Past research projects on Poicephalus parrots by the Research
Centre for African Parrot Conservation:
- Meyer's Parrot Project (Completed 2008): Dr. Steve Boyes conducted a 5-year study of the Meyer's
Parrot (Poicephalus meyeri) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, looking at understanding the ecology of this
species towards outlining its ecological niche. Meyer's Parrots are abundant in the Okavango, and thus
allowed us to test conservation techniques (e.g. nest boxes) and research techniques (e.g. nest cavity
monitoring) for use with endangeredPoicephalus parrots species such as the Cape Parrot;
- Master's thesis on Rosy-faced Lovebird (Completed 2006): Henry Ndithia conducted a
ground-breaking study on the seasonal movements of Rosy-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis). His findings
will assist us greatly in tracking the movements of Cape Parrots in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
- PhD thesis on the Black-cheeked Lovebird (Completed 2003): Dr. Louise Warburton
undertook important research into the ecology and conservation biology of the Black-cheeked Lovebird
(Agapornis nigregenis), Africa's rarest lovebird with the most restricted distribution. Due to similarities in threat
status and the resultant difficulty in studying this species, her findings and field techniques will be invaluable in
the new Amathole Cape Parrot Project.
- PhD thesis on Brown-headed Parrot (Completed 2002): Dr. Stuart Taylor conducted a 4-year
study on the behavioural ecology and vocalisations of the Brown-headed Parrot (Poicephalus cryptoxanthus) in
two locations in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, and Ponta Malongane, southern Mozambique. His work
pioneered thinking on the social cohesion of Poicephalus parrots, their vocalisations, and breeding;
- Master's thesis on Grey-headed Parrot (Completed 2002): Dr. Craig Symes studied a
population of Grey-headed Parrots (Poicephalus fuscicollis suahelicus) in the Limpopo Province, South Africa.
This work constituted the backbone of our final motivation to have the Cape Parrots recognised as an
independent species (Poicephalus robustus). Craig's work demonstrated that, beyond differences in
vocalisation, morphology and colouration, the diet and nesting behaviour of Grey-headed Parrots was
distinctly different from Cape Parrots, whereby their dietary preferences were far more generalist and they
preferred Baobab Adansonia digitata trees for nesting;
- Ruppell's Parrot Project (Completed 2000): A network of birders living within the distributional
range of Cape Parrots that report all feeding and breeding activity noted in their local area; and
- Cape Parrot Project (Completed 2004): Pioneering work by Olaf Wirminghaus constituted the first
long-term research project on any African parrot, focusing on understanding the ecology of the little-known
and critically-endangered Cape Parrot. His work forms the benchmark for African parrot research and the
basis for the new Amathole Cape Parrot Project. Both the species and the Afromontane mixed Podocarpus
mistbelt forests of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are better off today due to the awareness created
around Olaf's work. The Cape Parrot Working Group was born out of his work under the supervision of Prof. Mike
Perrin.
|
