Latest news with #MichelleBouwer
The South African
27-06-2025
- Science
- The South African
South Africa's national bird moves a step closer to extinction
South Africa's national bird, the Blue Crane, has been officially downgraded to 'vulnerable' on the newly published Regional Red Data Book of Birds – a wake-up call for conservationists, farmers, and bird lovers nationwide. This iconic species, once a symbol of national pride and rural harmony, is now at risk of spiralling toward extinction unless immediate action is taken. Data from the Coordinated Avian Roadcounts (CAR) reveals that Blue Crane numbers in the Overberg – home to the largest remaining population – have declined by 44% since 2011. This comes after a period of significant growth (a 261% increase from 1994-2010), led by collaborative conservation work between farmers, CapeNature, the Overberg Crane Group, and the Endangered Wildlife Trust/International Crane Foundation (EWT/ICF). When funding and focus diminished in the mid-2010s, so too did that upward momentum – paving the way for new, unchecked threats. A combination of human disturbance, barbed wire injuries, poisoning, and climate change now pose a serious risk to Blue Crane survival: Low breeding success : Only 0.55 fledglings per pair , far below replacement levels : Only , far below replacement levels Nest failures caused by extreme weather and human presence caused by extreme weather and human presence Powerline collisions remain a leading cause of adult mortality remain a leading cause of adult mortality Agricultural shifts, including expanded canola crops and minimum tillage, may be reducing access to quality nesting sites Michelle Bouwer , an MSc student studying crane nesting patterns, notes that rising temperatures and droughts – predicted to worsen with climate change – are exacerbating the crisis. While the new 'vulnerable' status is alarming, conservationists are hopeful that it ushers in renewed support and urgency: Greater funding opportunities for conservation programmes for conservation programmes Policy incentives for biodiversity-friendly agriculture for biodiversity-friendly agriculture Stronger collaboration with local farmers, many of whom are already taking proactive steps 'There is still hope,' says Dr Christie Craig of the EWT/ICF. 'But only if we act quickly and decisively.' Support and donate to organisations like EWT , BirdLife South Africa , and CapeNature , , and Volunteer for citizen science projects like CAR like CAR Encourage policies that promote biodiversity in farming Spread awareness about the Blue Crane's plight South Africa's national bird may be vulnerable, but it is not beyond saving. #SaveTheBlueCrane #ConservationMatters #BirdLifeSA #BlueCraneCrisis Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
23-06-2025
- Science
- TimesLIVE
Blue cranes uplisted from threatened to vulnerable
South Africa's national bird, the blue crane, has officially been uplisted from near threatened to vulnerable in the newly published Regional Red Data Book 2025. The uplisting of the blue crane to vulnerable in South Africa means that it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium term, and this reflects growing concern about the species' future, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) said on Monday. The Karoo boasts the highest number of blue cranes in South Africa, and the species' decline is of particular concern in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, where blue cranes occur at high densities, the EWT said. Data from the long-running citizen science project, Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcounts (CAR), showed that the Overberg had seen a 44% decline in blue crane numbers between 2011 and 2025. The organisation said these figures were especially concerning, given that this region once had a thriving blue crane population. 'Before the decline, CAR counts indicated that blue crane numbers had increased by 261% between 1994 and 2010. In the Karoo, CAR figures showed that populations had declined before 2017. But this data is dated given CAR counts are no longer done in this region.' The reasons behind the dramatic decline in the Overberg over the past 14 years were unclear, but research has revealed some clues. 'Recent research by EWT conservation scientist, Dr Christie Craig, into the species' long-term viability revealed that breeding success in the Overberg has halved since the last published study 30 years ago.' On average, pairs now raised just 0.55 fledglings, far below what was needed to sustain the population. MSc student Michelle Bouwer found that the key drivers of nest failures in the Overberg were disturbance and high temperatures. 'This is concerning, given that climate change models predict significant drying and warming in the Western Cape. Fence entanglement also remains a threat to chicks that can't fly yet.' The EWT said the birds had also become the secondary or unintended victims of poisoning in the Overberg and Swartland regions, often from substances intended for other species such as geese or rodents. 'This further highlights the importance of conservation presence in the landscape to ensure that illegal poisonings don't go undetected, and to make certain that farmers have support to deal with crop damage problems.' Research showing that power line collisions in the Overberg had decreased in the past 15 years might be attributed to concerted efforts through the EWT/Eskom partnership to mark power lines. 'Nonetheless, collision with power lines remains the main threat to blue cranes, and ongoing mitigation is necessary, especially as new power lines are added to connect renewable energy to the grid. This is particularly a threat in the renewable energy development zones of the Overberg and Karoo.'
