Zandvlei Trust
Western Cape Raptor Research Programme
July 2007 – Eagle Alert !!
photograph by Meidad Goren
Are we down to one Verreauxs (Black) Eagle again?
I might be mistaken and am therefore asking anyone with information on when last
they spotted a PAIR of Black Eagles on the “northern end” of the Table
Mountain Chain to please let me know.
The last reliable sighting was 17th Febrauary 2007.
Lucia Rodrigues,
083 325 8881
signet@mweb.co.za
Black Sparrowhawk Project
19/09/2007 – Ann reports" We trapped a Black Sparrowhawk last week who had a badly infected right leg. The left leg was healing and growing new scales. Sharon Yodaiken contacted the vet she uses for her parrot, and it turns out that he thinks it is caused by a microscopic mite. Sarcoptese, I think they called it. It is very, very contagious and is the cause of one, amongst others, of the types of mange in dogs! It is very prevalent in raptors. It is also the probable answer to those deformed toes we found in that Rock Kestrel that Anthony trapped in Diep River. Apparently, as one leg heals the other gets infected, and then the infection bounces back and forward between the legs. It can be treated by a couple of drops of Dectomax (for a 500g bird) between the shoulder blades. They even use it on sheep, so you can probably use it on quite big birds too. It might be worth having some Dectomax in the ringing kits".
photograph by Ann Koeslag
The leg infection of the Black Sparrowhawk
June 2007 – Ann reports"We are in desperate need of some volunteers to get involved in the Black Sparrowhawk Project in Hout Bay. You don't need to be a raptor expert".
photograph by Ann Koeslag
The Plumstead pair mating near their new nest
All you need are a pair of
binoculars and a note book. If you are interested please contact;
Ann Koeslag 072 357 0909 or Odette Curtis 083 551 3341.
Volunteer help is required.
The task of monitoring the raptors in the Cape Peninsula is ENORMOUS, for the present team. We need more volunteers. All that is required is a passionate interest in observing birds, where you live and work, and the routes you travel to and from work or school.
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You don't have to be an expert.
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Study the pictures provided, and if you have seen birds like these, watch them for a while, see what they are doing, because behaviour is a very important part of raptor observation.
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No observation is too small and unimportant.
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The more regularly you observe the better you become at it. You can train yourself. It is easy!
Make it a habit!
Please let us know what you have seen, with as much detail as you can remember and – welcome to the wonderful world of raptors.
What needs doing.
The following number of nests in many different areas, have to be monitored regularly and gives one an idea of the vast distances that have to be covered, by this handful of dedicated people;
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26 Black Sparrowhawk nests, Cape Peninsula range.
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80 Black Harrier nests, in the Overberg and the Swartland
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35 Peregrine nests, 22 of these occur in the mountains, 8 on buildings and 5 in quarries, from Cape Point to the Tygerberg Hills.
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44 Rock Kestrel nests, from Table View to Cape Point.
Help by....
"Adopting a nest" near where you stay and become involved !!
Read more – why we need your help!!
Read more about the Western Cape Raptor Research Programme.
Read about Lucia Rodrigues's monitoring of Verreauxs (Black) Eagles update 25/09/2007
Read about Lucia Rodrigues's monitoring of Jackal Buzzards
Read about Ann Koeslag's monitoring of the young Fish Eagles update 11/12/2007
Read more about Ann Koeslag's Black Sparrowhawk programme update 11/12/2007
Read more about Anthony van Zyl's Rock Kestrel programme.
Read more about Andrew Jenkins's Peregrine and Lanner and other programmes.
Read more about Rob Simmons's Black Harrier programme.
If you are interested in Raptors join the group, they need more help.
Annual Raptor Survey – August 2006
photograph by Ann Koeslag
Lucia studying the Roberts 7 field guide in the Karoo National Park
Click for report back by Lucia Rodrigues
More projects.
The WCRRP are also involved with;
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The Eskom Electric Eagle Project, (EEEP) in the southwestern Karoo, which is a collaborative project with Eskom, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the FitzPatrick Institute, which has the dual aims of managing and reducing line fault problems associated with the nests of Martial and other large eagles.
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The Goudini Fish Eagle Project, sponsored by the Goudini Wine Estate and deals with monitoring the levels of pesticide contamination in 10 pairs of Fish Eagles, (as well as 20 pairs of Black Sparrowhawks) found along the Wolseley and Robertson section of the Breede River.
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The Barn Owl Project, which encourages farmers to make suitable nesting boxes available for these owls, and thus encourage them to become resident in the area, to keep the gerbil population under control. This project is based up the West Coast, but should be extended to all wheat growing areas.
photograph by Andrew Jenkins
A male Peregrine's feathers being checked for moult and condition.
The WCRRP principal co – ordinators and researchers are;
| Andrew Jenkins, 021 650 4123/4 or 082 959 9238 andrew.jenkins@uct.ac.za |
Anthony van Zyl, antman@iafrica.com |
| Odette Curtis, 021 650 4123/4 or 083 551 3341 ocurtis@botzoo.uct.ac.za |
Rob Simmons, |
| Ann Koeslag, 072 357 0909 annkoeslag@cybersmart.co.za |
Lucia Rodrigues, 083 325 8881 signet@mweb.co.za |
Please join the team and help
monitor these valuable birds to our area.
Your valuable contribution can make a difference.
Contact Lucia for information.
See Anthony van Zyl's excellent web site on Kestrels www.kestreling.com
photograph by Andrew Jenkins
Rock Kestrel
If you find or know of an injured or sick raptor, below are the people to contact.
They are recognized Raptor rehabilitators in the Peninsula and adjacent areas;
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Hank and Tracey Chalmers, (Eagle Encounters, Spier), 082 462 5463 or 084 584 3684
email eagles@telkomsa.net -
Wayne and Jackie Furno, (Helderberg Wild Animal Rescue Centre), 082 874 9811 or
082 877 0774 -
Margo Wilkie, (Pinelands) 082 480 5077
