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Project title: Conservation status of the Taita Falcon: further survey of the South African

population

Proponents: Andrew Jenkins (Raptor Research Programme, FitzPatrick Institute, University

of Cape Town), André Botha (Birds of Prey Working Group, Endangered Wildlife

Trust) and the SA Taita Falcon Survey Team*.

*The complete list of participants in the 2006 and 2008 SA Taita Falcon surveys is as follows: Andrew Jenkins, Anthony van Zyl and Lucia Rodrigues (FitzPatrick Institute, UCT), Ara Monadjem, Sara and Niall (University of Swaziland), Alan Kemp, David and Debbie Allan (Durban Natural Science Museum), Alan Stephenson and Alan Harvey (South African Falconry Association), David Rushworth (Trackers), Hannes Marais (Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve), André Botha and Scott Ronaldson (Birds of Prey Working Group, EWT), Maryna Matthee (Mpumalanga Parks Board), Thabelo Sekome and Michael Kumako (BirdLife South Africa).

1. Summary

The Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha is a rare and poorly known African species, with less than 40 known nest sites scattered across eastern sub-Saharan Africa. A 2006 survey of the breeding population of this species on the Mpumalanga/Limpopo escarpment, South Africa, found four breeding pairs. In October 2008, the area was surveyed again, by a similar team of expert observers, in an effort to cover the survey area more thoroughly. The 2008 survey found three new pairs of Taita Falcons, bringing the total, known South African population to seven. At least a further two-three pairs are suspected for northeastern South Africa, with the national population expected to exceed 10 pairs.

2. Introduction, rationale and objectives

The Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha is a small and highly specialized, bird-hunting raptor, which

is sparsely and patchily distributed down the eastern side of sub-Saharan Africa (del Hoyo et

al. 1994, Ferguson-Lees & Christie 2001). While it is poorly known throughout much of its

discontinuous distribution, it is generally thought to be rare where it occurs, and is largely

restricted to well-wooded habitats, and to mountains or incised river valleys where high,

sheer rock faces are available as nesting and foraging sites. Aspects of its natural history have

been studied opportunistically at sites in Uganda (Möller 1989), Malawi (Hunter et al. 1979),

Zambia (Dowsett 1983) and South Africa (Jenkins et al. 1991). A more concerted and

intensive research initiative in Zimbabwe has yielded the only comprehensive information on

regional population size, diet and breeding performance (Hartley et al. 1993, Hartley 2000).

The global population of the Taita Falcon is probably substantially less than 500 pairs, and

fewer than 50 nest sites are actually known, most of which are situated in the Zambezi

Valley, Zimbabwe (Hartley 2000). Even in known areas of concentration, the species seems

to occur irregularly, with territories prone to sudden abandonment (Hartley 2000, R.

Hartley unpubl. data). Breeding success is generally poor, and estimates of certain key life-

history parameters (e.g. age of first breeding, length of incubation, capacity to re-lay after

clutch failure), largely derived from small samples of captive birds, suggest that the

reproductive potential of the species is low (R. Hartley unpubl. data, N. Deacon pers.

comm.). The Taita Falcon is classed as ‘Globally near-threatened’ (BirdLife International

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2004), and should be afforded the highest priority by research and conservation agencies in

all parts of its range.

The first breeding pair of Taita Falcons in South Africa was discovered on the Drakensberg

escarpment in Mpumalanga Province in the late 1980s, and was formally documented in the

early 1990s (D. Rushworth pers comm., Jenkins et al. 1991, Milstein 2000). In the period

between 1991 and 2006, one other definite nest site was located, and 4-5 possible sites

were mooted in the same vicinity, although the area was not thoroughly or systematically

searched (D. Rushworth and P. Milstein unpubl. data). In September 2006 an expert team

was assembled to conduct a snap, two-week long survey of Taita Falcons in the

Mpumalanga/Limpopo escarpment region. This survey was partly funded by The Peregrine

Fund, and the results were detailed in an unpublished report to the Peregrine Fund and in a

paper submitted to the African Bird Club Bulletin (Jenkins 2007, Jenkins et al. 2007, Jenkins et

al. 2008). In summary, the survey included much, but not all, of the available habitat, and

found two Taita Falcon breeding sites in addition to the two already known. These findings

motivated strongly for a second look at the Mpumalanga/Limpopo escarpment area in 2008,

as an extension of, and substantially informed by, the 2006 experience.

The primary objective of the project in 2008 was to complete a survey of the

Mpumalanga/Limpopo escarpment cliff-line (started in 2006), mainly focusing on a shortlist of

possible or even likely sites not properly covered in the first survey, to obtain an accurate

estimate of the number of pairs of Taita Falcon resident in the area.

The stipulated deliverables of the project in 2008 were:

1. A map of Taita Falcon (and other key cliff-nesting species) nest sites located along

the Mpumalanga/Limpopo escarpment cliff-line in 2006 and 2008.

2. At least one formal scientific paper and one semi-popular article detailing the final

results of the survey, implications for regional conservation of the Taita Falcon, and

including recommendations for future research on the species in South Africa.

3. Methods

The 2008 survey was organized and executed in much the same way as the 2006 effort

(Jenkins 2007, Jenkins et al. 2007, 2008), but with some important modifications in approach

based on lessons learned in 2006:

Timing: By timing the 2006 survey to coincide with the early incubation period of the Taita

Falcons’ breeding cycle, we may have located pairs still preparing to lay and reasonably active

on their cliffs, but missed pairs already well into incubation. To combat this problem, the

2008 survey was conducted a month later (in the last two weeks of October). This meant

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that while we might have missed early-failing pairs, actively breeding pairs were more likely

to be feeding smallish young at the time of the survey (rather than incubating) and should

have been more conspicuous as a result.

Elimination of sites: Many possible nesting areas were sufficiently well covered in 2006 for us

to be confident that they do not currently hold breeding pairs of Taita Falcons. These sites

were excluded from the survey, significantly reducing the area to be covered in 2008.

Selection of sites: A small number of promising cliffs in the original study area were either not

surveyed at all, or were not covered adequately in 2006 for us to be confident about the

status of Taita Falcons at these sites. These were the initial targets of the 2008 survey, which

was a much more focused operation generally. In addition, specific cliffs in the Ohrigstad

area, and upstream on the Olifant’s River were checked on the basis the 2006 findings

and/or recent, possible sightings of Taita Falcons at these locations.

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Figure 1. Extent of the Taita Falcon survey area on the eastern escarpment, with the sections of cliff-line which were surveyed in 2006 marked in red, and those surveyed in 2008 in yellow.

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Table 1. Location and approximate physical parameters of the large falcon nest sites located during the 2006 Mpumalanga/Limpopo Taita Falcon survey.

Site name cliff height elevation aspect underlying habitat Taita Falcon Swadini >300 m 750-1000 m SE riparian forest / woodland Jongmanspruit 150-300 m 500-750 m NE woodland and thicket Tunnel 75-150 m 250-500 m NW riparian forest / woodland Fochabers 75-150 m <250 m NW riverbed / riparian thicket

Driehoek 75-150 m 750-1000 m W woodland and thicket Lowveld 150-300 m 500-750 m NW riparian forest / woodland Riverside 75-150 m <250 m NE riverbed / riparian thicket Peregrine Falcon 3 Rondawels 150-300 m 250-500 m NW woodland / dam Swadini 150-300 m 250-500 m SE riparian forest / woodland Mogologolo 75-150 m 750-1000 m SE woodland and thicket

Ohrigstad 75-150 m 250-500 m NW woodland and thicket Laner Falcon Scotland Hill* 150-300 m 750-1000 m NE forest and plantation Hebron* 150-300 m 750-1000 m NE forest and plantation Mariepskop 1 150-300 m >1000 m E forest Mariepskop 2* >300 m >1000 m NE forest 3 Rondawels 1 75-150 m 250-500 m SE woodland / dam

Blyde Dam 75-150 m 250-500 m NE woodland / dam Swadini >300 m 750-1000 m E woodland and thicket Dunstable 1 >300 m 750-1000 m NE woodland Dunstable 2 75-150 m 500-750 m E woodland Manutsa 1 150-300 m 750-1000 m NW woodland Callais 150-300 m 500-750 m NW woodland and thicket Preekstoel 75-150 m 250-500 m NW woodland / riverbed

3 Rondawels 2 150-300 m 250-500 m SE woodland / dam Manutsa 2 150-300 m 750-1000 m NW woodland Dunstable 3 75-150 m 500-750 m N woodland

4. Results & Discussion

In total, about 25 possible nest cliffs were surveyed, including about 8 km of the main

escarpment not covered in 2006 and 15 km of the Olifant’s River (Fig. 1), with >20 person-

days of effort. The survey located three new Taita Falcon nest sites, one new Peregrine

Falcon site, three new Lanner Falcon sites, six new Rock Kestrel sites and three new White-

necked Raven sites, bringing the overall survey total of definite or likely nesting areas of 65

pairs of cliff-nesting raptors (seven pairs of Taita Falcon, four pairs of Peregrine Falcon, 15

pairs of Lanner Falcon (Table 1), 29 pairs of Rock Kestrel, five pairs of Verreaux’s Eagle and

five pairs of Jackal Buzzard), as well as five pairs of White-necked Raven and three pairs of

Black Stork.

Of the seven Taita Falcon sites found in total, six were actively breeding during the 2008

survey (three pairs were thought to be feeding small nestlings, and three pairs were still

incubating by the end of the survey). The three newly located Taita Falcon nest sites

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included two in the Blyde River Canyon area and one to the northwest of the main

escarpment.

Once again, the survey was a qualified success. We improved our coverage of the area, and

were able to plug some of the critical gaps identified after the 2006 survey.

5. Acknowledgements

The bulk of the sponsorship for the 2008 survey was provided by the Peregrine Fund Inc.

Many thanks to the African Bird Club for providing top-up funding to cover helicopter costs

that ultimately exceeded the budgeted amount.

6. References

BirdLife International. 2004. Threatened Birds of the World 2004. BirdLife International, Cambridge.

Del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. 1994. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. 2001. Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London. Dowsett, R.J. 1983. Breeding and other observations on the Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha.

Ibis 125:362-366. Hartley, R.R. 2000. Ecology of Taita Falco fasciinucha, Peregrine F. peregrinus minor and Lanner

F. biarmicus Falcons in Zimbabwe. In: Chancellor, R.D., Meyburg, B.-U. (eds). Raptors at risk, pp 87-105. Hancock House & WWGBP, Canada.

Hartley, R.R., Bodington, G., Dunkley, A.S. & Groenewald, A. 1993. Notes on the breeding biology, hunting behavior, and ecology of the Taita Falcon in Zimbabwe. J. Raptor Res. 27:133-142.

Hunter, N.D., Douglas, M.G., Stead, D.E., Taylor, V.A., Alder, J.R. & Carter, A.T. 1979. A breeding record and some observations of the Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha in Malawi. Ibis 121:93-94.

Jenkins, A. 2007. On the trail of the Taita. Africa – birds & birding 12(3): 35-37. Jenkins, A.R., Wagner, S.T. & Hoffman, I. 1991. First breeding record of the Taita Falcon in

South Africa. Ostrich 62:78. Jenkins, A.R & the SA Taita Falcon survey team. 2007. Survey and monitoring of the Taita

Falcon in the Drakensberg escarpment region of Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces, South Africa. Unpublished report to The Peregrine Fund.

Jenkins, A.R., Allan, D.G., Botha, A., Harvey, A., Kemp, A.C., Monadjem, A., Rodrigues, L., Rushworth, D., Stephenson, A. & van Zyl, A.J. 2008. Preliminary survey of the Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha in the Drakensberg escarpment region of Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces, South Africa. African Bird Club Bulletin 15: 53-58.

Milstein, P. le S. 2000. Correction: discovery of Taita Falcons in South Africa. Hornbill 59:51-52.

Möller, P. 1989. The Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha: results of a study at Mount Elgon. In: Meyburg, B.-U & Chancellor, R.D. (eds). Raptors in the Modern World: Proc. 3rd World Conf. Birds of Prey and Owls, pp 315-319. WWGBP, Berlin, London & Paris.

Wagner, S.T. & Jenkins, A.R. 1996. Report on the findings of a helicopter survey of the large falcon population on the Mpumalanga Drakensberg escarpment. Unpublished report to Mpumalanga Parks Board.

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Figure 3. Anthony van Zyl, Lucia Rodrigues and Scott Ronaldson crossing the Olifants River during the 2008 Taita Falcon survey (Photo: Andrew Jenkins).

Figure 4. Taita Falcon country – Blyde River Canyon (Photo: Andrew Jenkins).

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Figure 5. Watching Taita Falcons at one of the new nest sites found in 2008 (Photo: Andrew Jenkins).

Figure. 6. Taita Falcon country - Mariepskop from the Blyde River (Photo: Andrew Jenkins).

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Figure 7. Frustration! Andrew Jenkins waiting for the mist to lift (Photo: Anthony van Zyl).

Figure 8. Lost? Alan Kemp, Lucia Rodrigues, Scott Ronaldson and Anthony van Zyl, somewhere in the woodland under the main escarpment (Photo: Andrew Jenkins).