Open image gallery
The global population of the endemic Knysna Woodpecker Camphetera notata is thought to be undergoing a decline in numbers although the rate of decline is unknown. The decline is expected to be concomitant with habitat loss occurring within its Eastern Cape stronghold. The species is assessed as globally Near Threatened.
The Knysna Woodpecker is endemic to South Africa where it occurs along the coastal plain of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces, and marginally in southern KwaZulu-Natal. Uys and Macleod (1967) cite the De Hoop area near Bredasdorp as the westernmost limit, but recent atlas data suggest the species occurs further west towards Caledon; unsubstantiated records from even further west are intriguing and it should be borne in mind that it is known to occupy and breed in stands of alien trees so may benefit locally from afforestation. Its range in KwaZulu-Natal has contracted: early records from Illovo and Ifafa, c. 80 km north of it currently known limit at Oribi Gorge inland of Port Shepstone, indicate that it was historically more widespread (Clancey 1958, Schmidt 1961, Nichols 1983). Range retractions in KwaZulu-Natal were attributed to clearance of coastal bush for sugar cane farming (Nichols 1983). It also extends inland in dry and often xerophilous scrub-forest habitats (Clancey 1958), and is found inland as far as Queenstown, Somerset East and near Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape; reportedly, specimens were taken as far north as Colesberg in the 1800s (Clancey 1958). It is sedentary throughout its range and there is no evidence of seasonal movements (Tarboton 1997b). The species is recorded from 16 Important Bird Areas (Barnes 1998).
The regional (and global) population is estimated at 1 000 to 3 300 mature individuals by BirdLife International (2014). Siegfried (1992) estimated the population at 1 500-5 000, of which 1 000-1 500 occur in protected areas. Confidence in this regional population estimate is low.
There are no data from which to generate population trend estimates. However loss of habitat within the species' stronghold in Eastern Cape could indicate a concomitant population decline. The rate of decline is unknown.
The species has not decreased markedly in EoO or AoO since the 2000 assessment. There is no documented evidence that the population is presently in decline, and there are no immediate threats known. However, given its naturally small range and population, and historic range contractions, the Knysna Woodpecker requires monitoring. It is vulnerable to habitat destruction and modification, and large-scale agriculture in combination with township development, has brought about habitat destruction and modification in areas of its former range, particularly KwaZulu-Natal (Barnes 2000). A shortage of natural nest sites may exist in parts of the range (Tarboton 1997), which makes it vulnerable to the felling of dead trees for firewood. The potential effects of climate change on this range-restricted species have not been fully investigated but should be assessed.
No conservation measures focusing specifically on the Knysna Woodpecker are currently underway.
The area of suitable habitat with protected status should be increased. The species occasionally breeds in artificial nest boxes (Büttiker 1960) and agave stumps (Ginn et al. 1989), so providing artificial nesting sites may encourage breeding in areas where dead trees are scarce or have been felled.
* Conduct surveys to estimate the total population size, and monitor trends through regular counts.
* Assess whether the species is adequately protected in current conserved areas, and research factors that possibly limit the population size.