UCT Open Access Journals (Univ. of Cape Town)
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Fork-tailed Drongo marauding Mannikins
Get PDFThe Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis is known to prey on Bronze Manniken Lonchura cucullata (Dean, 2005). This paper discusses this behaviour with photographic evidence. It also notes the capturing of the 2 other species of Mannikin by the aggressor
First record: Levaillant's Cuckoo fed by Kurrichane Thrush
Get PDFOn 28 January 2012 I observed a juvenile Levaillant's Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii begging food from a Kurrichane Trush Turdus libonyanus. This observation was recorded at Kranskop 1 Stop (S24°48' E28°26') petrol station next to the N1 highway north east of Bela Bela, Limpopo Province
The oldest Dark-capped Bulbul?
Get PDFThis bird was retrapped after 14 years, 2 months and 17 days - possibly a longevity record for this species
Black Skimmer - a first confirmed record for South Africa
No full textOn 04 October 2012 at 14:30, I, Robin Wood (RW), sighted a Skimmer at Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Milnerton, Western Cape. I was out with my mother-in-law, Heather Wood (HW), for an afternoon's viewing of wetland birds - in overcast conditions with light drizzle - intent on finding a few new birds to tick off our list, when a bird with a bright red beak swooped down low across the top of the water, directly behind the pelicans we were training our binoculars on
Death under the surface - Cape Fur Seal predating on a Southern Giant Petrel in Walvis Bay, Namibia
Get PDFCape Fur Seals Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus have been observed to predate upon several species of endemic seabird in South Africa and Namibia, including Cape Gannets Morus capensis, Cape Cormorants Phalacrocorax capensis, Bank Cormorants P. neglectus, Crowned Cormorants P. coronatus and African Penguins Spheniscus demersus (David et al. 2003, du Toit et al. 2004). Due to the high predation rate and small population sizes of several of these bird species, seal predation of seabirds can have negative impacts on the conservation status of these species (David et al. 2003, du Toit et al. 2004, Makhado et al. 2006)
Endemic fynbos avifauna: comparative range declines as cause for concern
Get PDFThe winter rainfall district of the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape Provinces in South Africa is home to the Fynbos biome, which extends from the Cedarberg mountains, south to the Cape of Good Hope, and eastwards to Algoa Bay. The Fynbos biome as an outstanding global biodiversity hotspot for its high levels of plant diversity and endemism. Approximately 8 600 plant species have been recorded in this biome, of which about 70% are endemic, but there are surprisingly few endemic birds
How to make 2.5 billion termites disappear? A case for protecting the Amur Falcon
Get PDFThe sudden and shocking discovery of the large scale harvesting of Amur Falcons Falco amurensis in India (Conservation India 2012; Figures 1-3) has, inter alia, raised the issue of why conservation of migratory species is so important. A 120 000 - 140 000 depletion in 2012 (probably occurring since 2006 at variable rates) of the global population of an estimated 50 000-1 million birds (various sources) is an impact that should be recognized as of great concern. Apart from a global biodiversity and conservation perspective, the migratory behaviour of this species (Symes and Woodborne 2010) also means that its predatory nature may have consequences in its breeding and non-breeding areas. In South Africa, the kestrelling.com website houses the collated roosting count data for this species since 2005/06. The maximum number for a coordinated January count for South Africa was 114 000 from 17 roosts in 2009 (Anon 2012). Many more roosts are known but are not counted, so the actual numbers in South Africa are no doubt much higher
Territory establishment and the mating system of the nomadic Monotonous Lark Mirafra passerina
Get PDFThe Monotonous Lark Mirafra passerina is one of the least known members of the genus. This may be ascribed to its nomadic habits which makes it difficult to know when or where breeding will occur and the fact that outside the breeding season they are silent and very inconspicuous. This has led some authors to suggest that it is an intra-African migrant, yet it has never been recorded outside of its known range in southern Africa. Its movements are linked to rainfall and breeding usually occurs where substantial rain has fallen in the recent pas
Traumatic encounter between Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres and Hermit Crab Coenobita perlatus at D’Arros Island, Amirantes Group, Seychelles
No full textOn 13 March 2011 at 09:00, we encountered a juvenile Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres on the ground in apparent distress. We were conducting a nesting sea turtle track count survey along the sandy shoreline of D’Arros Island in the Amirantes Group of the Seychelles. Unable to take flight, the Turnstone was struggling in the manner of a bird entangled by the sticky seeds of the Pisonia grandis tree. But, upon closer inspection we found that the tip of its bill was in the grip of th left claw of a Hermit Crab Coenobita perlatus