There are approximately 300 Botha’s Lark birds left in South Africa.
It is the most threatened bird in modern history on the African continent, so much so, that BirdLife South Africa, is in the process of uplisting its conservation status on the IUCN Red data list to critically endangered, as an urgent measure to raise awareness.
Sophisticated models predict the Botha’s Lark could go extinct as early as next year.
The bird is not under pressure because it was named after Apartheid era President Louis Botha, conservationists say there is simply no political will to protect the bird.
This is despite its habitat, right in the middle of the Grasslands Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA/ KBA). This is one of the most important areas in SA for conservation, it is also a strategic water source.
The area encompasses protected areas including Sneeuberg, Mabola, KwaMandlangampisi and Pongola Bush Nature Reserve.
Speaking at this week’s Conservation Conversations, Dr David Ehlers Smith, project manager at BirdLife South Africa, said the Botha’s Lark is the most threatened terrestrial bird in South Africa mainly due to change in its habitat, from mesic highlands grasslands (lush, always covered by frost and rain) to crop lands.
Rising temperatures leading to less water and more regular fires, worsens the situation.
Smith said the fragmentation of its habitat is bringing new predators, which disturbs the predator-prey relationship.
Smith’s research has suggested grazing be the primary method of defoliation. There is also a need to reduce fire prevalence and frequency in its habitat of preference, which is made up of short, low cover and short high cover grass.
Dr Hanneline Smit- Robinson who heads up BirdLife South Africa, said education and awareness efforts are underway to protect the bird, including consultation with landowners in its area of distribution, to champion sustainable land practices, and in future, declare the Highveld Protected Environment.
The Daggakraal environmental education and awareness project, with Kristi Garland and Palesa Moloi, is funded by Idstein Family Trust, and has 37 educators in the Seme Secondary School and 31 at the Ethembeni Primary. It has an immediate combined reach of over 2K learners, from Grade 4 – Grade 8.
More youngsters are reached through a 3 – day holiday program.
BirdLife SA bids farewell to Andrew
BirdLife bid farewell to Andrew de Blocq, who has hosted the Conservation Conversations for 31% of the time, 48 of the 154 episodes.
The elequent de Blocq, is off to join politics as from the 01st of May 2024.
See his picture with the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, at the Ecologic Awards.
Pictures : Supplied