08/04/2019
The African Black Oystercatcher is near-endemic to the coast of southern Africa. They are found living on rocky, sandy and mixed rock and sandy coasts. Nests are simple shallow holes in the ground excavated in sandy soil, lined with rocks and shells. The nests are typically placed near the high water mark, concealed by rocks or kelp. Betty’s Bay marine reserve has numerous breeding pairs which can be seen on beach walks in the area.
African Black Oystercatcher are monogamous slow breeders; breeding exclusively along the coast of southern Africa. Breeding takes place from October to April with a peak during December and January. Females reach sexually maturity when they are 3 years old and males at 4 years. The chicks hatch simultaneously in a fairly advanced physical state; however, they are still dependent on the parents for food and shelter. It will take 50 to 180 days after fledging for chicks to leave the parents’ territory for nursery areas. Adults are known to live for over 18 years. Populations on islands have a higher reproductive outcome followed by mainland protected areas and mainland unprotected areas respectively. Adults are non-migratory and territorial. Independent juveniles migrate from their parents’ breeding territory to nursery areas along the coast of Namibia and Angola, where they stay for 2–3 years before returning to their native area.
The global population of the African Black Oystercatcher has increased by about 33% since 1980 (5 000) to early 2000 (6 670). Due to the small population size of less than 10 000 individuals, the IUCN and South Africa regard the African Black Oystercatcher as ‘Near Threatened’. The increased or stable population is due to improved management plans that were put in place to protect these birds as well the additional food source in the form of the alien Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) that lead to an increase in breeding success.
The Oystercatcher Conservation Programme (OCP) was established in 1998 to increase the conservation of this species, raise public awareness and get local communities involved in the conservation of these birds. In 2000, a national ban of recreational vehicles along the beaches of South Africa was put in place. This ban reduced the level of disturbance along South Africa’s coasts, thus increasing the bird’s breeding success and population along the coastal areas. Information from the SANBI website.
