Department of Statistical Sciences
University of Cape Town
| Avian Demography Unit
Department of Statistical Sciences University of Cape Town |
|
Earthwatch 2005 Project: South African PenguinsDiary of Team 4
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Principal Investigators: Peter Barham, Barbara Barham, Duncan Bolton |
Brenda, from United Kingdom, and Pat and Mary from Wisconsin USA, met Les (from University of Cape Town), Barbara, Duncan, and Mario (Robben Island Environmental Officer) at the Clocktower near the harbour and ate lunch at the Pancake House where some of the adventurous had ostrich. We then took the 2:15 ferry across to Robben Island with glorious views of Table Mountain against the backdrop of a blue sky. After orienting ourselves to the house and not arguing over the rooms, we were introduced to the "bakkie". Barbara drove us around the perimeter of the island, one of us in front with her, the rest piled in atop a mattress in the back. Although we anticipated immediately seeing penguins, we saw Sacred Ibis, Egyptian geese, Cape francolins, Guinea fowl, black oystercatchers, ostrich, a peacock, and then behold, penguins! We also saw bontebok, springbok, steenbok, rabbits, and a cat. Barbara cooked us a nice meal and we all fell into bed early. 
We awoke to a beautiful sunrise and European fallow deer feeding in our garden. We met Mario at his office and proceeded to split into two teams and learned how to record data on the nest record cards: how many chicks or eggs and the chicks' ages, if a parent is present and if the parent is banded. Between the two groups we visited all the nests in this year's study. After a late lunch, we split into two groups to monitor penguins crossing Cornelia and North Perimeter Roads as they either returned to their nests for the evening or went fishing. We also counted the traffic! We returned after dark, frozen but satisfied to prepare a good dinner with delicious South African wine. Then Barbara and Duncan worked on data while the three volunteers chatted and wrote in journals.
Again the weather was beautiful. We started out and ended the day in layers but were in our shirtsleeves most of mid-day. In the morning we set up new nests. We were looking for nests with eggs or very young chicks with only one adult present. Barbara, Pat, and Brenda worked in one area and Peter and Mary in another. We set up labels for the nests, recorded data, and checked for unbanded birds. If birds were unbanded, we put picric (dye) on them. Meanwhile Mario and Duncan visited closed nests to check if they were indeed empty. Barbara, Brenda, and Pat saw an almost black-fronted penguin that Brenda was able to capture on video. Peter and Mary spent time at the hide looking for a penguin that had been seen previously and was injured. They also attempted to do some retraps. After lunch, Brenda did data entry and Peter worked on preparing photography equipment while Barbara, Duncan, Pat, and Mary banded three birds and checked some nests with questions from previous visits. When entering data, Brenda noted that two penguins whose bands were recorded last night showed up in the new nests this morning. Pat, Brenda, and Mary went for a walk to the lighthouse, cemetery, and down to the beach near the house. Not only did Brenda revel in the views of Table Mountain, but we also saw several bontebok and a springbok. After a once again delicious supper cooked by Peter and wonderful conversation and good South African wine, Pat and Brenda, at 2130, saw a shooting star. 
Sunshine again! We started our day at Mario's office where some of us sent brief e-mails. We then split into two teams and headed off in different directions. We counted wading birds along the perimeter of the entire island. After about 3 hours, we met, and Peter picked us up to head home for lunch. We saw many oystercatchers, some sacred ibis, blacksmith plovers, Hartlaub and Kelp gulls, a few Egyptian geese, some swift terns, dikkops, and little egrets. The walk along the shore was mostly rocky and filled with seashells. Pat and Mary took a short walk after lunch with the camera and binoculars looking for retraps and frontal views of penguins for digital pictures for identification of spot pattern. A database is being developed and tested to identify penguins based on their spots. About 4:00 we went on a game drive. We covered the island roads with Barbara as the navigator and Duncan as the driver. We saw many fallow deer and bontebok, some springbok, a few steenbok, two ostriches. The last remaining eland was not seen. Another delicious meal cooked by Peter awaited us upon our return.
Sunshine but windy weather greeted us on our day off. We arose early and took the 8:15 ferry to Cape Town. After finding coffee and an Internet café, we boarded tour bus with a lively tour guide who told us about the main sites of Cape Town. It took us first around the center of the city then up to the cable car of Table Mountain. Horror! It was too windy for the gondola to operate. After a short time our tour guide approached us to inform us that the cable car would soon be running. There were spectacular views from the top. We had a good lunch and took several pictures of our temporary home: Robben Island. After descent we again boarded the bus, drove through the opulent areas of the city starting at Camps Bay and back to the Waterfront. We picked up a few groceries that we needed for next week, made sure we had enough wine, and spent a little more time shopping and visiting the internet café. At 5:15 we got back on the ferry for “home”. We looked in the curio shop at the harbour while waiting for Peter, Duncan, and Barbara to finish their evening work and drive us back to the house. Peter came through again with another delicious meal. 
We awoke to a very misty morning but it didn't deter us. We had a busy morning doing retraps in teams and all came home with wet feet and noticed that Table Mountain had disappeared. Brenda was delighted that Peter had recorded one of the same retraps she had recorded last year. After entering data in the early afternoon, we then did a count of molting penguins along the beaches. Another almost black-fronted penguin was seen on the beach. Our day ended with excitement as Brenda and Peter sighted a penguin band with the letter and first four digits the same as that of Peter the Penguin of the Treasure oil spill fame. Unfortunately, they couldn't see the final digit. They sat among the nettles until the rest of us joined them with two telescopes, the camera, and our binoculars but we couldn't determine if indeed it was Peter. Although we had hoped to celebrate the sighting with champagne, we consoled ourselves with wine and another delicious meal. 
More sunshine and warmth greeted us. The volunteers went to the beach and did a clean up with Barbara and Mario. Sadly, we found an injured penguin that made no attempt to move when we got within a couple feet of it. We put it in a transport box and brought it back to the house. Rob was visiting and brought it back with him to SANCCOB on the mainland. It's chances weren't rated too high but at least it wasn't left to die on the beach. In the late afternoon, the project leaders finished up some outstanding work with tagging and checking nests then did retrapping at penguin crossings while the three volunteers did retrapping among nests. We are very proud of our accomplishment of obtaining 250 retraps during Team 4. 
Our last day on Robben Island. In the morning, Peter and Duncan did a few more checks of nests and they along with Barbara did more data entry while the volunteers began packing, cleaning and enjoying just sitting on the porch in the warm sunshine. After a lunch of our last
remaining food, we took two team pictures. Peter left for Cape Town to have everything ready for our return. We finished cleaning and Duncan burned CDs for us all.