The Amathole mistbelt forests in the Eastern Cape, South Africa harbour the largest remnant population of the nationally endangered endemic Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus, a secondary-cavity nester whose persistence is limited by suitable nest sites. These are also the only forests within Cape Parrot range in which selective timber harvesting remains permitted, but the impact of harvesting on the availability of parrot nest sites has not been investigated. This study aimed to determine the degree to which current harvest selection criteria stand to impact nest site availability. Results showed that Cape Parrots have specific nest tree requirements; and that there is overlap in the species and condition of trees selected for nesting, and harvesting. The two yellowwood species found in the region, Afrocarpus falcatus and Podocarpus latifolius, represented the majority of both harvested trees (78%), and Cape Parrot nest trees (79%). Moreover, both Cape Parrot and harvest selection criteria require large (≥50 cm diameter at breast height; ≥12 m high), old, dead, dying, or crown-damaged yellowwoods, such that 32% of trees considered potential nest trees were also candidates for harvesting. Current selection criteria need to be revised to ensure that timber use is compatible with biodiversity conservation in the Amathole forests. We suggest that all harvesting of dead standing yellowwoods be discontinued; and that the harvesting of live trees with crown damage, which are frequently used by parrots for nesting, be limited by a species-specific maximum harvestable diameter.

南非东开普省的 Amathole 雾带森林中栖息着全国濒临灭绝的地方性开普鹦鹉PoicephalusRobustus 的最大残余种群，这是一种次生洞筑巢者，其持久性受到合适筑巢地点的限制。这些也是鹦鹉角范围内唯一允许选择性木材采伐的森林，但采伐对鹦鹉巢穴可用性的影响尚未得到调查。本研究旨在确定当前的收获选择标准对巢址可用性的影响程度。结果表明，海角鹦鹉对巢树有特定的要求；并且选择用于筑巢和采伐的树木的种类和状况存在重叠。该地区发现的两种黄木树种，非洲果木 (Afrocarpus falcatus)和罗汉松 (Podocarpus latifolius)占收获树木 (78%) 和海角鹦鹉巢树 (79%) 的大部分。此外，Cape Parrot 和收获选择标准都要求大型（胸高直径≥50 cm；高≥12 m）、老的、死的、垂死的或树冠受损的黄杉，因此 32% 被认为是潜在筑巢树的树木也被收获的候选人。目前的选择标准需要修改，以确保木材的使用与阿马索尔森林的生物多样性保护相一致。我们建议停止所有枯死黄杉的采伐；鹦鹉经常用来筑巢的树冠受损的活树的采伐受到特定物种最大可采伐直径的限制。