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Bustard Working Group
The situation is quite dire for several species. Populations of Ludwig's Bustard and Denham's Bustard are probably in decline due to a single mortality factor, collisions with the cables of power-lines. These birds fly in groups during low light conditions and due to their limited manoeuvrability are not able to avoid electricity cables in their flight path. Recent studies have found that, on average, about one Ludwig's Bustard collides per kilometre of transmission power-line (>132 kV) per year. There are approximately 16,000 km of transmission power-lines criss-crossing the Karoo, so we could be losing more than 10,000 birds a year. It is unlikely that the Ludwig's Bustards can sustain these large numbers of annual mortalities, especially considering that its global population has been estimated to only number between 56,000 and 81,000 individuals. Another bustard in trouble is the South African endemic Blue Korhaan. It mainly inhabits grasslands in the central and eastern regions of South Africa and is severely threatened by afforestation, crop farming, overgrazing, burning, urbanisation and mining. Analyses of information from the Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcount Project (CAR) suggest that this korhaan has declined in both numbers and range during recent years. The White-bellied Korhaan, a species that is restricted to the grasslands and open thornveld, is listed as Vulnerable in the South African Red Data Book. It prefers tall, undisturbed grassland, and is thus threatened by human population pressure and inappropriate farm management. There has been much debate as to whether the South African population is a separate species (i.e. Barrow's Korhaan) and, if so, there is even more of an obligation for South African conservationists to attend to the numerous threats which are impacting on this threatened species. Through funding from E. Oppenheimer & Son, a Bustard Working Group has been formed under the auspices of BirdLife South Africa. The group will have several aims, but will focus, at least initially, on disseminating information about bustards to the relevant authorities and stakeholders, prioritising research needs, and determining urgent conservation interventions. The 800 challenge for our country's bustards800 birds in 2011 for Niall Perrin and raising funds for BirdLife South Africa's White-bellied Korhaan project. Read more or click here to view Niall's progress White-bellied Korhaan ProjectA PhD project is being undertaken to study the biology, taxonomy and population demography of the White-bellied Korhaan Eupodotis senegalensis. The PhD student, Dewald du Plessis, is being supervised by Dr Craig Symes from the University of Witwatersrand and Dr Hanneline Smit, BirdLife South Africa. The student’s salary is covered by De Beers Diamond Routes, E. Oppenheimer & Son and the National Research Foundation. The White-bellied Korhaan is a threatened near endemic to the Grassland Biome. Its current Red Data status in South Africa is Vulnerable (Barnes 2000). The main threats, that similarly affect a number of other bustard species, appear to be habitat loss due to aforestation, crop farming, overgrazing, burning and habitat modifications as a result of growing human populations. BirdLife South Africa is very grateful for the incredible support this project is receiving from its members, bird clubs, bird tour operators and other companies. On 15 June 2011 a fundraising dinner was held for the White-bellied Korhaan research and conservation project at a small Italian family restaurant in Johannesburg. The evening was very successful - all 56 seats were booked and attendees were entertained by an excellent presentation on the Diamond Route properties’ value for birds by guest speaker Duncan MacFadyen. A few items, including hand-made carvings by Muzi from Wakkerstroom, were auctioned off, and a reasonable sum was raised. R20 000 has also been received to support the purchase and placement of GPS tracking devices on White-bellied Korhaan individuals in the Bronkhorstspruit grasslands area. These funds have kindly been provided by Birding Africa, BirdLife Sandton and Ocean Breeze Food Merchants (Nic Efthimiades - BirdLife Northern Gauteng). This aspect of the project will assist with our work to study habitat use and movements during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Attempts will be made to investigate movements between sub-populations, and populations that may have become recently isolated. A web-link on the BirdLife South Africa website (and the sponsor website) will show the movement of the individuals after the tracking devices have been fitted. The sponsors will also have an opportunity to name their bird. Meet the tracking device donors and their reason for sponsoring the project:
Birding Africa has 14 years of experience of specialist bird tours in Africa and is run by biologists, conservationists and bird book authors. In 2010 Birding Africa were voted among the top 5 most recommended bird tour companies in the world. Their commitment to bird conservation research includes supporting the African Bird Club Conservation Fund and funding research on the critically endangered Liben Lark, and their sister company, Cape Town Pelagics.com donates all its profits from seabird-watching trips to albatross research and conservation. BirdLife Sandton will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2012. Apart from the sheer enjoyment of watching birds, the club continually raises funds for conservation projects each year. They focus their conservation efforts on funding the rehabilitation of injured wild birds and animals, and on threatened bird species on the basis that injuries or threats to their very existence are Ocean Breeze Food Merchants is a company that amongst its social and conservation responsibilities has chosen to support the White-bellied Korhaan project in discussion with BirdLife Northern Gauteng’s (BLNG) Chairperson, Philip Calinikos. The owner, Nic Efthimiades, is a keen birder and a member of BLNG. According to Ocean Breeze, Gauteng is the economic driving force of our country, but the Province is also running out of pristine land as it is gobbled up by industry and property investors. This does not only affect bird-watchers who then have to travel further to find peaceful spots to unwind from the ‘rat race’ but also affects our ecosystem and the species found therein. Ocean Breeze thanks conservationists such as Niall Perrins and many others for making a difference for the protection of vulnerable species such as the White bellied Korhaan! Bustard conservation newletters:
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| Last Updated on Friday, 30 September 2011 16:17 |
South Africa's bustards and korhaans are in trouble, with six of the country's ten species listed in "The Eskom Red Data Book for Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland". "They are threatened by a variety of factors, including habitat destruction and collision with power-lines". BirdLife South Africa is concerned about the precarious conservation status of the country's bustards and korhaans and therefore convened a workshop in Johannesburg in May 2009 to discuss their conservation status, threats and necessary conservation measures.
