Gauteng Smallholder Gauteng Smallholder August 2017 | Page 13

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NEWS
invasive, for which a
permit is required to
carry out a restricted
activity.
According to
www.invasives.org.-
za, they “cause
considerable
agricultural damage.
They can compete
for nest sites with
native cavity nesters,
and may carry
diseases that could
be harmful to poultry,
native fauna and
humans.”
However, according Rose-ringed parakeet
to Dr Craig Symes of
this parrot.
Wits University, there are
All twitchers, citizen scientists,
conflicting views on the role
outdoor enthusiasts or
of invasive species and the
smallholders are invited to
impacts they have on
assist with and collaborate on
indigenous fauna.
the project by submitting
Man has had such a notice-
sightings of these parakeets to
able effect on the environ-
the project database. The
ment and the avian commu-
researchers particularly need
nity of urban Gauteng is
information on the exact
already vastly different to
location of permanent
what it was 100 years ago.
roosting and breeding sites as
An environment that was
well as the number of
once largely grassland has
parakeets seen.
now been transformed to
If you have seen a flock of
what many regard as an urban these birds you can submit
forest.
your details via a Google data
In a paper entitled Founder
form, to be found at
populations and the current
http://goo.gl/forms/7c9RI56yH
status of exotic parrots in
U. You can also submit your
South Africa he even goes so
sighting on your Apple or
far as to state that “a recent
Android device using the
review suggests that globally
BirdLasser App.
there is little evidence that
The rose-ringed parakeets are
introduced birds are a major
not to be confused with the
threat to avian biodiversity.”
Rosy-faced Lovebird, which is
Researchers from the
also an alien escapee that can
University of the
be seen in flocks in various
Witwatersrand set up the
parts of Gauteng. They are
Rose-ringed Parakeet Project, mostly green with a blue
in order to locate parakeet
rump, but the face and throat
roosting/breeding sites and to are pink, darkest on the
investigate the size and
forehead and above the eye.
distribution range of the rose- The bill is horn coloured, the
ringed parakeet population in iris is brown and the legs and
South Africa.
feet are grey.
This will improve our
understanding of the ecology
and behaviour of the species
in South African urban
environments and ensure that
informed decisions are made
by policy makers regarding
the status and management of facebook.com/gautengsmallholder
11
www.sasmallholder.co.za