ADU travels, expeditions and events

on 13 May 2002

Janine le Roux

Photo H.D. Oschadleus		An exciting report came in from Conservation Manager, Gert Greeff, at Koeberg Nature Reserve - Swift Terns had been spotted breeding near the outfall pumps and there were in excess of 1000 chicks.
Photo H.D. Oschadleus		Monday May 13th 2002. Perfect weather for ringing, so a team of 11 from the Avian Demography Unit and Bruce Dyer, from Marine and Coastal Management, set off to round up some juvenile Swift Terns to ring with metal and engraved Pro-Touch Bands.
Photo H.D. Oschadleus		The Swift Tern juveniles are 'herded' by walking behind them.
Photo H.D. Oschadleus		About 430 juveniles were herded into pens made up with fencing. It only took about 5 minutes of herding before all the juveniles were trapped within the pens.
Photo H.D. Oschadleus		Our band of Ringers got to work right away. We used metal bands on the right leg and red engraved Pro-Touch pastic bands on the left leg. The metal bands were supplied by Marine and Coastal Management as part of their long-term Swift Tern monitoring project.
Photo H.D. Oschadleus		While some of the juveniles were being ringed, the others waited patiently in the pen with Sue Kuyper standing guard to make sure that they were safe and calm.
Photo H.D. Oschadleus		This close up of two of the Swift Tern juveniles show how clearly the red Pro-Touch band can be seen on their legs. Note also the variation in leg colour of the tern juveniles.
Photo H.D. Oschadleus		Prof. Les Underhill showing off the juvenile bearing his intials, LU, on the engraved band.

We would like to thank the Conservation Department of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station for permission to ring the Swift Terns on their property.

Within a few weeks these birds will start to spread along the entire coastline of South Africa, with some going northward to Namibia. Please keep a watch for these birds. If you see one of these birds, please report it to SAFRING. Full details of how to make a report are on this website.