De Aar (D12)

Name: De Aar
source: http://www.andersonafrica.co.za/articles/deaarkestrels.pdf
De Aar’s Lesser Kestrels
De Aar, situated in the eastern Karoo
(Northern Cape Province, South Africa), has
one of the largest roosting populations of
Lesser Kestrels in South Africa. During the
day these birds forage on insects, spiders
and small vertebrates in the Karoo veldt
surrounding De Aar. At night they fly to the
city, where they roost in blue-gum trees, pine
trees and on utility structures. De Aar is
probably the best place in South Africa (and
even the world) to see large aggregations
of these kestrels. A few Eastern Red-footed
Kestrels (Amur Falcon) sometimes join the
Lesser Kestrels at their roost sites.
When and where to see Lesser Kestrels
in De Aar
Lesser Kestrels generally arrive in De Aar
during late-October and early-November.
The numbers vary and depend on food
availability in the eastern Karoo. Numbers
peak during December and January, with
approximately 13,500 birds being recorded
in the city on 15 January 1997. This is more
than 10% of the species’ global population!
The kestrels depart on their northerly
migration during late-March and early-
April. Therefore, late-November to late-
February is probably the best time to see large
numbers of kestrels in De Aar.
The kestrels usually return to their roost sites
at sunset, and this is arguably the best
time to see and photograph the incredible
clouds of birds. By dusk they have settled
down, with only the odd straggler flying in
and out of the roost. The kestrels then
depart for their foraging grounds before
sunrise, and during mid-summer this may
be before 04h30!
The main roosting sites in De Aar are at the
Hospital (Visser Street) and Railway Station
(Sinjaal Street). There is no restriction on
access to these sites.
Roosting kestrels are also found in other
Karoo towns, including Philipstown,
Colesberg, Hanover, Victoria West,
Strydenburg and Britstown. There is also a
nice roost opposite the police station in
Galeshewe, Kimberley, were up to 4000
Lesser Kestrels and the two red-footed
kestrels can be observed.

Google count:
Date:

Historic fact:

Other interesting info:

De Aar, the third largest town in the Northern Cape, is centrally located on the main railway line between Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Namibia and tarred roads to surrounding towns. The junction was the second most important railway junction in South Africa, with 110km of railway lines including 29 rail-tracks. The name De Aar refers to the underground water supply in arteries with all of De Aar’s water coming from boreholes. 68 boreholes in the surrounding area of the town, ensure the water supply.



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Songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOjdl9cOwpM&feature=related