The Boulders Penguin Colony in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) received a new nesting hides. SANParks said rangers removed and replaced 58 artificial nest boxes, to improve breeding conditions for the African penguin species.
The nests will help in conservation efforts of the flightless sea bird.
These new nesting hides are essential for colonies that are greatly exposed to predation and various environmental factors. Replacing lost habitat with artificial nesting structures is considered to be a useful conservation intervention given the decline of the species.
The nest boxes were first introduced to Boulders in 2003, where 62 of the formacrete nest boxes were installed. The concern regarding this prototype was the size of the formacrete nest box, therefore, it was concluded that this prototype offered less protection. There have been a number of iterations over the years with continual adaptions based on efficacy and on-site monitoring.
The latest design that has been developed is one that is made of a geotextile fabric that is both non-toxic and environmentally friendly.
‘The nest boxes provide safety from predators and limits exposure to adverse weather conditions such as extreme heat and heavy rain leading to floods. The overall population of the African penguin is declining and various interventions are in place to assist with increasing their numbers. It is believed that providing artificial nests will assist in breeding success of the African Penguin and therefore assist in increasing the overall population of the African penguin,’ says Alison Kock, Cape Research Centre Marine Biologist.
This project is ongoing and will be monitored carefully to determine the efficacy of design and nesting success. The outcomes of this monitoring will be assessed and potentially incorporated into new designs.
This prototype is based on measurements of naturally dug burrows made of guano. 50 of these latest nest boxes were installed at Boulders at the end of January 2021.
Images: SANParks
