The 2nd SA Taita Falcon survey
In September 2006, a bunch of unwitting raptor biologists and enthusiasts got together at Dave Rushworth’s bush lodge Trackers just outside Hoedspruit, to commence a two-week long search of the surrounding mountains for the elusive Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha (see Africa: Birds & Birding 12 (3): 35-37). Our aim back then was to add to the two known Taita nest sites in South Africa, both of which were situated on the northeastern Drakensberg escarpment, and to derive a more informed estimate of the national population of this hyper-rare, cliff-loving species. After heaving and thrashing and bashing and sweating and waiting and waiting and waiting… at most of the best rock faces in the region, we came away with two more nest sites, a deal of cuts, bumps and bruises, and the great satisfaction of having doubled the known population of Taita Falcons in South Africa.
Remarkably, more or less the same bunch of raptorphiles returned to the escarpment in mid-October 2008 to repeat this arduous process. While our previous experience of surveying the area had been quite punishing, the niggling doubts we had about cliffs that we hadn’t quite covered properly, and the new possibilities suggested by our finds in 2006, were sufficient to lure us back for more. While our objectives in 2008 were much the same as two years before, our approach was subtly different. For starters, we were much more focused on plugging the perceived gaps in our previous coverage, and less inclined to try to be everywhere at once. We were also considerably the wiser for our time spent in the area in 2006. So this was a slightly calmer, less frenetic and more calculated exercise and, arguably, a more successful one as a result. One of our first tasks was to check the sites we knew of already, to confirm that the birds were still there, and to figure out whether or not they were breeding. This was far easier said than done, but we eventually determined that all four sites were occupied by adult pairs, two of which were feeding small nestlings, one still incubating, and the fourth was not breeding, although the behaviour of the birds suggested that they may have tried and failed earlier in the season. With this essential first step behind us, and with our field skills tuned in a little better to the bird and its environment, we then started working through our shortlist of possible new sites. This list was drawn up largely on the basis of where we had and hadn’t already looked, but also included cliffs we’d surveyed before (some of them exhaustively!) but felt might still be keeping secrets from us.
After a testing but very rewarding couple of weeks in the mountains, we called it a day at the beginning of November. This second survey revealed another three Taita Falcon nest sites, raising the known South African population to seven pairs, of which six were actively breeding in 2008. Given the scale and extent of potentially suitable habitat, the actual number of pairs in this eastern escarpment region probably runs to double figures, comfortably positioning it as a core area for Taita Falcons globally.
Sincere thanks to The Peregrine Fund (USA) for providing the main sponsorship for the 2008 SA Taita Survey. Also, Pick ‘n Pay Hoedspruit generously donated food for the team, and BirdLife SA Avitourism Division (Kruger to Canyons Birding Route) and the African Bird Club helped cover the cost of much-needed helicopter time. BirdLife SA also organized the expert services of Thabelo Sekome, one of the K2C guides. The 2008 SA Taita Falcon Survey Team comprised: Andrew Jenkins, Anthony van Zyl, Lucia Rodrigues, Alan Kemp, Scott Ronaldson, Andre Botha, Maryna Mathee, Thabelo Sekome, Ara Monadjem (and Sara and Niall), Hannes Marais and Dave Rushworth. Congratulations and many thanks to all involved!
Andrew Jenkins and the SA Taita Falcon Survey Team
Very useful information about raptors and respective research works.