Surveys of the Pel’s Fishing Owl Scotopelia peli population in the Kruger National Park André Botha & Scott Ronaldson Manager: Birds of Prey Programme Endangered Wildlife Trust
Pel’s Fishing Owl Scotopelia peli • Very large, earless owl • Un-feathered legs with spicules on feet • 55cm tall • Wingspan 153cm • Weight 1.8-2.4kg • ♀ slightly larger and paler than ♂ • Cavity-nesters
Critical Habitat Requirements • Perennial water • Substantial riparian vegetation – Cover – Hunting perches • Sufficient prey base • Territorial and sedentary
Status in South Africa • Vulnerable (Barnes, 2000) • Small, localised populations • Mostly restricted to protected areas • Estimate between 120-150 birds • Likely decline of 20% expected between 2000- 2010
Why a Survey? • Brooke (1984) & Barnes (2000) – estimates • Last KNP surveys – Luvhuvhu - Kemp & Ronaldson 1991-1996 – Olifants – Begg 1992-1994 • No detailed surveys outside of KNP • Considerable changes in rivers & PFO habitats since 1995
Survey-area: Luvhuvhu-river
Survey-area: Olifants river
Methods • Consultation with previous researchers • Literature study • 2 Teams on either side of river • Walk bank covering areas of riparian vegetation • Make observations of PFO and other species • Record what is found on CyberTracker & Dictaphone
Results: Luvhuvhu-river 2007-2009 • Av. 9 individual birds per survey • Av. 25 spots with positive signs • 1 Confirmed nesting site in 2008 • 3 Potential nesting spots • Estimate 6-7 occupied breeding territories • 15 African Fish Eagles • No significant difference from 1990’s surveys
Luvhuvhu-survey: 2010
Luvhuvhu-survey: 2010 ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Olifants: 1992 Survey Results (Begg)
Olifants: 2010 Survey Results
PFO: Olifants Survey Results – 2007 to 2010 Number of Birds 25 60%+ decline 20 in birds seen from 1992-94 15 surveys 10 5 0 Begg Begg Begg 2007 2008 2009 2010 1992 1993 1994
AFE: Olifants Survey Results – 2007 to 2010 No of Birds 25 50% decline in birds seen 20 from 1992- 1994 surveys 15 10 5 0 Begg Begg Begg 2007 2008 2009 2010 1992 1993 1994
Other birds surveyed: 2007-2010 Recorded in Species 1992 survey Total birds Total birds Total birds Total birds (Begg, 2007 2008 2009 2010 unpubl.) 104 White-crowned Lapwing 67 97 67 78 28 Goliath Heron 30 13 17 5 3 Black Stork 1 1 0 0 8 Great White Egret 2 2 0 0 No count Little Egret 3 0 3 0 8 African Spoonbill 5 0 0 0 5 Saddlebilled Stork 7 8 4 4 No count Giant Kingfisher 7 4 4 4
Conclusions: Olifants River • Considerable decline in occupied sites and population of Pel’s Fishing Owl • African Fish Eagle shows a similar decline • Relatively low numbers of other piscivorous species • River has been abandoned or is largely avoided by a range of species
Future plans • Expand to cover entire SA range • Expand Olifants-study to Limpopo TFCA and beyond Massingir-dam • Obtain a more accurate estimate of population size • Update conservation status of species • Critical habitat variables • Assess negative impacts • Consider possible management interventions
Factors contributing to decline
Other KNP Rivers • Sabie – 2 Sites – 2 Casual observations • Crocodile – 1 Site – Timfenene- confluence
Participants/Support Louis Olivier, Steven Whitfield, Richard Sowry, Sandra Basson, Don English, Rodney Landela, Evans Mkansi, Oupa Modirwa, Rendani Nethengwe, Thomas Mbokota, Andrew Desmet, Andrew Deacon, Daniel Chavalala, Pafuri-, Phalaborwa-, Olifants- & Houtboschrand Field Rangers, Alan Kemp, Meg Kemp, Lucy Kemp, Keith Begg, Corrie van Wyk, Stewart Rogers, Ashraf Sayed, Anthony Marx, Rosemarie Marx, Frank la Grange, Quentin Swanevelder, Sharon & Dave Thomson, Dave Parsons, Paul Funston, Cobus Bester, Foeta Krige, Johan Nel, Andre Agenbag, Ben van Zijl, Brenda Daly, Graeme Wilson, Claudia Hodgkinson, Walter Jubber, Alison Janicke, Leigh Potter, Johann Botha, Alti Fouche, Thea Botha, Tim Horak, Beense Visser, Hendri Combrinck, Kevin Ravno, Renier Balt, Brenden Pienaar, Colin Rowles, Matt Pretorius, Wendy Collinson, Warren Ozorio, Staff at Wilderness Safaris Pafuri Camp
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