Page 240 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

Conservation status: The coast, dunefield and adjacent Species and numbers breeding:
vegetated dunes are included in the Coega Open Space
Management Plan that should protect the area from White-breasted Cormorant
development. The Addo Elephant National Park Marine
Protected Area, gazetted on 23 May 2019, covers much of Year No. of pairs
Algoa Bay east of the Port of Ngqura below the high-water 2000 c 5
mark. 2001 c 64
Species and numbers breeding:
2003 a 7
Damara Tern 2004 a 65
Year No. of pairs 2007 a 105
2013 a 1 2008 a 5
2014 a 0 2012 b 0
2015 a 9-10 2021 c 0
2016 a 3-6 2022 c 0
2017 a 1 a Crawford et al. (2009)
b Crawford et al. (2013)
2018 a 1
c Martin AP (unpubl.)
2019 a 0
2020 a 0 Grey-headed Gull
2021 a 3 Year No. of pairs
The year shown is that in which the split-year breeding 2000 a 2
season starts. 2001 a 3
Where a range is indicated:
Minimum= number pairs proven breeding (eggs/chicks), 2022 b 2
Maximum= number of pairs on breeding territory. a Crawford et al. (2009)
a Martin AP (unpubl.) b Martin AP (unpubl.)
Sundays River (Tankatara) saltpans Schelmhoek Dunefields
Coordinates: 33.71 S; 25.77 E Coordinates: 33.74 S; 25.80 E
Description: Commercial saltpans of regional (Eastern Description:The 1,000 ha Schelmhoek mobile dunefield
Cape) importance for waterbirds. They are located on the is located on the west bank of the Sundays River mouth
western side of the Sundays River estuary, inland of the opposite the village of Colchester. The nesting areas are
N2. Most nests were on dead bushes in or along the edge between the dunefield and Algoa Bay on a relatively flat
of some of the pans. sandy/gravel plain west of the Sundays River mouth.
Conservation status: The saltpans do not fall within a Conservation status: The Schelmhoek Dunefields are
Protected Area. The nearby Sundays River estuary is part not within a Protected Area. However, SANParks may
of the Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area like to include it in the adjacent Addo Elephant National
gazetted on 23 May 2019 that covers much of Algoa Bay Park. The adjacent Sundays River estuary and Algoa Bay
east of the Port of Ngqura below the high-water mark. The below the high-water mark are part of the Addo Elephant
southern section of Addo Elephant National Park is on the National Park Marine Protected Area gazetted on 23 May
east bank of the Sundays River estuary. 2019.
Species and numbers breeding:

Kelp Gull

Year No. of pairs
2018 a 1
2019 a 2
2020 a 2
2021 a 1
a Martin AP (unpubl.)

Damara Tern
Year No. of pairs

2011 1 a
A view of the dunefields east of the Coega River estuary, 2019
(photo RJM Crawford) 2012 0 a

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