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Bird call
Kathy Waddington, University of Natal
In an attempt to increase awareness about the endangered Cape Parrot - fewer
than 500 remain in the wild - the Cape Parrot Working Group is urging bird
lovers to support their Big Birding Days.
 The
working group has put out an SOS to all bird lovers to take part in
parrot counting, during which volunteers are dispatched to strategic points
across KwaZulu-Natal, from just after sunrise until just before sunset. They
will record the birds' presence, roosting patterns, direction of travel and
other behaviour.
For the last six years an attempt has been made to survey their range to
accurately determine numbers and record long-term survival trends, and among
their many projects are erecting and monitoring nest boxes in key forest areas,
as natural nests are in short supply.
In 1994 a PhD study on wild Cape Parrots was initiated by Olaf Wirminghaus, and
carried on, after his death, by Dr Colleen Downs, Prof. Mike Perrin and Craig
Symes of the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg. Wirminghaus's study
revealed the rarity of the parrot and its immediate threat of extinction. Last
year a Cape Parrot Working Group was formed, bringing together the provincial
nature conservation organisations, in particular Eastern Cape Nature
Conservation and KZN Wildlife, to coordinate their law enforcement systems and
legislation. Forestry Institutions, including DWAF and members of their IFM
(Indigenous Forest Management) and PFM (Participatory Forest Management)
schemes, academics, veterinarians, environmental lawyers, aviculturists, NGO's
(like TRAFFIC and Birdlife South Africa) and other interested parties including
farmers and ecotourism operators meet four times a year. Plans are developed
for, and action taken on, issues including law enforcement, permit conditions
and educational workshops.
The working group is seeking funds for the printing of Xhosa and Zulu
posters to educate the public about the endangered species, and requires a
co-ordinator. Current sponsors include Birdlife SA, Mazda Wildlife, WWF-SA,
World Parrot Trust, Amazona Endangered Parrot Breeding Facility and
Aviproducts.
Contact Colleen Downs at 033 2605127 or email her at downs@nu.ac.za
if you'd like to become involved.
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