Migrating Kestrel Project

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Migrating Kestrel Project

• By
• Anthony van Zyl

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Lesser Kestrel(Falco naumanni)

• Vulnerable
• Population

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Amur Falcon(Falco amurensis)

• Common
• Population 100,000-1,000,000

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Redfooted Falcon(Falco vespertinus)

• Common, Cons. Priority in Europe
• Population 100,000-1,000,000

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Project Aims

• Started in 1996 by Hein Pienaar with the
  following Aims
• Count kestrels at as many roosts as possible to
  get an indication of the population size visiting
  southern Africa
• Identify and address any conservation threats
• Create an awareness of the conservation issues
  that migrating kestrels face
• Further our knowledge on the biology and
  migration of these kestrels in Africa

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Project Methods

• Coordinator
• Volunteers

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Project ResultsRoost coverage

• 155 roosts (Siegfried Skead)
• 115 historic roosts (Pienaar)
• Currently monitoring 90 roosts

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Project ResultsRoost counts
Lesser Kestrels 94,733 Amur Falcons
25,945 Redfooted Falcons 5
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Project ResultsVariation in numbers
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Project ResultsArrival dates 2005/6 season
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Project ResultsRoost Database
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Conservation Issues

• Stochastic events
• Weather
• Roost destruction
• Roosts
• Road mortalities
• Agricultural practices
• Increase in land use
• Pesticide use
• Locust outbreaks

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Conservation Priorities

• Education
• Farmers
• Agricultural Department
• Roost owners
• Drivers
• Knowledge
• Roost selection
• Diet and habitat selection
• Global collaboration
• Monitoring
• Population trends

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The Future

• Full time co-ordinator
• Origins
• Ringing transmitter programme
• Population surveys
• Countries volunteer base
• Raptor Road count
• National kestrel count day (bird clubs, schools)
• Habitat use and diet
• Research programme (GIS, pellets, roost
  selection)
• Avian Influenza?

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Thanks
Hanlie Rodrigues, Adam Welz, Adri Barkhuysen,
Alan Collett, Alan Kemp, Andre Botha, Andrew
Jenkins, Andrew Schofield, Anton Linstrom,
Bradley Gibbons, Brian Colahan, Brian Vanderwalt,
Carmel Rickard, Clarke Engelbrecht, Dave Pepler,
Dawie de Swart, Debbie Abrahamson, Dorianne du
Toit, Dries Hanlie Kotze, Francois Joubert,
Francois Taljaard, Gerrie Camacho, Guy Palmer,
Hayley Komen, Hein Pienaar, Henk Bouwmaan,
Herman Zephnè Bernitz, Herman van Dijk, Jacky
Wayne Furno, James Hendry, Japie Claassen, Johan
van Niekerk, John McAllister, John Moorcroft,
Judy Caryer, Kate Webster, Kevin Shaw, Malcolm
Gemmell, Marius Behrens, Mark Anderson, Mike
Dyer, Nick Jonas, Nigel Anderson, Peter Palatitz,
Piet Koornhof, Rick Nuttall, Riette Griesel,
Rihann Geyser, Ronelle Visagie, Sandra Hedges,
Stephen Vince, Steven Piper, Steven Squires,
Terry Robertson, Tillie Burger, Tony Archer,
Trevor Oertel, Whitey van Pletsen, Spike
Millington, Ian Rosa, The Free State Team, Craig
Symes, Johan Britz, Lucia Lamprecht, K de
Villiers, Angus Burns, S Bernard, Michael
Cunningham, Rebecca Attwood, H van Wyk
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The Migrating Kestrel Project
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The Migrating Kestrel Project
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The Migrating Kestrel Project
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Breeding Grounds
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Wintering Grounds
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The Lesser Kestrel Population