Birds are resilient and often fly high in the harshest of conditions.
It is Winter in South Africa, with temperatures in most Provinces way below 18 degrees, but common water birds in Winter are chirping about day and night. They include the Great White Pelicans, African Swamphens, Ducks, Little Swifts, Brown-throated Martins and many more, Bird Life South Africa, has an extensive list of more than 300 types.
In addition to Winter, these feathered- friendly creatures, survive polluted habitats. Take the case of some 53% of contaminated rivers, according to the Department of Water Affairs’ last report (2019), who are also home to birds and other life.
The dirtiest River in South Africa is listed as the Hennops River in Kempton Park. It joins others worse off in the world, such as the Ganges in India and the Citarum in Indonesia.
Birds are resilient, that in most cases, they don’t die, they just simply don’t reproduce, causing populations to dwindle for years.
According to the British Trust for Ornithology, “oil can suffocate birds or destroy the water-proofing properties of their feathers, resulting in hypothermia and reduced buoyancy. If ingested, oil and associated toxins can damage birds’ internal organs and affect their metabolism.”
Other sources of water pollution such as pesticides and heavy metals, can also lead to bird illnesses and kills.
During drought times, they simply congregate at remaining water spots, even at the risk of contaminating diseases because of dehydration.