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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: downs@ukzn.ac.za

*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-June 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 260 volunteers were posted at 98

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 1166 parrots were seen during the afternoon

count while 1176 were seen the following morning. The maximum number of Cape

Parrots counted (see above) was 477 in KZN, 491 in the former Transkei, 341 in the

former Eastern Cape and 35 in Limpopo Province. This suggests that there were at

least 1344 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 62% of

localities while on the Saturday at 59% 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-

June 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 downs@ukzn.ac.za 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

downs@ukzn.ac.za

Karkloof John and Jenny Robinson 033-5029090/

082-4433805

tomrob@mweb.co.za

Midlands

conservancies:

Dargle/ Nottingham

Rd/ Balgowan

Sally Cummings 033 330 7175

072 119 4253

sally.j.cumming@gmail.com

Byrne Valley Malcolm Anderson 033 2122744

082 5723455

mmanderson@mweb.co.za

Boston Barbara & Glyn Bullock 033 997 1783;

0843049842;

0843529864

grbullock@telkomsa.net

Bulwer Russell Hill 0741267274

082 9239649

carolhill@futurenet.co.za

Creighton/Donnybro

ok

Malcolm Gemmell 039 8331029

082 7895000

info@buttonbirding.com

Ngeli Colleen Downs See above

Mpur/Glengarry Andy Ruffle 039 695 0829;

0728933794

andy_ruffle@yahoo.co.uk

Alfred Nzo Region, namely: Ntsiswa, Gomo,

Bulembu, Tonti,

Amanzinyama and

Xhama Forest

Dean Ricketts 0824325104 Dean.Rickets@deaet.ecape.gov.za

Mthatha

Langeni / Matiwane

Ngcobo

Gary Harvey

Bertus Bouwer

083 452 0883;

043-740 2993 (w)

082 856 3982;

043-726 0513 (w)

vanessa@starsec.net

gary@starsec.net / starsec@mweb.co.za

bertus@starsec.net

Hogsback Graham Russell 045 9621084

0823746583

gandm@procomp.co.za

Stutterheim Neill Harvey

Donald Kemp

043-6832384

073 4272 119,

043-683 1661

alliedin@eci.co.za

donald@barkaybirds.co.za

Wild Coast (Port St

Johns)

Kathryn Costello 047 5641240 outspan@wildcoast.co.za

Mbotyi Wendy Ayliffe

Taz Moola

039-2537200/01 info@mbotyi.co.za

KWT/Alice Gertie Griffith

Peter Mather-Pike

043 7352195

043 7403566

0829248514

gerken@intekom.com

pamp@supafeeds.co.za

Limpopo Province David Letsoalo 0835684678 info@krm.co.za

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.