Bird Island, located off the coast of South Africa, is a remarkable destination renowned for its rich history and diverse wildlife. This small island serves as a crucial habitat for numerous seabirds and marine species, making it a significant ecological site. Let's delve into the captivating story of Bird Island and its natural wonders.
A colony of Cape Gannets on Bird Island.
Historical Overview
Bartholomeu Diaz holds the distinction of being the first European to sail into Algoa Bay in 1488 during his expedition to discover a new sea route to the east. Upon landing on an island, his crew erected a wooden cross, naming it Ilheu da Cruz, which is now known as St Croix. To commemorate the 500th anniversary of his voyage, a replica of the cross was erected in 1988. Diaz also named Bird Island Ilhas Chaos, which translates to "flat or level ground" in Portuguese.
The first recorded shipwreck near Bird Island occurred in 1755 when the Doddington met its fate. Out of a crew of 270, only 23 individuals managed to reach the island and survived for seven months by consuming eggs, birds, and salvaged items. They eventually constructed a boat and sailed to Delagoa Bay in Mozambique. Since then, approximately 22 more ships have been wrecked on the low-lying islands.
Since the arrival of the 1820 British Settlers the natural resources of the bay and islands have been ruthlessly exploited.
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A Sanctuary for Seabirds
The Bird Island group (Bird, Seal, Stag, & Black Rock) are situated at the north eastern end of Algoa Bay close to Woody Cape. These islands are the only important seabird islands along a 1800 km stretch of coastline between Dyer Island near Hermanus in the Western Cape Province and Inhaca Island in Mozambique. The two island groups are now the key components in the marine section of the Greater Addo Elephant National Park (AENP).
The islands are also classified as Important Bird Areas and with good reason. These islands (including St Croix islands also in Algoa Bay) are classed as Important Bird Areas, because they regularly hold significant numbers of globally threatened bird species as well as holding large concentrations of seabirds (Barnes 1998).
Bird Island forms part of SANParks’ Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area (MPA) and has been protected since 2005. It is arguably the most heavily populated piece of National Parks’ estate - housing some 202 000 seabirds, and a few humans, on a mere 19 hectares. The absence of terrestrial predators on the island enables successful breeding of gannets, penguins and other ground-nesting seabirds.
An African Penguin, one of the many species that call Bird Island home.
Besides the penguins there are many other creatures. There are 200 000 Cape gannets on Bird Island making this the largest gannetry on the planet. The global Cape Gannet population decreased some 50% between 1956 and 1980. The collapse was attributed to the fall in pilchard Sardinops sagax stocks, the gannet’s primary food source.
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Historically seals bred on St Croix and Bird Islands but were exterminated by sealers. A population of 6000 now occurs on the nearly inaccessible Black Rocks near Bird Island. This is also a good place to see the seals’ predator, the Great White shark.
There is a healthy breeding population of African black oystercatchers on St Croix. Albatrosses are winter visitors to our bay. Most commonly observed are Indian Yellow-nosed, Shy and Black-browed. White-breasted cormorants nest along the ridge on the summit of St Croix, Jahleel and Seal Islands. Cape cormorants nest on St Croix’s northern cliff face. Roseate terns breed on St Croix as well as Bird Island. Kelp gulls breed on St Croix, Jahleel, Bird and Seal Islands.
Cetaceans of Algoa Bay
Numerous species of cetaceans also inhabit the bay at various times. Southern Right whales migrate to the warmer waters of Algoa Bay in order to mate and give birth. The earliest they enter is July and the latest they leave is November. Humpback whales pass us in early June on their way to their calving and mating grounds off East Africa. They swim back past with their newly born calves between November and early January.
Bryde’s whales are the only baleen whales that spend most or even all of their time in warm water as their food source is available throughout the year. Indo-Pacific and common bottlenose dolphins, long-beaked common dolphins and humpback dolphins are present throughout most of the year. Sperm whales occur at the edge of the continental shelf which extends about 50km out to sea from the shores of Algoa Bay.
The islands form ecological distinct subtidal habitats, containing many endemic species of invertebrates, seaweeds and fish, such as santer and red roman. Bird Island is also of particular importance to the threatened abalone. During 2006 Bird Island MPA was declared a no-diving zone, to control abalone poaching activities.
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Bird Island is a 3 hectare (7.4 acre) Nature Reserve island found 100 meters off the shore of Lambert’s Bay on the Cape’s West Coast. A concrete causeway that forms the fishing harbour has linked the island to the mainland since 1959. Rising to only 7.6 m a.s.l., the island is rocky and virtually devoid of vegetation.
Visiting Bird Island
Going on a boat cruise is the only way of really appreciating these islands, since they’re not places that tourists can land and explore.
What to Do
As the only accessible spot in the world to see Cape gannets breed, Bird Island is a bird-watcher’s paradise. The island’s hide is perfectly situated to observe their activities first-hand and learn more about their breeding habits. Other birds include the Cape cormorant and the kelp gull.
The Walkthrough Museum provides you with the opportunity to explore a variety of sea mammals and sea bird skeletons such as the Cuvier’s beaked whale, Cape fur seal, Cape gannet, Dusky Dolphin, etc. Polly the life size Southern right whale Take a scenic drive along the West Coast on your way to Bird Island. On the way you may see these majestic creatures close to the shore, as southern right whales enjoy the warm water after migrating from icy Antarctica. Whale season is from June to November.
Bird Island Nature Reserve Filming Bird Island is roughly three hectares in size and connected to the mainland of Lambert’s Bay by a breakwater. It is one of just six breeding colonies of Cape gannets on Earth and is also an important nesting and roosting site for a variety of other seabirds. Situated on the Atlantic coast about 150 km north of Cape Town, this small island lies in Lambert’s Bay harbour extremely close to shore.
Run by Cape Nature, Bird Island Nature Reserve off the shores of Lambert's Bay is one of only six breeding colonies of the enchanting Cape gannet. The island acts as a research center that also allows for public visits. Visitors are free to walk around the three-hectare island and visit the gannet hide. Depending on the time of year, nesting gannets or furry chicks can also be seen. Regardless of the season, watching these large and attractive birds come and go from the sea to the colony is a fascinating experience. The island, reached by a breakwater from the mainland, is also home to plenty of Cape cormorants and Kelp gulls. Also present are other species of cormorants and terns.
Facilities
The island, which is almost three hectares in size, is connected to the mainland via a breakwater. It is an important breeding and roosting site for seabirds, particularly Cape gannets and cormorants. Cape fur seals can be seen sunning themselves on the island’s rocks.
In the island’s well-situated gannet lookout, visitors can get close to the birds and witness their unique mating dances. The bird hide is signposted with interesting information about these seabirds and their habits.
The lookout provides an excellent vantage point for visitors to study the island’s gannets. There are signs across the island providing background information on the West Coast’s birds.
Visitors should cross the breakwater carefully. Entrance is prohibited if rough seas make it too dangerous to cross the breakwater.
How to Get There
If travelling from Cape Town, take the N7 towards Clanwilliam. On the approach to Clanwilliam, take the R364 Graafwater/Lambert's Bay road to the coast. Once in Lambert's Bay, follow the signs to the harbour and Bird Island.
Conservation Efforts
Historically, Bird Island was dominated by African Penguin Spheniscus demersus and was devoid of breeding Cape Gannet Morus capensis. It would appear that the gannets first colonised the island in 1912; today it is one of only six localities where they breed. The Cape Gannets form a single undivided colony in the centre of the island.
Declining fish stocks in the seas around Bird Island represent a major threat to the bird populations. The collapse of African Penguin and other seabird breeding colonies on South Africa’s west coast has been attributed to competition with commercial fisheries. This threat may continue to have a negative impact on the gannet and cormorant populations in the future.
In addition to being affected by overfishing, Cape Gannet and African Penguin are susceptible to human disturbance. In the past, visitors to Bird Island disturbed birds at the edge of the colony and caused chicks to desert their nests. The area open to the public was fenced in 1974 and a high-tech viewing facility erected in 1998 has recently been upgraded by CapeNature.
Although it is thought that the causeway built from the mainland has had little effect on the island’s biota, several alien species have colonised the island. The house rat Rattus rattus has been present since 1966 and is thought to prey on Cape Cormorant eggs and scavenge nestlings and adults. An additional threat comes from Cape fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus, which kill Cape Gannet fledglings. This activity is mostly restricted to young, rogue male seals. The mortality rate for the gannets from this aberrant behaviour is between 11 and 15% of the population. A similar issue affects birds at Dyer Island (SA120), where the mortality rate is estimated to be higher.
Large sea swells have been known to occasionally wash birds and/or nests off the island. This is not a regular occurrence and does not represent a major threat to the bird colonies. Chronic pollution is a threat that is both unpredictable and difficult to control. It occurs when tankers break open, wash their tanks, dump cargo or pump bilge, resulting in the spillage of crude oil or other pollutants into the ocean.
Bird Island has been declared a CapeNature nature reserve and proclaimed as such under the NEM:PAA. Their actions include the culling of rogue Cape fur seals and Kelp Gulls identified as individuals that prey on the birds. The culling is conducted in partnership with DEA: Oceans and Coasts Division and the low level required does not impact on the Cape fur seal population. These activities are part of the comprehensive Protected Area Management Plan developed by CapeNature for all its nature reserves.
In November, SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) admitted over 200 Penguin chicks and has continued to rehabilitate and release penguins. We have received word from the Cape Town facility that some African Penguins tested positive for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), there is no cure for the Avian Influenza. Unfortunately, the three penguins that tested positive were humanely euthanized. SANCCOB has been placed under quarantine until further notice in effort to minimize the spread of the virus within the facility. SANCCOB continues to accept abandoned penguins at their off-site quarantine facility. All birds cared for at SANCCOB are being closely observed and monitored for signs of HPAI. The situation has called for additional pathology testing which can cost $60 USD/ 58 EUR/ 1,000 ZAR per bird. Your support of the Chick Bolstering Project is needed now more than ever.
The Secret Lives of Birds and Their Aerial Feats | Full Documentary
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