Page 153 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

African Penguin Cape Gannet Cape Cormorant Bank Cormorant White- breasted Cormorant Crowned Cormorant Kelp Gull Hartlaub’s Gull headed Gull Crested Tern Caspian Tern
Year Grey- Greater

1993 70 33000 5481 101 0 85 42 33 0
1994 80 49060 50 72 0 125 61 20 0
1995 74 51170 1678 56 0 136 63 16 0
1996 71 57570 849 30 0 97 79 75 0
1997 43 51490 3025 32 0 130 59 64 1465
1998 61 52040 725 28 0 92 99 16 2
1999 67 2608 23 0 114 84 28 0
2000 48 49070 473 24 0 100 114 0 0
2001 55 49710 3932 29 0 117 71 8 0
2002 58 505 28 0 105 78 0 0
2003 43 31070 1181 24 0 103 125 185 0
2004 28 780 21 0 81 109 216 0
2005 26 36156 2559 11 0 128 101 1357 0
2006 11 29870 2258 8 0 106 156 17 261
2007 8 31810 603 6 0 56 126 11 0
2008 12 37550 312 11 0 85 133 8 0
2009 20 33150 296 11 0 120 144 228 0
2010 17 918 8 0 141 106 346 0
2011 42 30500 461 10 0 129 213 129 1 6
2012 40 29870 1914 9 0 162 83 379 1 1136
2013 21 18580 616 12 0 100 118 150 0 77
2014 30 16980 1844 11 0 68 83 124 0 203
2015 21 30220 1029 7 0 46 87 15 0 0
2016 17 30990 4509 7 0 67 90 301 0 911
2017 16 23750 1524 5 0 57 126 97 0 3
2018 5 20300 26 9 0 75 113 20 0 2130 1
2019 6 2089 5 0 57 129 21 0 1 1
2020 3 1658 5 0 44 130 0 0
2021 3 6 0
2022 2

Marcus Island
Coordinates: 33.044 S; 17.969 E six of the 58 pairs observed bred on the causeway on
Description: An island that was joined to the mainland at the Saldanha side of the gate.
Hoedjies Point in 1976 by a causeway to give increased Seabird guano was collected at Marcus Island in
protection to Saldanha Harbour (Shelton et al. 1984). It 65 years between 1897 and 1972, the total quantity
has an area of c. 11 ha and rises to about 7 m above sea removed from the island in this period being 4,292 metric
level (Rand 1963). It has a lighthouse and derelict build- tons (Tom et al. 2024).
ings that were formerly used to quarter staff and conduct In 13 years between 1871 and 1941, 293,230 African
research, one of which was named Bob Rand House after Penguin eggs were collected at Marcus Island (Makhado
former seabird and seal researcher Dr RW Rand. A wall et al. 2024).
and a wooden gate (later replaced by a more effective Conservation status: The island is within WCNP.
metal gate) were erected at the junction to the causeway Species and numbers breeding: Ten seabird species
in an effort to preclude access to the island by humans have bred at Marcus Island. Their numbers are given on
and native and feral animals that may disturb or prey on the following table applicable to this island. Recent surveys
seabirds. However, mammals as large as Cape Grysbok showed that none of these species bred at the island since
(Raphicerus melanotis), including Caracal (Caracal cara- 2018, so that the colonies of all ten may be presumed ex-
cal), Bat-eared Fox (Otocyon megalotis), Small-spotted tinct. The last recorded breeding by Caspian Tern was in
Genet (Genetta genetta), Yellow Mongoose (Cynictis peni- 1973, Grey-headed Gull in 1977, Cape Cormorant in 1980,
cillata), Cape Grey Mongoose (Galerella pulverulenta) and White-breasted Cormorant in 1985, Kelp Gull in 1992,
feral dogs and cats, gained access to the island. Concrete Hartlaub’s Gull and Greater Crested Tern in 2005, Crowned
culverts were placed at the island in an attempt to improve Cormorant in 2012, and African Penguin and Bank
nesting habitat for African Penguins, which also bred un- Cormorant in 2018. Except for Caspian Tern, all these
der boulders and bushes. A clump of boulders adjacent to cessations of breeding took place after the island was
the wall bordering the causeway was used for breeding by joined to the mainland. However, there was a prior large
Bank Cormorants. Kelp Gulls bred at the island. In 1979, decrease in African Penguins. As for Malgas Island a

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