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Mail & Guardian
01-07-2025
- Science
- Mail & Guardian
National bird in peril: Blue crane numbers plummet in Overberg
Blue cranes are uplisted to vulnerable due to threats such as habitat loss, powerlines, fences and poisoning. (Supplied) South Africa's national bird, the distinctive The uplisting of the elegant, pale blue-grey bird, known for its long, black wingtip feathers that trail on the ground, means that it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium term. This is according to the While the Karoo boasts the highest number of blue cranes in the country, its decline is of particular concern in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, where they occur at higher densities than anywhere else in South Africa. Data from the long-running citizen science project, 'These dramatic figures are especially concerning given that this region once had a thriving … population,' the conservation organisations said. In the Karoo, Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcounts figures showed that populations had declined prior to 2017. But, this data is dated given that the organisation's counts are no longer done in this region, they said. To fix this, BirdLife South Africa has formed a working group with the Endangered Wildlife Trust and International Crane Foundation partnership; the Overberg Crane Group and the FitzPatrick Institute to reinvigorate the project, particularly in areas like the Karoo. The citizen science project is conducted twice annually, relying on dedicated volunteers who count birds along fixed routes creating one of the most robust long-term datasets for large terrestrial birds in the country. The organisations pointed to recent research by The key drivers of nest failure in the Overberg are disturbance and high temperatures, research by MSc student Since 1991 the Overberg Crane Group, along with partners such as CapeNature and the Endangered Wildlife Trust and International Crane Foundation, have driven blue crane conservation efforts in the Overberg. This involved engaging actively with landowners to raise awareness and ensure that farming and cranes coexist peacefully. Similar programmes were initiated in the Karoo and Drakensberg, under the auspices of the South African Crane Working Group. The success of these interventions meant that the blue crane population increased and was regionally downlisted to near threatened in 2015, based on data up until 2010. 'As the population was doing well, conservation efforts for blue cranes were reduced in the Western Cape and Karoo. This can be attributed to the fact that conservation resources are limited and work needs to be prioritised to species that need it the most.' All three crane species in South Africa — the blue, wattled and grey crowned — are found in the Drakensberg region. Ongoing 'The uplisting has demonstrated that this species is dependent on ongoing conservation efforts, especially as they occur almost entirely outside of protected areas.' Within the Overberg, blue cranes are primarily found in wheatlands. 'As new technologies are implemented, cultivars are developed and farming methods are adapted, blue cranes populations are being affected,' they said. 'Indications are that an increase in the practice of minimum till and increased canola production may have reduced the availability of suitable feeding and breeding areas for cranes.' More research was needed to confirm this. Blue cranes have 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. Research has revealed that Still, collision with powerlines remains the main threat to blue cranes. The conservation organisations said ongoing mitigation is necessary, especially as new powerlines 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. Blue cranes have a strong association with agriculture across their range in South Africa and a variety of conservation expertise is required to conserve the species. 'Encouragingly, many farmers have already embraced their role as custodians of these birds, showing that agricultural productivity and biodiversity conservation can go hand in hand,' the groups said. 'Their commitment forms the backbone of South Africa's blue crane conservation efforts.' Kevin Shaw, the chairperson of the Overberg Crane Group, added that the Red List assessment is the determination of extinction risk. It looks at how well the species is doing over a period of time and measures it against set criteria, allowing assessors to assign a conservation status. 'What is often forgotten is that the survival of a species is governed by two forces: the threats on the one hand and the mitigation efforts to combat these threats. If the population of a threatened species is improving and it is uplisted (as was the blue crane 10 years ago) then we all rejoice, clap one another on the backs on a job well done and walk off to tackle the next species, forgetting that the threats are still there and the only reason why the species 'recovered' was because of conservation actions.' It therefore came as no surprise to him that the blue crane had been uplisted again 10 years later. 'The threats are still there, and there may be even different ones because … we don't have a clue on what is going on, on the ground. There is a lot of speculation, but with finite resources , we need to be damn sure, otherwise we could be wasting valuable resources on conservation actions that will not achieve relevant results.' According to Shaw, the biggest problem for the blue crane is that the largest portion of its population occurs on agricultural land. This is not seen as a conservation priority as it does not contribute to the country's target for conservation in terms of land within protected areas. 'Also this is where the largest human impact is, with landowners changing the landscape on a large scale influenced predominantly by agricultural trends and economics,' he said. 'The latter are constantly changing and, without keeping abreast, it becomes difficult to assess where and what the threats are and, subsequently, the best conservation actions to mitigate these threats.' The lack of presence on the ground is a big factor in the species' decline, he noted. 'This not only refers to a fieldworker but government staff as well. In the past, we had agricultural extension staff in the regions, which we knew well and could rely on to indicate what is happening on the ground.' These staff no longer exist. 'Also the [Overberg Crane Group] and the fieldworker were well supported by the then provincial conservation department, now CapeNature. With budget cuts and lack of resources this has dwindled and conservation work has been reduced to work on protected areas with off-reserve conservation left to a few officers having to work over large areas, resulting in predominantly reactive work.' This situation is not restricted to the Western Cape but is relevant to all provinces and is indicative of the state of conservation in the country. 'Also, conservation effort within an agricultural landscape is still something of an anomaly within South Africa, with conservation priorities set to save target percentages of natural vegetation types/percentage of the country within protected areas. This is an easier target to set, easier to defend and easier to strategise to achieve.' The conservation groups said that, with the help of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's planning specialist group, the Endangered Wildlife Trust- International Crane Foundation has coordinated a multi-stakeholder conservation planning process for blue cranes. Other partners involved include the Overberg Crane Group, CapeNature, Wool Growers Association, Kogelberg Biosphere Rehabilitation Centre, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Eskom and BirdLife South Africa. This 'We are confident that, with coordinated, evidence-driven conservation action, we can turn around the environmental status of the blue crane.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
South Africa's wattled cranes are no longer critically endangered: why the birds' numbers are rising
Cranes are some of the world's most majestic birds, with 15 species found globally. Four of these are found in Africa. The wattled crane in South Africa was in decline, but seems to have turned a corner. Its numbers have increased from just 188 birds in 2000 to 304 today. Crane researcher Lara Fuller explains how the population's recovery recently led to it being moved from Critically Endangered to Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's list of threatened species. Wattled cranes are the largest crane species in Africa. They are only found on the continent and there are only about 9,600 left in Zambia, Botswana, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The tall birds (up to 180cm or six feet tall) have a wingspan of up to 2.6 metres wide and can weigh up to 8 kilograms. They're the tallest flying African bird. In the wild, the wattled cranes are estimated to live for about 30 years although older birds have been observed. These birds carry striking colours and conduct spectacular mating rituals involving bowing, dancing and jumping. They symbolise grace, devotion, beauty and longevity. Firstly, the number of breeding areas has increased. In 1999, there were only 70 breeding territories. Today, this has increased to 84 breeding areas in the wattled crane's core population in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. To count cranes, we use annual aerial surveys. We average the number of birds viewed over several years so that we are sure we get an accurate number. In 2000, there were just 188 individual birds in KwaZulu-Natal. By 2005, the South Africa population had increased to 242 individual birds. By 2024, 304 individual birds were found. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature keeps lists of how endangered all animals are globally. This helps scientists and society know when an animal is edging closer to extinction. When an animal becomes less endangered through a conservation success, this is known as downlisting. In the case of the wattled cranes, their downlisting from Critically Endangered to Endangered was achieved by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the International Crane Foundation working with landowners where the birds live to restore their habitats. The biggest number of these birds living together in Africa is found on the southern-central floodplains (areas of flooded grasslands found in different countries across southern and central Africa). There are two smaller populations in Ethiopia and South Africa. Most wattled cranes in South Africa inhabit the foothills of the Drakensberg mountain range. This area provides a large amount of drinking water to numerous towns and settlements. Wattled cranes live in wetlands and grasslands in the area. The wetlands form between 10% and 40% of their breeding territory, and the surrounding natural grasslands make up about 20% to 80% of their nesting territory. Grasslands are crucial to the health of wetlands. They keep soil stable and prevent erosion and siltation of the wetland. These areas also provide water to people through naturally occurring springs. These are often used by rural villages, and without them, many communities would not have access to drinking water. Read more: Grasslands are also foraging areas for the family of wattled cranes as the chick becomes larger. Wattled cranes eat water lilies and other water plants, water insects, snails, and frogs found in wetlands. The birds breed in wetlands, where there is enough food available for chicks to grow one inch (2.54 cm) per week after they hatch. The chicks only start flying when they are several weeks old. Until then, wetlands act as natural moats, protecting chicks from being eaten by predators. Read more: Wetlands are often seen as muddy, damp, insect ridden and smelly places. In South Africa in the 1970s, 50% of the country's wetlands were drained and turned into commercial agricultural lands or degraded. As South Africa is also considered a water scarce country, this action had a devastating result and is partly the reason why the wattled cranes became critically endangered. When rain falls in abundance, wetlands soak up the water, slowing the flow down and reducing flooding. This saves a lot of damage to infrastructure and prevents soil erosion in natural areas. Wetlands are also a natural water purification system – they clean pollutants from the water, and deliver water that is much cleaner than it was when it soaked into the wetland. Where wattled cranes are found breeding in wetlands, it is a clear sign that the wetland is healthy and thriving. The wellbeing of people, cranes and wetlands is intricately linked. The size of the wattled crane population in KwaZulu-Natal – fewer than 400 birds – makes it incredibly vulnerable to catastrophic events, such as disease. This would put the species at risk of extinction in South Africa. Wattled cranes need more breeding sites to increase their populations. Wetlands need to be rehabilitated and restored, because the birds won't mate and breed in degraded or polluted wetlands. Environmentalists and the birds will be relying on the goodwill of landowners and everyone who uses wetlands to support this and help keep wetlands clean. We plan to deepen our work in restoring wetlands. We aim to restore wetlands in other parts of South Africa too so that wattled cranes can go back into these habitats and continue to breed. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Lara Fuller, University of KwaZulu-Natal Read more: For endangered species, the road to recovery can be winding and bumpy Bird species are disappearing at an alarming rate in Kenya – new study South Africa's Agulhas long-billed lark: adapting and surviving despite farming taking over their nesting grounds Lara Fuller works for two NPO's the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the International Crane Foundation. These orgainsations receives funds from multiple bodies.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
With bird flu circulating, is it safe to leave up bird feeders?
As highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, circulates across the nation and beyond it is causing die-offs in domestic flocks as well as wild birds. Since early 2022 the disease has killed or led to the culling of about 166 million domestic birds in the U.S., according to a March 11 report of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It's the largest, deadliest and most costly bird flu outbreak in history, according to federal officials. The toll on wild birds is harder to tally but is also significant, according to wildlife officials. In late February the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused the deaths of an estimated 1,500 sandhill cranes across several counties in Indiana, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. It was the largest documented number of crane deaths due to bird flu anywhere in North America, said Anne Lacy, director of Eastern Flyway programs for the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo. With all the news of bird deaths, many people have concerns about feeding birds in their yards. Here is how bird flu affects different species and tips for safely feeding birds in your yard. Highly pathogenic avian influenza does not affect all types of birds equally, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Waterfowl such as ducks and geese as well as raptors such as bald eagles have been among those hit hardest by the disease. And domestic poultry are extremely susceptible to bird flu and spread the disease easily, leading to up to 100% mortality of affected flocks. Since the most recent outbreak of bird flu started about three years ago, the Raptor Education Center Inc. in Antigo has taken in about 3,000 sick or dying birds, mostly from central and northern Wisconsin. About 40% were songbirds of some sort. But none had symptoms of or were detected with bird flu, said Marge Gibson, REGI founder and wildlife rehabilitator. Meanwhile about a dozen bald eagles were brought to the center with bird flu; all either died from the disease or had to be euthanized. The general answer is no, according to wildlife health experts and rehabilitators. Songbirds are much less likely than waterfowl to contract variants of avian influenza and less likely to shed large amounts of virus, meaning they do not transmit the disease easily, according to Cornell. "If people have been feeding birds, you can continue, you should continue," Gibson said. "It brings benefits, including to people. As of now there is no reason to not feed birds." Gibson said people with bird feeders in their yards should continue by using best practices, including regular cleaning of feeders with a mild bleach solution and water. Rubber gloves should be worn when cleaning the feeders. And if any dead birds are seen, use rubber gloves to pick them up and bag them and properly dispose of them in the trash. In advice on its website, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says removing backyard bird feeders is not something the agency specifically recommends to prevent the spread of avian influenza. Unless, that is, you raise poultry. People who care for poultry should prevent contact between wild birds and poultry by removing sources of food, water, and shelter that attract wild birds, according to the agency. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking for the public's help in monitoring for bird flu this spring. If five or more sick or dead birds are observed in one area, the public is encouraged to report it by emailing to DNRWildlifeSwitchboard@ or calling (608) 267-0866. In your message, include the number of animals, the species (such as Canada goose), if they were sick or dead, the specific location where you saw them, including name of county, as well as your contact information. More: What to know about bird flu as wild birds across Wisconsin have tested positive for the virus This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Is it safe to use bird feeders with bird flu circulating?
CBC
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
How humans in costumes teach whooping cranes to be cranes
How humans in costumes teach whooping cranes to be cranes 21 minutes ago Duration 1:50 Social Sharing At the International Crane Foundation (ICF) headquarters in Baraboo, Wis., Marianne Wellington gets ready for work. As a chick-rearing supervisor at the ICF, part of Wellington's job is to dress like a crane. Her costume includes a white robe and hood to obscure her human features, a crane puppet on her hand and, in her pocket, a recording of a contact call that crane parents make for their chicks. In the 1940s, whooping cranes were on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 20 left. Today there are more than 800. The ICF helped grow their numbers through conservation, breeding and reintroduction programs. That's where Wellington's team comes in: her role is crucial to the development and training of baby cranes for the wild. "Cranes will imprint on their keepers, and so we try to do everything that we can to have a bird know that it's a bird, and not a human being in a funny costume," Wellington says in this clip from the documentary Dances With Cranes.
CBC
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Whooping cranes were almost extinct — until Canadian ornithologist George Archibald learned to dance with them
Social Sharing In 1954, an eight-year-old George Archibald was sitting in a one-room school in Nova Scotia when he heard a CBC radio program about whooping cranes in Northern Canada. It was a dramatization: actors portrayed two cranes, and one was panicking about their nesting grounds being discovered, fearing the cranes would soon be killed. Her mate reassured her that they lived in an area protected by the Canadian government and they were safe. That program changed Archibald's life — and the cranes' future. As an adult, he devoted himself to conservation, co-founding the International Crane Foundation (ICF) and spending more than five decades facilitating the birds' stunning recovery. In the 1940s, there were fewer than 20 whooping cranes left. Today, there are more than 800, though they are still an endangered species. Dances With Cranes, an episode of The Nature of Things, features a year in the life of whooping cranes and the humans saving them from extinction. Wooing a bird that loved only humans Dances With Cranes has a very literal meaning — Archibald's work to bring back whooping cranes from the brink of extinction involved deep knee bends, flapping his arms, and jumping up and down. In the 1960s, a whooping crane — which came to be known as Tex — was hatched and raised in a zoo, but mistakes were made in her upbringing. "The director of the zoo took this little bird into his home, and it became hopelessly imprinted on humans," Archibald says in the documentary. "For 10 years, they tried pairing Tex to a male crane. She had absolutely no interest in cranes, but when male zookeepers walked by, she would start dancing." Archibald offered to work with Tex, and she was sent to the ICF in 1976. To trigger her reproductive cycle — so she could be artificially inseminated — Archibald learned to dance like a crane. Dancing is the bird's language of courtship. And after seven years, it worked. Tex laid a viable egg, producing a whooping crane named Gee Whiz. That bird produced 26 of his own offspring, which in turn resulted in about 130 more chicks. One Canadian's lifelong mission to save the whooping crane 35 minutes ago Duration 5:47 George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, once sat down with David Suzuki to talk about his work bringing the whooping crane back from the brink of extinction. 45 years later, Sarika Cullis-Suzuki visits Archibald to see the impact of his efforts. Watch Dances with Cranes now on CBC Gem and The Nature of Things YouTube channel. A female crane born to Gee Whiz became the first of the lineage to breed in the wild. The unique story and remarkable success earned Archibald his 15 minutes of fame: an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Archibald received a devastating phone call just before his interview: raccoons had entered Tex's enclosure and killed her. On stage, Archibald told Carson what had happened, and the studio audience gasped. "All across the country, I think a good portion of the 22 million people did the same," Archibald later told Audubon magazine. "And I think whooping cranes likely got a lot more sympathy through Tex's death than from her dance." Helping cranes to thrive in the wild Archibald's work in crane conservation has won him countless awards, four honorary doctorates and the Order of Canada. And the ICF continues to be a lifeline for all 15 crane species, working with specialists in more than 50 countries around the world. At the ICF headquarters in Baraboo, Wis., about 100 cranes live in a captive flock. Captive breeding is often necessary to save an endangered species from extinction, but the goal is to see the birds flourishing in the wild. "The last thing in the world you want is [for them] to be fixated on humans," Archibald says. Dances With Cranes shows ICF staff donning elaborate crane costumes and interacting with new chicks, encouraging them to forage for food. It's a laborious blend of rearing and caretaking, with the hopes the birds will eventually join an existing wild flock. The ICF also encourages adult whooping cranes to raise chicks when possible. Archibald says he has approached his decades of work with optimism and patience and quotes his mother as inspiration: "The only way to get something done is to do it." "I saw the crane foundation right from the beginning as a fertile egg that had to be incubated with the proper conditions, and at some point it's going to hatch," he says. "And I feel that way about all of our projects — that they're very difficult, but through faith and hard work, eventually you'll have a hatch."
