Secretarybird Project

About this Project

The Secretarybird Project works to safeguard one of Africa’s most iconic yet rapidly declining raptors. Through long-term tracking, field research, and close collaboration with landowners, conservation authorities, and industry, we uncover how Secretarybirds move through our landscapes and how modern threats — from habitat loss to powerlines and fencing — affect their survival. Our work produces practical conservation tools, including movement maps, habitat-use insights, collision-risk assessments, and land-management guidelines that protect birds where they live, breed, and hunt. We do this because Secretarybirds are disappearing at an alarming rate. Their future depends on informed action, strong science, and collective stewardship. By bridging research with real-world conservation, we aim to secure these open, wild spaces — and ensure that future generations can still watch this remarkable bird stride across South Africa’s grasslands and savannas.

How we do it

Satellite Tracking & Movement Ecology We run one of Africa’s most comprehensive Secretarybird tracking programmes, generating thousands of GPS fixes that reveal how birds use their territories, where they face risks, and how conservation measures can be targeted. These data directly inform national planning, industry guidelines, and on-the-ground interventions. Nest Monitoring & Breeding Insights By working with landowners, field teams, and community partners, we track breeding attempts across the country, improving understanding of nesting success, threats, and long-term population trends. Collision & Infrastructure Risk Assessment Using our tracking data, field surveys, and partnerships with Eskom and environmental practitioners, we identify high-risk powerlines and landscapes. This work guides mitigation, reduces collisions, and shapes national best-practice guidelines. Habitat & Land-Use Conservation We translate science into practical tools for farmers and land managers — from vegetation and fire-management recommendations to maps that highlight key foraging and nesting areas.

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