The BDI held a week long ringing course at Botuin in Vanrhynsdorp, from 31 January to 6 February 2024. We caught 285 birds, including retraps, of 37 species. As on previous trips, we visited the sewage works and Gifberg veld in addition to ringing in the Botuin gardens.
The ringing totals are provided in a BDI blog, and this blog will summarise the recaptures obtained. A total of 49 birds (17.2%) of 21 species were recaptured.
Two birds were recaptured that had been ringed on the very first ringing trip in January 2020, 4 years previously – African Reed Warbler AR16864 and Southern Double-collared Sunbird X29302.
Namaqua Warbler 58120745 has been recaptured 5x at Botuin since first being ringed in Nov 2021.
Movements
Nine birds moved between the sewage works and Botuin – the distance in a straight line is not far at 1.5km.
Table 1. Birds that moved between Botuin and Sewage Works (ringing totals for 2 sites excludes retraps at those sites)
| Species | English | Botuin Ringed | Sewage Ringed | Birds that moved |
| 318 | Namaqua Dove | 12 | 3 | 2 |
| 799 | Cape Weaver | 108 | 39 | 2 |
| 803 | Southern Masked Weaver | 68 | 64 | 2 |
| 808 | Southern Red Bishop | 41 | 259 | 2 |
| 871 | Lark-like Bunting | 119 | 10 | 1 |
Eight birds were ringed at Botuin during the last 3 months and recaptured at the sewage works on 2 or 4 Feb 2024. One bird, a Southern Red Bishop, was ringed at Botuin and retrapped at the sewage works. Most birds were ringed within the last 3months, but 3 birds were from February 2023 (Namaqua Dove, Southern Red Bishop, Cape Weaver). The Lark-like Bunting was caught in a mistnet at Botuin on 27 November 2023, and recaptured at the sewage works on 4 February 2024, but this time caught in a spring-trap baited with a mealworm!
Namaqua Dove CA49975 – top photo – ringed 2 February 2023 at Botuin; bottom photo – retrapped at sewage works on 2 February 2024, 1 year later to the day!
Ringing at the sewage works was only in the mornings while ringing at Botuin was in the mornings and late afternoons. Probably the birds roost at the sewage works and seek shade and forage at Botuin during the day, at least now during the non-breeding season.
