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BIOLOGY of the GREYHEADED PARROT Poicephalusfuscicollis Suahelicus Reichnow

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BIOLOGY of the GREYHEADED PARROT Poicephalusfuscicollis Suahelicus Reichnow I BIOLOGY OF THE GREYHEADED PARROT Poicephalusfuscicollis suahelicus Reichnow by CRAIG THOMAS SYMES Submitted in fulfilment ofthe academic requirements for the degree of Master ofScience in the School ofBotany and Zoology, University ofNatal Pietennaritzburg 2001 11 This dissertation is dedicated to my grandfather THOMAS REGINALD SYMES (10/04/1910 - 01/02/1999) who showed me the splendour in nature, and introduced me to parrots ill PREFACE The work described in this dissertation was carried out in the Department ofZoology, School of Botany and Zoology, University ofNatal, Pietermaritzburg, from January 1999 to January 2001, under the supervision ofProfessor Michael R. Perrin and the co-supervision ofDr Colleen T. Downs. - This studyrepresents the original work ofthe author and has not otherwise been submitted in any form for any degree or diploma to any other University. Where use has been made ofthe work ofothers it is duly acknowledged in the text. Chapters 2 - 7 are written in the format for submission to recognized international journals as indicated in Contents (page viii). Each chapter is set to read independently and may prevent continuity ofthe dissertation. Repetition between chapters is therefore unavoidable. Pietermaritzburg May 2001 IV ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the biology of the Greyheaded Parrot Poicephalus fuscicollis suahelicus in the wild. Field work was conducted in north-east South Africa in the southern limit ofthe range ofthe Greyheaded Parrot during two field seasons. Observations from August to December 1999 in the Levubu region, south ofthe Soutpansberg mountain range, included months ofthe non-breeding season when Greyheaded Parrots occur seasonally in the area. Observations in the Luvhuvhu-Mutale river confluence area from March to August 2000 ~cluded months ofthe breeding season. No field work was conducted from January to March 2000 due to exceptionally high rains in the southern African sub-region, that prevented access to sites. The GreyheadedParrothas a widespread distnbution, throughsouthern, southCentraland East Africa, that has possible changed little in recent years. However, local populations are likely to have suffered extinctions due to habitat destruction and capture for the illegal trade. Populations in protected areas (Makuya Park and Kruger National Park) are less vulnerable to capture than unprotected areas. The conservation ofthe Greyheaded Parrot outside ofprotected areas is highlighted. In various parts ofthe range ofthe Greyheaded Parrot seasonal movements occur in response to food and nest site availability. Nest sites are possibly limiting in certain parts ofits range due to habitat destruction. During post-breeding flocking, the occurrence oflarger flocks, possibly family units (mean ± S.E = 4.7 ± 0.2), is common, when birds wander in search for seasonally available food sources. During this period density of Greyheaded Parrots is 0.28 birds/lOO ha. Monogamous pairs are more conspicuous during the breeding season (mean ± S.E = 2.1 ± 0.1) and density estimates are 0.14 birds/lOO ha. Egg laying is synchronous between pairs withthe timed appearance and flocking ofjuvenile flocks in spring (August/September). Breeding during the dry season reduces competition with other large cavity nesting bird species. Observations suggest that a skewed sex ratio exists in the population (males:females = 2:1). Daily movements are characterised by a bimodal activity pattern. Early morning movements involve flights to activity centres where the accumulation ofnumerous smaller flocks occur. Here preening, allo-preening and socializing occur with drinking and/or feeding occurring iffood and/or water are available. Thereafter, birds move to regular feeding sites, to feed. Activity v is decreased during the heat ofthe day with birds sleeping, resting and/or preening in the canopies oftrees. Late afternoon activities involve increased levels ofactivity and late afternoon return flights to roosts. Greyheaded Parrots are specialist feeders, accessing the kernel ofpredominantly unripe fruit. This feeding strategyreduces competitionwith otherfrugivore competitors. During anyone. time few tree species are fed on by the Greyheaded Parrot. Greyheaded Parrots were also observed feeding on bark in the breeding season. Two, almost fully fledged, chicks were found dead in a nest and the causes ofdeath undetermined. Their crops contained numerous pieces of masticated bark and insect parts. Behaviours and vocalizations ofthe Greyheaded Parrot were similar to that recorded in the Cape Parrot. Recognition ofthe Greyheaded Parrot as a separate species based on species specific calls and DNA warrants further investigation. VI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Without numerous individuals and organizations this project would not have been possible. I thank Loro Parque Fundaci6n (Canary Islands) for providing major sponsorship for this project. National Research Foundation provided study bursaries for the duration ofthe study and Parrot Society(UK) and AfricanBird Club provided additional sponsorship. The GayLangmuir Bursary Fund provided additional financial support in the final stages and completion ofthe project Louise Warburton(UniversityofNatal),JoannePhillips(NottinghamUniversity) andDale Forbes (University ofNatal) are thanked for valuable assistance in the field. David Hlungwane (Levubu) is thanked for recording sightings ofparrots in the Levubu area, and Robert Muvuhli (Tshikuyu) for acting as a translator in Tshikuyu while conducting interviews and working in the area. Sarah and (Or) Casper Venter ofLouis Trichardt are thanked for their hospitality during the study, and providing a warmbed and hot bath after extended weeks in a caravan. The farming community ofLevubu, and in particular "Boesman" and Marissa Miiller, Hendrik and Lynnette Barkhuysen, Thinus Prinsloo, Daan Prinsloo, Stephen and Lana Hoffinan, Bertie and Ansie Le Roux, Dries Joubert, and "Flip" Haasbroek are thanked for their hospitality and allowing access on their farms. Rick Nel is thanked for allowing access to Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF - Levubu) premises. Gordon Smart at the Levubu Experimental Station (Agricultural Research Centre) for the use ofdrying ovens and photocopying facilities. Leo van Schaik and Om. Petrus Kriel are thanked for help in identifying tree species. Wim Botha is thanked for providing a camping site for my caravan, and ablution facilities at the SAFCOL Offices (Klein Australie) while working in the Levubu region. Stals and Ronel Konig of Tshikondeni are thanked for their hospitality, and to Stals for providing ablution facilities and a caravan site at Iscor, Exploration, Tshikondeni, for assistance in communicating with the local Venda people, and for times spent around the campfire. Iscor and Northern Province Nature Conservation are thanked for granting access to Makuya Park. National Parks are thanked for allowing work to be conducted in the Kruger National Park. Or Andrew Deacon is thanked for acting as National Park project supervisor. Peter and Annelle Scott, Eric Kelder and the staffof Punda Maria are thanked for their hospitality and assistance in locating nests in the K.N.P. Dylan Aspinwall, Neil Baker(Tanzania), Prof. Dries Betser(Levubu, NorthernProvince), Vll Mike Bingham (Lusaka, Zambia), Dr Paulette Bloomer (Pretoria University, Pretoria, Gauteng Province), ClaytonBume(Durban, KwaZulu-NatalProvince), Veronique Crowther(Zimbabwe), Bob Dowsett (Malawi), Derek Engelbrecht (University of the North, Pietersberg, Northern Province), Harry Erwee (Zimbabwe), Guy Gibbon (Durban, KwaZulu-Natal), Norbert Hahn (Louis Trichardt, NorthernProvince), Willie Hlungwane (TshikondeniMine, Tshikuyu, Northern Province), William Horsfield (Amazona Bird Farm, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal), Michael P. Stuart Irwin (Harare, Zimbabwe), Dr Alan Kemp (Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, Gauteng Province), Donald Kemp (Umtata, Eastern Cape Province), Dm. Petrus Kriel (Dutch Reformed Church, Levubu), Pete Leonard (Choma, Zambia), Stephen Long (Zimbabwe), David Moyer, Peter Mundy (National Parks, Zimbabwe), KenNewman (Johannesburg, Gauteng Province), Tommy Pederson, ChrisPollard(Zimbabwe), RichardRandall (Botswana), IanRiddel(Zimbabwe), Stuart Taylor (University ofNatal, Pietermaritzburg), Tony Tree (Bathurst, Eastern Cape Province), Jeanne-Marie Van den Berg (Haenertsburg, Northern Province), Leo Van Schaik (Levubu) and Louise Warburton (University ofNata~ Pietermaritzburg) are all thanked for information on Greyheaded Parrot distnbutions and movements, and comments in one form or another. Also, thank you to those not mentioned who made this project possible. Clive Stockil and the staffofSenuko Lodge are thanked for granting access to work in the Save Valley Conservancy, south-east Zimbabwe, although the project did not continue in the area. Thomas is thanked for recording parrot sightings after my departure from the area. DrRayMiller (UniversityofNatal- Dept ofEntomology) is thanked for identifying insect parts found in the nests, and Prof. Ed Green for identifying the louse specimen. Many thanks to my supervisor, Prof Mike Perrin, and my co-supervisor, Dr Colleen Downs, for their support and guidance. To Colleen's late husband, Olaf Wirminghaus, for instilling an interest in parrots in me. Finally, to Tracy Young and my family for their support, patience and love. VID CONTENTS Preface ID Abstract. 1V Acknowledgements VI Contents vm CHAPTER 1. Introduction Conservationofparrots 1 Taxonomic statusand distnbutionoftheGreyheaded
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