The Cape Bird Club
Western Cape Raptor Research Programme – Ann Koeslag.
Black Sparrowhawk Project.
12/07/2008 – Ann reports "Odette and I have been trying to catch this female for about 7 years. We managed this week to do so".
photograph by Ann Koeslag
Black Sparrowhawk female
19/09/2007 – Ann reports" We trapped a Black Sparrowhawk last week who had a badly infected right leg. The left leg was healing and growing new scales. Sharon Yodaiken contacted the vet she uses for her parrot, and it turns out that he thinks it is caused by a microscopic mite. Sarcoptese, I think they called it. It is very, very contagious and is the cause of one, amongst others, of the types of mange in dogs! It is very prevalent in raptors. It is also the probable answer to those deformed toes we found in that Rock Kestrel that Anthony trapped in Diep River. Apparently, as one leg heals the other gets infected, and then the infection bounces back and forward between the legs. It can be treated by a couple of drops of Dectomax (for a 500g bird) between the shoulder blades. They even use it on sheep, so you can probably use it on quite big birds too. It might be worth having some Dectomax in the ringing kits".
photograph by Ann Koeslag
The leg infection of the Black Sparrowhawk.
June 2007 –
Ann reports "We have lost a pair of ringed birds in the Hout Bay area and would be very grateful for any Black Sparrowhawk sightings you can send us.
We are in desperate need of some volunteers to get involved in the Black Sparrowhawk Project in Hout Bay. You don't need to be a raptor
expert".
30/05/2007 – Ann Koeslag reports "The Diep River female has paired up with a young male and they have relocated to Plumstead where they have built a nest".
photographs by Ann Koeslag
The female Black Sparrowhawk The male Black Sparrowhawk
photograph by Ann Koeslag
The pair mating near the nest they have built.
photograph by Ann Koeslag photograph of Ann Koeslag
Ann Koeslag Nick climbing to a nest in Oct 2006
photographs by Ann Koeslag
The ringed ckicks back in the nest.
Ann Koeslag with great energy, keeping a constant eye on a series of nests mainly on the Constantiaberg range in the southern suburbs. Her substantial contribution towards the success of the Raptor Programme all started with the idea that "getting involved" in the Black Sparrowhawk project, because it would add an interest in her daily trudges around the Tokai Forest with her dogs. Little did she know how much time she would end up spending in the forests or how fascinating she would find the project. There are currently 26 Black Sparrowhawk nests.
This current breeding season - 2004, finds the Black Sparrowhawks doing reasonably well, but there are real concerns about the impact the Egyptian Geese are making by parasitizing their nests. Fifteen chicks have fledged so far, with one confirmed death of a fledgling.
Black Sparrowhawk adults are trapped and ringed. Four chicks have been ringed and there was great excitement, when one of those ringed, successfully raised a chick in one of the Constantia green belts this year.
There are many anecdotes: Sparrowhawks definitely recognize individual humans. We tried and failed many times to trap one particular female. It is very frustrating to sit, in winter, in the early hours of the day, waiting in vain at a baited trap. This particular bird would fly around, looking at the bait, but refusing to oblige. Her male companion, was more easily misled and was caught three times. Another member of the Raptor Programme, after observing the bird's behaviour, pointed out that the bird really disliked one of us. They planned for her to walk away as though leaving the area. The bird fell for the trick, was caught at last and is now, much to her disgust, wearing rings!
Ann has on occasion sat for hours waiting for a particular bird to pitch, see the baited trap and do the necessary. Eventually they gave up and packed up to go. Turning around to leave they saw much to their amusement the intended victim sitting quietly behind them in a tree. Who were the victims this time round?
photograph by Ann Koeslag
photograph by Ann Koeslag
This Black Sparrowhawk was caught peering into
Much excitement this is a
juvenile Black
the "Zandvlei Fish Eagles nest".
Sparrowhawk in Diep River, found in Feb 2005.
The 35 meter high gum trees nesting site, have been cut down on the Rathfelder Development, Diep River in Sept 2006.
Perhaps what is most endearing about Black Sparrowhawks is they get used to their observers. This means with a bit of patience all the intimate behaviour between the birds can be seen. A female gently feeding her chicks and when that was done, come over all dreamy as they snuggled down underneath her.
Watching a tiny ball of fluff negotiate its way to the edge of a nest, turn round and squirt over the side! Too comical for words.
Contact: Ann Koeslag, 072 357 0909 annkoeslag@cybersmart.co.za
