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Mail & Guardian
05-07-2025
- Science
- Mail & Guardian
Sparrow-weaver nests help shape bird biodiversity in the southern Kalahari
Photo by Lesedi Moagi Conducting fieldwork under the blistering 40°C heat of the southern Kalahari, 'Some mornings, by 7.30am, it was already over 20°C,' recalled Moagi, a master's student at the University of Cape Town. 'And the birds were already becoming less active. They have to split their daily activities depending on the temperature.' Moagi's research focused on understanding how the 'We already knew that birds like scaly-feathered weavers, ashy tits and the Acacia pied barbet were roosting in these nests,' she said, noting this behaviour hadn't been studied in detail. The inspiration for the research came from another desert species — the sociable weaver — whose apartment-block-like communal nests are used by a variety of species. That research is well-established, Moagi said. 'With white-browed sparrow-weavers, their nests are also being used by other bird species but this has not been studied deeply and it hasn't been understood as well. That's how the idea came about — that it would be cool to actually try to understand the value that these nests hold in the ecosystem.' (Photo by Azraa Ebrahim) To assess the effect of the sparrow-weaver's nest structures, she observed both naturally occurring nests and those that had fallen in the wind, which she relocated to trees without nests. She then compared bird abundance and species diversity in areas with and without nests. 'We wanted to see if they also affect the overall avian community in the Kalahari to see in an area with more of these nests,' she said. 'We wanted to measure the avian abundance and the number of species that are actually hanging around these nests. We saw their numbers increasing.' Her findings position the sparrow-weavers as ecosystem engineers — species that modify the environment in ways that benefit other organisms. But the sparrow-weaver population itself may be under threat. Once common across the Kalahari, Moagi said fewer sparrow-weavers could mean fewer shelters, which might force other species to expend more energy building their own, or even struggle to survive. 'The physical changes the sparrow-weavers make influence the distribution of the animals. If we have less of these sparrow-weavers, it might affect the number of the species that are using these structures; it might influence their distribution and their movement.' (Photo by Sthabile Khumalo) The ability to find safe, insulated shelter is critical for survival in the harsh Kalahari environment. 'The Kalahari is so hot. Birds can't finish building a nest in a single day because it gets so hot and they need to conserve their energy.' Moagi also placed temperature loggers inside and outside the nests to measure their insulation. The results showed that the nests provided a consistent buffer against extreme temperatures — up to a 4°C difference compared to the surrounding air. In the Kalahari, that kind of thermal stability is crucial. With She suggested practical interventions including providing water points and shaded areas in key nesting zones and preserving grasses used in nest-building.
CNA
12-06-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Erasmus backs university student Makhaza to be future Springbok
Coach Rassie Erasmus does not foresee an immediate Springbok cap for Ntokozo Makhaza, but believes the winger will one day wear the green and gold having been called into the South Africa squad without playing a game of professional rugby. Makhaza, 23, who found out about his selection for the start of the international season on social media, plays for the University of Cape Town in South Africa's Varsity Cup competition and is a reliable goal-kicker and speedy on the wing. He is studying for a degree in psychology and social development and has never been tested against professional players. "It's been a pleasure to work with him," Erasmus told reporters on Thursday. "He's consistently been the top Varsity Cup player, and especially in terms of point scoring, probably one of the best in the competition's history. "You sometimes wonder, is this one of those players who slipped through the cracks? It's been good to see what he brings." Erasmus suggests the June 28 meeting with the Barbarians in Cape Town, and July's two tests against Italy and one versus Georgia, might come too soon, but believes Makhaza could wear the jersey in the future. "We definitely think he's someone who could play for the Springboks one day. It might be a bit early now. He's slotted in really well, but we're also being realistic. Having said that, he's certainly not far off the pace," Erasmus said. "I think he's going to make it one day. And if we hadn't given him this chance, we'd never know." Erasmus revealed there are several players with long-term injuries that are unlikely to feature for the Springboks this year – props Trevor Nyakane and Frans Malherbe, hooker/loose-forward Deon Fourie, and loose-forwards Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom. Better news is the return to fitness in the coming weeks of several World Cup winners, including flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit, number eight Jasper Wiese and scrumhalf Grant Williams.
Reuters
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Erasmus backs university student Makhaza to be future Springbok
June 12 (Reuters) - Coach Rassie Erasmus does not foresee an immediate Springbok cap for Ntokozo Makhaza, but believes the winger will one day wear the green and gold having been called into the South Africa squad without playing a game of professional rugby. Makhaza, 23, who found out about his selection for the start of the international season on social media, plays for the University of Cape Town in South Africa's Varsity Cup competition and is a reliable goal-kicker and speedy on the wing. He is studying for a degree in psychology and social development and has never been tested against professional players. "It's been a pleasure to work with him," Erasmus told reporters on Thursday. "He's consistently been the top Varsity Cup player, and especially in terms of point scoring, probably one of the best in the competition's history. "You sometimes wonder, is this one of those players who slipped through the cracks? It's been good to see what he brings." Erasmus suggests the June 28 meeting with the Barbarians in Cape Town, and July's two tests against Italy and one versus Georgia, might come too soon, but believes Makhaza could wear the jersey in the future. "We definitely think he's someone who could play for the Springboks one day. It might be a bit early now. He's slotted in really well, but we're also being realistic. Having said that, he's certainly not far off the pace," Erasmus said. "I think he's going to make it one day. And if we hadn't given him this chance, we'd never know." Erasmus revealed there are several players with long-term injuries that are unlikely to feature for the Springboks this year – props Trevor Nyakane and Frans Malherbe, hooker/loose-forward Deon Fourie, and loose-forwards Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom. Better news is the return to fitness in the coming weeks of several World Cup winners, including flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit, number eight Jasper Wiese and scrumhalf Grant Williams.
