Natal dispersal in weavers on the Cape Peninsula - Phase 2
Introduction to Phase 2
In this phase normal mist-netting is conducted to recapture as many weavers (and other species) as possible, particularly birds that had been ringed as chicks. Mist-netting will be conducted at different sites from Rietvlei south to Kommetjie, and east as far as the N7.To become involved in this project, see email below and calendar of ringing events in cape Town.
Southern Masked Weaver chick, recaptured two weeks after it fledged
Monthly totals of weaver chicks recaptured
In the table below the totals are shown for Cape Weaver (CW), Southern Masked Weaver (SMW) and Southern Red Bishop (RB).
| CW | SMW | RB | |
| n | 9 | 29 | 18 |
| Min (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mean (km) | 4.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Max (km) | 14.3 | 5.1 | 1.1 |
| Year | CW | SMW | RB | Total |
| Sep-Dec 2009 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 19 |
| 2010 | 6 | 20 | 11 | 37 |
| Total | 9 | 29 | 18 | 56 |
Publications during 2010
Oschadleus HD, 2010. Champion chicks - where do they go? Promerops 281:12-13Photo gallery
More photos (from 2009) may be viewed here.
Ringing in Frogmore (Westlake wetland) | 
Pupils of the Heathfield Primary School stopped en route to school to see what we were doing |
News items relating to the second phase of this project
Latest news item:Weaver chick movements2015-05-25 (640)
During 2009 I ringed some 500 weaver chicks on the Cape Peninsula to see where they go. Southern Masked Weaver chick BE58350 was ringed along the Ottery River near Springfield Rd (blue square on map). It was 1 of 2 chicks in a nest in bamboos. It was recaptured 1.5 years later at Strandfontein, 8km south of where it had hatched. It was recaptured again precisely 5 years 5 months 5 days after being ringed, at Intaka Island, 20km north of Strandfontein. See details of the recaptures here. See details of the project on ringing weaver chicks here. Funding for the ringing of the chicks was received from the African Bird Club Conservation Fund and the Cape Tercentenary Foundation. The oldest Southern Masked Weaver that was ringed as a chick was recaptured after 11 years 5.5 months in Johannesburg within 2 km of its hatching site (ring 58213057). This weaver had been ringed by Clive Hunter who conducted a detailed study of the breeding of Southern Masked Weavers. |
All news items relating to this project
The headers below refer to Weaver News items featuring the second phase of this project. Click on a header to see the News item, which includes the full news item. (The number in brackets is the date that the news item appeared on Weaver Watch).
Weaver chick movements (2015-05-25)
Development of Southern Masked Weaver chick (2013-11-03)
Cape Weaver chick retrapped 2 years later (2011-12-12)
Cape Weaver returns to natal colony (2011-10-24)
Mocke River ringing (2011-08-22)
Weaver chick now 1 year 10 months 12 days old (2011-06-27)
Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk (2010-05-19)
Cape Weaver movements on the Cape Peninsula (2010-03-09)
28 weaver chicks recaptured (2010-02-23)
Weavers and waterbirds, Jan 2010 (2010-01-22)
Western Cape ringing social, 21 Nov 2009 (2009-11-23)
Movement of a Cape Weaver chick (2009-10-14)
Movements of weaver chicks (2009-10-02)
Acknowledgements
Permission to ring chicks at Intaka was granted by Alan LiebenbergHelpers: Thembanani Magazi & Skhumbuzo Mbewu(Intaka), Elmaniek (Rondevlei), KRC students, Sally Hofmeyr, Karen Sorenson, Mike Laurie, Daniel Oschadleus, Christian Escher, Pam & Alan for boat at Marina da Gama, Tandy Oschadleus, Barry & Sue Schultz, William Wyness
Dave Ashkam (tube)
Funding has been received from the African Bird Club Conservation Fund
and the Cape Tercentenary Foundation
