Page 274 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

1980 f 150 Selley’s Lakes
Coordinates: 27.90 S; 32.53 E
1981 c 50 Description: Two shallow lakes that are linked by a
1994 60 channel. Parts of the shore are protected from land
predators by an extensive wetland and reed beds. Most
1995 c 50
breeding by Great White Pelicans has taken place at
1996 √ the constriction where the channel links the two lakes.
1998 c 60 Species and numbers breeding:
1999 c 18 Great White Pelican
2014 ? Year No. of pairs
2020 ? 1961 a ?
a Berruti (1980) 1962 a √
b Bowker and Downs (2008a) 1963 a 500
c Bowker and Downs (2012) a
d Crawford et al. (2013) 1964 600
e Brooke et al. (1999) 1965 a 500
f Cooper et al. (1992) 1966 a 1500
Other records EKZN Wildlife (unpubl.) a
North Island 1968 1500
Coordinates: 27.93 S; 32.51 E 1969 a 1100
Description: Formerly a sandy island covered by a layer of 1970 a 1350
short vegetation. It no longer exists as it has eroded away. a
Species and numbers breeding: 1971 1000
Grey-headed Gull 1972 a 1750
Year No. of pairs 1973 a 1100
1974 a 1750
1967 √
1975 a 1500
Berruti (1980)
1976 a 1750
Caspian Pan 1977 a 1750
Coordinates: 27.52 S; 32.41 E b
Description: An ephemeral pan only flooded at high lake 1978 2000
water levels. Its western margin is raised by wind and wave 1979 b 100
accumulations of sediment and is covered by a short saline 1981 b 0
grassland. It is thought Caspian Terns used this ridge for
breeding. The site is on the Nibela Peninsula so may be 1985 b 625
subject to human and cattle disturbances. At low lake 1987 b 305
levels the pan dries completely. It is first covered with b
succulent saltmarsh plants which, after an extended dry 1988 150
period, die-out leaving bare sun-baked mud. 1989 b 1000
Species and numbers breeding: 1990 b 1000
Caspian Tern
1991 b 0
Year No. of pairs 1992 b 1500
1981 75 1993 b 1500
Bowker and Downs (2012) 1994 b 300
1996 b 1206
1998 b 2668
1999 b 1300
2000 b 850
2001 b 200
2003 b 456
2004 b 750
2014 √
2017 √
Great White Pelicans breeding at Selley’s Lakes, September 2014
(photo MB Bowker) 2020 ?

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