PART 2: The BBC Supports Stony Point, The African Penguin and the #NOOW Campaign

PART 2:  THE BBC SUPPORTS STONY POINT, THE AFRICAN PENGUIN AND THE #NOOW CAMPAIGN

 

Guidelines for visitors to Stony Point African Penguin colony

There are many rental homes and B&Bs in Betty’s Bay and surrounds and visiting Stony Point is one of the top tourist attractions. Please help by giving your visitors some tips for when they go to the penguins:

 

• Although penguins are such incredible marine birds and it’s tempting to get as close as possible to them – please keep three (3) meters away from the penguins.
• Rather use a zoom lens for close-up photos than try to get too close for “selfie” photos.
• It’s an amazing experience for children to see penguins. Encourage your children to visit quietly at the colony so as not to stress the penguins. Do not try to touch or chase them or throw things at them.
• Please respect the signage and the rules at the colony.
• Stay on the designated pathways so that you don’t disturb nesting sites.
• Please don’t attempt to feed them anything.
• Give the penguins “right of way” and space so you don’t block pathways to their nests or the sea.
• Before you drive away from the colony, check that no penguins are hiding under your car
• Drive slowly when you arrive at and leave the colony.
• Read the information on the signage boards to learn about the penguins and other seabirds at the colony and of their endangered status.

 

If you live near the Stony Point colony in Betty’s Bay, here are some ideas of how you can help

• Many penguins have nesting sites in the areas around the colony, so please ensure your dogs do not injure any adults or chicks. It is best to keep them on a leash when walking near the colony as dogs often find the birds before their owners see them.
• The BBC does arrange regular litter clean-ups but many residents do a wonderful job of picking up litter on their beach walks. Pop a bag in your pocket when you walk and help to pick up litter to keep it from blowing into the sea and to keep the area litter free.
• If you find an injured penguin or seabird, you can contact SANCCOB. Call 021 557 6155 or 078 638 3731 (after hours & weekends). There is a SANCCOB Seabird Ranger at Stony Point.
• If you see inappropriate human behavior around the penguins, you should inform the ranger or CapeNature staff.
• Respect the boundaries of the nesting sites.
• Drive slowly near the colony – especially at dusk and dawn. There are often birds on the verges or waddling across the road. They are endangered and it’s tragic if any of them are killed or injured on the road by cars.
• If you live close to the colony, remember to do a “penguin peek” under your car before you drive off.

 

 

Would you like to be involved in “hands-on help” for the penguins?

In June 2022, BBC members helped to move a pile of hacked rooikrans to Groenkoppie to be used to close up “unofficial paths” that were affecting the safety of local wildlife. We noted in our August 2022 BBC newsletter that we wanted to initiate a project where people could volunteer to help load and transport hacked material to Stony Point to help provide nesting material for the penguins.  

 

We are pleased that this has now begun. On Friday 17 November, after a BBC “call out” for volunteers with vehicles/trailers and helping hands, a group of four vehicles/trailers and volunteers helped transport loads of hacked material to Stony Point. A BIG thanks to Astrid Twomey, Hermien van der  Westhuizen, Alex and John Watson with Andrea and Michael, Wayne Jackson, Rob Geugis and Steve, Isak and Julian from CapeNature who made it possible.  CapeNature staff now have a supply of rooikrans at the colony that they can use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is another great example of “community in action” to help the colony, and of a group of people each doing an “Every day do one small act for biodiversity”. There is more hacked material to transport and we are also planning to help with sourcing and transporting nesting material for the cormorants at Stony Point to reduce their need to take from nearby gardens.

 

if you have a vehicle/trailer or a willing pair of hands and would like to be part of the  BBC “Stony Point Penguin Pals Projects” please email  bettysbayconservancy@gmail.com or WhatsApp 079 7530166 with your name, contact number, whether you can offer a vehicle/trailer, a pair of helping hands or both. We will contact you with further information regarding this and other penguin projects.

 

Carol Clark, Betty’s Bay Conservancy Representative on the BBRA