Non-colonial ground-nesting birds on Robben Island: positive impact of the removal of feral cats on the abundance of Chukar Partridge and Fiery-necked Nightjar

Research on Robben Island reveals that the near-complete removal of feral cats has significantly increased the abundance of two non-colonial ground-nesting birds: Chukar Partridge and Fiery-necked Nightjar. This finding underscores the positive impact of predator control on vulnerable bird populations in island ecosystems. The study employed field observations and data analysis to assess changes in bird abundance following the removal of feral cats, demonstrating a clear correlation between predator management and species recovery.

Underhill, L. G., Wilke, C., & Hattingh, B. (2023). Non-colonial ground-nesting birds on Robben Island: positive impact of the removal of feral cats on the abundance of Chukar Partridge and Fiery-necked Nightjar. Biodiversity Observations, 13, 282–286. https://doi.org/10.15641/bo.1484