GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — During 2010 the Honorary Rangers of the Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP) reintroduced Red-billed Oxpeckers to the park.
The project was successful with many juveniles noted and regular reports of oxpeckers from farmers in the area.
Red-billed Oxpeckers feed on ticks and blood-sucking flies and can be spotted on game such as zebras, buffalo, kudu as well as domestic animals like cattle and horses.
They are highly sensitive to organophosphates. Products that contain organophosphates should thus be avoided in areas that are inhabited by Oxpeckers.
Red-billed Oxpeckers have recently been seen by various bird watchers and farmers in the Graaff-Reinet area - these birds might be from the MZNP core group.
The Mountain Zebra Camdeboo Protected Environment (MZCPE) Project together with Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and others interested have decided to re-look at what is happening with Red-billed Oxpeckers in this (Cradock, Graaff-Reinet and surrounding towns) area.
The MZCPE Oxpecker project is going to focus on the following (for now):
1. Monitoring / Sightings of Birds
2. Awareness and Information
3. Re-investigate the possibility of a similar reintroduction of Oxpeckers in the Graaff Reinet side of the MZCPE
For more information on Oxpecker friendly products or to report sightings of Oxpeckers, please contact Maryke Stern at Maryke.stern@sanparks.org or WhatsApp 0833 363 066.
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