The Paardeberg stands out as a mountainous island in an agricultural landscape between Paarl/Wellington and Malmesbury in the Swartland region of the Western Cape. Very little bird ringing has taken place here, so Les Underhill and I had a ringing session on Bowwood Farm today. The top species was Cape White-eye (n=22), followed by Southern Masked Weavers (n=8), where 2 of the latter were males in partial breeding plumage. Most of the birds had completed moult, but a few birds were at the end of primary moult.
Southern Masked Weaver male
Species
n
White-backed Mousebird
1
Cape Robin
3
Olive Thrush
5
Cape White-eye
22
Karoo Prinia
2
Cape Weaver
3
Southern Masked Weaver
8
Streaky-headed Canary
1
TOTALS
45
The ring of one bird has been recovered in the Paardeberg area, a Cape Weaver ringed with ring 231054 in the Kraaifontein area by Clive Elliott in 1968.
Thanks to Julian and Bridget Johnsen for hosting us!
Also see more photos at BDI web (Biodiversity and Development Institute)
