Tagging the Sunbirds

Photos and text by Muneeba Lamera

   Small nectar feeding birds such as our local sunbird species rely on regular supplies of nectar, and in turn are important pollinators of many fynbos species. They are threatened by urban development which eradicates their fynbos feeding stations. The restoration of fynbos at Princess Vlei, and in surrounding schools is helping to sustain these jewels of the bird kingdom.
  Since 2013, the Ingcungcu Sunbird Restoration Project has been developing nectar-rich gardens at several schools across the highly urbanised Cape Flats to provide important bird pollinators, particularly sunbirds, with a source of nourishment. According to monthly bird surveys carried out at the schools, sunbird presence has increased significantly after the establishment of these gardens. However, the question arises whether a sunbird seen at one school is the same individual seen at the other schools or in the surrounding nature reserves. Are these gardens acting as stepping stones which help these birds move not only within the urban area, but to the surrounding natural areas where many threatened plant species depend on their pollination for their survival?
   Muneeba Lamera is a Masters in Conservation Science student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology supervised by Prof Sjirk Geerts and Dr Colleen Seymour and funded by the Joan Wrench Kirstenbosch Scholarship and South African Association of Botanists. Earlier this year, she began a two year study to investigate how help understand the movement of sunbirds through these spaces,  ringing sunbirds at Princess Vlei and from surrounding areas.
  

    Under the supervision of licensed bird ringer, Dr Dieter Oschadleus, Muneeba’s team captured nectar-feeding birds at the schools and protected areas, including Princess Vlei, using standard bird ringing techniques (i.e., capturing with mistnets). They then placed a PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tag leg band on one of their legs to provide the bird a unique signal and identification code via a microchip. Bird tracking stations linked to a sugar-water feeder were then placed at each of their sites, recording all visitation from the tagged birds. From this data, they will have an idea of how individuals move between natural and urban areas, and whether these gardens are successful in helping our important pollinators.
    While at Princess Vlei, Muneeba and her team tagged 5 Cape bulbuls, and 4 Cape white-eyes at PVlei during our 3 ringing sessions. But additional birds caught were ringed caught, such as a Cape Spur fowl ( Cape Francolin) and Levaillaint's Cisticola. This also provides valuable data for the monitoring of biodiversity at Princess Vlei.