Page 95 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

Historical deposits of seabird guano were stripped from Species and numbers breeding: Species known to have
the island by many ships in the 1840s (Hutchinson 1950). bred at the island and estimates of numbers breeding are
Seabird guano was collected in 99 years between 1986 shown on Table 1.
and 2016, the total quantity removed from the island in this Notes: Penguins and gannets were present at Ichaboe
period being 181,306 metric tons (Tom et al. 2024). Island in the 1800s (Crawford et al. 1983, Shelton et al.
There was substantial competition between seabirds 1984).
for breeding space at the island (Crawford 1991). Since the An Australasian Gannet (M. serrator) was banded at
1960s there were large decreases in numbers of African Ichaboe Island in November 2003 (Dyer 1995).
Penguins and Cape Gannets breeding at the island, which African Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)
may have been influenced by food scarcity following the breeds at Ichaboe Island. Numbers of pairs nesting
collapse of Namibia’s sardine (Sardinops sagax) resource between 1998 and 2022 are shown on the table applicable
(Crawford and Shelton 1978, Crawford 2007). Numbers of to the island (MFMR unpublished data).
Bank Cormorants increased in the late 20 century, perhaps
th
as a result of increases in the availability of breeding space Little Ichaboe
and of bearded goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus), on which Coordinates: 26.290 S; 14.934 E
they feed (Crawford et al. 1985), but decreased severely in Description: A small islet off the southwest of Ichaboe
the present century. Island.
Conservation status: It falls within NIMPA and has Conservation status: It falls within NIMPA and has
restricted access (Currie et al. 2009). restricted access (Currie et al. 2009).

Table 2: Estimated numbers (pairs) of different seabirds breeding at Seal Island, 1828–2022

African Cape Bank White- Crowned Kelp Hartlaub’s Greater
Year breasted Crested
Penguin Cormorant Cormorant Cormorant Cormorant Gull Gull Tern
1828
1885 √
1974 1028 5
1975 15
1976 24
1977 2
1978 21457 56 40
1979 3071 79
1980 50 48
1981 2200
1983 97
1985 330 17 28 13 881
1986 3653 0 64 290
1987 43 709
1988 0 1 864
1989 0 72
1990 0
1991 0 48
1992 1503 0
1993 310 0 75 632
1995 0 0 6 379
1996 16
1997 50
1999 118
2001 58 504
2003 76
2004 9 110
2005 3 32
2006 208
2010 18
2019 1
2022 0 66 186

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