The Cape Rockjumper : Remarkable Rooi-Els

The Cape Rockjumper: A Fascinating Bird of South Africa’s Rugged Mountains

The Cape Rockjumper (Chaetops frenatus) is a captivating bird species found in the breathtaking mountain ranges of South Africa. Renowned for its striking appearance and unique behaviours, this small passerine bird has captured the attention of birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike.

Endemic to the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, the Cape Rockjumper is highly adapted to the rugged terrain of its natural habitat. It thrives in rocky outcrops, cliffs, and steep slopes, often found in fynbos and montane shrublands. These specialized habitats allow the bird to display its remarkable adaptations and behaviours.

One of the most striking features of the Cape Rockjumper is its vibrant plumage. The male sports a beautiful combination of black, white, and burnt orange feathers, contrasting elegantly against the rocky backdrop. Its plumage serves as a visual spectacle and aids in camouflage, allowing the bird to blend seamlessly with its rocky environment.

Apart from its appearance, the Cape Rockjumper is known for its delightful song. Male rock jumpers possess a melodious and complex song, often delivered from prominent perches, as they defend their territory or attract mates. The song is a mix of fluting and trilling notes, creating a delightful auditory experience for those fortunate enough to witness it.

As its name suggests, the Cape Rockjumper has a distinctive way of moving around its habitat. It hops and leaps from one rock to another with agility and precision, showcasing its exceptional ability to navigate the rugged terrain. This behaviour, known as “rock-jumping,” is an efficient way for the bird to forage for its preferred diet of insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates that dwell among the rocks.

While the Cape Rockjumper is not considered globally endangered, it faces some localized threats. Habitat loss and degradation due to human activities, such as agriculture, mining, and urbanization, pose significant challenges to the species. Additionally, climate change may impact its habitat suitability and disrupt the delicate balance of the fynbos ecosystem. Therefore, conservation efforts focused on preserving and restoring suitable habitats are essential to ensure the long-term survival of this remarkable bird.

For birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts, encountering the Cape Rockjumper is a truly memorable experience. Its striking appearance, captivating song, and unique rock-jumping behaviour make it a fascinating bird worth seeking out in the mountains of South Africa. With its resilience and adaptability to challenging environments, the Cape Rockjumper stands as a testament to the remarkable diversity and beauty of the avian world.

Endemic to the mountain fynbos region of the Cape, this unique bird has been named Birdlife South Africa’s Bird of the Year. The choice may seem arbitrary, but it couldn’t have been more pertinent.

The Bird of the Year is a conservation initiative to raise awareness about species in trouble, and it’s about time to talk about the Cape Rockjumper.

It is a sedentary bird, meaning it does not migrate, and mountainous Fynbos is its permanent home. A striking bird, spotting them, is highly valued by birders because of their rarity, gregarious personality, and fascinating social interactions.

They are monogamous, cooperative breeders in groups of 2-5 with a single breeding pair. The previous year’s offspring assisted the breeding pair, making their social interactions entertaining for birders.

The Cape Rockjumper is one of only two species of Rockjumper, which are only found in South Africa. The environment this bird calls home is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, the fynbos biome.

It’s already been established that Fynbos is one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. With the second-highest rate of extinctions globally, the biome is being relegated to a few remaining strongholds with urban and agricultural expansion.

The story of the Cape Rockjumper is part of an even larger one. Already situated in one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, the global average temperature is also increasing.

The cumulative effects of this cannot be overstated, where South Africa’s temperatures are predicted to rise at double the global average, and our bird of the year is especially vulnerable to rising temperatures.

Birdlife South Africa considers this species at risk because of rising temperatures, listing several factors that contribute to its scarcity. They pant to cool themselves down and forage in the heat for food, exhausting them.

The increased temperatures mean snakes are more active, their main predator. As a result, they are particularly vulnerable to ground predators such as mongoose and boomslang. For example, a study in the 2017 breeding found only one survived out of 20 nests, a dismal 5 % breeding success rate. The video below showcases a boomslang attacking a rockjumper nest.

Their decreasing numbers are telling, with previous estimates placing their population at around 90 000; in 2018, it was estimated that their population was between 30 000 and 60 000.

One factor being discussed for their declining population is ‘sky islands’ – individual mountain ranges where Cape Rockjumper populations are separated by inhospitable valleys of the semi-desert Karoo.

These valleys are getting more expansive due to warming temperatures and Fynbos retreating to the higher mountain slopes. As a result, scientists are saying that Cape Rockjumper’s habitat may decrease by 62% by 2085.

Saving the Cape Rockjumper

The Cape Rockjumper distribution.

With temperatures predicted to rise, an easy way to help the rock jumper would be to reduce carbon emissions globally to fight climate change. But if only things were that simple.

The Rockjumper is one of the species predicted to be adversely affected by climate change, so to help mitigate the damage, one option is the creation of fynbos corridors between ‘sky islands’ so populations can migrate between each other.