BirdLife Overberg has received several reports over the years of immature Cape Cormorants landing up on beaches or in gardens along the Overstrand coastline and being unable to fly.
Dr Anton Odendal reports that in recent weeks there has been an increase in such reports, particularly during spells of bad weather.
“We received several calls about this from concerned members of the public and BirdLife Overberg club members and therefore decided to investigate this matter further,” he stated.
Odendal contacted a vet at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), who informed him this phenomenon occurred all along South Africa’s coastline.
“At the moment here are more than 100 of these birds being treated at SANCCOB, all having been collected along the Cape Peninsula. These juvenile birds are emaciated due to being underfed, become disorientated and try to reach land in order to survive as they are too tired to fly or swim.”
These stranded juvenile birds reportedly lose fat and muscle content and eventually die of organ failure.
Said Odendal: “This is an endangered species and it is therefore attempted to treat them with the view of releasing them back into the wild. They are initially given fluid therapy and are later gradually fed fish.
“Unfortunately only a 20% success rate is being reported, but still treatment is continued due to the bird’s conservation status.”
So what should be done if such birds are found? It should be placed in a cardboard box and kept as quiet as possible. Use gloves to do so. Report such birds to SANCCOB at 021 557 6155 or 078 638 638 3731, giving your name and contact number, photo of bird (if possible) and the location. SANCCOB will then contact the rangers at Stony Point to try and arrange to get the bird(s) transported to its base in Milnerton.
Alternative arrangements for residents of Hermanus, Gansbaai, Pearly Beach, and further afield is to drop the birds off at the African Penguin and Seabirds Sanctuary (APSS) in Kleinbaai. It will take the birds in but cannot collect them.
APPS can be contacted on 072 598 7117.
