Uncertain Future for Southern Race ofCape Parrot Marsh Farms by Andre' Boshoff INCUBATORS Republic ofSouth Africa There are considered to be nine 28.3 mm), and the latter has a lighter, • FEATURING fully automatic species in the genus Poicepbalus more greyish head. turners. Adjustable temperature The type locality of P. r. and humidity control. which has been divided into two robustus, groups, namely the P. robustus; the nominate race, is given as "east­ superspecies with two species and ern Cape" (Cape Province, South the P. meyeri superspecies with seven Africa); P.r. robustus is endemic to species. The two P. robustus species, South Africa (see Figure 1). For the namely P. robustus and P. gulielmi, sake of convenience the Ciskei and are similar in size and plumage char­ Transkei, two small independent acteristics. P. robustus can be divided homelands which were formerly part TURN-X into three isolated populations which of the eastern Cape Province (referred Up to 72 eggs. differ at the subspecific level; the to hereafter as "E. Cape") are head is brownish in the most included as part of the E. Cape in Fig­ southerly form, P.r. robustus, which ure 1. is restricted to the southern part of P. r. robustus is listed as Vulnerable Africa, and silvery grey in the remain­ in the South African Red Data Book ing two forms, P.r. juscicollis in west - Birds and if it proves to be a sepa­ Africa and P.r. suabelicus in south­ rate species then steps to ensure its central Africa. The plumage colour survival will require urgent attention. variation is paralleled by a habitat dif­ It is primarily a bird of high altitude ference: P.r. juscicollis and P.r. sua­ (above 1,000 meters a.s.!.) evergreen ROLL-X belicus inhabit woodland and forests, but it is not confined to this Up to 209 eggs. wooded savannah mainly in the tropi­ habitat. It is known to visit other hab­ cal regions, while P. r. robustus itats, usually in lower lying areas, in mainly inhabits montane forest in search of food (see later); for exam­ subtropical and temperate regions, ple, it is found on occasion in relict where it breeds. The montane ever­ forest patches, in richer types of green forest is associated with the bushveld and thornveld, and in foothills of the Great Escarpment of copses of the introduced black wattle southern Africa. Acacia mearnsii. Feeding parties P.r. juscicollis is well isolated from have also been recorded in coastal P.r. robustus and P.r. suabelicus but forests and dune forests in the E. the latter two subspecies come to Cape, Ciskei and Transkei; it is not within about 100 km of each other in known from coastal forests in Natal the north-eastern Transvaal Province although it was recorded there on ofSouth Africa. These two subspecies occasion at the turn ofthe century. are separated by habitat (see earlier) Although P.r. robustus uses tradi­ and two morphological characters: tional roosting and breeding sites in the mandible of P. r. robustus is less the montane forests, it travels exten­ than 23 mm broad, while that of P.r. sively on feeding forays; these flights suabelicus is slightly larger (22.6 to away from the forests may be in any NAMIBIA MANUFACTURED BY SOUTH l-mNr:~ Cape Province 2765 MAIN STREET Dept. W CHULA VISTA, CA 92011 U.S.A. TELEPHONE: (619) 585-9900 23" 27" 31" 33" The distribution ofthe nominate race ofthe Capeparrot Poicephalus robustus robus­ WE ACCEPT D~ '~I tus in southern Africa; solid circles representpost-1959 records and open circles rep­ resentpre-1960 records. The distribution ofP.r. suahelicus south of19 0 S is indicated. 22 October /November 1989 direction and they may occur over short or long distances (to over 100 km). The foraging flights do not exhibit regular patterns and in the outlying feeding areas they may be highly irregular. For example, flocks may feed and roost at a locality for days, weeks or months on end and then vanish for months or even years; some birds may return nightly to their traditional roost sites in the montane forests. These movements still occur in the E. Cape, Ciskei and Transkei but, although they may have taken place in earlier years, they have not been recorded in atal in recent times. The coastal records in the E. Cape, Ciskei and Transkei (see Figure 1) are of birds on feeding forays. Pro robustus is normally gregar­ ious, and while singletons are observed on occasion it is more common to find small flocks of up to 20 birds, and occasionally up to 40 or 50 birds. In a census covering 258 months (from January 1965 to June 1986) at Fort Grey, near the coast at East London in the E. Cape, flocks of between 70 and 150 birds were observed at a roost in five of the 42 months in which parrots were recorded. P robustus is primarily a consumer of the seed kernels of a variety of indigenous trees. The most important items in the diet of Pro robustus are the seeds of yellowwoods Podocar­ pus spp., followed by those of the kaffirplum Harpephyllum caJJrum, wild olive Olea capensis, red milk­ wood Mimusops caJJra and the Cape chestnut Calodendron capense, and also the seeds and nectar of the coral tree Erythrina caJJra. In addition, Pro robustus has adapted to feeding on the seeds of some introduced trees, e.g. syringa Melia azedarach, black wattle Acacia mearnsii, pecan Carya illinoensis. Few details are available on the breeding biology of Pro robustus and those that follow relate to P robustus. The normal clutch is of three or four eggs, single broodedness probably prevails, and there is an incubation period of almost four weeks and a nestling period of nine to eleven weeks. According to the few breeding records that exist, the species breeds most often in autumn and pring. It nests in cavities in trees, where it makes use of natural hollows which, based on available data, are between six and 12 meters above the ground. o nest lining is used and the eggs are afa WATCHBIRD 23 laid on bare wood some 30 to 90 cm as far as parrots go. Adults are Cape Province a clause in the ordi­ below the entrance hole. Observation trapped, but more often nestlings are nance requires that details of the of captive birds indicates that only taken, for caging and trade. successful breeding of the species in the female incubates. Little is known 3. Persecution. P. r. robustus is captivity be reported to the conserva­ of the breeding biology of the species often directly persecuted by farmers tion authority. The species is a in the wild, particularly from the when the birds cause damage to fruit "specially protected" bird in Natal. post-hatching stage to when the crops. In the E. Cape, P.r. robustus P. robustus is listed in AppendiX II young leave the nest. has taken to feeding in orchards of of CITES, in an effort to halt or No reliable estimates of the size of pecan trees; the pecan is native to reduce trade in wild-caught birds. In the P.r. robustus population exist. A North America. This situation has the Cape Province, at least, only tentative estimate of about 600 birds developed mainly in the past 20 or so captive reared birds are considered was made for the area west of the years when farmers in the region for trade purposes. Great Kei River (i.e. the E. Cape and came to recognize the agricultural Aside from the protection afforded Ciskei). In October 1966 a flock of and economic potential of pecan by the respective nature conservation 150 birds was seen at Fort Grey, near nuts. In particular, pecan growers are ordinances, and the conserved status East London. Flocks of 150 to 200 angered by the high wastage factor, ofmany ofthe forests where breeding birds were recorded in feeding which is characteristic of the parrots' takes place, there is at present no grounds near King William's Town in feeding behaviour. Fruits are picked intensive and systematic program to the early 1970s, and in 1983 about and, if not suitable (e.g. too green), ensure the survival ofP.r. robustus. In 300 birds were counted. in a single are discarded; farmers talk of a pecan Natal the Natal Parks Board is actively homeward bound flock near Fort fruit "rain" when a large flock of promoting the conservation of forests Beaufort. During 1988 a total of 280 parrots is feeding in a tree. It has been that are under private ownership. parrots, in several flocks, was counted calculated that more than 50% of the There is an overriding need to in one evening near Stutterheim, fruits picked by the parrots are establish the exact taxonomic status north ofKing William's Town. wasted. Some growers consider that of the three races of P. r. robustus; P.r. robustus numbers have appar­ without employing control methods should P. r. robustus prove to be a ently "decreased greatly" in the E. they would stand to lose most oftheir distinct species, action to ensure its Cape and Transkei, less so in Natal crop. With present, and largely survival will require urgent attention. and "perhaps hardly at all" in the ineffective, control methods losses For P. r. robustus there is also a Transvaal where it was always scarce. are estimated by one grower at 5 to need to (i) obtain reliable estimates of However, the irregular movements of 25% of the annual crop. Another total numbers, (ii) document and the parrots may have helped to create grower stated, inter alia, that "our determine the conservation status of the impression that the population industry has been wrecked:' Control the extant breeding, and traditional has decreased.