Volunteers 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.

• You don't have to be an expert.

• 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.

• No observation is too small and unimportant.

• 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;

• 26 Black Sparrowhawk nests, Cape Peninsula range.

• 80 Black Harrier nests, in the Overberg and the Swartland.

• 35 Peregrine nests, 22 of these occur in the mountains, 8 on buildings and 5 in quarries, from Cape Point to the Tygerberg Hills.

• 44 Rock Kestrel nests, from Table View to Cape Point.

Help by....

 "Adopting a nest" near where you stay and become involved !!

 
photograph by Ann Koeslag

Barn Owl

Fish Eagle detectives required!!

photograph by Greg Morgan

See the request.

Annual Raptor Survey  – Harriers –  Rob Simmons request

I am trying to mobilize a large work force to monitor as many nests as possible in 2009 for a national survey of breeding (July - Nov 2009). So please put this in your diaries now.

I would like you all to check on your local nests and visit two other areas where you suspect harriers may occur. Birds perched often on fence posts or tracks in the morning are all good signs of imminent nests. DO NOT disturb such birds but watch from a distance (150 m).

I will send more detailed instructions on what to look for closer to the time. thanks!

In the meantime you can hone your skills this year!

If anyone plans to get to the Northern Cape coast there is a lot of activity of Whistling Rats on the road that runs from Alex Bay to Port Nolloth. (they were literally running across the road)

Feedback from Western Cape

Feedback from Eastern Cape

Feedback from KZN

Feedback from Northern Cape

Read more about why we need your help

Read more about the Western Cape Raptor Research Programme

Read about Lucia Rodrigues monitoring the  Verreauxs (Black) Eagles

Read about Lucia Rodrigues monitoring the Jackal Buzzards

Read about Ann Koeslag monitoring the Zandvlei Fish Eagles

Read about Ann Koeslag's involvement and background with the project   updated 12/08/2009

Read about Anthony van Zyl's involvement and background with the project

Read about Andrew Jenkins's involvement and background with the project

Read about Rob Simmons's involvement and background with the project

More projects

Read about this remarkable migration of a Hobby Falcon to southern Africa
tracked by new technology.

The WCRRP are also involved with;

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 Ann Koeslag                                                photograph by Ann Koeslag

Juvenile Buzzard                                             Spotted Eagle Owl