THE SEASONAL MOVEMENTS OF GURNEY'S SUGARBIRD PROMEROPS GURNEYI IN THE LYDENBURG AREA,TRANSVAAL

De Swardt, D. H. 1991. The seasonal movements of Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi in the Ly-denburg area, Transvaal. Ostrich 62: 40–44.

The seasonal movements of Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi were studied in the Lydenburg area, eastern Transvaal, South Africa. Influx into the suburban habitat occurred durin the winter when the birds left the mountains at the end of the flowering period of Protea roupelliae. Birifs were mistnetted and each adult colour-ringed with a unique combination for individual recognition. In all, 256 Sugarbirds were ed in the mountain habitat and 50 in the suburban habitat. Of the unringed individuals 22,2 % were ted on cliffs with aloes and 79,3 % around P. roupelliae clumps late in the season. Of the ringed birds 25 (9,7%) were retrapped at sites in the mountain and 10 (3.9%) showed seasonal movements; 6 (8,3%) were recaptured in the same town localities where originally ringed. Mean distance moved was 7 km. An overall recapture rate of 7,5% was recorded during this study. When nectar became scarce the birds started moving away and utilized other food sources. Protea roupelliae showed a flowering peak from October to February which coincided with the sugarbirds' breeding season.