Cape Parrot Count | South Africa's Only Endemic Parrot

Observer comments ... Cape Parrot population numbers have declined significantly over the last 100 years or so. These parrots prefer to live in dendse yellowwood forests areas of KZN (KwaZulu-Natal) and of the Eastern Cape here in South Africa. The Cape Parrots prefer to roost and spend time in the high canopies of the large Yellowood trees out of harm's way. The birds nest in holes in dead yellowwoods. Yellowwood fruits are a major component of the parrots' diet.

Cape parrot count has positive results

The results of the ninth annual count of South Africa’s only endemic parrot, the Cape parrot, revealed that significantly more parrots were counted this year than last year. A positive trend in parrot numbers appears to be emerging from the counts, and some hardy parrot enthusiasts were delighted when for the first time in nine years they spotted a Cape parrot at their observation site.

On the downside, more parrots appear to be feeding on exotic species away from their homes in yellowwood forests, indicating that there is little suitable natural fruit available to them in the indigenous forests.

The count is coordinated by Colleen Downs of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

This May 282 volunteers scattered throughout the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo Provinces took part in the census, counting a total of 1108 parrots on the Saturday and 1322 parrots on the Sunday.

For the first time, the most parrots were counted in KwaZulu-Natal, although there may have been an over count in the Creighton area when birds flew from one observation point to another.

Limpopo, which has a remnant population of the parrots, counted the highest number of birds in the history of the Cape Parrot Big Birding Day, with a total of 93 birds seen over the two days.

The Cape Parrot is endangered, and trade in the bird is prohibited by Cites (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna).

Numbers of Cape parrots in South Africa have declined considerably over the last three decades, due to forest degradation, loss of food and suitable nest sites, capturing of the birds for the pet trade, diseases and predators.