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Birdlife South Africa News BIRDLIFE SOUTH AFRICA AT WORK BIRDLIFE HOW We’re tACKLING THE MOUNTAIN SOUTH AFRICA ou can help to not only put a news Ystop to the gruesome deaths of albatross chicks, but also restore the ecosystem of Marion Island. And no, it doesn’t mean that you actually go there – rather, you can sponsor a hectare on the island. Give hectares as gifts and set up challenges among your friends and social networks. We are approaching major donors and foundations for support, but we will still need all the help you can give to reach our R30-million target. Our main focus is on the use of so- cial media (Facebook and Instagram) and digital marketing to spread the message and to direct people to our fundraising website. The PETER RYAN website asks for donations, in return Africa felt it had the necessary mandate. Gaping head wounds on a Sooty Albatross for which donors receive a digital We started by raising money in 2014 for chick attacked by mice on Marion Island. certificate with GPS coordinates of a first-pass feasibility and risk assessment the hectares they have sponsored. study by Dr John Parkes, a New Zealand very cautious about being associated with The website will be in operation expert. In early 2017, Fredric Paulsen public appeals for money, whereas Bird- until after the eradication has been of the Mamont Foundation donated to Life South Africa can take a completely completed and will also disseminate the Department of Environmental Af- different approach. information about the current state fairs (DEA) three helicopters that had Peter Ryan helped to launch an appeal of the project. been used to eradicate rodents from for funds to rid Marion Island of mice So check it out, get involved and South Georgia. The DEA’s Environmen- during Flock at Sea AGAIN! by asking help us to reach the summit! And tal Programmes and Oceans and Coasts for pledges – and then the trail went cold, don’t forget to share… OTTO WHITEHEAD branches were already working on con- from our side. We have fielded many en- trol and eradication projects on Marion quiries about when it would be possible to www.mousefreemarion.org.za A fundraising mountain for Mouse Free Marion Island and this donation of helicopters make online donations, but the process is Instagram @marionisland served as a catalyst within the depart- not simple. We are in a partnership with a Facebook Mouse Free Marion nvasive alien species are recognised access. With those two advantages, if we The scientific evidence of the impacts ment to bring together experts and start number of organisations and couldn’t be- as one of the main threats to biodi- can throw enough resources at getting rid mice are having on Marion Island’s eco- planning the eradication of the mice. gin to take money from people without the versity and they are extremely costly of the problem, it’s job done. After that system is voluminous and the impacts However, the price tag for this operation prior agreement of our partners. BirdLife South Africa has committed toI remove from where they are not want- we can walk away and need only invest in themselves are pervasive. Mice have dis- is going to be substantial. There’s a strong Earlier this year BirdLife South Africa to working with credible partners to raise ed. Just think of the effect of the highly bio-security systems, which are generally rupted the flow of nutrients through the obligation for all involved to minimise received the necessary approval from the at least R30-million (half the estimated invasive Australian acacias on the fyn- far cheaper than eradication measures, to ecosystem, they have almost certainly the cost to taxpayers as much as possible. DEA to begin raising funds for the eradi- cost). The entire funding and expendi- bos of the south-western Cape and the prevent re-invasion. extirpated one of two flightless moth And so BirdLife South Africa offered to cation of mice on Marion Island, which in ture of our Mouse Free Marion campaign expensive but ongoing efforts to restore At Marion Island, South Africa long species at Marion (although it persists assist with fundraising. With fewer con- effect protects us, the department and the will be independently audited and made order in the Cape Floral Kingdom. In held the world record for clearing the on neighbouring mouse-free Prince Ed- straints than government departments general public. How so? If we’re the partner available to public scrutiny. After all, general, work to eradicate invasive aliens largest island of cats. The cats on the na- ward Island), and they have devastated have when it comes to purchasing goods mandated to raise money, we can be held to there is no better way to win trust than is tedious and repetitive and success is tion’s sub-Antarctic territory were kill- the remaining invertebrate communities. and employing people, we were confi- account by the DEA for all expenditure. At with complete transparency! not always achieved. But there are, some- ing more than 450 000 seabirds every But for BirdLife South Africa to get in- dent that a partnership with the DEA was the same time, the department can defend Now, at last, we can call on our sup- times, remarkable stories of battles won. year and it took longer than 10 years and volved, there has to be a negative impact a good way to go. us from any criticism, whether it comes porters to help us climb this R30-million Mostly those successes occur on islands, many millions of rands to achieve this on birds. And there most certainly is. What could possibly go wrong? Sadly, from the public, within the government mountain. Who knows, perhaps we can which are isolated and have manageable success. Once the cats had gone, only When Professor Peter Ryan and his there are many examples of fundraising or any other source. So finally, in March – even exceed this target and free up the house mice – probably introduced by students working on Marion began to initiatives that seem fine on paper, but a year after the launch of the appeal – we funds for other projects to eradicate in- above A pair of Wandering Albatrosses per- sealers in the 1800s – remained as an in- report increasing incidents of mice at- in practice the spending is not totally were granted permission to activate our vasive species? form a dance as they reunite before breeding. vasive mammal. tacking seabird chicks, BirdLife South above board. The government has to be fundraising website (see sidebar). NINI VAN DER MERWE & ROSS WANLESS 64 AFRICAN BIRDLIFE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 BIRDLIFE SOUTH AFRICA 65 OUT & ABOUT WITH BIRDLIFE SOUTH AFRICA Owl Awards 2018 BirdLife South Africa couldn’t achieve its goal to ‘give conservation wings’ without the outstanding, and often voluntary, efforts of individual members and corporate partners. Each year the organisation pays tribute to supporters who have gone ‘above and beyond’ by presenting them with Owl Awards. EAGLE-OWL AWARDS wind farm; and the proposed coal mine and has been passing on his extensive Derek Engelbrecht in the Mabola Protected Environment. At knowledge of the wildlife of KwaZulu- As a lecturer in zoology at the Univer- a time when the earth is facing innumer- Natal for the past 13 years. He has helped sity of the North, Professor Derek Engel- able environmental challenges, Sheree’s many birders to explore the region’s for- brecht not only trains young biologists, thoroughly researched and well-written ests and lagoons, but he particularly en- but also encourages other students on articles are playing a huge role in rais- joys conducting guided tours for school campus to be aware of the birds around ing awareness about these challenges and groups, believing that the future of con- them by leading birding walks. In ad- about how organisations such as BirdLife servation starts with educating young dition, he takes a keen interest in avi- South Africa are addressing them. people. Junior has been an environmen- tourism and the community bird guide tal educator for WESSA, assisted with training programme and has lectured at Alastair Campbell marine and estuarine research and taught Hoedspruit Wildlife College and served In 2012, Alastair came up with the idea tertiary-level ecology courses. He is cur- on the Birds and Forest Festival organ- of monitoring African Rails with camera rently helping Professor Adrian Koop- ising committee. His interests extend to traps, which are less intrusive than us- man to research the cultural significance African bird names and, with Peter Mo- ing a rope to flush these secretive birds. and isiZulu names of birds. kumo, Tshifiwa Mandiwana and Reuben Camera traps also enable researchers to Ramudzuli, he is determining the names monitor rails throughout the summer Craig Nattrass ALBERT FRONEMAN of birds in tshiVenda and sePedi. season, resulting in the collection of Craig is a member of the Witwatersrand sustainable environmental practices; and interest in the activities of tuna longline The presentation of annual Owl Awards to detailed information. This method has Bird Club ringing group and an avid it provides input for management plans fishing fleets, but have been unable to people and organisations enables BirdLife Eskom been extended to the Middelpunt wet- ringer who often volunteers his time and to help improve conservation outcomes. monitor them since the cancellation of South Africa to acknowledge their sterling Eskom has contributed massively to land, where 22 camera traps have been valued expertise to BirdLife South Africa The Nature’s Valley Trust’s efforts relating the observer programme in 2012.
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