The Cape Bird Club

Western Cape Raptor Research Programme

BLACK HARRIER SURVEY REPORT  Eastern Cape

December  2008 reports from (Anne Williams) 2 nests successful and 1 failed at Fort D'Acres. Kidd's Beach pair seen twisting and turning over coastal area (Mike Coleman) no further activity.

05/08/2008 - Anne Williams reports found first nest with 4 bluish eggs at site. Rob replies Congratulations!!! Can you please complete the nest sheet I sent - another attached for your convenience.
Blue eggs you will know mean they are freshly laid so you have timed your visit perfectly.

Repoert by Adri Barkhuysen "On a few recent surveys for Black Harrier Circus maurus breeding sites in the Port Alfred, Humansdorp and Port Elizabeth districts on 23 - 24 June 2008, 10 - 11 July 2008 and 27 July2008, very little harrier activity were found. The survey periods coincide with the harriers’ breeding season therefore the birds should be present at active breeding sites. At most of the sites visited, harriers have been recorded historically while a few potential sites were checked for the first time. Two to four hours were spent observing each potential site.

In the Port Alfred area, four sites were visited:
Harriers were active only at two sites during the two-day survey.
Site 1 - land-use - none to little cattle farming; habitat - pristine grassy fynbos, although a fire swept through part of the area; a successful breeding site in 2006 and 2007 – harriers were active,
Site 2 - land-use - extensive cattle farming; habitat – grasslands; historic sightings – no harriers found,
Site 3 - land-use – cattle and chicory crops; habitat – grassland / wetland; historic sightings – no harriers found,
Site 4 - land-use – cattle farming; habitat – fynbos and wetland; historic sightings – harriers were active, a likely breeding area.

In the Humansdorp area four sites were visited:
No harriers were found during the two-day survey.
Site 1 - land-use – reserve; habitat – seasonal wetlands; historic breeding site during 2003 and 2004 but a fire destroyed the area in August 2005 and the harriers had not returned since,
Site 2 – land-use – extensive cattle farming; habitat – mixed grasslands; historic sightings – no harriers found,
Site 3 – land-use – extensive cattle farming; habitat – grassy fynbos; historic sightings – no harriers found,
Site 4 – land-use - extensive cattle ranching; habitat – grasslands; historic sightings – no harriers found.

In the Port Elizabeth area two sites were visited:
Site 1 – land-use – none to communal cattle grazing, however motorbike and quad bike are rampant on weekends; habitat – grassy fynbos; historic breeding site – no harriers found,
Site 2 – land-use – none to communal cattle grazing, however motorbike and quad bike are rampant on weekends; habitat – grassy fynbos; historic breeding site – no harriers found.

Three factors might have contributed to the poor site attendance of the Black Harriers. These harriers are ground-nesters, with preference to well vegetated grass or shrub patches about 70-100m in diameter and one meter in vegetation height, mostly in semi wetland areas. Firstly the entire Eastern Cape coastal area is currently under a dry spell and many wetland areas are dry. Secondly at many of the farmland sites visited, the wetland areas were drained by method of channeling the water out of the wetland, leaving it dry while thirdly many of these wetland areas were over grazed leaving very little vegetation, for cover and nest protection for the harriers.

It is concerning that the last two issues could impact on the harriers’ breeding success and perhaps their populations here in the Eastern Cape Province; I see it therefore necessary to address these issues with landowners, firstly through an awareness campaign".

Contact;

Rob Simmons  tel  021 650 3310  or  fax  021 650 3295   harrier@botzoo.uct.ac.za