots feeding in flocks at
Pecan Nut Trees (Carya illinoinensis, Figure 1). Despite the poor weather on one of
the days in some of the areas, at least 1133 parrots were seen during the afternoon
count while 1148 were seen the following morning. The maximum number of Cape
Parrots counted (see above) was 477 in KZN, 491 in the former Transkei, 308 in the
former Eastern Cape and 35 in Limpopo Province. This suggests that there were at
least 1311 in the wild on the CPBBD in 2014 which is similar to the maximum count
of 1356 in 2013 when weather also had an impact. Consequently both years are
© CT Downs
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likely an underestimate. Furthermore, having the census day later in the year seems
to have had an impact as well. On the Sunday the parrots were observed at 61% of
localities while on the Saturday at 57% of localities. The localities where no parrots
were observed are ones where the birds have been seen previously so need to be
covered although for observers nil counts are often very negative.
Of interest were how many juvenile flocks of Cape Parrots were observed in
parts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal (Figure 2). Two localities also reported
Cape Parrots nesting. This shows that there is some recruitment. Also there was a
report of Cape Parrots feeding on bugweed (Solanum mauritianum) near Umtata
which has not been previously documented. Several observers commented on how
Pied (Corvus albus) and Cape/Black Crows (C. capensis) were disturbing the Cape
Parrots.
Figure 2. A flock of juvenile Cape Parrots near Creighton, KwaZulu-Natal in May
2014.
The annual CPBBD also highlights the importance of South Africa’s Afromontane/-
temperate indigenous forest patches. In particular, other endangered forest species
or those found in the neighbouring grasslands, including Samango Monkeys
(Cercopithecus mitis), and Southern Ground Hornbills (Bucorvus leadbeateri) are
recorded too. Interestingly several people reported Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres),
African Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) and Martial Eagle (Polemaetus
© CT Downs
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bellicosus) at various localities. Sadly several observers reported illegal logging and/
or hunting of wildlife while doing their CPBBD observations.
As in past years, there were numerous communities involved in the CPBBD.
This highlights the importance of the CPBBD day in developing interest, knowledge
and hopefully conservation awareness. It is an excellent way that citizens can
contribute to science. Several school groups assisted observers in many of the rural
areas. Some scholars from Sonyongwana, Newtonville and Ginyane schools near
Creighton even camped out and assisted with observations. The observers in the
Langeni / Matiwane Region area had a get together and produced their 10th very
detailed report for their area (Mandla Mavalanji, Alfred Mbiyo, Bertus Bouwer and
Helen Dalton, Indwe Security field rangers and Starlight Security are thanked, Figure
3). We are most grateful to all those who participated in the CPBBD, particularly the
co-ordinators (Appendix 1) and those volunteers who have participated for many
years. We continue to be extremely grateful for the effort, enthusiasm and continued
support of the co-ordinators. We are also grateful for the contribution of Border Bird
Club, DAFF, DEAT, Rance Timbers, Sappi and Mondi foresters, Indwe Security, and
Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife officials
(particularly those from Coleford Nature Reserve), and the Armours who host the
University of KwaZulu-Natal students near Ingeli.
Figure 3. Some of the CPBBD observers in the Langeni / Matiwane Region area
including Indwe and Starlight Security field rangers.
Cape Parrot Day 2015
please diarise 18 and 19th April 2015
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A new A1 poster highlighting aspects of the Cape Parrot are available from Prof CT Downs. Please contact her +27-332605127 or +27-829202026; email [email protected] for copies.
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Appendix 1. Grateful thanks is extended to the co-ordinators of the Cape Parrot Big Birding Day 2014.
Area Name Tel Email
Overall co-ordinator Colleen Downs 033 260 5127;
0829202026
Karkloof John and Jenny Robinson 033-5029090/
082-4433805
Midlands
conservancies:
Dargle/ Nottingham
Rd/ Balgowan
Sally Cummings 033 330 7175
072 119 4253
Byrne Valley Malcolm Anderson 033 2122744
082 5723455
Boston Barbara & Glyn Bullock 033 997 1783;
0843049842;
0843529864
Bulwer Russell Hill 0741267274
082 9239649
Creighton/Donnybro
ok
Malcolm Gemmell 039 8331029
082 7895000
Ngeli Colleen Downs See above
Mpur/Glengarry Andy Ruffle 039 695 0829;
0728933794
Alfred Nzo Region, namely: Ntsiswa, Gomo,
Bulembu, Tonti,
Amanzinyama and
Xhama Forest
Dean Ricketts 0824325104 [email protected]
Mthatha
Langeni / Matiwane
Ngcobo
Gary Harvey
Bertus Bouwer
083 452 0883;
043-740 2993 (w)
082 856 3982;
043-726 0513 (w)
[email protected] / [email protected]
Hogsback Graham Russell 045 9621084
0823746583
Stutterheim Neill Harvey
Donald Kemp
043-6832384
073 4272 119,
043-683 1661
Wild Coast (Port St
Johns)
Kathryn Costello 047 5641240 [email protected]
Mbotyi Wendy Ayliffe
Taz Moola
039-2537200/01 [email protected]
KWT/Alice Gertie Griffith
Peter Mather-Pike
043 7352195
043 7403566
0829248514
Limpopo Province David Letsoalo 0835684678 [email protected]
See Appendix 2 for some of these areas.
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Appendix 2. Main areas covered by coordinators on the Cape Parrot Big Birding Day.
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Appendix 3. Selected references on Cape Parrots.
Boshoff AF. 1989. What is happening to the parrots of southern Africa? Quagga 27: 7-10.
Downs CT. 2005a. Abundance of the Endangered Cape Parrot, Poicephalus robustus, in South Africa: implications for
its survival. African Zoology 40: 15-24.
Downs CT. 2005b. Artificial nest boxes and wild Cape Parrots Poicephalus robustus: persistence pays off. Ostrich 76:
222-224.
Downs CT. 2011. 14th Annual Parrot Count- Report on the 2011 Cape Parrot Big Birding Day. Unpublished Report.
Pietermaritzburg: University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Downs CT. 2012. 15th Annual Parrot Count- Report on the 2012 Cape Parrot Big Birding Day. Unpublished Report.
Pietermaritzburg: University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Downs CT, Symes CT. 2004. Snag dynamics and forest structure in Afromontane forests in KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa: implications for the conservation of cavity-nesting avifauna. South African Journal of Botany 70: 265-276.
Pain DJ, Martins TLF, Boussekey M, Diaz SH, Downs CT. Ekstrom JMM, Garnett S, Gilardi JD, McNiven D, Primot P,
Rouys S, Saoumoé M, Symes CT, Tamungang SA, Theuerkauf J, Villafuerte D, Verfailles L, Widman P, Widmann
ID. 2006. The impact of protection on nest-take and nesting success of parrots in Africa, Asia and Australasia.
Animal Conservation 9: 332-330.
Perrin MR. 2005. A review of the taxonomic status and biology of the Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus, with reference
to the Brown-necked Parrot P. fuscicollis fuscicollis and the Grey-headed Parrot P. f. suahelicus. Ostrich 76: 195-
205.
Perrin MR. 2012. Parrots of Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands: Biology, Ecology and Conservation.
Johannesburg: Wits University Press.
Perrin MR, McGowan P, Downs CT, Symes CT, Warburton L. 2000. Chapter 6: Africa. In: Snyder N, McGowan P,
Gilardi J, Grajal A (eds). Parrots: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan 2000 - 2004. Gland, Switzerland
and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. p 90-97.
Pillay K, Dawson DA, Horsburgh GJ, Perrin MR, Burke T, Taylor TD. 2010. Twenty-two polymorphic microsatellite loci
aimed at detecting illegal trade in the Cape Parrot, Poicephalus robustus (Psittacidae, AVES). Molecular Ecology
Resources 10: 142–149.
SABAP 2. The South African Bird Atlas Project 2. http://sabap2.adu.org.za/
Skead CJ. 1964. The overland flights and the feeding habits of the Cape Parrot, Poicephalus robustus (Gmelin) in the
Eastern Cape Province. Ostrich 35: 202-223.
Skead CJ. 1971. The Cape Parrot in the Transkei and Natal. Ostrich Supplementary 9: 165-178.
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Symes CT, Brown M, Warburton L, Perrin MR, Downs CT. 2004. Observations of Cape Parrot, Poicephalus robustus,
nesting in the wild. Ostrich 75: 106-109.
Symes, CT, Downs CT. 2002. Occurrence of Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus at non-forest feeding sites in South
Africa: threats to a declining population. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 9: 27-31.
Taylor MR. (Ed.) 2014. The Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Johannesburg:
BirdLife South Africa. In press.
Wirminghaus JO, Downs CT, Perrin MR, Symes CT. 2001a. Breeding biology of the Cape Parrot, Poicephalus
robustus. Ostrich 72: 159-164.
Wirminghaus JO, Downs CT, Perrin MR, Symes CT. 2001b. Abundance and activity patterns of the Cape Parrot
(Poicephalus robustus) in two afromontane forests in South Africa. African Zoology 36: 71-77.
Wirminghaus JO, Downs CT, Perrin MR, Symes CT. 2002a. Taxonomic relationships of the subspecies of the Cape
Parrot Poicephalus robustus (Gmelin). Journal of Natural History 36: 361-378.
Wirminghaus JO, Downs CT, Symes CT, Dempster E, Perrin MR. 2000b. Vocalisations and some behaviours of the
Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae). Durban Museum Novitates 25: 12-17.
Wirminghaus JO, Downs CT, Symes CT, Perrin MR. 1999. Conservation of the Cape Parrot in southern Africa. South
African Journal of Wildlife Research 29: 118-129.
Wirminghaus JO, Downs CT, Symes CT, Perrin MR. 2000a. Abundance of the Cape Parrot in South Africa. South
African Journal of Wildlife Research 30: 43-52.
Wirminghaus JO, Downs CT, Symes CT, Perrin MR. 2002b. Diet of the Cape Parrot, Poicephalus robustus, in
afromontane forests in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Ostrich 73: 20-25.
Wirminghaus JO, Downs CT, Symes CT, Perrin MR. 2001c. Fruiting in two afromontane forests in KwaZulu-Natal,
South Africa: the habitat type of the Endangered Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus. South African Journal of
Botany 67: 329-336.