Flocks of Cape Parrots (Poicephalus robustus) are a regular sighting in Dargle and Boston as they fly between indigenous forest patches in search of food, squawking loudly. There are between 1000 and 1500 birds left in the wild and they are listed as Critically Endangered.
The birds are bright green, about 30cm tall and weigh around 300grams. Their large, unmistakable beak helps them break open the pods and seeds that they eat. Dead Yellowwood trees are their favourite nesting sites and they hatch between two and four chicks in a good breeding season.
Cape Parrots face numerous threats including habitat destruction and especially, the removal of dead trees from the mist-belt forests. They have adapted their diet to include a range of commercially produced fruit and seed as their preferred food sources become unavailable. This makes them susceptible to malnutrition and disease. Unfortunately, they are also captured and sold to the pet trade. Cape Parrots can live for up to 60 years.
The Annual Cape Parrot Big Birding Day takes place during Autumn, where enthusiasts and scientists count and monitor the birds in an effort to conserve them.
The Dargle Conservancy supports the efforts of the Cape Parrot Working Group at UKZN. To Learn more about their work click here.
You can download CPWG newsletters by clicking on the links below.
- Cape Parrot Newsletter # 20
- Cape Parrot Newsletter # 19
- Cape Parrot Newsletter # 17
- Cape Parrot Newsletter # 16
- Cape Parrot Newsletter # 15
- Cape Parrot Newsletter # 14
- Cape Parrot Newsletter # 13
- Cape Parrot Newsletter # 12
- Cape Parrot Newsletter # 11
- Cape Parrot Newsletter # 10
For any additional information please click here to contact us.