SANParks.org Forums

Tsitsikamma, February 2006

They are often seen at the Boulders penguin colony in TMNP.

Since the ban on vehicles on beaches, they have become as common as ditchwater in front of our house.

The problem with vehicles on beaches vs BOCs was that the BOCs nest and lay their eggs in the debris at the high level mark and of course this was always in the target zone of beach vehicles, so eggs/chicks would be crushed.

The other danger is dogs not on leashes on the beaches (sorry dog lovers - your loving pets are a major danger to BOCs).

They are often seen on the beaches between Knysna and Buffalo bay.... In fact, it's guaranteed.

Tsaarsbank, WCNP, 9 April 2006

The numbers are increasing nicely now.

yeah it's kinda a happy and sad story, we used to have a breeding pair on both the beaches here, but unfortunately people insist on letting their dogs run around , but at the same time, the beaches where dogs have to be on leashes round here have seen a lovely increase in the jet black birds

_____________________________________
African Black Oystercatcher
Haemapotus moquini

Easy to identify - all-black with a red beak, legs and eyes.

Size: 44 cm.
Sexes: Alike.
Juvenile and Immature birds: Duller, have orange bills with brown tips. Legs are greyish/pinkish.
Habitat: Coastal.
Call: 'Klee-kleeep', fast 'peeka-peeka-peeka' and rapid trilling.

Source: Birds of Southern Africa - Ian Sinclair & Phil Hockey

Saw two this morning on my way to work driving down Beach Rd in Strand.

There are quite a number of them in our area and TG and I found a group of 23 while visiting a local birding spot a couple of months ago.

Abit of folklore about this bird:

My uncle calls them Tobies. They are deemed to be the most stupid of any of the ocean birds. You'll always see them accompanied by Kelp Gulls, for one reason: their eggs are laid in the open with no protection at all. The Gulls wait for them to get up, grabs an egg, cracks it open with its beak or a stone. It's also the coastal weatherman. A day or two before bad weather sets in the entire flock will start calling constantly. Sure sign they say that the weather is turning bad.

Interesting, GP.

I saw no less than 18 of these birds in Groot Brak river two months ago. Which to me is excellent news!

Saw 4 on Sunday.

You'll like this news then WTM We were in Blue Horizon Bay, 5km from the Van Stadens River Mouth. I counted 30 in one go on the beach in front of the place we were staying at.

Indeed awesome news!

Just another success story for proper conservation.

The nest, keep your eyes open when strolling on the beach!

De Kelders, Gansbaai. April 2009.