Craig AJFK, and Hulley PE. 2020. The birds of Fort Fordyce Reserve, Eastern Cape. Biodiversity Observations 11.1:1-16

Biodiversity Observations is an open access electronic journal published by the Animal Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town. This HTML version of this manuscript is hosted by the Biodiversity and Development Institute. Further details for this manuscript can be found at the journal page, and the manuscript page, along with the original PDF.

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The birds of Fort Fordyce Reserve, Eastern Cape

Adrian JFK Craig

Department of Zoology & Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa

Patrick E Hulley

Department of Zoology & Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa

Abstract

Since 2007 we have carried out surveys of birds at Fort Fordyce, including mist-netting. To date, 175 species have been recorded, including 9 Red Data species, of which one is a breeding resident, and three others may be breeding in the reserve. There are 56 species typical of montane forest; most are present throughout the year. With > 500 birds ringed and 50 recaptures, the oldest records to date are 8 years for an olive thrush and a black-backed puffback.

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Introduction

Forest is a rare habitat in South Africa, covering < 1% of the land surface, and it is currently much fragmented. However, there are very few areas which were covered by extensive tracts of natural forest even before human-induced changes to the original vegetation distribution (Rutherford and Westfall 1986). Many small forest remnants, originally under the control of the Department of Forestry, have subsequently been transferred to state conservation departments.

Fort Fordyce (Figure 1) was previously a hilltop forestry station, with extensive plantations of alien pine and eucalypt trees, while indigenous forest persisted on the steeper slopes. In 1987 it became a nature reserve administered by the Cape Provincial Department of Nature Conservation, and removal of alien vegetation began. Most of the plantations have now been felled, but secondary infestations of black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) cover significant areas, although there is also extensive regeneration of natural vegetation. This protected area covers 2155 hectares, and with the Mpofu Game Reserve (7500 hectares) in the adjacent valley, is currently managed by Eastern Cape Parks; these two reserves form part of the Amatola-Katberg Mountain Important Bird Area (BirdLife South Africa 2015).

The plateau at Fort Fordyce (altitude 1400 m) has areas of open grassland where grazing mammals have been introduced (black wildebeest Connochaetes gnou, Burchell’s zebra Equus quagga burchellii, red hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus caama). Bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus) and blue duiker (Philantomba monticola) occur naturally in the forested areas; baboon (Papio ursinus) and vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) are present, but no samango monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis) have been recorded. Caracal (Caracal caracal) is the largest resident predator. Annual rainfall averages 1125 mm (mean over 15 years); summer maximum temperatures range to 42°C while frost occurs regularly in winter, and snow has been recorded in some years.

Based on surveys of the avifauna since 2007 (Craig 2007, 2012) we have posed the following questions:

1. Does this patch of Afromontane forest preserve a significant component of forest birds, particularly endemic species, and species of conservation concern?
2. Are these birds resident throughout the year, or is there evidence for seasonal movements?

Methods

Since May 2007, we have visited Fort Fordyce on 47 occasions, mostly single day visits. On each occasion, at least two observers have followed a regular route within the forest and across the grassland area, recording all birds seen and heard. These data have been submitted to the Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2). We have also set approximately 100 m of mist nets along a track near the reserve office and chalets (Figure 2).

The vegetation here is regenerating scrub-forest, with a small patch of pine trees remaining to the east of the net line. All birds captured have been ringed with standard metal rings issued by SAFRING. Apart from our own data, there are 10 surveys by other observers submitted to SABAP2, and three checklists in the Birds in Reserves Project (BIRP). The reserve straddles two pentads (the 5’ x 5’ minute map units used for SABAP2), including the NW corner of pentad 3240_2630 and the NE sector of pentad 3240_2625 (SABAP2, accessed 13 December 2017). However, virtually all data collection has been within the map unit 3240_2625.

Prior to 2007, we visited the reserve on three occasions (September 1988, April 1989, August 1997) during student field trips lasting 3 days each. Birds were mist-netted, and species lists recorded for each visit; these data are discussed separately. Data are also available from the first bird atlas (SABAP1, Harrison et al. 1997), but the mapping unit at that time was a “quarter degree square” (15’ x 15’), which covers a larger area than the reserve and thus incorporated the valley with dry thornveld vegetation. This is evident from the species list, which includes many taxa which have not been recorded subsequently when surveys were restricted to the forest and grassland areas within the reserve.

Results and Discussion

Avifauna

The SABAP1 list for the quarter degree square (map code 3226CB) incorporating Fort Fordyce Reserve has 211 species, but as noted above some of these are clearly birds of the low thornveld areas at the base of the pass which leads up to the plateau. Nevertheless all 86 species noted by AJFKC and PEH in the years 1988-1997 are included in the SABAP1 tally. The current list for the pentad 3240_2625, based on SABAP2, our surveys and mist-netting records, and the few additional BIRP data, is 175 species (Appendix 1); 18 of these species were not recorded during SABAP1. Three species recorded in the forest/grassland habitats in the period 1988-1997 have not been reported in this sector since then: spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus), long-billed pipit (Anthus similis) and golden-breasted bunting (Emberiza flaviventris). Of these, only the owl may be present regularly, since with few overnight stays, nocturnal birds are certainly under-reported; the other two species are likely to be occasional vagrants. For comparison, in three KwaZulu-Natal Afromontane forest reserves, Symes et al. (2002) recorded a total of 136 species, with no more than 110 species at any one site. However, these surveys extended over only 2-4 years at their study sites.

Species of conservation concern

Table 1 lists those species recorded at Fort Fordyce, which feature in the most recent “Red Data Book” for southern Africa (Taylor et al. 2015). The frequency with which these species have been recorded (cf. Appendix 1) suggests that most are only occasional visitors to the reserve. The endangered Cape parrot (Poicephalus robustus) has roosted here occasionally, but the large flocks seen feeding on pecan nuts on farms in the valley at certain seasons fly east in the direction of the Hogsback forests each evening (pers. obs.). Only the Knysna woodpecker (Campethera notata) is a confirmed breeding resident; the African crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) probably also nests within the protected area, and the lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus) and bush blackcap (Lioptilus nigricapillus) may do so. There are historical records of southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) from this site, but none within the past 50 years.

Table 1. Conservation status of Red Data species at Fort Fordyce

Common name	Scientific name	Red data status	Status in reserve
Cape parrot	Poicephalus robustus	Endangered	Occasional visitor
blue crane	Anthropoides paradiseus	Near-threatened	Occasional visitor
Knysna woodpecker	Campethera notata	Near-threatened	Breeding resident
striped flufftail	Sarothrura affinis	Vulnerable	Occasional visitor
Verreaux’s eagle	Aquila verreauxi	Vulnerable	Occasional visitor
African crowned eagle	Stephanoaetus coronatus	Vulnerable	Probable breeding resident
secretarybird	Sagittarius serpentarius	Vulnerable	Occasional visitor
lanner falcon	Falco biarmicus	Vulnerable	Possible breeding resident
bush blackcap	Lioptilus nigricapillus	Vulnerable	Possible breeding resident

Forest birds

The forest bird species in Table 2 are based on Skead (1967), who listed 74 species which occur in forest in the Eastern Cape, including riverine forest. However, of the species on his list, some do not extend as far west as the Kei River (e.g. eastern bronze-naped pigeon Columba delegorguei) or are restricted to coastal forests (e.g. red-capped robin-chat Cossypha natalensis), but we have included Barratt’s warbler (Bradypterus barratti) which he described as found “in scrub adjacent to forests” (Skead 1967 p. 81).

Table 2: Eastern Cape forest birds found at Fort Fordyce 2007-2017. E = endemic to southern Africa

Based on current distribution data in “Roberts VII” (Hockey et al. 2005), 66 species could occur in montane forests along the Amathole Mountain chain, and of this total, 56 have been recorded at Fort Fordyce to date. This is a significant proportion of the South African forest avifauna. Symes et al. (2002) found no significant seasonal variation in forest-specific or forest-endemic and near-endemic species during their surveys; 27 of their 33 “forest-specific” species were recorded at Fort Fordyce and none of these showed any seasonal pattern in occurrence.

Seasonal occurence

How effective are visits spread over different months in different years at detecting patterns of seasonal occurrence? This can best be assessed by examining the records of known migrants in our database. Whereas the jackal buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus) has been seen in every month of the year, the steppe buzzard (Buteo vulpinus) has been recorded only from October to February. Four cuckoo species (African emerald Chrysococcyx cupreus, black Cuculus clamosus, Klaas’s Chrysococcyx klaas, and red-chested cuckoo Cuculus solitarius) have all been recorded for each of the months October to February; only Klaas’s cuckoo has been recorded at other times (March and April), and this species is known to overwinter in small numbers. The black saw-wing (Psalidoprocne pristoptera) and white-rumped swift (Apus caffer) have both been recorded in every month from September to March, with no records from April to August. A similar pattern is found in the three swallow species (barn Hirundo rustica, greater striped Cecropis cucullata and lesser striped swallows Cecropis abyssinica), with no winter records for any of them. This suggests that our sampling should be adequate to detect presence/absence of most species. What can we deduce about the forest birds as listed in Table 2?

Apart from the cuckoos mentioned above, only one of these forest species, the African paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) (Figure 3), is primarily migratory in our area, and the records seem to reflect this with no reports from May to August – whereas the blue-mantled crested-flycatcher (Trochocercus cyanomelas) has been seen in every month of the year. For some species, however, we currently have too few records to draw any conclusions; these are discussed briefly below.

There are < 5 records for the rufous-breasted sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris), buff-spotted flufftail (Sarothrura elegans), Cape parrot, barn owl (Tyto alba), African wood owl (Strix woodfordii), tambourine dove (Turtur tympanistria), green wood-hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus), scaly-throated honeyguide (Indicator variegatus), bush blackcap (Figure 4), brown scrub-robin (Cercotrichas signata), mountain wagtail (Motacilla clara) and orange-breasted bush-shrike (Telophorus sulfureopectus).

Of these species, we would speculate that the African wood owl, scaly-throated honeyguide, bush blackcap, brown scrub-robin and mountain wagtail could be rare residents within the reserve; the others are probably occasional visitors, and may be more common in the valleys below. With both summer and winter records for the forest buzzard (Buteo trizonatus), African goshawk (Accipiter tachiro) and African harrier-hawk (Polyboroides typus), they could be rare residents or merely irregular visitors.

For most of the other species, we have at least 15 records, while the southern boubou (Laniarius ferrugineus) and sombre greenbul (Andropadus importunus) have been recorded on every visit. Vernon (1989) discussed forest birds in the East London region, and mentioned six species with regular altitudinal movements between inland forests and the coast: grey cuckooshrike (Coracina caesia), bush blackcap, Cape robin-chat (Cossypha caffra), white-starred robin (Pogonocichla stellata) (Figure 5), Barratt’s warbler and yellow-throated warbler (Setophaga dominica) (Figure 6).

The question of altitudinal movements has been discussed in more detail elsewhere (Craig and Hulley in press); it will be summarised briefly here. There is a winter record of bush blackcaps from Grahamstown (Craig 1986), while Vernon (1989) noted that a high proportion of his observations of grey cuckooshrike, Cape robin-chat, Barratt’s warbler and yellow-throated warbler at the coast were from the months Apr-Sept. Thus it is surprising that at Fort Fordyce all our records of Barratt’s warbler are from this period (Apr-Sept), with no summer records to date. Vernon (1989), however, commented that in some years birds may not leave the montane forest, and for the white-starred robin, studies elsewhere have suggested that only a part of the population undertakes regular altitudinal movements (Oatley 1982, Dowsett 1985). At Fort Fordyce, we have recorded grey cuckooshrike, Cape robin-chat and yellow-throated warbler throughout the year, while for white-starred robin there are records for 10 months (Appendix 1). Chorister robin-chats (Cossypha dichroa) have been recorded in every month; Vernon (1989) categorised this species as resident, although Johnson and Maclean (1994) listed it among altitudinal migrants in KwaZulu-Natal. A chorister robin-chat ringed in July at Fort Fordyce was caught again in July the following year, confirming that some birds do stay through the winter.

Ringing

During visits up to 1997, 65 birds of 21 species were ringed. Since 2007 we have ringed 510 birds of 56 species (Appendix 2), thus capturing 32% of the species recorded, and 59% of the forest specialists (as listed by Symes et al. 2002, Brown 2006). We have recaptured 50 individuals (almost 10% of the ringed birds) from 17 species, with the oldest records an olive thrush (Turdus olivaceus) and a black-backed puffback (Dryoscopus cubla), both eight years after ringing. A green-backed camaroptera (Camaroptera brachyura), yellow-throated warbler, southern double-collared sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus) and Cape white-eye (Zosterops virens) have been recaptured after more than six years, and a white-starred robin after four years. Few birds have been handled more than twice (Table 3); apart from the white-starred robin, these are all species for which our observations indicate that some birds, if not the same individuals, are present throughout the year (cf. Appendix 1). It is interesting to compare our ringing results with those of other ringers operating in forest sites in South Africa.

Table 3: Ringed birds captured more than twice at Fort Fordyce

Species	Date ringed	Dates recaptured
black-backed puffback	Sept 2007	Apr 2008, Oct 2015
olive thrush	Dec 2014	Oct 2015, Jul, Oct 2017
chorister robin-chat	Feb 2015	Oct, Nov 2015
white-starred robin	Nov 2010	Oct 2011, Sept 2013, Oct 2014
green-backed camaroptera	Oct 2007	Apr, Jun 2008, Apr 2010
green-backed camaroptera	Sept 2009	Nov 2014, Nov 2015
Cape white-eye	Sept 2007	Apr 2010, Nov 2016
Cape white-eye	Apr 2010	Nov 2010, Oct 2011
Cape white-eye	Feb 2012	May 2012, Oct 2014
yellow-throated warbler	Oct 2007	Dec 2007, Dec 2008, Sept 2013
southern double-collared sunbird	Sept 2007	Oct 2011, Feb 2012
southern double-collared sunbird	May 2011	July 2015, July 2017

Also in Afromontane forest, Symes et al. (2002) ringed 403 birds at two inland forest reserves (Hlabeni and Ngele) in KwaZulu-Natal, capturing about 35% of all the species observed there, but > 50% of the forest-specific species. This paper provided no further details on the individual species ringed, nor information on recaptures. In a coastal forest reserve (Umdoni Park) in KwaZulu-Natal, Brown (2006) ringed 466 individual birds of 44 species, which comprised only 23% of the species recorded at this site, but again > 50% of the forest-specific species. Over a five-year period, Brown (2006) recaptured 8.6% of the birds ringed. His most-ringed species by far were bronze mannikin (Lonchura cucullata) and red-backed mannikin (Lonchura nigriceps) (neither of which occur at Fort Fordyce), followed by red-capped robin-chat and olive sunbird (Cynomitra olivacea) (both restricted to coastal forests in the Eastern Cape), brown scrub-robin and green-backed camaroptera.

Williams (2016) described an eleven-year ringing study in an Afromontane forest patch on the Drakensberg escarpment in Mpumalanga. At this site, 384 birds of 43 species were ringed, and 53 individuals of 10 species recaptured. The most frequently ringed species were Cape robin-chat, black-backed puffback, Knysna turaco (Tauraco corythaix), chorister robin-chat, Cape batis (Batis capensis), green-backed camaroptera, blue-mantled crested flycatcher and terrestrial brownbul (Phyllastrephus terrestris) (all > 20 individuals).

All of these species (except the blue-mantled crested flycatcher) have been captured at Fort Fordyce, and all were found to be present throughout the year. However, whereas Williams (2016) captured only 9 sunbirds of five species, at Fort Fordyce the southern double-collared sunbird was one of our most-ringed birds (> 40 individuals). We also caught far more sombre greenbuls than terrestrial brownbuls (see Appendix 2), the reverse of Williams (2016) capture rates; this could be influenced by net positioning at the two sites.

Conclusions

A significant proportion of the regional forest avifauna is found within the Fort Fordyce reserve, and some individuals of all species appear to be present throughout the year. Ringing to date has produced no evidence of movement between this protected area and other localities. While we currently lack good information on breeding status, and breeding success, of these forest species, it is clear that this reserve constitutes a valuable conservation area for forest birds in the Eastern Cape.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Eastern Cape Parks for permission to survey and ring birds at Fort Fordyce. The park managers have always been helpful, and interested in our findings. Travel costs have been covered by research grants from Rhodes University and the National Research Foundation. Many birdclub members, students, and other volunteers have assisted with the surveys and ringing, in particular Daniel Danckwerts, Mark Galpin, Mary Hulley, Isabel Micklem, the late John Moore, Lorraine Mullins, Carlota Fernandez Muniz, Gareth Nuttall-Smith, Diane Smith, Kate Webster, and Milena Wolmarans. Special thanks to Magi Nams for the use of her photographs, taken during two ringing sessions in 2015.

References

Brown, M 2006. Annual and seasonal trends in aivifaunal species richness in a coastal lowlands forest reserve in South Africa. Ostrich 77:58-66.

Craig A 1986. Forest birds on Rhodes University campus. Diaz Diary 155:4-5.

Craig A 2007. Bird research at Fort Fordyce. Diaz Diary 35(4):13-15.

Craig A 2012. Bird research at Fort Fordyce. Bee-eater 63(3):51-54.

Craig AJFK and Hulley PE In press. Montane forest birds in winter: do they regularly move to lower altitudes? Observations from the Eastern Cape. Ostrich.

Dowsett RJ 1985. Site-fidelity and survival rates of some montane forest birds in Malawi, south-central Africa. Biotropica 17:145-154.

Harrison JA, Allan DG, Underhill LG, Herremans M, Tree AJ and Parker V (eds) 1997. The atlas of Southern African birds, vol. 1. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg.

Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ and Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Roberts birds of southern Africa. 7th edn. The Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.

Johnson DN and Maclean GL 1994. Altitudinal migration in Natal. Ostrich 65:86-94.

Marnewick MD, Retief EF, Theron NT, Wright DR and Anderson TA 2015. Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas of South Africa. Johannesburg: BirdLife South Africa.

Oatley TB 1982. The Starred Robin in Natal. Part 2: Annual cycles and feeding ecology. Ostrich 53:193-205.

Rutherford MC and Westfall RH 1986. Biomes of southern Africa – an objective categorization. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 54:1-98.

Skead CJ 1967. Ecology of birds in the Eastern Cape Province. Ostrich supplement 7:1-103.

Symes CT, Wirminghaus JO and Downs CT 2002. Species richness and seasonality of forest avifauna in three South African Afromontane forests. Ostrich 73:106-113.

Taylor MR, Peacock F and Wanless RM (eds) 2015. The Eskom Red Data book of birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg.

Vernon CJ 1989. Observations on the forest birds around East London. Ostrich supplement 14:75-84.

Williams DM 2016. Bird population trends in a patch of temperate forest on the Drakensberg escarpment, Mpumalanga. Biodiversity Observations 7.6:1-4. http://bo.adu.org.za/content.php?id=199

Appendices

Appendix 1: Observations (sight and sound) of birds at Fort Fordyce; own records and SABAP2 data

			Month	Month
Common name	Scientific name	Records	Present	Not recorded
apalis, bar-throated	Apalis thoracica	48	1-12
apalis, yellow-breasted	Apalis flavida	21	1-3,5-12	4
barbet, black-collared	Lybius torquatus	3
batis, Cape	Batis capensis	53	1-12
batis, chinspot	Batis molitor	2
bishop, yellow	Euplectes capensis	21	2,5-10,12	1,3,4,11
blackcap, bush	Lioptilus nigricapillus	2
bokmakierie	Telophorus zeylonus	5
boubou, southern	Laniarius ferrugineus	59	1-12
brownbul, terrestrial	Phyllastrephus terrestris	39	1-12
bulbul, dark-capped	Pycnonotus tricolor	54	1-12
bush-shrike, orange-breasted	Chlorophoneus sulphureopectus	1
bush-shrike, olive	Chlorophoneus olivaceus	32	1-12
buzzard, forest	Buteo trizonatus	6
buzzard, jackal	Buteo rufofuscus	28	1-12
buzzard, steppe	Buteo vulpinus	18	1,2,10-12	3-9
camaroptera, green-backed	Camaroptera brachyura	49	1-12
canary, brimstone	Crithagra sulphuratus	12	2,6,7,9-12	1,3-5,8
canary, Cape	Serinus canicollis	43	1,2,4-12	3
canary, forest	Crithagra scotops	50	1-12
canary, yellow-fronted	Crithagra mozambicus	25	2-12	1
chat, familiar	Cercolmela familiaris	3
cisticola, grey-backed	Cisticola subruficapilla	2
cisticola, lazy	Cisticola aberrans	41	1-12
cisticola, Levaillant’s	Cisticola tinniens	8
cisticola, wailing	Cisticola lais	12	2,4,7,9-12	1,3,5,6,8
cliff-chat, mocking	Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris	1
cormorant, reed	Phalacrocorax africanus	2
cormorant, white-breasted	Phalacrocorax carbo	1
coucal, Burchell’s	Centropus burchelli	1
crane, blue	Anthropoides paradiseus	3
crested-flycatcher, blue-mantled	Trochocercus cyanomelas	27	1-12
crombec, long-billed	Sylvietta rufescens	1
crow, Cape	Corvus capensis	54	1-12
crow, Pied	Corvus albus	4
cuckoo, African emerald	Chrysococcyx cupreus	11	1,2,10-12	3-9
cuckoo, black	Cuculus clamosus	17	1,2,10-12	3-9
cuckoo, diderick	Chrysococcyx caprius	2
cuckoo, Klaas’s	Chrysococcyx klaas	16	1,3,4,10-12	2,5-9
cuckoo, red-chested	Cuculus solitarius	17	1,2,10-12	3-9
cuckoo-shrike, black	Campephaga flava	2
cuckoo-shrike, grey	Coracina caesia	22	1,2,4-12	3
dove, laughing	Streptopelia senegalensis	2
dove, lemon	Aplopelia larvata	13	1-12
dove, red-eyed	Streptopelia semitorquata	33	1-12
dove, rock	Columba livia	1
dove, tambourine	Turtur tympanistria	4
drongo, fork-tailed	Dicrurus adsimilis	35	1-12
duck, yellow-billed	Anas undulata	2
eagle, African crowned	Stephanoaetus coronatus	19	1,2,4-9,11,12	3,10
eagle, booted	Aquila pennatus	6
eagle, long-crested	Lophaetus occipitalis	19	2-8,10-12	1,9
eagle, Verreaux’s	Aquila verreauxii	2
falcon, lanner	Falco biarmicus	3
falcon, peregrine	Falco peregrinus	1
firefinch, African	Lagonosticta rubricata	15	1-6,8-10,12	7,11
fiscal, common	Lanius collaris	37	2-12	1
flufftail, buff-spotted	Sarothrura elegans	1
flufftail, striped	Sarothrura affinis	3
flycatcher, African dusky	Muscicapa adusta	38	1-4,7-12	5,6
flycatcher, fiscal	Sigelus silens	1
flycatcher, spotted	Muscicapa striata	2
francolin, grey-winged	Scleroptila afra	2
goose, Egyptian	Alopochen aegyptiacus	2
goshawk, African	Accipiter tachiro	8
goshawk, gabar	Melierax gabar	2
goshawk, southern pale chanting	Melierax canorus	1
grassbird, Cape	Sphenoeacus afer	13	2,3,5,8-10,12	1,4,6,7,11
greenbul, sombre	Andropadus importunus	59	1-12
guineafowl, helmeted	Numida meleagris	3
hamerkop	Scopus umbretta	1
harrier, black	Circus maurus	1
harrier-hawk, African	Polyboroides typus	12	1,2,4,8,9,12	3,5-7,10,12
heron, black-headed	Ardea melanocephala	2
heron, grey	Ardea cinerea	1
honeybird, brown-backed	Prodotiscus regulus	1
honeyguide, greater	Indicator indicator	1
honeyguide, lesser	Indicator minor	5
honeyguide, scaly-throated	Indicator variegatus	1
hoopoe, African	Upupa africana	3
hornbill, crowned	Tockus alboterminatus	16	3-11	1,2,12
house-martin, common	Delichon urbicum	2
ibis, African sacred	Threskiornis aethiopicus	1
ibis, hadeda	Bostrychia hagedash	38	1-5,7-12	6
indigobird, dusky	Vidua funerea	2
kestrel, rock	Falco rupicolus	1
kingfisher, brown-hooded	Halcyon albiventris	1
kite, black-shouldered	Elanus caeruleus	6
kite, yellow-billed	Milvus aegyptius	1
lapwing, black-winged	Vanellus melanopterus	1
lapwing, blacksmith	Vanellus armatus	1
lapwing, crowned	Vanellus coronatus	1
longclaw, Cape	Macronyx capensis	8
martin, rock	Hirundo fuligula	12	2,6,9-12	1,3-5,7,8
moorhen, common	Gallinula chloropus	2
mousebird, red-faced	Urocolius indicus	7
mousebird, speckled	Colius striatus	32	1-12
neddicky	Cisticola fulvicapilla	16	1-3,6-12	4,5
nightjar, fiery-necked	Caprimulgus rufigena	1
olive-pigeon, African	Columba arquatrix	32	1-12
oriole, black-headed	Oriolus larvatus	51	1-12
owl, barn	Tyto alba	1
paradise-flycatcher, African	Terpsiphone viridis	13	1,4,9-12	2,3,5-8
parrot, Cape	Poicephalus robustus	1
petronia, yellow-throated	Petronia superciliaris	2
pigeon, speckled	Columba guinea	4
pipit, African	Anthus cinnamomeus	10
pipit, plain-backed	Anthus leucophrys	2
prinia, Karoo	Prinia maculosa	30	1-12
prinia, tawny-flanked	Prinia subflava	5
puffback, black-backed	Dryoscopus cubla	55	1-12
quail, common	Coturnix coturnix	2
raven, white-necked	Corvus albicollis	19	1-5,7-12	6
robin, white-starred	Pogonocichla stellata	21	3-12	1,2
robin-chat, Cape	Cossypha caffra	48	1-12
robin-chat, chorister	Cossypha dichroa	40	1-12
rock-thrush, Cape	Monticola rupestris	1
saw-wing, black	Psalidoprocne holomelaena	18	1-3,9-12	4-8
scrub-robin, brown	Cercotrichas signata	2
scrub-robin, white-browed	Cercotrichas leucophrys	2
secretarybird	Sagittarius serpentarius	4
seedeater, streaky-headed	Crithagra gularis	5
shrike, red-backed	Lanius collurio	3
sparrowhawk, rufous-breasted	Accipiter rufiventris	1
spurfowl, red-necked	Pternistis afer	40	1-12
starling, Cape glossy	Lamprotornis nitens	12	4,7,8,11,12	1-3,5,6,9,10
starling, common	Sturnus vulgaris	2
starling, pied	Lamprotornis bicolor	1
starling, red-winged	Onychognathus morio	55	1-12
stonechat, African	Saxicola torquatus	32	2-12	1
stork, white	Ciconia ciconia	1
sunbird, amethyst	Chalcomitra amethystina	31	1-5,7-12	6
sunbird, collared	Hedydipna collaris	31	1-12
sunbird, greater double-collared	Cinnyris afer	30	1-12
sunbird, grey	Cyanomitra veroxii	17	1,5,7-12	2-4,6
sunbird, malachite	Nectarinia famosa	6
sunbird, southern double-collared	Cinnyris chalybeus	45	1-12
swallow, barn	Hirundo rustica	13	1-3,10-12	4-9
swallow, greater striped	Hirundo cucullata	15	1-4,9,11,12	5-8,10
swallow, lesser striped	Hirundo abyssinica	24	1-3,9-12	4-8
swallow, white-throated	Hirundo albigularis	6
swift, African black	Apus barbatus	13	2,3,7,9-12	1,4-6,8
swift, alpine	Tachymarptis melba	8
swift, horus	Apus horus	1
swift, little	Apus affinis	3
swift, white-rumped	Apus caffer	18	1-3,9-12	4-8
tchagra, southern	Tchagra tchagra	13	2,3,5-12	1,4
thick-knee, spotted	Burhinus capensis	4
thrush, olive	Turdus olivaceus	39	1-12
tinkerbird, red-fronted	Pogoniulus pusillus	32	1-12
tit, southern black	Parus niger	17	1-3,5-11	4,12
trogon, Narina	Apaloderma narina	13	6,7,9-12	1-5,8
turaco, Knysna	Tauraco corythaix	46	1-12
Turtle-dove, Cape	Streptopelia capicola	30	1-12
wagtail, Cape	Motacilla capensis	41	2-12	1
wagtail, mountain	Motacilla clara	2
warbler, Barratt’s	Bradypterus barratti	20	4-10	1-3,11,12
warbler, willow	Phylloscopus trochilus	3
waxbill, common	Estrilda astrild	9
waxbill, swee	Coccopygia melanotis	19	1-4,6,9-12	5,7,8
weaver, Cape	Ploceus capensis	4
weaver, dark-backed	Ploceus bicolor	35	1-12
weaver, spectacled	Ploceus ocularis	1
weaver, thick-billed	Amblyospiza albifrons	2
weaver, village	Ploceus cucullatus	1
white-eye, Cape	Zosterops virens	56	1-12
whydah, pin-tailed	Vidua macroura	3
widowbird, red-collared	Euplectes ardens	1
wood-dove, emerald-spotted	Turtur chalcospilos	7
wood-hoopoe, green	Phoeniculus purpureus	3
wood-owl, African	Strix woodfordii	3
warbler, yellow-throated	Phylloscopus ruficapilla	32	2-12	1
woodpecker, cardinal	Dectropicos fuscescens	1
woodpecker, Knysna	Campethera notata	29
woodpecker, olive	Dendropicos griseocephalus	25	1-10,12	11

Appendix 2: Records of birds ringed at Fort Fordyce

Common name	1988-1997	2007-2017	Total	Recaptures	since ringing
apalis, bar-throated	NA	9	9	NA
batis, Cape	3	14	17	NA
bishop, yellow	5	37	42	5	23 months
blackcap, bush	NA	1	1	NA
boubou, southern	3	11	14	1	3 months
brownbul, terrestrial	NA	3	3	1	33 months
bulbul, dark-capped	NA	4	4	NA
bunting, golden-breasted	1	NA	1	NA
bush-shrike, olive	NA	3	3	NA
camaroptera, green-backed	1	16	17	3	74 months
canary, brimstone	2	1	3	NA
canary, forest	4	16	20	1	16 months
canary, yellow-fronted	1	2	3	NA
cisticola, lazy	1	8	9	1	1 month
cuckoo, black	NA	1	1	NA
cuckoo, diderick	NA	1	1	NA
cuckoo, red-chested	NA	4	4	NA
cuckoo, Klaas’	NA	1	1	NA
dove, lemon	NA	4	4	NA
drongo, fork-tailed	NA	1	1	NA
firefinch, African	4	1	5	NA
fiscal, common	1	1	2	NA
flycatcher, African dusky	1	8	9	1	14 months
goshawk, African	NA	2	2	NA
greenbul, sombre	2	33	35	4	14 months
honeyguide, lesser	NA	1	1	NA
mousebird, speckled	3	1	4	NA
neddicky	NA	1	1	NA
oriole, black-headed	3	NA	3	NA
paradise-flycatcher, African	NA	1	1	NA
prinia, Karoo	NA	2	2	NA
puffback, black-backed	NA	4	4	1	97 months
robin, white-starred	NA	8	8	2	48 months
robin-chat, Cape	1	12	13	5	25 months
robin-chat, chorister	NA	19	19	3	12 months
seedeater, streaky-headed	NA	2	2	NA
starling, red-winged	NA	4	4	NA
stonechat, African	1	4	5	NA
sunbird, amethyst	1	NA	1	NA
sunbird, collared	NA	6	6	NA
sunbird, greater double-collared	2	7	9	3	23 months
sunbird, grey	NA	3	3	NA
sunbird, malachite	NA	1	1	NA
sunbird, southern double-collared	4	44	48	3	74 months
swallow, lesser striped	NA	1	1	NA
thrush, olive	5	21	26	3	95 months
turaco, Knysna	NA	1	1	NA
wagtail, Cape	NA	1	1	NA
wagtail, mountain	NA	1	1	NA
warbler, Barratt’s	NA	2	2	NA
waxbill, swee	NA	3	3	NA
weaver, dark-backed	NA	2	2	NA
white-eye, Cape	16	173	189	15	79 months
warbler, yellow-throated	NA	5	5	1	71 months
woodpecker, Knysna	NA	3	3	NA
woodpecker, olive	NA	1	1	NA
Totals	65	510	575	53