Page 248 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

1980s may have resulted from movement of birds from
Redhouse Saltworks on the adjacent mainland following
human harassment of cormorants there (Crawford et al.
2009). Kelp Gulls were extirpated from St Croix Island to
minimise their impact on penguin breeding (BMD pers.
obs.). Leach’s Storm Petrels were seasonal visitors to St
Croix Island (Randall and Randall 1986) and may have
bred there (Underhill et al. 2002).

Seal Island, Algoa Bay
Coordinates: 33.833 S; 26.276 E
Description: A low-lying, rocky island with boulders
around its edge, which together with Stag Island forms part
of a reef to the north of Bird Island. It has an area of c. 0.6
ha and has sparse vegetation with some thickets (Rand Seal Island, Algoa Bay (photo BM Dyer)
1963). Numbers breeding: The maximum numbers (pairs) of
Conservation status: It falls within GAENP and has re- seabirds breeding annually at Seal Island, Algoa Bay,
stricted access. 1945–2022.
Species breeding: African Penguin, Cape Cormorant,
White-breasted Cormorant, Kelp Gull, Greater Crested Kelp Greater Caspian
Tern, Caspian Tern, Roseate Tern. Year Gull Crested Tern Tern
White- 1945 200
African Cape
Year breasted 1956
Penguin Cormorant
Cormorant 1958
1945 100 1977 300
1956 100 1979 1
1958 100 1981
1977 102 44 24 1983
1979 26 59 1984 0
1981 20 1985 > 38
1983 √ 21 1986 248
1984 1990
1985 √ 1992 101
1986 √ 2 1993
1990 510 121 1999 222
1992 372 25 18 2000 668
1993 375 2001 660
1999 316 30 2003 46
2000 433 0 2004 47
2001 345 2005 138
2003 12 2006
2004 295 41 22 2007 0
2005 319 46 77 2008 0
2006 237 0 58 2009 140 300
2007 87 23 23 2010 137 0
2008 95 92 59 2011 0
2009 137 53 53 2012 0 0
2010 116 30 2013 106 326 0
2011 0 28 2014 76 350 0
2012 78 0 39 2015 95 491 0
2013 174 86 4 2016 61 500 0
2014 124 100 18 2017 50 50 0
2015 187 387 39 2018 18 0 0
2016 122 376 60 2019 c. 500 0
2017 239 201 20 2021
2018 174 115 18 2022
2019 95 12 Notes: Maxima have been 510 pairs of African Penguin
2021 83 in 1990 (which decreased to 74 pairs in 2022), 387 pairs
2022 74 of Cape Cormorant (2015), 77 pairs of White-breasted

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