Swainson's Spurfowl trekking south

The first year of SABAP2 is nearly finished and I have observed the following range expansion of the Swainson's Spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) in my surveys. After Deon du Plessis commented (see post of 25.05.2008) on his observations of this species through the 1990's, I started to look out particulartly for them. On 16.06.2008 I observed 5 birds in a small family covey along the Melkspruit at S30.76249 E26.65912 (in pentad 3045_2635 and QDGC 3026DC). The birds were foraging near the edge of a fallow land – nearer to the taller growth where there were enough protection should the need to hide arise.

This is the most southerly of my own observations thus far – 16,5km more southwest than the spots Deon had mentioned in his comment. It corresponds with Deon's suggestion that the birds expand their range along the rivers and streams – especially with the abundance of food in cultivated lands and where other agricultural activity suiting them occur. Interestingly enough my observations of these birds here on the southwestern border of their range were always in the vicinity of generous water supply – larger farm dams that would have water through the dry season and perennial streams. According to the literature, they normally drink very regularly - in the morning and evening.

For the most up to date distribution map of the species, follow this link: http://sabap2.adu.org.za/species_maps.php?Spp=185

The Aliwal Quarter Degree Cell after 11 months

SABAP2 is the second project of it's kind and builds on the successful completion of SABAP1 - The Southern African Bird Atlas Project. I would like to report on my participation in the atlas project in my home area - so to find out more about SABAP2 as a project follow this link: http://sabap2.adu.org.za/index.php Click to enlarge map

Each of the squares represents 5'X5' on the map. Such a "pentad" is roughly 9 km long (North-south) and 7 km wide - 63 square km. The pentads are counted from left to right - top to bottom. The pentads are identified by the pentad code in the NW-corner (top left) and each have a "common name" indicated by the little green flag in the centre of the square. The code is derived from the map grid and the common name is given by the atlaser in the area - so different atlasers can give different common names to the same pentad. I have used the name of the farm more or less in the centre of the pentad as the common name for that specific pentad. The research protocol requires of the atlaser to count at least 2 hours in the specific pentad trying to cover all habitats - eg vleis and wetlands, cultivated fields, riverine bush, koppies, grassveld, plantations, dams, etc. A data period does not exceed five days for the same pentad - after 5 days a new data card is started with the prescribed 2 hour minimum.

After 11 months (since July 2007) of counting the different bird species in the squares demarcated by the lines on the map, I can report the following "findings" - these are merely my own observations:

• For all the pentads in the Quarter Degree Cell 2 data cards were completed - except 9 (11 cards - this pentad is counted daily as I move around town).
• In the full QDGC 176 different species were counted in the previous atlas project (then the QDGC was counted as a whole and 68 data cards were submitted over the period 1987-1991). Up to now I've counted 172 unique species with a few out of range species that still have to be vetted. 27 data cards were submitted for SABAP2.
• For each of the different pentads the count is: Zuurplaat - 88 unique species, Strydpoort-Winplaats - 75, Jakkalsfontein - 76, Badfontein - 107, Betjeskraal - 88, Waaiplaats - 89, Gryskoppan - 63, Ackermanskraal - 92, Aliwal-Dorp - 119.
• In the last round of counts (the last month) the migratory birds had already left for winter - counts were remarkably lower than in summer counts.
• Some of the interesting species (not necessarily "new" species) observed in these 9 pentads are the following: Goliath Heron, Southern Pochard, African Marsh Harrier, Swainson's Spurfowl, Crested Barbet, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Fairy Flycatcher, Kimberley Pipit, Red-backed Shrike, Red-billed Firefinch, Brimstone Canary (Unvetted records are not included in this list).

One of the aims of SABAP2 is to research the influence of climate changes over the past 20 years on the distribution of different bird species. After the first 11 months some species were found in this area that were not previously found here - the Swainson's Spurfowl is an example. It is too early in the research yet to make an unqualified deduction that this species has expanded it's range in a southwesterly direction. Early indications are that a range expansion may have occured as these species were not previously observed this far south. (It was observed more than once in the Smithfield area as well).

The project is not yet under way for a full year, and a lot of counting must still be done in the next few years. To participate in the atlas project is really satisfying for me as birder. I also want to thank the many farmers in the area that allow me to enter their properties and roam about freely to participate in this project of the Animal Demographic Unit (ADU at UCT), BirdLife South Africa (BLSA) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Together with these organisations and hundreds of other atlasers countrywide, we make a contribution to the conservation of birdlife and their habitat.