Botha’s Lark Project

Botha’s Lark is South Africa’s most threatened bird, surviving in scattered pockets of high-altitude grassland. Our project focuses on finding and monitoring these remaining populations and building the knowledge needed to secure their future. Through extensive field surveys we locate birds across their range and track population trends over time. We monitor breeding activity, ring individuals to understand movement and survival, and use camera traps at nests to identify the factors shaping breeding success. By investigating threats, from predation to environmental pressures, we produce practical scientific evidence that can guide conservation action. We do this because preventing the loss of Botha’s Lark depends on knowing where birds persist and what they need to thrive. Our work delivers the data and insight required to inform decisions that protect this uniquely South African species.