Zandvlei Trust

Western Cape Raptor Research Programme – Breeding Peregrines in the suburbs

                                  photograph by Gary van der Merwe                             photograph by Gary van der Merwe

Lowering the new nest box to the ledge.                               Heaving the old box up.

Andrew is putting a new suitable nesting box at a block of flats, during June 2005, ably assisted by Lucia.
This is for a young pair of Peregrine Falcons that have been using a ledge as their roost, at the 5 story block of flats across the bay.

                                                              photograph by Gary van der Merwe

Andrew unhitching the box, after abseiling down to the ledge.

They have been to young too breed and hopefully this year, with a decent nesting box will be able more successful.
The tenents are very happy to have them, because as you can imagine they keep the feral pigeons off their building. The young male is ringed and comes from a quarry nearby, ringed by Andrew as a young chick.

                                          photograph by Gary van der Merwe

Table Mountain and Cape Town in the background.
Andrew is dangling from the rope, securing the new nest box in place.

Rona Crow, a nearby resident overlooking this building, is a volunteer who "mothers" this pair. She is utterly devoted to them, reporting their every move. Fortunately her flat looks down on the ledge they frequent and she has a bird's eye view of all procedings.

Andrew Jenkins, (021) 650 4123/4 or 082 959 9238   andrew.jenkins@uct.ac.za