Latest news with #ornithologist
Mail & Guardian
10-08-2025
- Science
- Mail & Guardian
Raptor is on the brink of extinction
Big drop: The cliff-nesting Taita falcon is in danger of being wiped out, research shows. Picture: Supplied In late July, ornithologist With binoculars and telescopes trained on the cliffs the group, including eight teams from Zambia and five from Zimbabwe, scanned the horizon. But not one sighting of the cliff-nesting, bird-eating raptor was made. 'We saw plenty of other raptors, but not a single Taita falcon,' said Van Zyl. 'For me, it really shows that while the Batoka Gorge used to be quite a stronghold for these birds, that population is now gone.' He fears 'I honestly feel that this is going to be the case for the South African population too; that we used to have a whole lot and now, over the years, the population is snuffing out.' Van Zyl is part of the The organisation estimates there are fewer than 500 pairs of Taita falcons left, which are sparsely found in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically scattered from Ethiopia down to northern South Africa. From the 1950s to the 1990s, the Batoka Gorge, in Zimbabwe, was the stronghold for the bird. In the mid-1990s at least six pairs were identified there. However, in the past decade there has In 2018, a joint survey by the department of national parks and wildlife in Zambia and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spotted one Taita falcon on three occasions in the Batoka Gorge. 'There's potentially definitely something serious going on with the population of the Taita falcon,' Van Zyl said. 'They're dotted all over but these small little populations are all dying off, and nobody is really monitoring them, and they could suddenly disappear right under our noses.' In South Africa, the cryptic falcon lives in the Blyde River Canyon area in Mpumalanga and Limpopo and favours rugged well-wooded areas. Its very specialised habitat requirements are thought to be among the reasons for its rarity. In the mid-2000s, surveys in which scientists sat watching cliff faces for 12 hours a day with telescopes found an initial 11 Taita territories. Since 2008, the population has been monitored annually but has shown a steady decline to only three occupied territories in 2022 and only one breeding pair last year, a reduction of more than 70%. In 2010, the known population in South Africa was estimated at 20 adults, with the total unlikely to exceed 50. Nesting success has also plummeted — from a peak of nine fledglings in 2010 and 2015 to just two in 2020, an 80% decline. Observing nests can take up to 12 hours a day in remote areas that are often only accessible by helicopter. Recent scientific data and studies from the team suggest a substantial decline in breeding pairs in South Africa, with only a single pair known to have bred successfully last year. 'Originally, when we found them [the surveys started in 2008], there were 11 territories and we had eight active breeding pairs in those territories. They've been declining until now, where we've just got three active territories left in South Africa,' Van Zyl said. 'We obviously have been racking our brains to try and work out what is affecting them but because there's so few around, and nobody has ever really studied them, it's very difficult to work it out.' The reasons for the precipitous decline remain unclear. Among the potential causes could be a lack of genetic viability, as there are too few birds; damage to the environment from extensive farming near the nesting sites; continued degradation of its woodland habitat and competition for prey and nesting sites from other falcon species. This is particularly the case with the larger Lanner falcon, which has usurped some of the Taita falcon's nesting sites in the Mpumalanga area. Alternatively, the population might have declined past a critical tipping point, leaving it so vulnerable that even minor disruptions could trigger catastrophic losses. 'We really want to find out what's affecting them first before we can come up with a conservation strategy,' Van Zyl said. 'Especially since 2015, every year we seem to have lost some pairs. For instance, some of the pairs, we'll go to check where they normally are and there would be for instance, a pair of Lanner falcons that are now nesting on the cliff and the Taitas are no longer there.' At the end of last year, after the survey team scoured all the various territories, they only found three occupied territories. 'Of those three, two of the cliffs only had single birds. There was one other cliff that had a pair on. In that sense, we're down to only one pair in South Africa. 'For those birds who that are just single birds on the cliff, our understanding is that maybe they have lost their mate and, in a normal population, there will be a floating set of birds that are just moving around and then, basically, they will pair up with a single bird on a cliff and then they'll be a pair again. 'But it could be the situation that, in our case, there are so few Taita falcons flying around that you could sit on a cliff for several years, hoping for a mate to arrive and nobody arrives.' For this year's survey, Van Zyl said the plan is to put a bigger team together to do a greater sweep of the canyon and the eastern escarpment area. 'We've got so few pairs at the moment that, even if we found another one or two pairs, that then almost doubles the known population here in South Africa.' There is a glimmer of hope. In 2021, Van Zyl and his team recorded 14 breeding pairs in Mozambique's Niassa Special Reserve, with estimates suggesting the region could host up to 70 pairs — the largest known population today. 'This has definitely put that area on the map. Fourteen pairs is not a lot but it's the biggest population that we know of now. We're wondering if that population partly supplies the Taita falcons to some of the other smaller populations that are around.' However, Niassa has become increasingly inaccessible because of insurgent violence and instability, making conservation efforts difficult. Without urgent research, protection, and habitat management, the Taita falcon could vanish, locally and regionally, within five to 10 years.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Scarborough Grand Hotel 'highly suitable' for kittiwake nest site
Nests for up to 1,050 kittiwakes could be installed at a landmark hotel as part of efforts to limit noise and mess from the birds.A council-funded study identified the terrace of Scarborough's Grand Hotel as a "highly suitable" location to house a series of artificial nesting structures (ANS).It was one of four sites inspected by an ornithologist as part of ongoing work aimed at managing the impact of the town's kittiwake of North Yorkshire Council's Scarborough and Whitby area committee are set to discuss the findings at a meeting on Friday. Earlier this year the council drafted a new strategy aimed at addressing issues around noise, mess and aggressive behaviour by sea birds in the town - of which kittiwakes are thought to be the "most abundant".As part if the study, four sites were inspected - Star Map in South Cliff Gardens, the derelict concrete chalets, and the Old Bathing report found the Grand Hotel's terrace to be "the most significant" location, describing it as an "almost perfect ecological site" due to its "close proximity to existing nesting colonies and its orientation towards the sea".It said the hotel's terrace presented a "maximum design opportunity" for an artificial nesting structure with up to 1,050 nesting spaces, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, though said such sites "may only ever be 50 to 60 per cent occupied when fully colonised".It was also noted that the structures "do not need to be elaborate or expensive" and could be as simple as a series of purpose-made shelving, made from marine ply or other durable wood and supported by a steel report added that the installation of ANS in the town "represents an opportunity beyond just re-locating numbers of breeding Kittiwake" and could lead to an approach problems caused by the birds which "considers both the needs of local residents and businesses and the support of wild bird populations". Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-05-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
In Tune with Nature: Expert Sounds Out all of Ireland's Bird Species
On a mission to record all of Ireland's bird species, many of which are dying out, Irishman Sean Ronayne calls his unique audio archive a tool to both raise alarm and bring hope. According to conservation bodies, some 63 percent of Ireland's birds are currently either red or amber-listed, meaning they are at severe or moderate extinction risk. "Birds are in trouble in Ireland like they are across the world, the loss of wildlife -- sonically and physically -- is devastating to me," said the 37-year-old. "But I focus on hope and beauty, which is essential," the ornithologist told AFP at his home near Cobh (pronounced "Cove") in County Cork. More than four years into his recording project he has sampled 201 different Irish bird species, stocking over 12,000 audio clips from around the country, Ronayne told AFP. Just two remain to be documented: the great skua, and red-breasted merganser. "If people realize just how spectacular wildlife is, there's no way they would let it disappear, attitudes would change," Ronayne said. - Sound: 'an engaging tool' - Ireland may be famed for its green fields, but Ronayne paints a bleak picture -- "realistic" he says -- of a degraded landscape and a bird population decimated by vanishing habitats. Most of Ireland comprises intensively farmed fields bounded by trimmed hedgerows, drained and mined peatlands, overgrazed uplands, and minimal native woodland, he told AFP. Non-native conifer plantations -- approximately nine percent of Ireland's 11 percent forest cover -- are also a biodiversity villain, described by Ronayne as "a species-poor industrial cash-crop". "I try to show people the beauty of what we're erasing and what we must stand up and fight for," said the wildlife expert. Last year he published an award-winning book, released two albums, and made an acclaimed documentary film. His talk tour is currently selling out venues around Ireland. "Wildlife sound is such a great engaging tool to connect people to nature itself and get them acquainted with everything that's on their doorstep," Ronayne told AFP. "If you know your neighbor you're more likely to help them in times of need," he said. At the shows Ronayne, who was diagnosed with a form of autism as an adult, presents the story of his life and how nature is woven through it. He also plays audio of warbles, tweets, trills, screeches and chirps, and mystery sounds, inviting the audience to guess the origin. Some clips show birds mimicking other animals like dogs, people and other bird species. "Some species in my collection can mimic 30 to 40 other species in their song," he said. Laughter is common at his talks, but also tears and grief as listeners learn of Ireland's endangered birdlife. 'Sonic diversity' Ronayne regularly holds "dawn chorus" walks, bringing small groups into silent forests far from road noise to experience the birdlife waking up. A gradually building cacophony of sound, the dawn chorus is "a reflection of the health of a given environment", he told AFP in an old woodland near his home while waiting for sunrise. "The more sonically diverse it is, the healthier the habitat is," he said. After unpacking his audio recorder, parabolic microphone and tripod, he quickly identified the melodies of song thrushes, robins, blackbirds, goldcrests and others as they greeted the day. "Chiffchaff! Did you hear that?! There's a grey wagtail!" he exclaimed, head twitching toward each sound in the lifting gloom. Ronayne also hides recorders for weeks and even months in remote untouched places where birds congregate. On Ballycotton beach near Cobh, migrating birds swirled overhead before settling on an adjacent lagoon. Ronayne carefully placed a waterproof recorder -- able to run for up two weeks -- in grass by the shore. "They have to fly right over here to there," he said pointing upwards at their route. "After I collect it I'll be able to monitor the birds, capture their calls, and tell environmental stories from the audio," he said. Back home, he scrolled on a computer showing thousands of archived sonogram clips -- visual representations of sound -- of birdsong audio. Each entry included data on the behavior, calls and protected status of each bird: many either red or amber. "First we must realize how wonderful nature is, then how fragile it is, and how much we have kicked it down," Ronayne told AFP. "When we as a society fall back in love with nature, and respect it as we once did, beautiful things will happen."
Arab News
23-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
In tune with nature: expert sounds out all of Ireland's bird species
COBH, Ireland: On a mission to record all of Ireland's bird species, many of which are dying out, Irishman Sean Ronayne calls his unique audio archive a tool to both raise alarm and bring hope. According to conservation bodies, some 63 percent of Ireland's birds are currently either red or amber-listed, meaning they are at severe or moderate extinction risk. 'Birds are in trouble in Ireland like they are across the world, the loss of wildlife — sonically and physically — is devastating to me,' said the 37-year-old. 'But I focus on hope and beauty, which is essential,' the ornithologist told AFP at his home near Cobh (pronounced 'Cove') in County Cork. More than four years into his recording project he has sampled 201 different Irish bird species, stocking over 12,000 audio clips from around the country, Ronayne told AFP. Just two remain to be documented: the great skua, and red-breasted merganser. 'If people realize just how spectacular wildlife is, there's no way they would let it disappear, attitudes would change,' Ronayne said. Ireland may be famed for its green fields, but Ronayne paints a bleak picture — 'realistic' he says — of a degraded landscape and a bird population decimated by vanishing habitats. Most of Ireland comprises intensively farmed fields bounded by trimmed hedgerows, drained and mined peatlands, overgrazed uplands, and minimal native woodland, he told AFP. Non-native conifer plantations — approximately nine percent of Ireland's 11 percent forest cover — are also a biodiversity villain, described by Ronayne as 'a species-poor industrial cash-crop.' 'I try to show people the beauty of what we're erasing and what we must stand up and fight for,' said the wildlife expert. Last year he published an award-winning book, released two albums, and made an acclaimed documentary film. His talk tour is currently selling out venues around Ireland. 'Wildlife sound is such a great engaging tool to connect people to nature itself and get them acquainted with everything that's on their doorstep,' Ronayne told AFP. 'If you know your neighbor you're more likely to help them in times of need,' he said. At the shows Ronayne, who was diagnosed with a form of autism as an adult, presents the story of his life and how nature is woven through it. He also plays audio of warbles, tweets, trills, screeches and chirps, and mystery sounds, inviting the audience to guess the origin. Some clips show birds mimicking other animals like dogs, people and other bird species. 'Some species in my collection can mimic 30 to 40 other species in their song,' he said. Laughter is common at his talks, but also tears and grief as listeners learn of Ireland's endangered birdlife. Ronayne regularly holds 'dawn chorus' walks, bringing small groups into silent forests far from road noise to experience the birdlife waking up. A gradually building cacophony of sound, the dawn chorus is 'a reflection of the health of a given environment,' he told AFP in an old woodland near his home while waiting for sunrise. 'The more sonically diverse it is, the healthier the habitat is,' he said. After unpacking his audio recorder, parabolic microphone and tripod, he quickly identified the melodies of song thrushes, robins, blackbirds, goldcrests and others as they greeted the day. 'Chiffchaff! Did you hear that?! There's a grey wagtail!' he exclaimed, head twitching toward each sound in the lifting gloom. Ronayne also hides recorders for weeks and even months in remote untouched places where birds congregate. On Ballycotton beach near Cobh, migrating birds swirled overhead before settling on an adjacent lagoon. Ronayne carefully placed a waterproof recorder — able to run for up two weeks — in grass by the shore. 'They have to fly right over here to there,' he said pointing upwards at their route. 'After I collect it I'll be able to monitor the birds, capture their calls, and tell environmental stories from the audio,' he said. Back home, he scrolled on a computer showing thousands of archived sonogram clips — visual representations of sound — of birdsong audio. Each entry included data on the behavior, calls and protected status of each bird: many either red or amber. 'First we must realize how wonderful nature is, then how fragile it is, and how much we have kicked it down,' Ronayne told AFP. 'When we as a society fall back in love with nature, and respect it as we once did, beautiful things will happen.'
