From complete abandonment to 45,000 birds, the Cape Gannet population demonstrates nature’s resilience.
A small island off South Africa’s west coast has reached a major milestone in wildlife conservation. Bird Island in Lambert’s Bay now hosts a Cape Gannet population of 45,000 birds—the highest number in 19 years.
This achievement marks a dramatic recovery for the Cape Gannet population, which completely abandoned the island in 2005 due to seal attacks. The Cape Gannet population has stayed above 30,000 birds for the past five years, suggesting the success of ongoing conservation efforts.
Bird Island offers a unique experience as the only place in the world where visitors can walk to see a gannet colony. These large seabirds, known for their distinctive white bodies and yellow-tinged heads, gather in massive numbers to breed and raise their young. The growing Cape Gannet population has made the island a premier destination for bird enthusiasts and researchers alike.
Unlike other wildlife sites, Bird Island has full-time protection. A team of four people – one conservator and three monitors – watch over the colony every day of the year. The team walks around the colony’s edges multiple times daily, watching for anything that might harm the birds. They monitor for predators like mongooses that could eat eggs or chicks, and keep an eye out for Kelp Gulls trying to steal eggs. The team also checks for signs of disease among the birds, assesses weather damage to nests, and prevents human disturbance in the protected area.
Weather monitoring has become increasingly important for protecting the colony. The team tracks the effects of extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, strong ocean swells, and intense heatwaves. This data helps them develop better strategies to protect the birds during challenging conditions. They’ve installed additional shelters and windbreaks in key areas to help protect nesting sites.
One of the biggest challenges is keeping Cape fur seals away from the breeding birds. Seals naturally hunt young gannets, especially when the birds first learn to fly. The conservation team created an invisible boundary line on the island’s western side. When seals cross this line, staff members guide them back to their designated area. This simple but effective system prevents the seals from taking over the gannet breeding grounds. The team has also implemented new techniques to discourage seal predation, including acoustic deterrents and strategic placement of physical barriers.
The importance of this boundary system became clear in December 2005. Seals attacked so many birds that the entire Cape Gannet population fled the island. The conservation team had to use fake birds to convince the gannets it was safe to return. This strategy and better seal management helped rebuild the colony from zero to today’s record numbers. The experience led to developing more sophisticated predator management techniques that are now shared with other conservation sites.
Cape Gannets have an unusually long breeding season. The first eggs appear in October, and the last chicks don’t hatch until May of the following year. The conservation team counts every baby gannet during fledging season – when young birds take their first flight. They even track how many young birds are caught by seals. This detailed information, collected over 18 years, helps them adjust their protection strategies. The team has also started using advanced monitoring technology, including thermal imaging cameras, to track nighttime activity better and protect vulnerable chicks.
The growing cape gannet population suggests good news beyond Bird Island. These seabirds need plenty of fish to survive, so their increasing numbers hint at a healthy ocean nearby. The success also attracts gannets from other colonies. Birds are choosing Bird Island as their new home, recognizing it as a safe place to raise their families. Marine biologists use the colony’s growth to indicate overall ecosystem health in the region.
Bird Island’s success shows that wildlife conservation works when given enough time and consistent effort. Dr. Ashley Naidoo, CEO of CapeNature, says this project could help other endangered species recovery efforts. The methods used here – daily monitoring, quick response to threats, and careful management of different species – could help protect other wildlife populations in Southern Africa and beyond. The team regularly hosts workshops to share their successful practices with conservation managers from other regions.
Bird Island offers visitors a rare chance to see conservation in action. With proper protection, the growing Cape Gannet population proves that wildlife can recover and thrive even near human settlements. The site has become an important educational resource, hosting school groups and providing hands-on learning opportunities about marine conservation, ecosystem management, and the importance of protecting vulnerable species.
