Cape Parrot Project

Cape Parrot Project To conserve the endangered and endemic Cape Parrot through conservation research, habitat restoration and community involvement.

The Wild Bird Trusts Cape Parrot Project is a registered non-profit, public benefit environmental organization. Our aim is to conserve the endangered and endemic Cape Parrot through conservation research, habitat restoration and community involvement. For more information please visit www.wildbirdtrust.com/cape-parrot-project/. The purpose of the Facebook Group is to provide an opportunity to peop

le to report any Cape Parrots in distress, interesting sightings, post photos and more importantly, to discuss issues relating to the conservation of this critically endangered Parrot in South Africa.

Here's what our Limpopo team has been up to lately. ⏱️ We spent 28 hours monitoring Cape Parrots across observation site...
22/06/2026

Here's what our Limpopo team has been up to lately.

⏱️ We spent 28 hours monitoring Cape Parrots across observation sites. We recorded 82 individuals in May.

🦜 Overall Cape Parrot activity declined as the breeding season began to peak and large flocks broke into pairs and smaller groups. Activity in the lowlands decreased, while the forests and highlands remained consistent with previous months.

🌰 Fewer Cape Parrots were observed in the lowlands during May, despite the peak pecan season. Parrots spent less time at feeding sites, with observations dropping from more than 140 in April to fewer than 20 in May.

🌳 We've seen several breeding pairs investigating nest sites in the forest.

🌰 Although fewer Cape Parrots visited the orchards, they continued returning to the same feeding trees despite an abundance of ripe pecans across the farms.

🌳 Our Cape Parrot Forest Monitoring Programme launched in Limpopo. We've started surveying priority forests to better understand and protect Cape Parrot habitat.

🌿 We joined 16 students and staff from Stanford Lake College for a river clean-up. We collected a total of 11 bags of litter.

🩺 Scotini remains in rehabilitation as he continues to recover from his wing injury. He recently underwent another procedure and has returned to his flight enclosure for the next stage of his recovery.

🪺 We're monitoring breeding activity at nine Cape Parrot nest sites, including a newly discovered nest. Two pairs are now confirmed to be incubating.

Your support helps make this work possible. To learn more, visit www.wildbirdtrust.com


📷 Otto Makola

Cape Parrots are dietary specialists. They have a preference for indigenous foods like yellowwoods, yet they regularly l...
19/06/2026

Cape Parrots are dietary specialists. They have a preference for indigenous foods like yellowwoods, yet they regularly leave the forest to feed on pecans. They can travel up to 60 km to reach orchards, even when indigenous food is available.

We're still trying to understand why. Research suggests that parrots gather when pecans have their highest fat content, and we're comparing the nutritional properties of pecans and yellowwoods to better understand what drives this behaviour.

These seasonal gatherings can increase the risk of disease transmission, but they also give us an opportunity to monitor populations through flock photography, helping us track age structure, breeding success, and signs of illness.

South Africa's pecan industry is growing, and understanding this relationship is becoming increasingly important. Pecans may provide a useful food source, but healthy indigenous forests remain essential for the long-term survival of the Cape Parrot.


📷 Dr Francis Brooke

Activity in the pecan orchard we monitor in the Eastern Cape remains high, with 324 Cape Parrots recorded during a singl...
17/06/2026

Activity in the pecan orchard we monitor in the Eastern Cape remains high, with 324 Cape Parrots recorded during a single count. These large gatherings have allowed our team to continue flock photography, which helps us monitor the population.

So far, we've seen very few birds showing severe signs of Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD), although a formal analysis is still needed to confirm this.

📷 Obakeng P**e

We spotted this Chacma baboon enjoying the winter sun on a chilly Hogsback morning during Cape Parrot observations. ☀️📷 ...
15/06/2026

We spotted this Chacma baboon enjoying the winter sun on a chilly Hogsback morning during Cape Parrot observations. ☀️

📷 Dr Francis Brooke

The Cape Parrot Project (CPP) is a focused conservation non‑profit working across the Cape Parrot’s range, with its main...
12/06/2026

The Cape Parrot Project (CPP) is a focused conservation non‑profit working across the Cape Parrot’s range, with its main base in Hogsback, Eastern Cape. As part of the Wild Bird Trust, we use the endangered, endemic Cape Parrot as a flagship for protecting South Africa’s small forest biome.

Our work spans species research, education, outreach, and a Landscape Conservation Programme integrating forest protection, restoration, and long‑term monitoring.

We’re looking for a scientist who can apply ecological expertise in a real‑world landscape.

Requirements include:
🌿 PhD in ecology or related field, with a minimum of 2 years of hands‑on experience in restoration and vegetation monitoring
🌿 GIS and remote‑sensing expertise
🌿 Leadership ability, with a small team reporting to this role
🌿 Valid driver’s licence with 2+ years’ driving experience
🌿 Willingness to live in an isolated rural community and work in challenging field conditions
🌿 Eligibility to work in South Africa (no work permits available)
🌿 English and isiXhosa communication skills preferred
🌿 Commitment to implementing the Cape Parrot & Mistbelt Forest Action Plan through to full roll‑out

If you’re adventurous, motivated, and ready to contribute to meaningful conservation impact, we’d love to hear from you.

View the full job description here: www.wildbirdtrust.com/careers/all #39 or apply via LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4423637196/

Applications close 30 June 2026.

One green and gold icon to another: good luck tonight, Bafana Bafana 🇿🇦📷 Francis Brooke
11/06/2026

One green and gold icon to another: good luck tonight, Bafana Bafana 🇿🇦

📷 Francis Brooke

We're starting to see the first signs of Cape Parrot breeding season in the Eastern Cape. We've observed archangel calls...
09/06/2026

We're starting to see the first signs of Cape Parrot breeding season in the Eastern Cape. We've observed archangel calls and displays, pairs inspecting nest cavities, and one pair allofeeding (where one bird feeds the other). We also witnessed an attempt at copulation, though not a very successful one.

What's interesting is that Cape Parrots in different parts of the country begin their breeding season at different times. Our Limpopo team has been recording breeding activity for a few weeks already, while the Eastern Cape birds are only now beginning to show these behaviours.

We'll now begin nest scouting and monitoring.

📷 Dr Francis Brooke

We recently spent the day with the Stanford Lake College learners cleaning up a local river and waterfall. We collected ...
08/06/2026

We recently spent the day with the Stanford Lake College learners cleaning up a local river and waterfall. We collected a total of 11 bags of litter.

The waterfall is an important cultural site where traditional ceremonies take place. The clean-up sparked a conversation about how we can support these traditions while also looking after the rivers and landscapes where they happen. The challenge is finding ways for both cultural practices and the places where they take place to be respected and cared for.

Parrots often rub or scrape their beaks against branches after feeding to remove food and wear away tiny amounts of kera...
06/06/2026

Parrots often rub or scrape their beaks against branches after feeding to remove food and wear away tiny amounts of keratin. Like our fingernails, a parrot's beak is constantly growing, so regular wear helps keep it in good condition.

Look at how much work its feet are doing. Even while leaning almost sideways, this Cape Parrot stays balanced on the branch as it presses its beak firmly against the bark. Its entire body is stretched low and sideways to get leverage. This shows just how flexible and coordinated Cape Parrots are in the canopy.

Parrots regularly use their beaks when climbing, almost like a third limb. A well-maintained beak is essential for feeding, climbing, manipulating objects, and even social interactions. It's one of the many ways Cape Parrots rely on their feet, beak, and body to move through the forest canopy.

📷 Obakeng P**e

05/06/2026

These Cape Parrot "lovebirds" are sharing one last meal of the day at Bat Hawk Nest. The female can be seen heading down into the nest as the male prepares to leave her here overnight. A sign that incubation may have started.🦜

Address

Hogsback

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cape Parrot Project posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Cape Parrot Project:

Shortcuts

Share

Category