Poor Bustard

Posted Mon, 25 May 2009 (3 years ago)

Don't let the poor bustards die! A ringing call from BirdLife SA who are coming to the rescue of one of the ugly duckings of the SA bird population.

They may not be the prettiest birds to soar through South Africa’s skies, but these bustards are in need of some urgent assistance to save them from becoming the next ‘dodo’ of the avian world. And BirdLife SA is coming to the rescue.

In a report in this morning’s Cape Times statistics are used to reveal the fact that 6 of the 10 species of bustard in SA are on the Red Data Book as ‘near endangered’, but that their better-looking counterparts are getting all the help and glory – largely due to the rather scruffy and unglamorous style of the poor bustard.

BirdLife SA has formed a Bustard Working Group, specifically aimed at protecting the Ludwig’s Bustard species in the Karoo.

Habitat destruction and death on powerlines are listed as two of the biggest threats to the survival of the dowdy birds. They fly in large groups and in poor light they are not able to maneuver themselves around the barely visible lines even if they do see them.

With the current population of the Ludwig’s Bustard (worldwide) estimated to be between 56 000 and 81 000, the fear that around 10 000 a year die from flying into powerlines is (deadly) serious.

Eskom and the Endangered Wildlife Trust are also working together to try find a solution via a change in the infrastructure of the powerlines.

Once again we need to show our support and appreciation for those organisations in South Africa which look out for the survival all creatures, great and small, glamorous and plain.

(Image: Jo Mur. Creative Commons License)

1 Response to Poor Bustard

I farmed in the Cradock district for 30 years and during this time Escom built lines through both irrigated and veld areas on the farm. After years of birds flying into the lines and being killed (especially White Storks)and Ludwigs Bustard as well they attached plastic discs to the line. This made a huge contribution to reducing the number of fatalities caused by the lines.I believe that this is the single biggest action that can be taken to protect Bustards.

Farmers should also be discouraged from spraying Ruspers (Karoo Caterpillar). These catterpillars only occur after good rain and the bush they eat recovers and producers more food even before the next rain falls. In the meantime the catterpillars have fertilized the veld to the advantage of every living thing including the farmer.

Farmers should discourage hunting with dogs as this leads to the destruction of nests and many usefull animals like Bat-eared foxes that controll termite populations.

By ALAN COLLETT (3 years ago)