Rare and vulnerable birds in South Africa

RARE AND VULNERABLE

BIRDS IN SOUTH

AFRICA

W. R. SIEGFRIED,P. G. H. FROST, J. COOPER

Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa &

A. C. KEMP

Transvaal Museum, PO Box 413, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

ABSTRACT

The paper summarises information obtained through an initial survey undertaken to identify those avian populations which qualify for inclusion in a South African Red Data Book, and whose conservation status is in need of special attention. One hundred and one species" populations are included in the preliminary list. Nine of the 101 species are endemic to South Africa. There is a predominance of forest and wetland species, of birds of prey, and of mainly tropical species occurring as intrusions in the north east of South Africa. Many of the species listedare peripheral to South Africa and are widespread and abundant extra-limitally. Twenty species' populations which require urgent conservation attention are listed. As far as is known, no avian species has become extinct during historical times in South Africa, but two are at present endangered, i.e. threatened with immediate extinction.

INTRODUCTION

In accordance with a decision taken in 1974 by the South African Working Group for Rare and Endangered Animals, under the auspices of the National Programme for Environmental Sciences, dossiers have been prepared for South African vertebrate populations eligible for conservation attention. It is envisaged that the information will indicate priorities permitting improved, rationalised planning for conservation action. Initially classification proceeded according to criteria adopted by the Survival Service Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Hence, descriptive accounts of South African bird populations 83 BioL Conserv. (10) (1976)--© Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1976 Printed in Great Britain

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w . R . SIEGFRIED, P. G. H. FROST, J. COOPER, A. C. KEMP

were set out to accord with the main features of the format adopted in the IUCN's Red Data Book (Vincent, 1966). A preliminary South African Red Data Book is, however, restricted to species' populations found within the geographical area embraced by the Republic of South Africa, and Lesotho and Swaziland (Siegfried et al., 1976). This paper summarises information obtained through an initial survey undertaken to identify those avian populations which qualify for inclusion in the South African Red Data Book, and whose conservation status is in need of special attention.

METHODS

The procedure followed in the survey was: (a) Compilation of a provisional list of species' populations breeding in, and indigenous to, South Africa and qualifying for one or more of the categories--rare, peripheral, threatened, endangered and vulnerable (classification as per recommendation of the IUCN's Survival Service Commission). In a few cases, particular species were included in the list mainly because virtually nothing is known about their distributional or numerical status. The status of any particular species outside South Africa's borders did not influence the process of selection. In all cases the species was taken as the basic taxon, i.e., sub-species were not included in the shortlist. Unless stated otherwise, nomenclature followed MeLachlan & Liversidge (1970). (b) The list was circulated amongst ten prominent local ornithologists who were requested to comment on omissions and deletions. (c) The subsequently revised list was used as a basis for compilation of individual data sheets for 101 species' populations. These data sheets accorded with the format of the IUCN's Red Data Book series. The sheets contained information culled from the published literature and unpublished records on file at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town. (d) The data sheets and a questionnaire were sent to all official nature conservancies in South Africa as well as 15 prominent ornithologists whose comments were solicited. The commentators were asked to assess the South African status of each species, and the degree of urgency for field surveys (of distributional and numerical status) and conservation action attending the individual populations. The following codes were employed:

Distribution A - - w i d e s p r e a d in South Africa B --restricted in range to less than one third of South Africa C - - localised to small" area(s) D - - peripheral

RARE AND VULNERABLE BIRDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

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E --endemic species Abundance A - - rare B - - not rare C - - common D - - n o t common Population dynamics A - stable and safe at present as far as is known B --declining as far as is known C --increasing as far as is known D - - n o r known (e) A simple system involving the awarding of points on a scale was used to help in identifying those species' populations probably most in need of conservation action.

RESULTS

One hundred and one avian species' populations are listed in the preliminary South African Red Data Book. These species are included here as Appendix 1, and details of their status are contained in Siegfried et al. (1976). Nine of the 101 species are endemic to South Africa. The species have been grouped according to our qualitative assessment of their status, and are listed here against one of a number of broad habitat ~ategories (Table 1). There is a preponderance of forest and wetland species, of birds of prey, and of mainly tropical species occurring as intrusions in the north east of South Africa. A number of other species on the list only occur peripherally in South Africa, but are widespread and abundant extralimitally. A few of the remaining species occur naturally in small numbers. Some of these populations are very thinly scattered and can be conserved only by protecting large areas of suitable habitat. It is not possible on current information to assess accurately the degree to which species' populations may be threatened or otherwise. Notwithstanding this, the relatively crude attempt at a quantitative evaluation (see Methods) suggests that the following 20 species' populations (scientific names given in Appendix 1) should be given top rating and deserve priority conservation attention. Red-winged pratincole Pink-backed pelican Damara tern Rufous-bellied heron Black coucal Openbill stork Mangrove kingfisher Woolly-necked stork Blue swallow Egyptian vulture Natal thrush Palm-nut vulture Pink-throated longclaw Bat hawk Black-fronted bushshrike Bearded vulture

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White-winged flufftail Yellow-billed oxpecker Wattled crane Protea seedeater Of these species the protea seedeater is the only one endemic to South Africa. It is confined to the macchia-like fynbos vegetation of the southern Cape Province (Winterbottom, 1968). Only two species, the Egyptian vulture and yellow-billed oxpecker, are classified as endangered, i.e., threatened with immediate extinction, in South Africa at present. The Egyptian vulture was widely distributed, though not common as a breeding species, over much of the Cape Province during the last century ~Stark & Sclater, 1903). It is rarely seen today. The yellow-billed oxpecker, which formerly used to occur throughout Natal, may be extinct, though the species' status in Zululand (northern Natal) is not known (Clancey, 1964). With the possible exceptions of the white-winged flufftail and the Natal thrush, the remaining 17 species appear to have viable populations extralimitally. The whitewinged flufftail is very rare, known only from South Africa and Ethiopia. Apparently only four specimens have been collected in South Africa, all more than 70 years ago. These constitute the only reliable records for this species in southern Africa (Benson & Irwin, 1971). There is no evidence for the suggestion that this species may be a nonbreeding migrant from Ethiopia (Keith et al., 1970). The extralimital populations of the Natal thrush are apparently small, localised and endangered. The South African populations, confined to a few forests in Pondoland (north-eastern Cape Province), may be the only viable ones left (Quickelberge, 1969). TABLE 1 NUMBER OF BIRD SPECIES ACCORDING TO STATUS AND HABITAT, BASED ON SPECIES LISTED IN APPENDIX l

Status

Habitat

Evergreen forest and bush Floodplains and pans Estuaries and lagoons Arid thornbush and scrub Coastal dune forest Deciduous woodland Highveld grassland Riparian woodland and bush Coastal and offshore islands Moist coastal grasslands Mountainous massifs Macchia and proteaveid Savanna Unclassified (widespread) Totals

10 7 2 5 4 2 3 2 4 1

6 2 4 2 3 4 3

1 2 1

2 3

1

i 3

2 2 40

1 1 4 1

28

l 1 l 3 16

l 2 7

2 2

6

l 2

18 12 9 9 7 7 7 6 5 4 3 3 3 8 101

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87

DISCUSSION

It must be emphasized that: (1) the species' populations list is provisional and preliminary, being largely based on subjective opinions; (2) it may be possible to reduce the list in the future when more information becomes available; (3) the list may not embrace all populations which are in need of conservation attention, and, in this connection, an additional 34 species have been suggested by informed Commentators as worthy of inclusion (Siegfried et al., 1976); (4) the South African Red Data Book contains incomplete, and perhaps even incorrect, information; and, (5) conservation priorities are not well defined. A more reliable, precise method needs to be devised for identifying and quantifying priorities for conservation action. However, despite these limitations, the current list clearly indicates a number of trends in the changing status of South African birds. The major threat to most species is destruction and alteration of habitat. This applies particularly to those species restricted to montane, coastal and riparian evergreen forests. These habitats have been extensively damaged through logging and burning. In some regions they have been replaced completely, at mid to high altitudes, by mixed and sour grassland, and at lower altitudes, by thorn bushveld (Acocks, 1953). While some relatively extensive areas of forest remain, there are few that still occur in their original pristine condition. For species such as the longcrested eagle, brown-necked parrot, green barbet, and Natal and Gurney's thrushes, the preservation of forest habitats is vital. Species inhabiting wetlands are also extensively threatened. There is a paucity of natural wetlands in South Africa (Siegfried, 1970; Zaloumis & Milstein, 1975). This has placed a premium on their conversion for agricultural, industrial and recreational use. For instance, on the highveld many seasonally flooded depressions have been destroyed by overgrazing, siltation, cultivation and a general drop in the water table. The loss of these pans has been thought to be responsible for the decline in the wattled crane population (Zaloumis & Milstein, 1975), and possibly also in the disappearance of the white-winged flufftail (Benson & Irwin, 1971). Impoundments and barrages have been built on many rivers, and more are planned (Siegfried, 1970). These barriers can have an adverse effect on both the upstream and downstream ecology of rivers (Attwell, 1970; Douthwaite, 1974). In this respect the impoundment of the Pongolo River in Natal seriously threatens the continued viability of the downstream floodplain. An altered waterflow regime, reduced flooding, a decline in silt and nutrient deposition and a drop in the water table, inevitably must result in large-scale changes in the vegetation. Experience elsewhere suggests that the seasonally flooded grasslands will be replaced by bush and shrub vegetation. Since many of the birds utilising this area are essentially tropical in distribution, and seldom occur elsewhere in South Africa, the situation gives cause for concern. While some of these floodplain pans are incorporated in the Ndumu nature reserve in northern Natal, the active conservation of these, and other pan systems, requires a

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W.R. SIEGFRIED, P. G. H. FROST, J. COOPER, A. C. KEMP

commitment to maintain an adequate natural waterflow regime through these complexes. Similar considerations apply to the conservation of estuarine and lagoon ecosystems. In particular, Lake St Lucia in Natal is identified as being of vital importance to breeding waterbirds. Although a nature reserve, this area is threatened by developments outside the park (Tinley, 1973). Consideration also needs to be given to preventing the further degradation of mangrove swamps, on which the mangrove kingfisher is dependent. Many vegetation types have been altered through agricultural practices. In Natal, the moist coastal grasslands have been replaced largely by sugarcane plantations. The Natal nightjar and the pink-throated longclaw appear to have been adversely affected by this change (Siegfried et al., 1976). On the highveld, a progressive change has taken place in the composition of the grasslands. Overgrazing (and, paradoxically, understocking) has led to the selective cropping of the sweet palatable grasses and their replacement by sour, less palatable species. In many areas the grasslands have been subject to extensive bush encroachment; in others there has been invasion by xerophytic karoo scrub (Acocks, 1953). No data are available, but it seems likely that the decline or range contraction experienced by some grassland birds, such as the blue korhaan, Botha's lark, Rudd's lark and the short-tailed pipit, may be linked to these changes. In the southern Cape Province, the invasion by alien Acacia and Hakea vegetation into the macchia-typefynbos threatens not only one of the world's unique floras, but also specialist birds such as the protea seedeater (Siegfried, 1973). In fact, as a result of agriculture and other land-use practices, changes are taking place in most South African vegetation types (Acocks, 1953). Hardly any data are available to determine what effect, if any, these changes are having on individual bird species. In addition to habitat destruction, other factors have been implicated in the declines of certain birds. The disappearance of the large, wild ungulate populations during the last century undoubtedly had a marked effect on a number of associated bird species. The virtual extinction of the yellow-billed oxpecker has been attributed to the decline in large ungulate herds, and the practice of dipping domestic stock in insecticide baths has been suggested as also contributing towards the species' decline (McLachlan & Liversidge, 1970). The yellow-billed oxpecker occurs more commonly on naked or sparsely furred mammals (e.g. buffalo Syncerus caffer) than on mammals with moderately dense fur, including domestic cattle, which are favoured by the red-billed oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) (Attwell, 1966; Buskirk, 1975). Thus, the replacement throughout South Africa of wild ungulates by domestic cattle may have contributed to the relatively severe decline of the yellowbilled oxpecker. Yellow-billed oxpeckers are absent from the Kruger National Park, where buffalo occur in numbers (Kemp, 1974). However, buffalo and some other sparsely furred mammals were formerly rare in the Kruger National Park (Stevenson-Hamilton, 1947).

RARE AND VULNERABLE BIRDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

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In addition to the Egyptian vulture, the large carrion-eating birds in general must have been adversely affected by the reduction in the wild ungulate herds. For the Cape vulture it appears that in addition to failing food supplies, poisoning~ shooting, disturbance at colonies and electrocution on high tension powerlines, all contribute to maintaining pressure on a declining population(Markus, 1972; Jarvis et al., 1974; Ledger & Mundy, 1975). As in other predominantly agricultural countries, most South African birds of prey have been persecuted actively. While currently protected by law, there still remains much deepseated prejudice against these birds. The decimation of the martial eagle in most settled areas of the country bears witness to the thoroughness of this persecution (McLachlan & Liversidge, 1970). The effect of pesticides and other pollutants on South African birds has not been investigated fully. However, DDT metabolites, in concentrations similar to those encountered elsewhere in the developed world, have been found in the eggs of two local raptors (Snelling, 1975). This is cause for concern, and emphasizes the need for more research aimed at establishing base-line levels for monitoring chemical contamination in bird species at the tops of both terrestrial and aquatic foodchains. The pollution of marine birds by oil also has given cause for concern. In particular, the jackass penguin has been considered to be threatened, largely because it is flightless and therefore susceptible to oiling. The species has declined markedly this century, largely due to the overexploitation of eggs, and the disturbance caused during the collection of guano (Frost et al., 1976). While oiling may be contributing to mortality, it has been argued that other factors, such as competition with the fishing industry, may be more important in preventing the recovery of the population to former levels (Frost et al., 1976). Many of the species covered in this survey are protected within recognised conservation areas. However, a number of the smaller, less conspicuous species, particularly those confined to grassland or karoo habitats, do not occur within recognised conservation areas. Karoo, karroid bushveld, grasslands and tropical bush savanna vegetation types receive little or no protection at present (Edwards, 1974). A number of the birds listed here are confined to these vegetation types. It is recommended that, as a matter of urgency, field surveys be initiated to gather 'priority' information for the top 20 species' populations. By priority information we mean absolute data on the distribution (breeding and non-breeding), numerical status, habitat preference and utilisation, reproductive output and mortality. These proposed surveys should, in the first instance, be the duty of those South African statutory organisations which are charged with the responsibility of conserving wildlife. In the Cape Province the Sea Fisheries Branch of the Department of Industries is responsible for those marine birds which breed on offshore islands and on land surrounded by the intertidal area. In Natal the provincial nature conservancy has jurisdiction over wildlife in intertidal areas. In Natal, Transvaal,

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w.R. SIEGFRIED, P. G. H. FROST, J. COOPER, A. C. KEMP

Orange Free State and the Cape the provincial nature conservancies are responsible for all terrestrial birds, freshwater birds and marine birds which breed inland of the intertidal area, and where such birds are found outside the boundaries of proclaimed reserves under the jurisdiction of the Department of Forestry or the National Parks Board.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Various institutions provided information used in this paper. They are: Transvaal Division of Nature Conservation (Skead, Dean and le S. Milstein); Department of Nature and Environmental Conservation for the Cape Province (Jarvis and Fairall); Natal Parks, Game and Fish Preservation Board (Oatley); Orange Free State Subdivision of Nature Conservation (Geldenhuys and Stoltz); Durban Museum (Brooke); East London Museum (Quickelberge); South African Museum (Winterbottom); National Unit for Bird Ringing (Elliott); Alexander MacGregor Museum (Liversidge) and Transvaal Museum (Mrs Kemp). We thank them all and also the following persons: Mrs M. K. Rowan, C. J. Skead, C. J. Vernon, K. H. Cooper, G. J. Broekhuysen, G. L. Maclean, J. B. Kinahan and A. Milewski.

A P P E N D I X I: LIST OF SPECIES P R O V I S I O N A L L Y I N C L U D E D 1N T H E S O U T H A F R I C A N R E D D A T A BOOK. N O M E N C L A T U R E F O L L O W S M c L A C H L A N & LIVERS1DGE (1970), ASTERISK I N D I C A T E S SPECIES E N D E M I C T O S O U T H A F R I C A

Jackass penguin Pink-backed pelican White pelican Bank cormorant Crowned cormorant Goliath heron Rufous-bellied heron White-backed night heron Marabou Openbill stork Saddlebill Wood stork Woolly-necked stork Black stork White stork *Bald ibis Greater flamingo

Spheniscus demersus Pelecanus rufescens Pelecanus onocrotalus Phalacrocorax neglectus Phalacrocorax africanus Ardea goliath Erythrocnus rufiventris Gorsachius leuconotos Leptotilos crumeniferus Anastomus lamelligerus Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Ibis ibis Dissoura episcopus Ciconia nigra Ciconia ciconia Geronticus calvus Phoenicopterus tuber

RARE A N D VULNERABLE BIRDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Lesser flamingo Cape vulture Egyptian vulture Palm-nut vulture Peregrine African hobby Red-necked falcon Dickinson's kestrel Pygmy falcon Cuckoo falcon Bat hawk Longcrested eagle Booted eagle Ayres' hawk eagle Martial eagle Southern banded snake-eagle African fish eagle Bearded vulture Mountain buzzard Black sparrowhawk Red-billed francolin Blue quail Crested guineafowl Striped crake White-winged flufftail Wattled crane Kori bustard *Blue korhaan Lesser jacana White-crowned plover White-winged plover Red-winged pratincole Caspian tern Roseate tern Damara tern Skimmer Spotted sandgrouse Yellow-throated sandgrouse Bronze-naped pigeon Blue-spotted wood dove Brown-necked parrot Rosy-faced lovebird

Phoeniconaias minor Gyps coprotheres Neophron percnopterus Gypohierax angolensis Falco peregrinus Falco cuvieri Falco ehiequera Falco diekinsoni Poliohierax semitorquatus Aviceda cuculoides Maeheirhamphus aleinus LophaO'tus occipitalis HieraaO'tus pennatus HieraaYtus dubius Polemak'tus bellicosus CircaYtus fasciolatus Halia~tus vocifer Gypa~'tus bar batus Buteo buteo Aecipiter melanoleueus Francolinus adspersus Excalfactoria adansoni Guttera edouardi Porzana marginalis Sarothrura ayresi Bugeranus earunculatus Ardeotis kori Eupodotis caerulescens Microparra capensis Xiphidiopterus albiceps Hemiparra crassirostris Glareola pratineola Hydroprogne easpia Sterna dougallii Sterna balaenarum Rynchops flavirostris Pterocles burchelli Pterocles gutturalis Turturoena delegorguei Turtur afer Poicephalus robustus Agapornis roseieol#s

"91

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W.R. SIEGFRIED, P. G. H. FROST, J. COOPER, A. C. KEMP

Black coucal Senegal coucal Green coucal Cape eagle owl Fishing owl Natal nightjar Boehm's spinetail Mangrove kingfisher Green barbet Short-clawed lark *Botha's lark *Rudd's lark *Red lark Sclater's lark Blue swallow Spotted creeper Orange thrush Natal thrush Arnot's chat *Knynsa scrub warbler *Victorin's scrub warbler Rudd's apalis Karoo green warbler Woodward's batis Wattle-eyed flycatcher Short-tailed pipit *Yellow-breasted pipit Pink-throated longclaw Black-fronted bush shrike Chestnut-fronted helmet shrike Long-tailed glossy starling Yellow-billed oxpecker Gurney's sugarbird Purple-banded sunbird Neergard's sunbird Yellow-bellied sunbird Brown-throated golden weaver Green twinspot Golden-backed pytilia Pink-throated twinspot Black-eared seed-eater *Protea seedeater

Centropus toulou Centropus senegalensis Ceuthmochares aereus Bubo capensis Scotopelia peli Caprimulgus natalensis Chaetura boehmi Halcyon senegaloides Buccanodon olivaceum Mirafra chuana Botha fringillaris Heteromirafra ruddi Certhilauda burra Spizocorys sclateri Hirundo atrocaerulea Salpornis spilonota Turdus gurneyi Turdus fischeri Myrmecocichla arnoti Bradypterus sylvaticus Bradypterus victorini Apalis ruddi Eremomela gregalis Batis fratrum Platysteira peltata Anthus brachyurus Anthus chloris Macronyx ameliae Chlorophoneus nigrifrons Sigmodus scopifrons Lamprotornis mevesii Buphagus africanus Promerops gurneyi Cinnyris bifasciatus Cinnyris neergaardi Cinnyris venustus Ploceus xanthopterus Hypargos nitidulus Pytilia afra Hypargos margaritatus Poliospiza mennelli Poliospiza leucoptera

RARE AND VULNERABLE BIRDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

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