SANBI Biodiversity Series 8 Bird Checklist for South Africa’s National Botanical Gardens compiled by Christopher K. Willis Odette E. Curtis Mark D. Anderson Photographs by Mark D. Anderson Pretoria 2008 SANBI Biodiversity Series The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) was established on 1 Sep- tember 2004 through the signing into force of the National Environmental Manage- ment: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) No.10 of 2004 by President Thabo Mbeki. The Act expands the mandate of the former National Botanical Institute to include respon- sibilities relating to the full diversity of South Africa’s fauna and flora, and builds on the internationally respected programmes in conservation, research, education and visitor services developed by the National Botanical Institute and its predecessors over the past century. The vision of SANBI: Biodiversity richness for all South Africans. SANBI’s mission is to champion the exploration, conservation, sustainable use, appreciation and enjoyment of South Africa’s exceptionally rich biodiversity for all people. SANBI Biodiversity Series publishes occasional reports on projects, technologies, workshops, symposia and other activities initiated by or executed in partnership with SANBI. Photographs: Mark D. Anderson, www.andersonafrica.co.za Mark D. Anderson, Executive Director, BirdLife South Africa, P.O. Box 515, Randburg, 2125. Odette E. Curtis Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701. Technical editing: Emsie du Plessis Design & layout: Sandra Turck, incorporating bird photographs by Mark D. Anderson Cover photograph: Black-headed Heron. Photograph by Mark D. Anderson. Citing this publication WILLIS, C.K., CURTIS, O.E. & ANDERSON, M.D. (compilers) 2008. Bird Checklist for South Africa’s National Botanical Gardens. SANBI Biodiversity Series 8. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. ISBN 978-1-919976-41-9 © Published by: South African National Biodiversity Institute. Obtainable from: SANBI Bookshop, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa. Tel.: +27 12 843-5000. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: www.sanbi.org. Printed by Bathopele Marketing, P O Box 75353, Lynnwood Ridge, Pretoria, 0001. Printed on Avalon Triple GreenTM, sixty percent sugar cane fibre, chlorine-free, sustainable afforestation. Contents 1 Introduction 1 How to use the Checklist 2 References 2 Acknowledgements 3 Alphabetical Quick Index Bird Checklist for South Africa’s 5 National Botanical Gardens 34 Index of Common Names SANBI Biodiversity Series 8 (2008) Introduction irds have formed one of the more visible components of the biodiversity of South Africa’s National Botanical Gardens since Kirstenbosch was established in 1913. As more Gardens were established through the 20th and into the 21st century, the first checklists developed in each of the Gardens were of birds, probably the best known and most popular group of animals in the various Gardens. With the transition Bof the National Botanical Institute (NBI) to the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in September 2004, the mandate of the organisation expanded from its main focus on plants to include all aspects of biological diversity. So far 440 bird species have been recorded in the National Botanical Gardens, with more birds recorded in the Gardens in the northern (Gauteng) and eastern (Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal) parts of South Africa than those in the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Free State Provinces. Bird-watching in the Gardens is excellent at any time of the year, although a greater diversity of birds are usually seen in the summer months from September to April when many migrant species from Europe, Asia and other parts of Africa (such as swifts, swallows, martins, storks, and bee-eaters) visit the southern African region. This consolidated checklist of birds is the first attempt to provide a comprehensive list of birds known for each of the nine National Botanical Gardens managed by SANBI. The consolidated checklist provides a synthesis of Garden-based lists, accumulated by the individual Gardens over many years, and information supplied by the Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP) and Birds in Reserves Project (BIRP). The Garden-based information includes birds that may or may not have been recorded in the area during the Southern African Bird Atlas Project, but nevertheless reflects the occurrence, even though sporadic, of the birds in those Gardens. Examples include the Marabou Stork recorded in the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden (NBG) and the Cape Gannet recorded flying over Kirstenbosch. Local bird clubs and bird enthusiasts (both amateur and professional) have contributed significantly to the compilation of the Garden-based lists over many years. How to use the checklist This list is ordered according to the Roberts numbers and includes new common names (following Roberts VII), old common names (after Roberts VI) and the scientific names. Also included is an indication of the endemic status of the birds, their movements and migration habits, and their threatened status. Birds recorded in each National Botanical Garden are listed in dedicated columns, with open circles that can be filled in by visitors when birds are seen in a particular Garden. Additional space is provided at the end of the list to include new species recorded. Endemism Various states of endemism are shown in column 5: E – Endemic. An endemic species is one whose breeding and nonbreeding ranges are confined to southern Africa. NE – Near-endemic. A near-endemic species is one whose range is largely restricted to southern Africa but extends slightly outside the region’s borders. This category includes mostly species whose ranges extend into the arid regions of southern Angola. BE – Breeding endemic. A breeding endemic breeds only in southern Africa, but many leave the region outside the breeding season. Source: Hockey et al. (2006). Movements Movements and migrations in column 6 are listed as follows: M – Migrant. Either a Palaearctic (denoting a zoogeographical region that includes Europe, North Africa and northern Asia, west to eastern Siberia) migrant, intra-African migrant (bird that migrates entirely within Africa) or an altitudinal migrant. N – Nomad. A species that wanders erratically, usually in response to rain and/or food. R – Resident. A species that is present all year and does not make seasonal migrations. Source: Hockey et al. (2006). Red Data Book Status Red Data Book or threat status categories (shown in column 7) are defined as follows: NT – Near-threatened. A species that is close to qualifying as Vulnerable in the near future. VU – Vulnerable. A species is Vulnerable when it is not Critically Endangered or Endangered but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future. Source: Barnes (2000). SANBI Biodiversity Series 8 (2008) New records This checklist is in its first edition and will be updated from time to time. Should you observe a bird in one of South Africa’s National Botanical Gardens that is not on the list, please send us a note of your sighting (with details of the observer’s name, contact details, date, name of the Garden and habitat description) to the following address so that it can be confirmed and documented: Chief Director Conservation Gardens & Tourism South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Private Bag X101 Pretoria 0001 South Africa E-mail: [email protected] National Botanical Gardens FS – Free State National Botanical Garden, Bloemfontein, Free State H – Hantam National Botanical Garden, Nieuwoudtville, Northern Cape HP – Harold Porter National Botanical Garden, Betty’s Bay, Western Cape KD – Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden, Worcester, Western Cape K – Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, Western Cape KZN – KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal L – Lowveld National Botanical Garden, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga P – Pretoria National Botanical Garden, Pretoria, Gauteng WS – Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, Roodepoort/Mogale City, Gauteng References BARNES, K.N. (ed.) 2000. The Eskom Red Data Book of birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg. 169 pp. BROEKHUYSEN, G.J. 1958. Birds of the National Botanic Gardens of South Africa, Kirstenbosch. Journal of the Botanical Society of South Africa 44: 11–14. CLANCEY, P.A. 1986. Endemicity in southern African avifauna. Durban Museum Novitates 13: 245–284. HOCKEY, P.A.R., DEAN, W.R.J. & RYAN, P.G. (eds) 2006. Roberts Birds of southern Africa, edn 7. Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town. 1296 pp. Acknowledgements This list would not have been possible without the dedicated contributions of many bird enthusiasts, bird clubs and professional ornithologists who have visited the National Botanical Gardens over many years, and to whom we are extremely grateful. The University of Cape Town’s Animal Demography Unit is thanked for making available SABAP and BIRP data for each of the Gardens. Phoebe Barnard (SANBI) is thanked for the initial advice and support she provided on the format of the checklist. Peter Steyn is thanked for providing the bird list for the Hantam National Botanical Garden in the Northern Cape. Curators and staff of the various Gardens, both past and present, are thanked for accumulating bird checklists for their Gardens over many decades. Contributions made by SANBI’s Research and Publications Unit (Louisa