By Alana Bailey

The Cape parrot (Poicephalus robustus) is the only endemic parrot species in South Africa. The birds are identified by their red shoulder feathers. The rest of their bodies are covered in green and brown feathers. They are found in the montane forests in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. Cape parrots are also the largest parrot species in Southern Africa, and were named as South Africa’s bird of the year.

There are only about 1 800 of them left in the wild. A conservation group, Cape Parrot Project, is currently undertaking actions in the vicinity of Hogsback in the Eastern Cape to ensure the survival of the unique birds.

The birds prefer to nest in yellowwood trees and because the trees have been cut down on a large scale over the years for, among other things, the furniture industry, the birds’ numbers have decreased dramatically.

Cape Parrot Project is now undertaking a project with the local population of Hogsback to help both people and birds. The community is taught more about the parrots, they are paid to set up nest boxes and they are also given tree seeds to grow seedlings. The seedlings are then bought back from the community as soon as the plants are large enough to be planted. In the process, the community also learns about plant conservation and nutrition ‒ knowledge that they can use for their own crops. Furthermore, they are helped to buy, among other things, water tanks and school shoes for their children. Both the community and the parrots therefore benefit from the project!

Cape parrots are social and are usually found in flocks of roughly twelve birds. They can fly up to 100 kilometres a day to find food. They live on fruit and nectar. The breeding season is from September to December and also in May. Two to four eggs are laid at a time and both parents take care of the eggs and chicks.

Because they have managed to survive over the centuries despite the deforestation of their habitat, Cape parrots are considered to be a symbol of resilience.