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The Migrating Kestrel Project was initiated by Hein Pienaar in 1994 under the Raptor Conservation Group (now called the Bird of Prey Working Group). The project includes work on the Lesser Ketrel (Falco naumanni), Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) and Redfooted Falcon (Falco vespertinus) but was initiated in the response to the sudden decline in Lesser Kestrel numbers during the 1990's. The Lesser Kestrel is listed as 'Globally Vulnerable' as a result of a 50% decline in that last 20-30 years.
2. Project Aims:
This project has played a pivotal role providing information on numbers of kestrels in South Africa over the last ten years. It is also the only project in Africa attempting to count the number of kestrels that overwintering here. Up until the 2005/6 season, the project was focussed around recording arrival and departure dates, counting kestrels at as many roosts and at some roosts, looking at trends in roost numbers over the season. There have also been attempts in the past to ring migrating kestrels to gather more information on their migration routes (see our latest appeal for ringers to help with this project).
Plans have been drawn up for the next five years of the Migrating Kestrel Project and from the 2006/7 season, some new ideas are to be implemented with a lot of new exciting activities for volunteers. These are outlined in the Project Activities below:
3. Project Activities
3.1 Roost counting
Counting at roosts is going to continue as in the past, with
one major difference. There will only be one count in January. In the
past, we have done three counts, but not all roosts were counted in
this manner and it was felt that getting early and late season counts
were not contributing much to our knowledge on the number of kestrels.
Thus, we will now try to get one number on the same date for all roosts
in southern Africa. For those who would like to count more regalarly,
we need you input. See point 3.4.
Data for roost counts will still be done by filling roost count forms.
Get the Counting Form at the following links - Word Format, Adobe Acrobat Format
3.2 Pellet collection
Volunteers are invited to participate in collecting pellets on the night of the roost count in January. Those interested will be issued pellet collecting kits. These kits will include a 2m x 2m sheet of PVC, four small pegs to peg the sheet to the ground, a container to store the pellets collected and a self addressed package to send this back to the project co-ordinator. The volunteer must place the sheet below the roost tree in the evening before the birds come in to roost. This must then be collected early the next morning, after the birds have left the roost. The number of pellets must be counted and all placed in the provided pellet container. Preferably they should be dried first, before posting. These pellets can be dried on a piece of newspaper in an area with open air, or in the oven at a very low heat if time is not available to air dry them. The aim of this project is to gain insights into the diet of the migrating kestrels across the country. A student will be identified to analyse the data for an academic project.
3.3 Arrival and Depature dates at roosts
As in the past, we are still very interested in arrival and
departure dates because these can tell a lot about the environment in
which these kestrels live. For instance, climate change could have a
major impact on migrating kestrels. Emphasis on collecting arrival and
departure date data is going to act as a replacement of the early and
late roost counts. Volunteers are going to have to put in an extra
effort at mixed roosts (Lesser Kestrels and Amur Falcons and/or
Red-footed Falcons) because these birds arrive at different times
(Lesser Kestrels are typically earlier) and will have to particularly
vigilant at their roosts when arrivals and departures are imminent.
We will be recording these dates in our Sightings database, which is
run by our new partners, NaturalWorld. Read more on how to use the NaturalWorld
web site to record your sightings and dates.
Alternatively, access the migrating kestrel records directly from here without the need to register. However, we do recommend that you do register in time, as it will save you having to type in your personal details.
3.4 Monthly counts at specific roosts
To get more information on how kestrel numbers differ over the
season at roosts, enthusiastic volunteers are encouraged to do monthly
counts at their roost. This can then provide information that will give
us an indication on how stable these roost populations are, and if
there is movement in and out of roosts.
Please contact Anthony van Zyl if you would like to participate in this
exciting new venture.
3.5 Sighting database
We now know where many of the larger roosts are, but we are
probably still missing many in towns where we have not contact person.
We also know that some of the population roost in much smaller groups
in rural areas, possibly around farm houses, etc. By entering all
sightings in a sighting database, we will not only get information on
how they move in and out of South Africa, but will will also get an
indication of where the kestrels are located. Considering that Lesser
Kestrels do not forage more than 30-40 km from their roost sites, any
sightings away from know roosts can be assumed to be roosting in
smaller roosts in rural areas.
We will be recording all sightings in our Sightings database, which is
run by our new partners, NaturalWorld. Read more on how to use the NaturalWorld
web site to record your sightings and dates.
Alternatively, access the migrating kestrel records directly from here without the need to register. However, we do recommend that you do register in time, as it will save you having to type in your personal details.
3.6 Roost database
A database of roost information started in the 2005/6 season, but it is ongoing and still requires effort to get all the information. Please report roost information such as exact locality (address and GPS co-ordinates if possible), number of trees, tree species, general activity of area (suburban, urban, industrial, farm homestead, etc), owner of the property and contact details, species of kestrel seen at the roost and any other information you may feel is relevant.
3.7 High media profile
Declining species such as the Lesser Kestrel, Amur Falcon and Redfooted Falcon require as much media coverage as possible. Thus, information boards are going to be put up at some of the large roost sites, and the Birds of Prey Working Group is committed to provide as much publicity to the project as possible.
3.8 Additional information
3.8.1 Ringing
There remains a huge opportunity to ring these migrating kestrels at their roosts, but enough time and the right equipment is required. This is an ongoing initiative that we hope to get off the ground when we have enough enthusiastic volunteers involved.
3.8.2 Recording of sex ratios and adults vs juveniles
Any additional information on these birds is useful as very little is known about these birds in their non-breeding areas. As a start, and easy aspect to monitor when the birds are perching before coming in to roost are sex ratios and adults vs juveniles. Information can be collected by talking into a tape recorder while checking each bird with a telescope. Several volunteers have pointed out in the past that sex ratios seem to be skewed towards females, but this could be because there are many juveniles present. Counting the number of juveniles will give interesting data when compared to the numbers leaving Europe and Asia.
You can download the complete protocol for the above activities from the Papers and Articles section
4. Project information and HOWTO guides
HOWTO Guides
Newsletters
You can download past Migrating Kestrel Project newsletters (Hover Flight), presentations and other information in the project from the Papers and Articles section