Working to minimise key threats to South Africa’s terrestrial birds
The Species Conservation Programme aims to mitigate key threats to South Africa’s bird species, focused on but not limited to birds of prey and large terrestrial bird species, creating a world where humans and these iconic bird species can coexist and thrive. The mission of the programme is to implement solution-based conservation projects, underpinned by sound scientific research, that would safeguard the future of some of South Africa’s most threatened bird species and the revitalisation of the important ecosystem services they provide. The programme currently encompasses the Vulture Project, the Secretarybird Project and Birds and Agrochemicals Project.
Through extensive research, BirdLife South Africa has described the extent and physiological effects of lead poisoning in South Africa’s embattled vulture populations (particularly the Critically Endangered White-backed Vulture), conclusively linking the source of the poisoning to fragments of lead embedded in the carcasses of animals shot with lead-based ammunition. Through innovative workshops and active stakeholder engagement, BirdLife South Africa is now driving the switch to lead-free ammunition for hunting, culling and game management purposes. BirdLife South Africa has compiled the largest database of Secretarybird nest sites on the African continent and has taken a leading role in promoting Secretarybirds as a sentinel species for responsible grassland management, as well as the responsible implementation of renewable energy projects. The Birds and Agrochemicals Project is now investigating the impact of agricultural pesticides on South Africa’s bird species; a potentially critical threat that has received little to no attention. Collectively, all of these projects ultimately benefit not only the flagship species themselves, but also many other species that are threatened by the same suit of threats. The outcomes will result in lasting benefits for South Africa’s iconic avifauna.
