Saturday 21 September 2013

136 | GUESTS WANT A CLEAN SOUTHERN AFRICA

136


SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TOURISM HAS POTENTIAL AND SKILLS BUT LACKS LITTER AWARENESS!

Guests want a clean southern Africa

Photos and text by Stefan Rust
2013

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belongs to Stefan Rust)


It is beyond my comprehension that people in today’s time continue littering, in the knowledge that it is not sustainable or healthy.

It is no pleasure, taking guests through the Caprivi Strip in Namibia, Francistown in Botswana or Mapungubwe NP in South Africa with plastics and rubbish all alongside the roads.
Is it a mindset, stupidity or a case of ‘doesn’t bother me’? Destruction of the environment, animals and people through littering is nothing new.



Because of this serious litter situation, BirdsConTour together with guests takes action under its division Travel gives Wings to collect litter while being on tour. This project was given the name BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat. It was founded in a bid to not only complain but to take action and to hopefully create awareness with people the moment they see BirdsConTour and the guests collecting litter. Respond is positive because often people in the surrounding join and start picking up litter.

In this regard, Stefan Rust from BirdsConTour collected litter while being on the road with a Limpopo Tour from Pack Safar and Chamäleon Reisen. Areas that have been cleaned are the turnoff to Mount Etjo, Namibia, and the parking area at the Mapungubwe NP museum in South Africa. These places were in dire need of attention.

135 | AWARDING TOUR PARTICIPANTS

135


INTERNATIONAL AWARDEES

Awarding tour participants

Photos and text by Stefan Rust
2013

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belong to Stefan Rust)


 

In this age traveling becomes more and more important to people around the globe. To keep an eye on nature and to balance tourism and nature conservation, BirdsConTour initiated the “Travel gives Wings” division.

By traveling directly with BirdsConTour or making use of a guide from BirdsConTour you support bird conservation and create an economic platform for local livelihoods. Sometimes travelers also participate in another BirdsConTour project. To say THANK YOU, every tour participant receives a Bird & Birder Friendly Award at the end of the tour.


Cleaning sessions during the tour are part of the "BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat" project. This time the surrounding area of a termite mound at the turnoff to Mount Etjo was cleaned from litter.

Six German-speaking guests were rewarded with one penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Awards:

Petra & Volkmar Gallmeister
Günter Gross
Erika & Jürgen Rudnick
Uwe Schaumann

The six German guests on a nature walk in the Mudumu NP.

This Limpopo Tour, organized by Pack Safari and Chamäleon Reisen, took place from the 1st of September until the 20th of September 2013.

Friday 20 September 2013

134 | HANNAH LODGE HONOURED


134

ACHIEVERS

Hannah Lodge honoured

Photos and text by Stefan Rust
2013

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belong to Stefan Rust)



With a two penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award in their possession, handed over by Stefan Rust from BirdsConTour, Hannah Lodge and its team, can now proudly market themselves as a bird and birder friendly establishment!

                              
Bird bath in the garden                                                Ostriches in the garden function as natural pest controllers 

Such an award acknowledges the role people, establishments, organizations or companies play in bird conservation and birdwatcher friendliness. The awards aim to help the receivers to market themselves as being conservation conscious and if desired, capable of venturing into birding tourism markets.

133 | DUMELA LODGE


133

DUMELA LODGE

Your birding lodge in Francistown

Photos and text by Stefan Rust
2013

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belong to Stefan Rust)


BirdsConTour honoured the second lodge in Botswana with a two penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award!

The number of establishments outside Namibia that operate bird and birder friendly is increasing, according to the bird conservation and tourism organization (BirdsConTour).
Rewarding the Dumela Lodge in Francistown, Botswana, Stefan Rust, representative of BirdsConTour, praised the effort the lodge staff does in supporting the wild garden birds.

                                                      
Indigenous trees on the lodge ground attract wild birds.                      A bird friendly water pond 

The aim is to show visitors to the lodge that Dumela Lodge is supporting bird conservation. It is amazing how much the diversity of wild birds increases with a bird friendly garden!

129 | PENGUINS FOR LIANSHULU LODGE

129


LIANSHULU LODGE GOES FOR BIRD CONSERVATION

Penguins for Lianshulu Lodge

Photos and text by Stefan Rust
2013

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belong to Stefan Rust)


On a tour to the Caprivi Strip, the Lianshulu Lodge received a two penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award.



BirdsConTour traveled to Caprivi in Namibia to reward the Lianshulu Lodge. This establishment is putting in effort to conserve the wild birds not only on the lodge property but also in the protected park area surrounding the lodge. For their input in bird conservation, which makes it a paradise for birds and birders, BirdsConTour rewarded the Lianshulu Lodge with a two penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award.

132 | VOM KAMPFFLIEGER ZUM VOGELSCHÜTZER - HORST STAHN

132


DAMALS KAMPF IM FLUG, HEUTE KAMPF UM DEN FLUG

Vom Kampfflieger zum Vogelschützer - Horst Stahn

Fotos und Text von Stefan Rust
2013

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belong to Stefan Rust)


                                                                                     Vogelschützer Horst Stahn

Ein bewegtes Leben in der Luftfahrt liegt hinter ihm. Im Jahre 1945 diente er als Flugzeugführer dem Jagdgeschwader 301 in Gardolegen. Dieses Geschwader war zur Nachtjagd mit der Messerschmitt Bf 109 G ausgerüstet, einem einmotorigen Jagdflugzeug, der sogenannten “Wilden Sau”. Nur um haaresbreite überlebte Horst Stahn einen Absturz.
Zudem war er vor 55 Jahren der Hauptfluglehrer des S.W. Gliding Clubs. Unter anderem flog er Persönlichkeiten wie die Tochter des damaligen deutschen Botschafters in Südafrika, Dr. J. Granow, mit dem derzeit neuen Segelflugzeug “Wolf Hirth” durch die Lüfte.

                                                     
Flugzeugführer des Jagdgeschwader 301                                    Diese "Wilde Sau" kostete ihm fast das Leben
Horst Stahn links im Bild

Die Liebe zum Flug hat der 92-jährige Horst Stahn wohl in die Wiege gelegt bekommen denn noch immer ist er vom Flug fasziniert. Dies äußert sich heute jedoch nicht mehr im selber fliegen sondern in seiner Liebe zu den Wildvögeln. “Jeden Morgen um 8 Uhr und jeden Nachmittag um 16 Uhr füttere ich die Vögel in meinem Garten und du musst mal sehen wie die fliegen”, schwärmt der heute in Windhoek, der Hauptstadt Namibias, lebende rüstige Senior. Dort hat er vor einem knappen Monat vor seinem Wohnzimmer Fenster eine Futterstelle errichtet. “Es dauerte einen Monat, das Vertrauen der Vögel zu gewinnen”, erzählt Horst Stahn stolz. Seitdem kommen jeden Tag Schwärme der Felsentoko (African Grey Hornbill / Tockus nasutus). Manchmal kommen auch Gelbschnabeltoko (Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill / Tockus leucomelas). Gern erzählt Horst über sein neues Hobby, der Vogelbeobachtung. Mittlerweile konnte er in seinem Garten auch die Lappenstare (Wattled Starling / Creatophora cinerea), Rotschulterglanzstare (Cape Glossy Starling / Lamprotornis nitens), Maskenbülbül (African red-eyed Bulbul / Pycnonotus nigricans), Trauerdrongo (Fork-tailed Drongo / Dicrurus adsimilis) und einige andere Arten identifizieren.


Wildvogelfutterstelle vorm Wohnzimmerfenster

Es kommen immer mehr Vögel. Wundern muss das freilich nicht, schließlich hat Horst Stahn seinen Garten vogelfreundlich gestaltet. Immer öfter nimmt der Hobbyornithologe ein Vogelbuch zur Hand, ihm vom Namen unbekannte Vögel müssen bestimmt werden und über sie nachgelesen werden. Der wissbegierige Horst erläutert: “Selbst Zeitungsartikel über Vögel sammle ich.”


Die Vogelbestimmung hält den Geist fit

Besonders berührt hat ihn die Situation, als er vor einigen Tagen zwei “seiner” Felsentokos tot vorfand. “Das tat mir sehr weh und ich habe fast geheult. Doch ich habe den Täter erwischt, es war einer der Gärtner aus der Nachbarschaft. Der wurde schon drauf angesprochen! Die toten Vögel habe ich begraben,” berichtete er und es schien als wurden seine Augen feucht.

Die Gestaltung des vogelfreundlichen Gartens und die Schutzbemühungen sind ein Beitrag zum Vogelschutz und deshalb bekam Herr Horst Stahn für seine Leistungen vom Vogelschutz und Tourismus Unternehmen BirdsConTour eine Auszeichnung überreicht. Damit jedoch noch nicht genug, Herr Stahn Senior ist mit seinen 92 Jahren der älteste von BirdsConTour ausgezeichnete Vogelschützer, Gratulation!

Für den Hobbyornithologen ist allerdings noch kein Feierabend. Er muss noch die Nachmittagsfütterung absolvieren. Horst Stahn ist froh und sagt bei der Verabschiedung, dass ihm ohne seine gefiederten Freunde in seinem “Vogelschutzgebiet” (Garten) etwas fehlen würde.

131 | BIRDSCONTOUR REPORT 01.09.'13 - 19.09.'13

131


BIRDSCONTOUR REPORT (01.09.’13 – 19.09.’13)

Text from Stefan Rust
2013

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belong to Stefan Rust)

Dear birding friends, 

as birdwatching is a relatively new and one of the fastest growing and a most popular pursuit, it attracts people of all ages around the world. There can hardly be a better place than southern Africa (Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, South Africa) to nurture an interest in birds as it supports almost 1000 bird species, which is about 10 per cent of the world's entire bird. Taking birding to new heights, Hobby-Ornithologist Stefan Rust together with BirdsConTour represents some of the ontour bird sightings and several other interesting birding aspects to showcase the fun of birding, promote citizen science, highlight conservation, indicate where to view what birds and raise awareness of southern Africa's (sometimes international) birds and their habitats.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WORK GETS DISTRIBUTED INTERNATIONALLY

Have a quick look if you, your site or neighborhood is included in this scientific informational work (alphabetically arranged):

Blyde River Canyon (South Africa)
Chamäleon Reisen
Chobe NP. (Botswana)
Chobe Safari Lodge (Botswana)
Dumela Lodge (Botswana)
Etosha Safari Camp (Gondwana Collection) (Namibia)
Etosha NP. (Gemsbokvlakte and Okondeka Waterhole) (Namibia)
Gallmeister Petra & Volkmar
Gemsbokvlakte Waterhole (Etosha NP) (Namibia)
Gondwana Collection (Etosha Safari Camp) (Namibia)
Gross Günter
Hannah Lodge (South Africa)
Jwaneng (Botswana)
Johannesburg (South Africa)
Kazungula (Botswana)
Krüger NP. (South Africa)
Lianshulu Lodge (Mudumu NP.) (Namibia)
Lobatse (Botswana)
Maope (Botswana)
Mapungubwe NP. (South Africa)
Mopane Bush Lodge (South Africa)
Mudumu NP. (Lianshulu Lodge) (Namibia)
Nunda River Lodge (Namibia)
Ohange Game Lodge (Namibia)
Okondeka Waterhole (Etosha NP.) (Namibia)
Olifants Camp, Krüger NP. (South Africa)
Onjala Lodge (Namibia)
Pack Safari (Namibia)
Rudnick Erika & Jürgen
Schaumann Uwe
Shingwedzi Camp, Krüger NP. (South Africa)
Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (Zimbabwe)
Windhoek (Namibia)


BirdsConTour Report (Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa) Personal Highlights:

BAR-THROATED APALIS
DUMELA LODGE – BIRD & BIRDER FRIENDLY AWARD
HANNAH LODGE – BIRD & BIRDER FRIENDLY AWARD
LIANSHULU LODGE – BIRD & BIRDER FRIENDLY AWARD
WHITE-HEADED VULTURE

Distance traveled: 6 070 km

01.09.'13  Windhoek, Namibia  Tawny Eagle (1) Because of trapping and poisoning in Namibia, numbers decreased and this species provisionally got classified as endangered in this country. Thus it is good news to have found one bird nesting in a nest on top of a tree about 10 km east out of Windhoek, ± 200 m north of the B6.

01.09.'13  Onjala Lodge, Namibia  Scaly-feathered Finch (100’s) Clearly they find appropriate seeds as a food source on the property of the Onjala Private Game Reserve because there are quite a few swarms feeding at seed on the ground. Altogether they must be in their hundreds with a few individual Violet-eared Waxbills associating with the big swarms of Scaly-feathered Finches (not mentioned in the Roberts bird book).

02.09.'13  Onjala Lodge, Namibia  Freckled Nightjar (2) One bird, supposing the male, gave a sound that is different to the usual all year-round sound (pow-wow). This call is a for a long time continuous blub, blub, blub, blub, blub, blub, … repeated sound. It is possible that this is the mating call of the male.

02.09.'13  Turnoff to Mount Etjo  BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat Another BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat cleaning sessions were held while being on a Limpopo tour with a six German guest group. Not only can the rubbish lying around, including glass bottles, cause a bush fire and threaten bird- and wildlife in general, but it is no good impression for guests. Areas that have been cleaned are the turnoff to Mount Etjo, Namibia, and the parking area at the Mapungubwe NP museum in South Africa. These places were in dire need of attention.

02.09.'13  Etosha Safari Camp, Namibia  Pearl-spotted Owlet (1) Probably the hunger drives these birds to become active by day. Although it is reported that they are often active by day, they are clearly more active now than with previous observations. Another reason might be or even additional, that it is now their peak-breeding season.

03.09.'13  Okaukuejo Waterhole, Etosha NP., Namibia  Tawny Eagle (2) Because of trapping and poisoning in Namibia, numbers decreased and this species provisionally got classified as endangered in this country. Thus it is good news to have found one pair nesting in an old vulture nest west of the Okaukuejo Waterhole.

03.09.'13  Etosha Safari Camp, Namibia  Southern Masked-Weaver (100’s) Here 100’s of birds roost communally in the alien trees of the garden. Singing and chattering, they fly in, in small groups, from up to 45 minutes before sunset.

04.09.'13  Klein Namutoni Waterhole, Etosha NP., Namibia  Marsh Sandpiper (1) This juvenile bird arrived quite early, for these fairly common Palearctic-breeding migrants, in our region, but it is not uncommon for juveniles to arrive at this time. It is observed that foraging birds sometimes leave the water to defecate, probably to reduce parasite infection. Storks also have this habit.

04.09.'13  Ohange Namibia Lodge, Namibia  Red-billed Hornbill (2) This is the most habitat restricted one of all small hornbills. It favors open, wooded savanna with sparse ground cover, such as areas that are heavily trampled by game or livestock. Therefore drought years are in their favor and often drive them into areas outside their normal range.

05.09.'13  Nunda River Lodge, Namibia  Violet-backed Starling (1) This individual male seen can either be a member of the small number that is present year-round or he is a breeding intra-African migrant from tropical Africa having arrived early.

05.09.'13  Nunda River Lodge, Namibia  Meves’s Starling (1) Officially this species is not threatened, but potentially it is threatened by the destruction of trees (potential nest sites) by the African Elephants, especially in areas where the population size of these big mammals is unnaturally high (see Chobe NP.), and by uncontrolled firewood collection.

06.09.'13  Lianshulu Lodge, Mudumu NP., Namibia  White-browed Robin Robin-Chat (2) Especially during their breeding season, these birds are ideal guards in the gardens, they even scold and attack large snakes such as Boomslangs Dispholidus typus.

07.09.'13  Lianshulu Lodge, Mudumu NP., Namibia  Bird & Birder Friendly Award BirdsConTour traveled to Caprivi in Namibia to reward the Lianshulu Lodge. This establishment is putting in effort to conserve the wild birds not only on the lodge property but also in the protected park area surrounding the lodge.

08.09.'13  Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana  Southern Brown-throated Weaver (10) This uncommon species is easily overlooked in winter, non-breeding season. The garden of the Chobe safari Lodge is a fine place to spot the subspecies Ploceus xanthopterus castaneigula. Northern Botswana and northeastern Namibia are the only areas to see this subspecies in southern Africa.

09.09.'13  Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana  Bar-throated Apalis (1) A definite identification is the white eyes. This is not their registered distribution area! According to identification, this individual is the Apalis thoracica flaviventris, with a rather indistinctive breast band, an identification aid that separates this subspecies from the 12 other subspecies occurring in southern Africa.

10.09.'13  Kazungula, Botswana, to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe  Southern Ground-Hornbill (15) An astonishingly high number of these birds were seen alongside a 50 km stretch of road in between Kazungula, Botswana, and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, – 15 birds. The grouping was 4, 4, 3, 2 and 2. This results in an estimated density of circa one group per 10 km. The highest recorded density for southern Africa was one group per 20 km at Mana Pools in Zimbabwe. Laying dates are from August till January. A dominant breeding pair can be together with 0 till 9 helpers, mainly being males and juveniles from previous broods.

10.09.'13  Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Zimbabwe  Marabou Stork (16) Primarily a scavenger, the Marabou Storks feed at this Vulture Restaurant, initiated and managed by the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, in association with Hooded, White-backed and Lappet-faced Vultures. Being subordinate to these Vultures, they wait at the side of the feeding frenzy and at a sudden run in to grab scraps. Daily at one o’clock vulture feeding takes place and for the effort in vulture conservation, this lodge received a Bird & Birder Friendly Award from BirdsConTour some time ago.
BirdsConTour urges the staff and visitors of the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge to be on the look out for Marabou Storks that are tagged with a yellow plate provided with a black writing on and to report such sightings. The aim of these marked Storks is to observe the movement of these birds. Better knowledge of their movements is important for better conservation.

10.09.'13  Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana  Red-faced Cisticola (1) It is clearly distinguishable from the Singing Cisticola by its “tsk-tsk-tsk, up-up-up-DOWN-DOWN-down-doown-dooown” voice phrase. (Chamberlain’s LBJs)

10.09.'13  Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana  African Marsh-Harrier (1) In the morning at 6:30 one adult bird flew and collected reed stems as nest material. Males can be observed adding grass or stems to the nest when they guard the eggs or chicks while the female is away feeding. Peak laying dates are September, December and January till June. It is sad to know that the African Marsh-Harrier is, although globally not threatened, classified as vulnerable in South Africa and even as endangered in Namibia. The fires during the species’ breeding season in the Caprivi Strip have a major impact on their population. In regard of animal conservation, these regular fires are a big concern and more attention should be put on finding ways to reduce these Caprivi fires!

11.09.'13  Dumela Lodge, Botswana  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  BirdsConTour honoured the second lodge in Botswana with a two penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award. Find out more under the www.birdscontour.blogspot.com.

11.09.'13  Maope, Botswana  Common Myna (3) Being native to India, they have been introduced to southern Africa at Durban about 1900 to control insects and have spread over southern Africa since then. They prefer urban areas and are often unconcerned of proximity of people or traffic.

12.09.'13  Mopane Bush Lodge, South Africa  Laughing Dove (1) A Laughing Dove at the water pond in the garden of the Mopane Bush Lodge delivered a good example of leucism in birds, in which portions or sometimes all of the plumage lacks pigment but the bare parts are normally colored. The chin and throat feathers of this bird were white in color. Natural selection ensures that abnormalities like this or even albinistic birds are rare and mostly short-lived because the white color makes the animal conspicuous to predators. Even evidence exists that their parents when young may discriminate against birds with color abnormalities and such birds have problems to attract a partner.

12.09.'13  Museum parking area, Mapungubwe NP, South Africa  BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat Another BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat cleaning sessions were held while being on a Limpopo tour with a six German guest group. Not only can the rubbish lying around, including glass bottles, cause a bush fire and threaten bird- and wildlife in general, but it is no good impression for guests. Areas that have been cleaned are the turnoff to Mount Etjo, Namibia, and the parking area at the Mapungubwe NP museum in South Africa. These places were in dire need of attention.

13.09.'13  Mopane Bush Lodge, Mapungubwe NP., South Africa  Double-banded Sandgrouse (2) Being a ground breeder, the soil would be too hot to breed during summer. That is why they breed during winter, April to October. Also its food, mostly seeds of legumes, is ripe in winter. One freshly killed half-grown chick was found near the Bushmen paintings on the western border of the Mapungubwe NP.

14.09.'13  Krüger NP, South Africa  Woolly-necked Stork (2) Classified as near-threatened in South Africa because of threats to breeding habitat, it is a delight to find these birds in this country where the population is estimated at less than 100. Here in the Krüger NP are about eight breeding pairs.

14.09.'13  Shingwedzi Camp Krüger NP, South Africa  Grey-headed Bush-Shrike (1) Often heard but difficult to see, these birds are in their breeding season. Their reproductive rate lies at 0.8 fledglings per pair per year.

15.09.'13  Krüger NP, Pafuri, South Africa  Saddle-billed Stork (1) In Krüger NP. live about 300-400 of them. Although they are not threatened globally, they are endangered in South Africa.

15.09.'13  Olifants Camp Krüger NP, South Africa  African Grey Hornbill (5) In this region, their peak breeding time is October and November. During this time the female moults her flight and tail feathers, while she is “trapped” in the nest. During this season the male provides the female and then the chicks with food, he therefore moults later, mostly November till May.

16.09.'13  Krüger NP, Phalaborwa, South Africa  White-headed Vulture (1) With African population numbers of estimated 7 000-12 500 birds, in southern Africa about 500 pairs and in South Africa together with Swaziland ± 80-120 pairs, one gets a thrill seeing one of theses uncommon White-headed Vultures. The increase of game-farming may have an influence of the increase of range.

16.09.'13  Hannah Lodge, South Africa  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  With a two penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award in their possession, handed over by Stefan Rust from BirdsConTour, Hannah Lodge and its team, can now proudly market themselves as a bird and birder friendly establishment. More information under www.birdscontour.blogspot.com.

17.09.'13  Panorama Route, Ohrigstad, South Africa  Red-backed Mannikin (1) These small birds fall prey to the Fork-tailed Drongo and even praying mantis.

17.09.'13  Hannah Lodge, South Africa  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  By traveling directly with BirdsConTour or making use of a guide from BirdsConTour you support bird conservation and create an economic platform for local livelihoods. Sometimes travelers also participate in other BirdsConTour projects. To say THANK YOU, every tour participant receives a Bird & Birder Friendly Award at the end of the tour.
Seven German-speaking guests were rewarded with one penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Awards:
Petra & Volkmar Gallmeister
Günter Gross
Erika & Jürgen Rudnick
Uwe Schaumann
This Limpopo Tour, organized by Pack Safari and Chamäleon Reisen, took place from the 1st of September until the 20th of September 2013.

18.09.'13  Johannesburg, South Africa  Long-tailed Widowbird (1) Isolated populations are widespread, mostly on private land. Here they are vulnerable to land-use changes such as overgrazing, regular and too frequent fires, commercial afforestation and human establishments.

19.09.'13  Lobatse and Jwaneng, Botswana  Common Myna (6) Almost 70 years after their introduction to Johannesburg in about 1938, the Common Myna population seems to explode. Previously BirdsConTour recorded this species in Nata and Kang, Botswana, and today in Lobatse and Jwaneng, Botswana. Clearly visible a rapid northwards expansion takes place.

19.09.'13  Namibia  Black-shouldered Kite (3) With a thought southern Africa population of up to 100 000 they are not threatened. It seems they are benefiting from bush clearance in agriculture and from alien trees for nesting.


Enjoy Birding, 
Stefan Rust
Please note: Most scientific information has been taken from Roberts Birds of Southern Africa, V11th edition!
(For further reading see www.birdscontour.blog.com)
(For more information contact Stefan Rust on +264 (0)81 129 8415 or birdscontour@iway.na)

Wednesday 4 September 2013

128 | VULTURES IN SERIOUS TROUBLE

128


VULTURES IN SERIOUS TROUBLE

Long-term solutions needed for vulture conservation

Photos and text by Stefan Rust
2013

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belong to Stefan Rust)


With hundreds of vultures being poisoned at one carcass one can’t but wonder, how long will one still see these scavengers soaring? Facts, figures and vulture conservation strategies were explained to the public by a talk of Peter Bridgeford and David Joubert, held on the 29th of August in Windhoek.

Hundreds of poisoned vultures in one incident

As Mr. Joubert, a lecturer and researcher at the Polytechnic of Namibia, stated, the loss of six Lappet-faced Vultures equals the loss of sixty elephants or rhinos. The reproduction rate of vultures is just as slow as that of for example elephant and rhino and the ecological importance of the vultures is just as valuable or even more. But why doesn’t the kill of hundreds of vultures within one incident in the Caprivi strip in Namibia through poisoning, touch the broad public as does the killing of rhinos? Is it a matter of size, because the rhino or elephant is easier to observe than a vulture that flies high up in the sky? Most probably!
Isn’t it time to pay attention to small animals on this planet as well, not only to the big animals everybody can see? That is the reason why bird conservation and tourism (BirdsConTour) rewarded Mr. Peter Bridgeford from “Vultures in Namibia” with a five penguin-rated and Mr. David Joubert with a four penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award for their efforts in vulture conservation.

        
David Joubert and Peter Bridgeford giving talks about vultures and vulture conservation