Page 160 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

most difficult South African islands on which to land from
the sea (Shelton et al. 1984, diary of DB Price).
In 16 years between 1871 and 1916, 586,860 African
Penguin eggs were collected at Vondeling Island (Makha-
do et al. 2024).
Cape Fur Seals re-colonized the island in the late 20th
century and by 2020, when > 22,000 pups were born at
the island, it had become the second largest seal colony
in South Africa (Seakamela et al. 2024).
Conservation status: The island is a nature reserve that
is administered by CapeNature and has restricted access.
Species and numbers breeding: Ten seabird species
have bred at Vondeling Island. Their numbers are given
on the following table applicable to this island. Numbers
of African Penguins decreased by c. 90% from > 1,000
A Cape Cormorant nesting at Jutten Island (photo PJM Crawford) pairs in 1976 to 115 pairs in 2022, numbers of Cape
In 1940, 3 metric tons of seabird guano were removed Cormorants from > 10,000 pairs in 1994 to just six pairs
from Meeuw and Schaapen islands (Tom et al. 2024). in 2018, numbers of Bank Cormorant from 65 pairs in 1994
Conservation status: The island falls within WCNP. to none in 2016, numbers of White-breasted Cormorant
Species and numbers breeding: Nine seabird species from nine pairs in 1996 to none in 1998 and numbers of
have bred at Schaapen Island. Their numbers are given Crowned Cormorants from 83 in 2005 to none in 2019.
on the following table applicable to this island. A few Bank Eight pairs of Great White Pelican nested at the island in
Cormorants were reported to have bred in 1949 and one 2001 and nine pairs did so in 2005. Maxima observed
pair did in 1998 but breeding by this species at Meeuw and for other species were 377 pairs of Kelp Gull, 350 pairs of
Schaapen islands is rare. Maxima for other species have Hartlaub’s Gull, 80 pairs of Greater Crested Tern and one
been 2,142 pairs of Cape Cormorant, 130 pairs of White- Caspian Tern pair. Factors influencing decreases of the
breasted Cormorant, 260 pairs of Crowned Cormorant, same species at Malgas Island likely operated at Vondeling
6,225 pairs of Kelp Gull, 1,641 pairs of Hartlaub’s Gull, one Island. More recently many seabirds have been displaced
pair of Grey-headed Gull, 3,246 pairs of Greater Crested by the growing seal herd, which now covers the entire
Tern and 20 pairs of Caspian Tern. island (Seakamela et al. 2024).
Klein Vondeling 16-mile Beach
Coordinates: 33.147 S; 17.992 E Coordinates: 33.167 S; 18.037 E
Description: A small islet close to the Langebaan Penin- Description: A sandy beach, 16-miles long that extends
sula that can sometimes be accessed by wading across southwards from a promontory opposite Vondeling Island
from the mainland.
Conservation status: It falls within WCNP.
Species and numbers breeding: Eight pairs of Crowned
Cormorant and 20 pairs of Kelp Gull nested at Klein Von-
deling in 2019 (L Upfold unpublished record).

Vondeling Island
Coordinates: 33.153 S; 17.984 E
Description: An island that is offshore of the Langebaan
Peninsula. It has an area of c. 21 ha, rises to about
9.5 m above sea level and is sparsely vegetated. A An aerial view of Klein Vondeling Island (photo BM Dyer)
high stone wall surrounds the centre of the island. It had
a jetty and accommodation for permanent staff (Rand
1963). The accommodation and jetty are now derelict and
were respectively used by White-breasted Cormorant and
Crowned Cormorant for nesting. Bank Cormorant nested
on rock pinnacles to the north, Cape Cormorant mainly
within the wall and African Penguin both inside and outside
of it. Four platforms for cormorants and c. 30 artificial nest
sites for penguins were placed ashore in 2016 to mitigate
partially loss of breeding space for seabirds.
Seabird guano was collected at Vondeling Island in
54 years between 1897 and 1969, the total quantity
removed from the island in this period being 3,918 metric
tons (Tom et al. 2024). Guano-collecting staff were
withdrawn from the island in 1963 and it is now one of the A photo of Vondeling Island (photo BM Dyer)

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