A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine Oct-Nov2018 Issue11 A4 Ver 6 FA.Indd 2 2018/12/03 11:16 WHAT’S INSIDE

Home , African grass owl, Etosha National Park

Issue 11: The Avian Edition TO THE RESCUE! November - December 2018 SAVING A WHITE-BACKED VULTURE THERE IS NO REMEMBERING JIM HARRIS

FLYING FOR CRANES

CONSERVATIONWITHOUT CONVERSATION

HELPING THE EWT SPREAD THE WORD

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 2 2018/12/03 11:16 WHAT’S INSIDE

A word from the CEO 2

Noticeboard • Events 3

Features • To the rescue! Saving a White-backed Vulture 5 • A stalwart of the EWT steps down 7 • Ecology of the Hooded Vulture in Southern Africa 8 • Remembering Jim Harris – Champion for the conservation of cranes and wetlands 10 • Conserving South Africa’s largest and rarest crane 11 • Challenges of conserving African Grass-owls in the Highveld 13 • Flying for cranes 14 • The impacts of roads on birds 15 • Win! Wildlife on your doorstep photography and drawing competition 16

Showcasing our supporters: Ford Wildlife Foundation 17

Tails from the ﬁ eld • Conserving Kruger’s Martial Eagles 18 • Turning the tide for Pel’s Fishing Owls 20 • Following aerial spoor – tracking the movements of a Wahlberg’s Eagle juvenile 21 • 101 Vulture chicks 23

Ways to give: Donating is now as easy as snapping your ﬁ ngers… or your phone! 24

Green heroes • Birds of a feather 25

Walking the talk • Keep cool and conserve 26

Science snippets • African and European governments to meet in Durban about waterbird conservation 27

Showcasing our supporters: City Lodge Hotel Group 28

Wildlife fact ﬁ le • Blue Crane 29 • Lesser Flamingo 30 • Botha’s Lark 30

Meet the pack • Andre Botha 31 • Rebothile Rachuene 32 • Ronelle Visagie 33

Ways to give: Every swipe counts! 34

Pups’ place 35

In closing: Mwitu’s missive 36

1 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 1 2018/12/03 11:16 A WORD FROM THE CEO

The illegal wildlife trade is nothing new, and has featured among some stays” and we need to motivate our conservation actions or of humanity’s worst traits for centuries. In 2017 and 2018, this issue expenditures in terms of why it is important for human life, featured more strongly in the rhetoric of politicians, global media, wellbeing and prosperity. In 2017, the donations made by and the public, as we began to face the very real possibility of losing a Americans to charities supporting animal or environmental number of species if serious action is not taken. causes was only 3% of total giving, and in the UK this jumped to only 8%. We only like to support ourselves and what our money Human beings have been trading for around 300,000 years. Evidence can do for our species. It is this same selfi sh gene that drives from Middle Stone Age sites in southern Kenya suggests that hominins the illicit wildlife trade by either the consumer, the trader or the were exchanging goods with others, as weapons uncovered at these poacher. It is the same selfi sh gene that drives many of the users sites are made of materials not locally found. The ancient Grecians of wildlife products, from fashion to claims of increased virility, had Hermes as their god of trade and the Roman god Mercurius was strength and power. their god of merchants. Given the human propensity for breaking laws as soon as they are established, one can assume that human beings 3. Education is often cited as the solution. Billions in donor funding have also been trading illegally for as long as there have been laws is poured into environmental education under the belief that if we to regulate trade. So why the increasing fuss around Illegal Wildlife teach children to conserve our wildlife, they will change the fate of Trade? It is not a new issue and rather, is one that conservationists have doomed species in the future. Despite decades of environmental been grappling with for decades. education taking place in the classrooms of private and public schools, from urban centres to rural outposts, the future of So what has changed? On the upside, many countries and cultures our wildlife has never been more bleak. We forget that children that previously engaged in enormous volumes of wildlife trade have become adult humans. They become wealthy and desire more, or decreased their consumptive use of wildlife. In several countries, there they become poorer and have fewer choices. For the rural poor, is a strong awareness that many wildlife species cannot sustain large it is possibly better to invest in education programmes that focus volumes of trade; that the trade is often cruel and unethical; and that on science, maths and literacy. To equip young people to become better alternatives for their uses (fashion, medicinals, and so on) are employed, economically active, and have options. Evidence has available for less money. In some cultures, the use and trade in wildlife shown that when people are gainfully employed, they make better has even become stigmatised. On the downside, the consumption of life decisions, they have smaller family sizes, and they invest and wildlife and their products has increased in many parts of the world, participate in charitable and social causes. Teach our kids but due to increasing wealth, popular beliefs, fi nancial speculation and teach them the skills and tools to become future leaders. Get ‘investment’, and ease of access to illicit markets. Coupled with the them employed, help them to break the cycle. decline in many species and the associated increasing value of their body parts; the free fl ow of illicit goods via established black markets; 4. After human population, the next taboo for conservationists the ease of access for buyers and sellers to social networks and the is corruption. We live in a world where almost everyone is “Dark Web”; the escalation in corruption globally, and its impact on law either engaged in, or confronted by, corruption on a daily basis. enforcement; and the dynamic nature of illicit trade fl ows, it is little Corruption spreads, and like a virus, it adapts, infects and wonder that several species now face a very real extinction risk. Or may destroys systems. It leads to social decay and moral depression. already have succumbed. South Africa has, although not many people It erodes border controls, and feeds off greed. It is ignited by the know this, already lost three cycad species to illegal trade in the past selfi sh-gene and resists simple remedies. And yet it is the single decade and several others face a similar future. biggest factor in the fi ght to stamp out the illicit wildlife trade that thrives in a system of corrupt rangers, game ranchers, border Around 100 elephants and three rhinos are poached every day control agents, policeman, judges and magistrates, politicians, across our continent. One need only do the maths to estimate how retailers, consumers and many other who are “hiding in plain long populations of around 415,000 elephants and 29,000 rhinos will sight”. An entire chain of corrupt individuals and actions can persist. Much has been said about various solutions and those that render the very good work done by several good people holding are attached to their favourite solution will go to great lengths to slate the very same positions in society, useless. In this numbers game, alternative options. But before we can propose conservation-oriented the work of several good people can unravel with the action of just solutions, we need to consider a few contributing factors, most of which one corrupt individual. It takes a chain of people ALL doing the have nothing whatsoever to do with the conservation sector or even right thing to make a law effective and a system work. And the what we do or say. conservation sector is just one link in this chain.

1. There are more than 7.6 billion people on the planet. This is But the links CAN be fi xed and the chain CAN work, when we form roughly double the number of people alive in 1970. There are too cross-sectoral partnerships that work to address the weak links. The many sensitivities around talking about the human population. EWT has long recognised that we have to address all the weaknesses One has to tread carefully and politicians, religious leaders, and in the system, even if we only do this one baby step at a time. The EWT social activists shy away from risking their futures to ever suggest has embraced the concept of Population, Health and the Environment that there are too many of us. Sociologists believe that there are (PHE) to address human population and sustainable family sizes. not in fact too many humans, and many technocentrists believe We work with the Department of Health and our partners on human that with enough clever technology, billions more of us could still health and sexual rights. We support several projects that address the eat, drink, and live meaningful lives. This is simply not rational. broader educational standards in schools in the communities in which With more and more people, there is less quality education we work; and we work with partners who address literacy levels, adult for all, fewer jobs, less space for housing, and less materials education, and skills development for unemployed people. We work for building. Less food, less water, less cheap mass transport with law enforcement agencies to enhance skills for fi ghting crime and solutions, and simply put: less space. There is more competition we support those champions in the criminal justice system to work for resources, more urbanisation, more pressure on the planet, collaboratively, effectively and with increased knowledge. and more demand for fi nite resources that simply cannot sustain the energy demands of an exploding human race. Human beings Despite 2017/8 being a year that challenged and tested us, the EWT has have been successful in reducing infant mortality by over 15% in achieved some remarkable conservation gains. I am proud and blessed the last decade, and extending human lives by almost double in to work alongside some of the continent’s most passionate, committed the last two centuries. This domination of human life over other and talented people, both within the EWT staff as well as in our Trustee species has come at a great cost to almost all other forms of life Body. I learn from you all every day and I am inspired by your energy on the planet, most of which are in sharp decline. There are too and love for our Africa. To the partners and donors who choose the many of us and this has to be addressed if the conservation of any EWT – thank you. other lifeform is to be successful.

2. We are selﬁ sh. Human beings need to justify the existence and Yolan Friedmann persistence of almost every other lifeform on Earth in terms of EWT CEO what it can do for us. We have coined phrases like “if it pays it [email protected]

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 2

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 2 2018/12/03 11:16 Please note, the EWT will be closing on 19 December 2018 and reopening on 4 December: 7 January 2019. World Cheetah Day Thank you for your support this year! Protecting forever, together.

ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST Protecting forever, together.

28 February: 2 February: Leap Day for Frogs World Wetland Day

Endangered Wildlife Trust:

Physical Address: Postal Address: [T] +27 11 372 3600 Building K2, Ardeer Road, Private Bag X 11, [F] +27 11 608 4682 Pinelands Ofﬁ ce Park, Modderfontein, 1645 [E] [email protected] Modderfontein, 1609 Gauteng, South Africa www.ewt.org.za Gauteng, South Africa

3 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 3 2018/12/03 11:17 Buy your copy of The Sentinels from the EWT for R790 (RRP) at www.ewtshop.co.za

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 4

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 4 2018/12/04 15:00 TO THE RESCUE! SAVING A WHITE- BACKED VULTURE

André Botha, Manager, EWT Vultures for Africa [email protected]

African White-backed Vulture Trapped in tree. Photo credit André Botha

Saving a White-backed Vulture

On Tuesday morning while busy with fi eldwork in the Kruger which now posed a serious threat to the bird if we were not able National Park, I was contacted by the State Veterinarians and to remove it safely from the tree. Veterinary Wildlife Section of SANParks about a vulture that was found hanging in a tree near Skukuza. I drove out to the Fortunately, the bird seemed to still be in good condition, but the site expecting to fi nd a dead vulture suspended from a tree operation to recover it from the tree was a daunting task as the that needed to be recovered, and perhaps assessed for the dead Tamboti in which it was entangled was rather fragile and reason behind its death. When I arrived at the scene, staff from simply climbing the tree to reach the bird was not possible. The SANParks were already there, but warned me to fi rst stay in location of the bird was such that trying to break the branch in my vehicle as there were two male lion at a giraffe carcass which it was hanging was also risky, as the bird may have been not more than 70 m from the tree from which the vulture was injured should it be dislodged from its precarious position if it suspended. Once it was determined to be safe, I was able to had fallen into the branches below. With the arrival of the State assess the situation and was surprised to fi nd that the adult Veterinarian, Dr Louis van Schalkwyk and other colleagues vulture was still alive, but hanging upside down suspended from his offi ce, we discussed options to try and get the bird by one leg to which a rope was tied. It was this rope that had safely out of the tree. I remembered that one of our ladders become entangled with the branch on which it was sitting, and previously used to access Southern Ground Hornbill nests in

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A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 5 2018/12/03 11:17 Kruger was in use at the Skukuza airport and we requested that this be brought to the scene to see if we could climb up to the bird to possibly remove it. Airport staff kindly brought the ladder to us, but when they arrived, only one half of the ladder was loaded on their vehicle and it would not have been sufﬁ cient to get us high enough as the bird was suspended about 20 m above the ground. Louis then had the idea to go to the construction site of the new hotel at Skukuza to see if they perhaps had a crane that we could use to lift a person, probably me (!), up to the bird to attempt to free it. Minutes after he left to investigate this possibility, and while we were standing below the tree in growing anxiety about the welfare of the bird in the rising temperature, a stiff breeze started to stir the leaves and branches of the trees, and this movement of air seemed to invigorate the bird who started ﬂ apping its wings to African White-backed Vulture. Photo credit André Botha again attempt to escape from its precarious position.

This effort was rewarded with the branch snapping and the bird then drifting down to the ground with rather weak wing-beats, but away from the dead branches that could have possibly caused injury. We were on hand seconds after it landed safely on the ground and were able to catch it to assess its condition for possible treatment. Upon closer investigation, we found that the rope attached to its leg was expertly tied onto the bird, probably by someone who had trapped the bird and kept it in captivity tethered by the rope to the ground. Baling string was also found tied to the other leg of the bird. It is not clear how long the bird may have been kept captive, but it escaped and eventually made its way to the giraffe carcass in the Kruger National Park, where it became entangled in the tree. Although not common, live vultures are known to be trapped and kept illegally by some people, as they believe that being in possession of such a bird brings good luck, a rather different interpretation of the more widely known belief-use practice of using vulture parts for purposes of clairvoyance and improved chances of success at betting, etc.

The bird was taken to the State Veterinary facilities in Skukuza where we were able to assess its condition and we were able to determine that it was tired, but in fairly good condition despite its ordeal. We administered ﬂ uids to rehydrate the bird and decided to keep it overnight under observation. It was placed in a holding cage and offered a juicy piece of impala liver to see if it would eat.

When we opened the cage the following morning, we found that the liver was consumed and that the bird was quite sprightly and ready for release. As a token of gratitude, it also took a small chunk out of my arm when I captured it and later emptied its bowels on At Dekker, State Veterinary technician at Skukuza who was holding the bird at the time! We decided that the best site for the release of the bird was the Skukuza golf course and drove there with the bird. This also provided an opportunity to do a brief bit of education to a group of about 40 children from the Skukuza Nursery School before the bird was released on one of the fairways. After an initial hesitant effort to ﬂ y away and running about 70 m from the point of release, the bird spent about two minutes on the ground with wings spread open. It then began beating its wings more purposefully and took to the skies after a short run. The children all spontaneously broke into applause when the bird took off and it disappeared from view a short while later.

A good outcome and an excellent example of how teamwork and a rapid response, once the bird was found, helped to save a Critically Endangered bird from an unpleasant and unfortunate end. André Botha with the trapped African White-backed Vulture

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A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 6 2018/12/03 11:17 A STALWART OF THE EWT STEPS DOWN UWE PUTLITZ

Rugare Nyamhunga, EWT Information and Compliance Ofﬁ cer [email protected]

Uwe receiving his gift from Yolan Friedmann (CEO) and Dirk Ackerman (Chairman of the Board)

Uwe Putlitz

Saying good-bye to a terriﬁ c trustee

We recently celebrated one of the EWT’s greatest stalwarts, Uwe Putlitz, who is retiring to the Cape and stepped down from his role as a Trustee after close to 30 years.

An architect by trade, Uwe joined the EWT as a Trustee in 1980. He became a member of the EWT’s Board of Management in 1987, and later ﬁ lled the role of Vice Chair of the Board until his resignation in November 2018. During this time, Uwe’s contribution to the EWT was invaluable, as he has also been involved in mentoring EWT staff.

Aside from his work with the EWT, Uwe has been the Chief Executive Offi cer of the Joint Building Contracts Committee since January 2011. Whilst in professional practice with various architectural practices, and for the past 20 years as the managing member of Building Strategy Network, he has fulfi lled various functions. These include being the clients’ representative for the SABC 2nd phase of TV Centre, and numerous other studio projects, a number of leisure, retail and healthcare projects, high tech industrial premises, various feasibility studies, and Gautrain’s Hatfi eld station. He was also the founding chair of the Buksaid Soweto String Project.

Uwe’s commitment to the work of the EWT was inspired by his passion for nature. In his spare time, he is an avid birder and loves visiting nature reserves. He is also a keen photographer, and enjoys good food and wine.

We wish Uwe well with his next chapter, and thank him for his incredible service to the organisation. Uwe received a caricature as his gift

7 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 7 2018/12/03 11:17 ECOLOGY OF THE HOODED VULTURE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Hannah Shaw, Conservation and Research Liaison, Hawk Conservancy Trust [email protected]

Understanding Hooded Vultures

The Hawk Conservancy Trust is a bird of prey conservation charity and award-winning visitor centre based in Hampshire in the UK. Our mission is the conservation of birds of prey, and to achieve this we have an operational philosophy of evidence- based conservation management. The conservation actions we use to defend birds of prey against the many threats they face must be based on the results of focussed research and this approach underpins the variety of conservation and research projects we undertake in the UK, Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

One of these projects is focussed on the Hooded Vulture in Southern Africa, which is a poorly-understood species. In contrast to Hooded Vultures in West Africa which are often commensal with humans and easily observed, in Southern Africa Hooded Vultures are much more elusive and mainly occur in protected areas and places where the human population density is low. As a group, vultures are the most threatened birds in the world, and the Hooded Vulture is no exception. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species recently up-listed Hooded Vultures to Critically Endangered and at high risk of extinction. Like most other vultures, the Hooded Vulture is an obligate scavenger; but it does occupy a distinct niche and is uniquely adapted in its feeding habits. The Southern African population is estimated to be small and little research has been conducted on the species in the region, which has limited our understanding of its ecology.

In order to address the unfavourable conservation status of Hooded Vultures, there ﬁ rst needs to be a better understanding of the causes of any population decline and how this affects Hooded Vulture population dynamics in Southern Africa. Although we know that the Hooded Vulture, like other vultures in Southern Africa, faces signiﬁ cant threats to its survival – such as the threat of intentional poisoning by ivory poachers – we need more evidence to demonstrate the impact of these threats on the population in order to direct our conservation actions more effectively.

With our partners, we have embarked on an ambitious research project to learn more about Hooded Vulture ecology in Southern Africa, with the ultimate aim of successfully protecting this important avian scavenger from extinction. This project is a collaboration between the Hawk Conservancy Trust in the UK, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, USA.

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A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 8 2018/12/03 11:17 Hooded Vulture chick

The project began in 2016 with research focussed on populations camera traps. We place remote camera traps on a number in the Kruger National Park (KNP) and Mapungubwe National of nests each season to record breeding behaviour, and this Park (MNP). There are three main areas of investigation: to technology can also give us speciﬁ c information about the characterise nest sites, to determine breeding success, and causes of success or failure of a breeding pair. to estimate the population size. We are trying to achieve these aims by answering the following key questions: Estimating the population size of Hooded Vultures in Kruger and Mapungubwe National Parks needs information about the • What key features are associated with Hooded Vulture nest density at which they are breeding and also the age structure sites? of the population. Road transects are used to record data • What is the availability of potential Hooded Vulture nest sites about the abundance, behaviour, and age structure of the in KNP and MNP? observed population. For each nest, the nearest neighbours • What is the annual productivity of Hooded Vultures in KNP are recorded, both Hooded Vultures and other raptor species, and MNP? and this helps us understand the importance of competition • What is the estimated maximum breeding population of within the species and with other raptors. Combined with the Hooded Vultures in KNP and MNP? habitat analysis, this information can be used to estimate the • What is the observed age structure of Hooded Vultures in maximum potential breeding population that the two National KNP and MNP? Parks could sustain. • What is the estimated population size of Hooded Vultures across KNP and MNP? The project began in 2016, and so the full outcomes have yet to be realised. More research is needed to understand the ecology Project ﬁ eldwork is carried out along the main river systems of this species but, given that Hooded Vultures use large riparian in Kruger National Park and along the Limpopo River in trees for breeding, it is likely that this Critically Endangered Mapungubwe National Park. Surveys, primarily on foot, are vulture is a useful indicator of riparian characteristics. used to locate Hooded Vulture nests. Once nests are located, Understanding the types of river processes that lead to the they are monitored for activity with at least twice-yearly visits. availability of the large trees used by this species is essential to ensure that these habitats are conserved to ensure a future for Although we know that Hooded Vultures nest in large riparian this charismatic and unique species in Southern Africa. trees, we need to understand more about how the species relates to its surrounding ecosystem and what key habitat and landscape features are associated with nest sites. Nest tree characteristics are recorded at each active nest site and include the tree species, height, height of nest, branch structure and canopy structure. The landscape setting is also taken into account with surveys of the river characteristics and in-channel processes. Data on the vegetation community Hooded Vulture chick and structure surrounding the nest tree complete the picture, with information such as surrounding tree species, canopy height, dominant shrub species, shrub layer density and the width of the riparian zone along the river adding to the analysis. Knowledge of the features the vultures select for nesting will help us to understand the availability of potential nest sites in KNP and MNP.

At the same time as characterising the features surrounding the nest sites, we also investigate breeding success. This requires multiple years of data from multiple nest sites, which Hooded Vulture Project Hooded Vulture in the nest with a chick are collected using a combination of direct observations and

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A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 9 2018/12/03 11:17 REMEMBERING JIM HARRIS

CHAMPION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF CRANES AND WETLANDS

JAMES THOMAS HARRIS 1950²2018

Kerryn Morrison, International Crane Foundation/Endangered Wildlife Trust Partnership Manager, and Claire Mirande, Senior Director of Conservation Networking, International Crane Foundation Jim Harris. Photo credit Kerryn Morrison

Remembering Jim

“The haunting calls of the world’s cranes are sadder today reason for strategy development, project implementation and because they have lost a devoted friend, and the conservation ACCP general operations. community has lost a true hero.” – Kenneth Strom, National Audubon Society. As Co-chair (1988-2008) with George Archibald, Chair (2008- 2017) and Co-chair (2018) with Kerryn Morrison, of the IUCN On 19 September 2018, we lost a dear friend and champion Crane Specialist Group, Jim’s vision for cranes and their for the conservation of cranes and wetlands. Jim passed away landscapes has always been global in scale. He has adeptly peacefully surrounded by his family at his home in Baraboo, integrated the expertise and passion of 350 members in over 50 Wisconsin, USA after a valiant fi ght against liver and pancreatic countries. He led workshops, produced publications changing cancer. the course of how we address complex crane challenges such as agricultural land use and climate change, and brought diverse In 1984, Jim joined the International Crane Foundation (ICF) people together to fi nd solutions to provide water for wetlands in Baraboo, Wisconsin as the Education Director. By the late and cranes, whilst balancing human needs. His contributions 1980s, Jim served as Deputy Director expanding ICF’s activities are culminating later this year with the publication of the in Asia. In 2000, Dr George Archibald stepped aside as ICF’s much- anticipated Crane Conservation Strategy that engaged President, and Jim succeeded him. Under Jim’s leadership, over 150 crane specialists in a review of the status and trends ICF was directly involved in 45 projects in 22 countries around for all 15 crane species. A comprehensive assessment of 19 the world. In 2006, Jim decided to transition back to serve direct threats identifi es research needs and priority actions for as director of ICF’s East Asia Programme, while continuing the next fi ve years, with measurable actions linked to diverse as Vice-President. From 2006, he also oversaw ICF’s Africa partners. Programme, a post he held until just before his retirement in early 2018. Jim’s infectious reverberating laugh, gentle smile and good sense of humour radiated an energy, positivity and sense of Jim was a journalist by training and an eloquent and prolifi c hope to everyone around him. Jim’s insights, critical thinking writer. He wrote lovely pieces detailing his experiences with and recommendations were always constructive and valuable. people and cranes in Asia, featuring evocative descriptions of His wise counsel was often sought by partners throughout the landscapes and their inhabitants. Jim’s dedication, along with crane world, in part because Jim was always so supportive and his wife Su Liying, to the cranes and wetlands of China, Russia, giving of his time. As an incredible mentor, guide and confi dant, and beyond is well-known and greatly appreciated. Jim leaves behind many people, all over the world, who have benefi ted, fl ourished, and been inspired by his example. Jim’s oversight of the African Crane Conservation Programme from the ICF side of the ICF/EWT Partnership Thank you, Jim, for decades of dedication and the legacy you was transformational. He provided incredible guidance and have left for us all to continue forward for the conservation of mentorship for the growth of the Programme and was an the world’s cranes. Thank you for your unfailing friendship to so objective and understanding sounding board and voice of many around the world. Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 10

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 10 2018/12/03 11:17 CONSERVING SOUTH AFRICA’S LARGEST AND RAREST CRANE: NO EASY FEAT

Tanya Smith, Southern Africa Regional Manager, International Crane Foundation/ Endangered Wildlife Trust Partnership [email protected]

Isabelo at roost. Photo credit Daniel Dolpire

Wattled Crane Protection

Stories of the wonder of cranes have been told and shared for thousands of years – not surprising, considering cranes are among the oldest family of birds alive today. Their mystery and wonder drive us to ﬁ nd out more so that we can ensure our efforts to conserve them are ﬁ tting and effective. With 11 of the world’s 15 species of cranes threatened with extinction, it’s sad to admit that all four of Africa’s resident cranes are on that list. We have our work cut out to halt the declines we are bearing witness to.

In South Africa, home to three of Africa’s four resident cranes – the Blue Crane, Grey Crowned and Wattled Crane – we have the only conﬁ rmed increasing populations of the Endangered Grey Crowned Crane. Our Wattled Crane population has also shown consistent growth over the past two decades, with over 400 Wattled Cranes counted during the 2018 aerial survey for cranes. This is an incredible achievement that serves as inspiration for efforts in the rest of Africa to conserve cranes, of which Grey Crowned Cranes are the fastest declining.

With the advent of satellite tracking and the advancement of technology, we are able to delve deeper than ever before into the lives and biology of a species. This has allowed the fi tting of satellite trackers to fi ve wild Wattled Cranes for the fi rst time in the world, thanks to collaborative effort between the EWT, University of KwaZulu-Natal, the KZN Crane Foundation and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Although non-migratory in the true sense, Wattled Cranes in South Africa tend to form ‘non-breeding’ fl oater fl ocks that move across the eastern grasslands of the country. Results from the trackers fi tted to date have demonstrated a seasonal movement of the non-breeding portion of the population between the KwaZulu-Natal midlands and the Southern Drakensberg region near Cedarville. These birds, often as young as one-year-old, make a direct overnight fl ight of over 200 km, where they then spend several months over summer and autumn in the fl oodplains of the Umzimvubu river, otherwise known as the Cedarville fl ats, before returning to the KZN midlands at the start of winter.

This valuable information allows us to focus conservation efforts in both the breeding and non-breeding range of Wattled Cranes – unfortunately still listed as Critically Endangered in this country. We can ensure ‘safe space’ for cranes through collaboration with farmers, Eskom Wattled Crane ringed. Photo credit Daniel Dolpire and other industry, NGO partners and government.

11 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 11 2018/12/03 11:17 Tracked Chick rev 300

Understanding the movements of Wattled Cranes in the wild in South Africa has come at an important time, with two Wattled Cranes costume reared by the KwaZulu-Natal Crane Foundation ready for release into the fl oater fl ocks. Costume rearing is the process of hand raising birds by a human “chick Isabelo at roost. Photo credit Daniel Dolpire mum” disguised by a costume that resembles the wild bird. As part of the Wattled Crane Conservation and Research Programme, the KZN Crane Foundation undertook the ambitious task of rearing Wattled Cranes chicks hatched from second-eggs collected from the wild – these ‘second’ eggs are abandoned by the parent birds once the fi rst egg hatches. The fi rst two birds were successfully raised at the isolation rearing facility in Nottingham Road, KwaZulu-Natal and the birds, affectionately known as Isabelo and Wherever your adventure Umfula, have been released into two different fl ocks of non-breeding Wattled Cranes. Fitted with satellite takes you, Trappers is the trackers, the research team are able to monitor their movements in relation to the wild birds and document place to go for all your outdoor their integration into the wild. equipment & apparel needs.

Wattled Cranes coming into roost. Photo credit Daniel Dolpire

This is an exciting stage for the conservation of Wattled Cranes, where several partners have worked tirelessly for the past two decades to halt the decline of a species that was perilously close to extinction. We are able to spend valuable time and resources in getting answers to so many questions that have been left unanswered until now. Stores country wide

This work is supported by N3TC, Hans Hoheisen trappers.co.za /TrappersOutdoor Wattled Crane ringed. Photo credit Daniel Dolpire Charitable Trust, Rand Merchant Bank, Ford Wildlife Images are for illustrative purposes only. Foundation, and Eskom. Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 12

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 12 2018/12/03 11:17 CHALLENGES OF CONSERVING AFRICAN GRASS²OWLS IN THE HIGHVELD

Rebotile Rachuene, African Grass-owl Project Field Ofﬁ cer, EWT Birds of Prey Programme [email protected] Grass-owl chicks

Conserving Owls

The African Grass-owl nests in tall, dense, undisturbed marshes. The species is currently classifi ed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red Data List, because of declines caused by fi re, predation, and habitat degradation due to mining and agriculture. The African Grass-owl Project of the EWT’s Birds of Prey Programme has been learning more about this species’ movements and habitat use, as well as their breeding success and diet. For the past three breeding seasons, I have identifi ed new potential breeding sites, and monitored active nest sites in the Highveld. I have recorded over 50 nests from 30 breeding territories in Mpumalanga and Gauteng. Finding new nest sites is always exciting, but the survival of these sites is not guaranteed.

African Grass-owl nests are under pressure from land-use change, and from predation. Our camera traps (combined with searches for scat around predated nest sites) have confi rmed The African Grass-owl distribution areas in the Highveld of three potential nest predators: the Black-backed Jackal, the South Africa; 2008-2018 Bushpig, and the Serval. Uncontrolled fi res also reduce African Grass-owl nest survival. For example, in the past two seasons, nearly half of all the potential and active breeding sites were very short fl ush distance (or fl ight zone) which makes them burned. In attempts to minimise fi res around breeding sites, vulnerable to approaching danger or predators. I engaged with the landowners and communities, and learned that most fi res are either caused by arson or they are runaway Poisoning is another threat to African Grass-owls in Gauteng fi res. In a case from Gauteng, a two-month old chick was killed and Mpumalanga. For example, a breeding male was found during a fi re caused by arson. In another case from eMalahleni, dead in his nest just a month after his mate was GSM/GPS four fl edglings died when a newly-identifi ed breeding site was tagged. We suspect that the male owl was poisoned, given burned. the lack of any physical injuries, and since his nest was in a chicken farming area. Other possible causes of breeding failure Agricultural activities in African Grass-owl breeding patches include the presence of invasive alien plants in the patch, or may also reduce nest survival. These activities include the deposition of the grass bales inside the patch. As a ground farm maintenance and harvesting, which may result in the nesting species, African Grass-owls face numerous threats disturbance and trampling of breeding patches by cattle or by and challenges, but they are also adaptable. The survival rate tractors. People cutting grass and walking in breeding patches of nests (i.e. at least one fl edgling from each) is estimated at are also a disturbance to breeding birds. A recently-discovered less than 30%, but the chicks’ survival rates are not yet known. threat is people poaching with dogs and setting snares for Bushpigs and Duikers in African Grass-owl habitat. Hunting This work is made possible by Anglo American, Eskom, and dogs may also predate owl nests. African Grass-owls have a Inyosi Coal.

13 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 13 2018/12/03 11:17 FLYING FOR CRANES

Matthew Becker, Africa Programme Ofﬁ cer, International Crane Foundation/ Endangered Wildlife Trust Partnership [email protected]

A Grey Crowned Crane with its three juveniles seen during the aerial survey in Akagera National Park

Caring for cranes

Long-term conservation impacts and the monitoring of these actions that can be taken to ensure the long-term viability of are some of the challenges that are faced when deciding how to this species. August 2018 then saw the partnership conduct the implement strategies and understanding the outcomes of them. second national census, which yielded a count of 458 cranes. A common question faced is “are your conservation measures This has already started to pose questions around issues having any effect and are these effects positive or negative?” such as migration of cranes between neighbouring countries One of the simplest, yet sometimes most challenging, methods and breeding habitat selection type from the ﬁ rst two years of of assessing change and monitoring the population trends in a survey. With time, we hope the questions posed become clearer species as an indicator of strategy success, is to do a population and the target strategies become more deﬁ ned as the baseline census. information for the species grows.

Over the last 24 years, the EWT has being working in A special thanks goes out to the RWCA and ICF/EWT partnership partnership with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, ﬂ ying annual aerial for collaborating on the national census and the National surveys in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to monitor and record Geographic Society, Whitley Fund for Nature and the Houston population size and distributions for South Africa’s three crane Zoo, for without their support the national census would not species (Blue, Grey Crowned and Wattled Cranes). These be possible. cranes showed drastic declines during the 1980s and 1990s. During the early inception of the aerial surveys, population numbers showed a steady, yet reduced, decline in numbers, causing shifts in efforts not only to identify the main causes but also to mitigate the decline. Due to this and other successful strategies, there has since been a steady increase in population sizes of all three cranes species over the last ten years and this is all assisted by continual aerial surveys.

This aerial survey illustrates a great example of how consistent population monitoring over time can shape the way we approach conservation efforts. This has led to its use in a range of Endangered species. One example where the technique is being employed is in Rwanda, including the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA) and the International Crane A Grey Crowned Crane with its chick seen during the aerial survey Foundation/Endangered Wildlife Trust Partnership (ICF/ EWT). In Rwanda, Grey Crowned Cranes are threatened by human factors, often driven by conditions of poverty, livelihood disadvantage, and lack of conservation awareness. Previous population estimates suggest there are fewer than 500 Grey Crowned Cranes left in Rwanda. RWCA and its partners have been working to eliminate the illegal trade in and boost the population numbers of these birds in Rwanda. In August 2017, with the help of the ICF/EWT, RWCA conducted the ﬁ rst national census of Grey Crowned Cranes in the country to form the baseline for what is hoped to be a sustained annual crane survey. This census incorporated both aerial and ground surveys to include as much of the country as possible. The results showed that at least 487 Grey Crowned Cranes occur in Rwanda and included details on distribution and habitat The team from ICFEWT and Rwanda Wildlife and Conservation type. The results of the survey highlighted challenges for Grey Association that conducted the aerial surveys Crowned Crane conservation at different sites and suggested

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 14

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 14 2018/12/03 11:17 THE IMPACTS OF ROADS ON BIRDS

Dr Ali Halajian, Department of Biodiversity (Zoology), University of Limpopo [email protected]

Black Goshwak

Terrible roadkills

Birds play an important role in ecosystems and may contribute to the economy through tourism, with many avid birders in South Africa. Approximately 875 species of birds occur in South Africa, of which approximately 80% are known to occur in the Limpopo Province.

While different bird species are faced with different issues threatening their conservation, roads and infrastructure such as wind turbines and power lines affect many of them. It is said that vehicle collisions are a top impact of roads on birds (Loss et al. 2014). Estimates suggest that perhaps a quarter of a billion birds are killed by trafﬁ c annually around the world (Moller and Erritzoe 2017), hence it is important to investigate this issue and the factors contributing to it. Black-shouldered Kite

In South Africa, despite having a high biodiversity of birds, very little research has been done on the effects of roads and transport on birds (Siegfried 1966, Bullock et al. 2011). In the most recent study done by Collinson et al. (2015) during 2011- 2012 in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area, roadkill rates were highest for birds, with 85 species affected.

I started to record the roadkills in South Africa from early 2012 to present. This dataset already includes 1,700 animals, including birds. To the end of August 2018, 511 birds of 76 species have been recorded as roadkills on different roads, mostly in Limpopo Province. After recording the roadkill, photos are taken and extra information like coordinates, vegetation type, Bird Marble Hall on car speed limit at the point and so on, are also collected for future analysis for identifying the hot spots. Among the 76 species, Barn Owls, with 46 roadkills (28 in Limpopo), were the most frequently affected, with the alien species, Rock Pigeons, in second place with 22 (21 in Limpopo).

This is an ongoing project that will need the help of citizen scientists to assist for getting a better view of the situation and eventually to ﬁ nd the hot spots and plan for mitigations in future to stop or at least decrease the number of roadkills. The economic aspect of roadkill birds also needs further investigation. In this regard, factors like damages to vehicles Roadkilled Barn Owl must be considered, although damage may only happen in the case of larger birds. I once recorded a windscreen broken by a For more details of this project, or assisting the team with Helmeted Guineafowl while the car was driving at 80 km per roadkill sightings, please contact [email protected] or hour! WhatsApp 0718321739.

15 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 15 2018/12/03 11:17 WIN! WILDLIFE ON YOUR DOORSTEP PHOTOGRAPHY AND DRAWING COMPETITION

Barbet log Sara

WIN!

We’ve extended the deadline on this exciting competition! Celebrate the diversity of wildlife found right on our doorsteps, in our urban spaces. Share your images of indigenous birds and animals, and you could win exciting prizes, including EWT and EcoSolutions hampers!

Categories:

1. Photographs 2. CCTV and camera trap images – footage of wildlife in gardens 3. Drawings – ages 5-10 and 11-14

Rules: Spotted Eagle Owl box 1. Photographs/CCTV/camera trap images must have been captured in an urban setting. An address or geo-tag must be included to verify this and contribute to our urban wildlife sightings database (this information will not be published). 2. Drawings must depict wildlife in an urban setting. 3. Entries must be submitted to [email protected] or can be posted to Private Bag X 11, Modderfontein, 1645 or hand delivered to Building K2, Pinelands Ofﬁ ce Park, Ardeer Road, Modderfontein, 1609, for attention Belinda Glenn. Please include contact details so that we can reach you should you be a winner. 4. Deadline for entries is 31 January 2019. 5. By submitting an entry, you agree that it may be published in EWT publications and on social media. 6. By submitting an entry, you acknowledge that you are the owner of that image and are entitled to share it. 7. Winners will be contacted by email/phone by 6 February 2019, and announced in a subsequent issue of Conservation Matters. Pellet Kit Barbet log Sara 8. Judges’ decisions are ﬁ nal and no correspondence will be entered into.

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 16

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 16 2018/12/03 11:18 SHOWCASING OUR SUPPORTERS FORD WILDLIFE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE EWT’S THREATENED AMPHIBIAN PROGRAMME WITH NEW FORD RANGER

Male Pickersgill’s Reed Frog

Ford supports Frogs

The Ford Wildlife Foundation (FWF) has handed over a new The locally-built Ford Ranger will be used to enable the Ford Ranger to the EWT to support its Threatened Amphibian project to go further and make a real impact – particularly in Programme’s Pickergill’s Reed Frog Recovery Project, which the remote locations often associated with conservation and focusses on conservation of the Pickergill’s Reed Frog. The environmental projects. handover forms part of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa’s (FMCSA) commitment to the conservation and For the past 30 years, FMCSA has been actively involved in the preservation of the environment in Southern Africa. conservation of wildlife and ecosystems in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. To date, FMCSA has invested almost R40 Established in 2012, the project is based in Durban, KwaZulu- million to support more than 170 conservation projects. Natal and focuses on the Pickersgill’s Reed Frog as a priority species for conservation action. This tiny frog may be only The Ford Wildlife Foundation is unique as it does not provide a 2.5cm long, but it is an umbrella species for many other cash donation to the conservation projects it supports, instead wetland-dependent species and has a massive impact on the Ford’s partner organisations are equipped with Ford Rangers. local communities living in the vicinity of wetlands where it The vehicles provided are used to help project operations, occurs. Only two of the sites at which the species occurs are such as transporting fi eld equipment, helping vets reach sick currently protected, while the rest are at risk of habitat loss or poached animals, or translocating the animals themselves. and degradation. The vehicles operating in all Ford Wildlife Foundation projects are monitored and serviced by Ford’s extensive dealer network “When we started the project, the species was Critically to ensure they operate at peak effi ciency. Endangered and known only from a handful of wetland sites through coastal KwaZulu-Natal,” says Jeanne Tarrant, EWT Threatened Amphibian Programme Manager. “Through our work and the discovery of additional localities, the species is now known from 25 sites, and has been down-listed to Endangered. The aim of our project is to implement on-the- ground species-specifi c conservation work, develop and implement a science-driven management and monitoring plan for the species, secure its threatened habitat, improve climate resilience, and promote positive social change through education, employment and citizen science.” Handover to TAP team

The new Ford Ranger will help a team of six travel to project sites across rural areas of Kwa-Zulu Natal, covering several hundred kilometres per week. This includes overseeing the implementation of wetland restoration through the employment of local community members as well as habitat protection efforts.

“The work requires us to carry out both ﬁ eld work and education outreach in off-road environments, as well as stakeholder engagements and meetings across a wide variety of settings,” says Tarrant.

17 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 17 2018/12/03 11:18 CONSERVING KRUGER’S MARTIAL EAGLES

Dr Gareth Tate, Manager, EWT Birds of Prey Programme [email protected]

The Kruger’s Martial Eagles

Martial Eagles are classifi ed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List In response to these declines, in 2013 the FitzPatrick Institute of of Threatened Species, due to suspected population declines Ornithology established The Martial Eagle Project, which is now across much of their African range. Locally within South Africa, run in collaboration with the EWT’s Birds of Prey Programme Lesotho and Swaziland the species is classifi ed as Endangered and is a registered SANParks project. The project aims to owing to worrying population declines. In South Africa, it has improve our understanding of the threats faced by this species been estimated that there could be up to 800 pairs of this and how these threats could be driving population declines magnifi cent eagle. However, recent fi ndings by researchers of Martial Eagles, with a particular focus on the declines that at the University of Cape Town’s FitzPatrick Institute of have been observed within Kruger, where species are usually Ornithology have suggested that the species has declined by expected to be most protected. This research is important to up to 60% over the last 20 years. This is also the case inside the understand the role that protected areas have in conservation Kruger National Park, the largest protected area in the country, and to understand specifi c threats and habitat requirements where it has been estimated that the species has declined by as for the conservation of Martial Eagles. much as 54%. These declines are very concerning and highlight the need for larger landscape conservation efforts to mitigate threats to large raptors. Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 18

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 18 2018/12/03 11:18 Martial Eagle SAdF Letaba, KNP Martial Eagle AdF Mooiplaas, KNP

At the outset of the project, one hypothesis for the population declines was that immature Martial Eagles might be subject to increased mortality outside of protected areas, due to the tendency for inexperienced eagles to range into areas with increased human pressures. This would cause a reduction in the number of adult birds that are able to recruit into the breeding population in Kruger. The good news is that contrary to this hypothesis, GPS tracking data collected since 2013 did not ﬁ nd evidence for low survival during these early life stages despite ranging widely beyond protected area boundaries.

However, through GPS tracking of adult birds and nest monitoring, two potential factors that may be contributing to the observed population declines have been detected: low adult survival and poor breeding productivity. Adult mortalities, including persecution and electrocution, during unexpected wide- ranging movements outside of the Kruger, might be a major factor contributing to population level declines.

The poor breeding productivity recorded by the project from 2013 to present comes in two forms: both a lower than average number of pairs making a breeding attempt and low success of those pairs which do try. To better understand the latter, the project has recently been installing time-lapse cameras at nests, which will record the actual causes of nest failure. Cameras are currently installed at active nests and at the end of the breeding season in November, they will be recovered so we can learn something more about this year’s nesting attempts. Alongside this, the project is continuing to investigate individual eagles’ movements and survival in the Kruger using GPS tracking. In order to conserve a species we need to understand its requirements, how it interacts with the environment, and the threats that it faces. Thus, the information gathered by the Martial Eagle Project will all contribute to the goal of long-term conservation of this wide-ranging top predator.

The project needs your re-sightings. Able to help? Have you have seen a Martial Eagle with a colour ring or GPS tag? Do you know of a nest location? Please report them to [email protected]

This work is made possible by Eskom, RMB Martial Eagle and Charl van der Merwe Trust.

19 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 19 2018/12/03 11:18 TURNING THE TIDE FOR PEL’S FISHING OWLS

John Davies, Project Co-ordinator: Raptor Conservation and Research, EWT Birds of Prey Programme [email protected]

Pel’s Fishing Owls

Endangered, mythical to many, threatened by deterioration unknown pairs have been found with the most surprising in water quality, and rapidly being pushed aside as a result being a relatively healthy population along the Blyde River. The of riparian forest loss, to some the Pel’s Fishing Owl would remarkable thing is that in an area that is almost completely seem to be on a road to localised extinction in South Africa. Yet surrounded by people, commercial agriculture and low density despite the many threats this species has to constantly face, housing, and which is virtually completely unprotected and right these incredible birds still manage to survive on well-vegetated under the noses of many nature enthusiasts and bird watchers, stretches of sub-tropical river systems in eastern South Africa, these birds seem to thrive. This remarkable river holds some where hidden under the cloak of darkness and only given away of the most signifi cant tracts of Lowveld Riverine Forest in the by their occasional loud hooting calls, they spend their nights country, which in some areas reaches nearly 280m from bank along moonlit pools, waiting for fi sh to rise to the surface which to bank, with multiple channels fl owing through it all. they duly grab before disappearing once more. Although the work we are doing represents the tip of the For such an unobtrusive and shy species, it faces a multitude iceberg, the EWT’s Birds of Prey Programme is working hard of threats, and being particularly sensitive to changes in both to bring land owners together, monitor populations and protect the aquatic and terrestrial components of riparian systems, the integrity of this habitat, so that we can be confi dent of means that a single large infrequent disturbance (LID) such as knowing that this population will not only be stable, but will a severe fl ood can result in a large part of the population in expand and be viable for many years to come. South Africa being affected in a very short time span. Besides this, river systems in this part of the country such as the Without the trusty support of donors including Rand Merchant Olifants and Levuvhu rivers, as is the case with so many across Bank, the Charl van der Merwe Trust and the Ford Wildlife the continent, are affected by signifi cant declines in water Foundation, this work would simply not be possible. We are quality raising serious concerns over the viability of healthy fi sh indebted to their passion and mutual belief in the conservation stocks, and of course the effects of this on so many species work we are doing for these incredible birds, as well as all the that depend on these rivers is poorly documented. Another others that can benefi t from it. threat which is seldom talked about but is as relevant now as ever before, is the continued increase in the human population, leading to a strangling of water resources, and each year leaving less and less for nature to survive on. In addition, one of the historical strongholds for this species in eastern South Africa, the Olifants River, has shown drastic declines in recent years. While surveys in the Kruger National Park in the early 1990s found a minimum of 19 individuals, these days only fi ve seem to consistently still occur here, a worrying decline and one without any obvious solution to turning things around.

However, despite all of these challenges the species has to face, they manage to cling on in some pockets of suitable habitat, with the most signiﬁ cant populations being found along the Limpopo and Levuvhu rivers, whilst the Olifants River further west from the Kruger still holds viable numbers of these birds. One particularly refreshing aspect is that, since the EWT expanded its Pel’s Fishing Owl research to include a more comprehensive area within the Lowveld, previously

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 20

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 20 2018/12/03 11:18 FOLLOWING AERIAL SPOOR TRACKING THE MOVEMENTS OF A WAHLBERG’S EAGLE JUVENILE

André Botha, Manager, EWT Vultures for Africa [email protected] “ Wahlberg’s Eagles are medium-sized intra-African migrants “ that breed across most of the Southern African savannah and overwinter in the Sahel-region of Sub-Sahara Africa. However, little is known about their detailed movement patterns and migratory routes between the breeding - and over-wintering Wahlberg’s grounds. A group of partner organisations, consisting of the Alterra Wageningen University, Endangered Wildlife Trust/ Hawk Conservancy Trust/University of Reading partnership, Eagle threw us The Peregrine Fund, and APLORI have launched a project to track and assess the migratory movements and possible another curveball threats along the ﬂ yway that could impact this species.

A number of birds have been fi tted with GSM tracking by deviating technology in South Africa and Kenya to date, and this article focuses on the movements of a juvenile (1st year) female bird substantially from that was found grounded and weak near Skukuza in the Kruger National Park by staff from the State Veterinary Offi ce. After her expected route initial treatment, the bird was transferred to the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre near Hoedspruit where it received further care until it was considered fi t enough for release after three south and moving weeks. through western As it is standard process for rehabilitated birds to be fi tted with a ring prior to release, the rehabilitation centre contacted the EWT’s Vultures for Africa programme manager, André Botha, to Zambia. assist with this task. As he had a tracking unit provided by Alterra Wageningen University ready for deployment, permission was obtained to fi t the juvenile bird with this transmitter. The bird was fi tted with a SAFRING and the unit fi tted at the Hans “restricted to a few kilometres from the release site along the Hoheisen Wildlife Research Centre near the Orpen Gate in the Timbavati River before she headed north on her fi rst migratory Kruger on an overcast morning on 20 February 2018. The bird voyage north to the wintering grounds. fl ew a short distance after release to perch on a snag, looking back on the folks that took such good care of her, before fi nally We were able to follow her movements closely over the next few fl ying off into the distance. Her initial movement patterns were weeks until transmission from the unit stopped in early April

21 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 21 2018/12/03 11:18 when she was still ﬂ ying north in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, just to the east of the border with Rwanda. This was followed by a tense three months with no signal from our eagle, FOLLOWING until a welcome message from Dr Ralph Buij at Wageningen University was received that she was transmitting from North Sudan. It was a huge relief to know that she was still doing well and would hopefully be transmitting the remainder of the data when she begins the long journey back south which she was AERIAL SPOOR due to start within the next two months. However, our bird was to again test our assumptions in terms of the commencement of her southward migration, by only starting her journey in early September 2018 when many of the breeding adults were already back on their territories and refurbishing their nests. This is likely not unusual for young birds of this species that are not yet of breeding age. Once her southward migration started, she swiftly crossed South Sudan

and transmitted from northern Uganda on 5 September. Five days later, she had covered more than 1,000km and was transmitting halfway down the western side of Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Once she had entered the DRC, her migratory path closely followed that of her journey north and we assumed that she would likely continue her journey on a similar track and eventually reach South Africa to spend the summer not too far from her native area in the Kruger National Park.

Well, you know what people say about assumptions. On 19 September 2018, our Wahlberg’s Eagle threw us another curveball by deviating substantially from her expected route south and moving through Western Zambia. There has been no transmission from there since 18 September, so it is likely that she entered southern Angola where there is limited network coverage. If that can be conﬁ rmed, it will be the 8th country that she has visited on her migratory wanderings within her ﬁ rst year of life. It is possible that she could again turn south and move into either Namibia or Botswana and we hope to receive a download of all the data collected since she moved out of range when that happens, but time will tell.

As so often transpires with movement studies of this nature, we have numerous questions that need to be investigated after our initial tracking attempts and the EWT and its partners are looking forward to ﬁ lling the knowledge gaps with regard to this and other intra-African migratory raptor species in the Wahlberg’s Eagle. Photo credit Hans Hoheisen near future.

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 22

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 22 2018/12/03 11:18 101 VULTURE CHICKS

Ronelle Visagie, Coordinator: Platberg Karoo Raptor Project, EWT Birds of Prey and Wildlife and Energy programmes [email protected] Farmer, Kosie van der Merwe with a chick

When we see the number 101, we often think Dalmatians and probably had a bacterial disease, as it had bad diarrhoea, and spots, but this is a tale of vulture chicks and rings. three were possibly killed and eaten by baboons.

Climbing into a Camel Thorn Tree, removing a vulture chick Results change from year to year. Breeding success is not a from a nest, putting it in a bucket, and lowering it to the ground guarantee that vulture numbers will increase. During 2013 can be quite challenging. But the professional tree climbers between 400 – 600 vultures were killed in one poisoning from Puy du Fou (France) and the Hawk Conservancy Trust incident in the Caprivi. Threats to vultures include poisoning, (England) have it down to a ﬁ ne art and can get it done in under electrocution on power lines, being killed for muthi, and natural ﬁ ve minutes, causing the least amount of disturbance at the enemies like baboons, monkeys and Pied Crows. Strong winds nest as possible. No mean feat, considering the height of some blow the chicks out of the nests and they become prey for of the trees. jackals, caracals and other predators.

Early in October, the EWT and other role-players worked for six An interesting observation that has been made over the last few days in Mokala National Park and surrounding farms to ring years is that vultures seem to be starting to breed at an earlier White-backed Vulture chicks. This formed part of the Savannah age, although it is still too early to prove this statistically. The Vulture Project, a registered project with SANParks to monitor reason for this could be that one of a breeding pair was killed vultures in different National Parks. The aim is to record and the remaining one needed a mate. Unfortunately, young breeding patterns, population trends, and movements through birds are inexperienced breeders and their breeding effort may long-term studies. The situation of the vultures of Africa is be unsuccessful. Young vultures are dependent on their parents concerning, and the numbers of Critically Endangered White- for ﬁ ve to six months and because of the abovementioned, only backed Vultures are decreasing at an alarming rate. about 30% of all chicks survive the ﬁ rst year.

Active nests were identiﬁ ed by Ronelle Visagie, Coordinator Vultures play an important role, preventing the spread of for the EWT Platberg Karoo Raptor Project, during visits to the diseases to humans and animals. In India, the decrease in breeding colony before the ringing week. At least 150 nests from vulture numbers lead to an increase in rabies in humans. The the previous year were visited, and a number of new nests were decrease in vulture numbers in Africa will likely have the same also found. The ringing team ringed and marked 101 vulture consequences. chicks, while two nests still had eggs at the time. Chicks that were too small for tags were only ringed with a steel ring with Researchers mark vultures with wing tags with unique numbers a unique Safring number. White-backed Vultures only lay one to gather information regarding their place of origin, age and egg. The team also found four chicks dead on the nests. One distances travelled. Some of the marked vultures from Mokala

23 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 23 2018/12/03 11:18 A marked vulture chick ready to go back to the nest Taking a vulture chick out of a tree

National Park have been seen in Botswana and the northern parts of Namibia. You can help by sending us your observations of marked vultures to [email protected]. If you see a marked vulture, note the date, time, place, GPS coordinates if possible, number on the tag, and any other information you may think is important, such as the number of vultures the tagged one was with, and so on.

This work is made possible by the Charl van der Merwe Trust, Hawk Conservancy Trust, Puy du Fou, and Beryl Wilson of the McGregor Museum, Kimberley.

WAYS TO GIVE Donating is now as easy as snapping your ﬁ ngers… or your phone!

Supporters can now donate to the EWT quickly and safely, using SnapScan. All you need to do is:

1. Download the SnapScan application on your smartphone

2. Register with your details – this should take no more than a few minutes

3. Scan our EWT barcode to make your donation in the amount of your choice (be sure to choose donation rather than e-shop from the dropdown menu) – you’ll be asked to enter your PIN so you know the transaction is secure. It’s as easy as one-two-three!

Once you’ve made your donation via SnapScan, you’ll get an SMS conﬁ rming the transaction, and the EWT will be notiﬁ ed via SMS too. Supporting Conservation in Action couldn’t be simpler.

The ringing team

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 24

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 24 2018/12/03 11:18 GREEN HEROES BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Dr Rob Little and Sir David Attenborough

Esteemed ornithologist Dr Rob Little is the Manager of the Botanical Gardens he requested I stop the car so that he could Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the FitzPatrick Institute of African enjoy “a Golden Orb-web Spider while she swayed in the breeze Ornithology (Fitz), UCT. He acts as the Fitz link with the National on her lacy web.” Research Foundation (NRF) and the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and manages the research activities which What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? are funded by the CoE grant using Birds as Keys to Biodiversity At the age of 10 years old, my mother gave me the second Conservation. Particular emphasis is on attaining targets edition of Roberts Birds of South Africa which lived with me in quality science and education, as well as collaboration, for many years and probably got paid way too much attention outreach, and service rendering within civil society. This is compared to my school text books. Rob’s second stint at the Fitz, where he previously served as a Senior Research Offi cer while co-ordinating the Gamebird When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew Research Programme from 1988-1997. He was Director: up? Conservation at WWF South Africa from May 1997 until July Probably like many naturalist inclined children, it was to 2008, and an executive Board member from 2004 until 2008. become a game ranger. His responsibilities included directing the focus and activities of WWF-SA’s conservation programmes and leading WWF-SA’s What inspires you? contribution to biodiversity and environmental conservation in I am probably most inspired by interactions with people South Africa. He personally led WWF-SA’s species conservation who have passion and determination for understanding and programme and protected area expansion activities. Of his more resolving conservation biology issues. signifi cant contributions was the initiation of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project in KwaZulu-Natal in partnership with What’s one thing about you that would surprise other people WWF Netherlands. to know? Born in Durban and a true Capetonian now, people are often Born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and schooled at King Edward distraught to hear that I am a Blue Bulls rugby supporter. VII High School in Gauteng, Rob attained national diplomas in Forestry (1978) and Nature Conservation (1984), a BSc degree What is your favourite place to travel? in Wildlife Resources (1988) from the College of Forestry, Anywhere that birding, fi shing and snorkelling is good, but Wildlife & Range Sciences, University of Idaho, USA, and a PhD locally probably the Kalahari, Drakensberg and Mozambique. degree (1992) on the behavioural ecology, population genetics, management and utilisation of the Grey-winged Francolin from What’s the last book you read? the University of Cape Town. Rob has authored 80 papers in I haven’t read a novel for a couple of decades, so it would have peer-reviewed journals, including book reviews, 108 semi- to be phrased as recent, regular perusals of the 7th edition of popular articles, fi ve books and nine book chapters. Roberts Birds of Southern Africa and/or the Southern African Birdfi nder. What has been the highlight of your career so far? While perhaps not the most profound highlight, researching What’s your top tip for beginner birders? the behavioural ecology and management of Grey-winged Be patient with the identifi cation of little brown jobs (LBJs) and Francolins in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg and Stormberg don’t overlook the usefulness and fun of learning bird calls. Plateau with English Pointers who live to run in search of Grey- wings was the personal life changing highlight of my career development. A single incident highlight was also driving Sir David Attenborough around the Cape Peninsula when he visited South Africa to celebrate the FitzPatrick Institute’s 50th anniversary. A stand-out moment was when in Kirstenbosch

25 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 25 2018/12/03 11:18 WALKING THE TALK

In this new feature, we’ll be sharing tips on how we can all make a difference to the environment in our daily lives. We’d love you to share some of your tips too.

Please tell us how you make a difference by emailing your tips to [email protected], and we could feature them in a future issue of the magazine.

Thanks to one of our readers, Sue Bellinger, who shared these fabulous tips on how to stay eco-conscious, even in the heat of summer!

• No need to install air conditioners, which guzzle

electricity, meaning more coal mining and more CO2 released! Instead use evaporative coolers, which cool air through the evaporation of water. These coolers use much less energy than traditional air conditioners.

• Hang your laundry up to dry inside the house – this helps to keep your room a little cooler.

• Sleep under a wet sarong or cotton cloth – it’ll be dry when you wake up in the morning, and you’ll be cool and will have had a good night’s sleep.

• Keep your house cool by closing windows and blinds / curtains during the day, and opening up everything at night to let cooler night air in. Doors / windows can be judiciously opened to create cooling airﬂ ow when breezes blow.

• Geysers in the roof can absorb sufﬁ cient heat from the sun not to require electricity for a night or more (depending on household size).

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 26

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 26 2018/12/03 11:18 SCIENCE SNIPPETS

Dr. Lizanne Roxburgh, Senior Scientist, Conservation Science Unit [email protected]

The Endangered Wildlife Trust regularly publishes the results of our conservation science research in scientiﬁc journals, so that our work can contribute to a growing body of knowledge on conservation science. Here we highlight our most recent scientiﬁc publications and other important science-related news.

African and European governments to meet in Durban about waterbird conservation

In December, various African and European governments will meet in Durban to talk about AEWA, the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement. This agreement is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Greenland and the Canadian Archipelago.

AEWA covers 254 species of birds that are ecologically dependent on wetlands for at least part of their annual cycle. This includes species of pelicans, cormorants, herons, storks, ibises, ﬂamingos, ducks, cranes, waders, gulls, terns, shoebills, and even the South African Penguin.

All AEWA species cross international boundaries during their migrations. They require good quality habitat for breeding, as well as a network of suitable sites to support their annual journeys. International cooperation across their entire migratory range, as provided by AEWA, is therefore essential for the conservation and management of migratory waterbird populations and the habitats on which they depend.

27 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 27 2018/12/03 11:18 AEWA’s focus is thus on the entire ﬂ yway of a species and ensuring safe passage across countries in its range.

The AEWA Meeting of Parties, or MOP, is the 7th such meeting, and is being hosted by the Department of Environmental Affairs of the South African Government. South Africa is an active participant of AEWA and the ﬁ rst ever MOP was held in South Africa. The agreement begun in 1996 and since then 76 contracting parties (or countries) have become signatories to AEWA. The work of AEWA is guided by a secretariat that is based in Bonn, Germany, and is implemented through an action plan, which is advised by a Technical committee. AEWA is important for the EWT’s work on African crane species, all which are AEWA-listed species, and Lizanne Roxburgh, EWT’s Senior Scientist, sits on AEWA’s Technical Committee.

In this meeting, the work of AEWA over the past decade will be reviewed, and plans will be made for the next decade. Of particular interest to those of us in Africa, a new plan of action for Africa has been developed and will be approved at this MOP. It’s an ambitious plan for developing capacity and improving conservation and management of wetlands and waterbirds across the continent, which will hopefully ensure a bright future for this economically important and charismatic group of birds. SHOWCASING OUR SUPPORTERS CITY LODGE HOTEL GROUP

With EWT team members frequently needing to travel throughout South Africa, and beyond, the EWT is greatly appreciative of the support we receive from the City Lodge Hotel Group, who from July 2018 to June 2019 have offered the organisation 50 bed nights across their range.

With ﬁ ve Courtyard Hotels (381 suites), 18 City Lodge Hotels (3,172 rooms), 13 Town Lodges (1,650 rooms) 22 Road Lodges (2,059 rooms), and the Fairview Hotel (120 rooms), the City Lodge Hotel Group offers over 7,000 rooms and suites and ranks amongst the 250 largest hotel chains in the world.

Commitment to service excellence from a highly motivated and dedicated staff is a common thread throughout the group’s hotels, which have developed a loyal clientèle of both business and leisure travellers over more than three decades.

It is also a pleasure for the EWT to work closely with a hotel group that prides itself on sustainability in terms of water and energy efﬁ ciency. Thank you for your support!

250 largest hotel chains in the world The EWTs Dr Ian Little and Tanya Smith with Francois van Heerden, General Manager, City Lodge Hotel, Sandton, Morningside

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 28

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 28 2018/12/03 11:18 WILDLIFE FACT FILE

Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus

Our National Bird, Blue Cranes are as South African as you’ll get, with almost the entire world’s population found within our borders. A few birds (about 25) are found in and around the stunning plains of Etosha National Park in Namibia, worryingly though, decreasing from over 60 birds in the past. Also known as the 5c bird, the Blue Crane is an iconic large bird recognised for their long black tail feathers – a beautiful contrast to their ‘blue’ bodies, and dancing show cases across our landscapes. With approximately 25,000 Blue Cranes left, it would surprise most people that about half that number live in the agricultural landscape of the Western Cape – most notably the Overberg and Swartland regions. This is a wonderful example of people and biodiversity living together, however with that comes responsibility. We are therefore focussing our efforts over the next few years to understand exactly how safe our Blue Crane population – our heritage – is, given increasing potential threats like climate change, wind farm development and associated power line infrastructure, and fracking.

29 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 29 2018/12/03 11:18 Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor

The most numerous of the world’s ﬂamingos, the ubiquitous Lesser Flamingo, is by no means the least-threatened. Did you know that the entire African population comes from only three established breeding sites? So, for the Lesser Flamingo, this literally is a case of keeping all one’s eggs in only a few baskets. Should one of these waterbodies be compromised, then the African population will surely battle to recover. Another threat to the species is that of collisions with overhead power lines.

The most practical mitigation for power line collisions is to mark the cables with bird flight diverters, thereby improving their visibility to birds in flight. Sadly, the Eskom-EWT Strategic Partnership has recorded recurring flamingo mortalities on previously-marked power lines. We suspected that this is due to their nocturnal activity. In 2016, the EWT’s Wildlife and Energy Programme initiated a GPS tracking study to follow the movements of 12 Lesser Flamingos. Our initial results have revealed that a) the flamingos fly predominantly at night and b) movements are extensive throughout Southern Africa and beyond. We will continue to monitor the GPS-tagged flamingos in order to determine where to implement targeted mitigation interventions designed to cater for their nocturnal activity.

Botha’s Lark

Spizocorys fringillaris

When wandering through South Africa’s grassland biome, you might easily miss the extremely shy and uncommon Botha’s Lark. This endemic and Endangered little brown bird hides deep within our grassland biome, making it a challenge for even the most experienced birders to snap a quick photograph before it vanishes back into the grasses. The Botha’s Lark is very picky about its habitat, and is not found in valleys, rocky areas, and grasslands with tall grass or transformed habitat. It therefore has a very limited extent of occurrence, and is endemic to Moist Clay Highland Grassland areas (an estimated area of less than 500km²) in South Africa. The key threat to this habitat is the transformation of these grasslands through ploughing for agriculture, and mining. The EWT works to protect this endemic species by protecting its threatened grassland habitat from any form of transformation.

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 30

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 30 2018/12/03 11:18 MEET THE PACK

the full spectrum of existing and planned energy generation and transmission infrastructure in Africa.

What excites you about this position? The position enables me to pursue the conservation of African vultures and other raptors in a manner appropriate to the way these magniﬁ cent birds live their lives. They are extremely mobile, cover vast distances, pay no heed to manmade boundaries, and perform a key role in the environment to the beneﬁ t of the environment as a whole and to mankind in particular.

What are you passionate about? Africa, its awesome landscapes, wildlife and people, but vultures in particular, of course!

If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it be and why? In this day and age where the wise use of energy and other resources is becoming more and more of an essential consideration, shouldn’t one rather take the stairs and not use a lift?

I’d much rather get stuck around a campfi re in the African bush to talk the night away with someone like Sir David Attenborough to hear him share some of his memories over a lifetime spent in pursuit of the earth’s natural wonders and working towards their conservation. Who wouldn’t want an experience like that? Although I had the privilege of spending a couple of days André Botha, working with the great man back in the 1990s, when a crew from the BBC fi lmed Bearded Vultures in the vicinity of the Manager, EWT Sentinel Peak in the Drakensberg, I was way too awestruck Vultures for Africa to engage in any lengthy conversation with him at the time. It would be great to now have that opportunity. We chatted to André Botha, our resident vulture What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and who expert. André has been working in conservation did it come from? for almost 30 years, and was initially involved “Always focus on playing the ball rather than the man, in the management of protected areas and the especially under trying circumstances,” was valuable advice from a mentor in the early stages of my career and something training of fi eld rangers in anti-poaching and that I have tried to adhere to in my work and personal life. That other skills. André joined the EWT in 2004, and mentor has become a fi rm friend over more than 30 years and managed the Birds of Prey Programme until I still value his insight and support to this day. August 2016. After successfully leading the drafting of the CMS Vulture Multi-species Action Plan for African-Eurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP), he took responsibility for the Vultures for Africa programme of work within the EWT, which aims at implementing certain key actions of the I’d much rather Vulture MsAP in an African context. get stuck around a campfi re in the He is currently responsible for the EWT’s vulture and raptor conservation activities in Africa, primarily beyond South African bush to talk Africa. This involves implementing or contributing towards the implementation of specifi c actions within the Vulture MsAP. The major focus of this work is to reduce the impact of the night away with poisoning, the most signifi cant threat to vultures at present, across Africa through creating greater awareness of the someone like Sir impact of indiscriminate use of poisons on vultures and other wildlife species. Another aim is to promote the implementation of partnerships, similar to that which the EWT has successfully David Attenborough established with Eskom in South Africa, to address and reduce the impact of the other most signifi cant threat to vultures and other large birds, namely electrocutions on and collisions with

31 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 31 2018/12/03 11:18 What excites you about this position? I love being out in the ﬁ eld, getting my hands dirty, and engaging with the community. Lots of the community members I deal with have never seen a Grass-owl, or even knew that they have the species on their properties, so it’s quite exciting to share this with them.

What are you passionate about? Research and community involvement around the importance of the biodiversity. The fact is that most communities/societies do not see themselves as part of biodiversity. I am passionate about translating scientiﬁ c language to the ordinary person on the street, as they are an integral part of the conservation of the nature.

A decent man doesn’t get involved in physical fi ghts, and he retreats and forgives Rebotile Rachuene, instantly. African Grass-owl Project Field Offi cer, EWT Birds of Prey Programme Rebo grew up in a rural village in Limpopo. As a herd boy, he spent most of his early years in mountainous terrains and Bushveld, among the thorn trees, and this was when he fi rst became If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it aware of nature and its functions, and started to be and why? The late Dr Nelson Mandela, above all his tremendous follow seasonal changes. In 2009, he relocated efforts, the man was a selfl ess, visionary, strategist and he to Pretoria to further his studies and enrolled also believed in the conservation of natural resources for with UNISA to undertake a Nature Conservation the benefi t of all. course. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and who did it come from? Rebo currently leads the African Grass-owl Project My late grandmother said, “A decent man doesn’t get undertaken by the EWT’s Birds of Prey Programme. involved in physical fi ghts, and he retreats and forgives instantly.” His responsibilities include monitoring, identifying and securing breeding sites and the population; engaging with stakeholders such as farmers and community members; promoting the project to the public through media engagement and presentations; and implementing actions such as trialling the rehabilitation/restoration of Grass- owl sites on old open cast mines.

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 32

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 32 2018/12/03 11:18 If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it be and why? As I am very claustrophobic, I think anyone stuck in a lift with me will regret it!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and who did it come from? I like this Native American philosophy, as it makes one think…. “Only after the last tree has been cut down; only after the last ﬁ sh has been caught; only after the last river has been poisoned; only then will they realise that money cannot be eaten.” – Cree proverb

It is always such a privilege to Ronelle Visagie, Coordinator: Platberg Karoo Raptor release a bird Project, EWT Birds of Prey Programme/ of prey after it “ Wildlife and Energy Programme “ Ronelle Visagie describes herself as a farmer’s has recovered in wife with a love of nature and a passion for birds. She was previously involved with most of the bird projects of the Animal Demography Unit of the rehab. I do meet University of Cape Town, and did nest monitoring and bird ringing. She started working on raptors lovely people in the Northern Cape during 2005 after André Botha recruited her. that are also

In her dual roles at the EWT, Ronel does anything conservation that involves raptors: nest and population “ monitoring, power line investigations, extension minded and a work with farmers, talks at schools, taking care of eagle chicks when communication companies farmer once said work on the masts where they breed, and some rehab work with raptors that will go back to the wild. She also tries to resolve conﬂ ict situations that “you’ve got when eagles catch lambs or falcons catch racing pigeons. Her work takes her to places in the me hooked on Free State, Eastern and Northern Cape. vultures….”!

What excites you about this position? I love travelling and going to new places, and I often get the opportunity to do this. It is always such a privilege to release a bird of prey after it has recovered in rehab. I do meet lovely people that are also conservation minded and a farmer once said that “you’ve got me hooked on vultures….”!

What are you passionate about? I am really passionate about the conservation of vultures as they are Critically Endangered. We need to spread the message that we must take care of them and that one vulture that drowned in a dam, was killed on a power line, or was poisoned, is one too many.

33 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 33 2018/12/03 11:19 WAYS TO IVE EVERY SWIPE OUNTS

Did you know that you can support the EWT through the MyPlanet programme? The MyPlanet fundraising programme was launched as an extension of MySchool to provide community-minded people like yourself the opportunity to support a worthy cause, such as the EWT, that is focussed on the improvement and protection of the environment and animals. And it doesn’t cost you a cent!

So get your free MyPlanet card (no monthly fees, no costs to you!) and nominate the EWT as the beneﬁ ciary you wish to support. Then swipe your card at partner stores when you shop, and they will donate a percentage of your purchases on your behalf.

• If you don’t have a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card yet, simply apply for your free card now and select the EWT as your beneﬁ ciary. Once you start swiping your card, we’ll start receiving funds.

• If you already have a MySchool card, but would like to change your beneﬁ ciary or add a charity, simply call the Client Service Centre on 0860 100 445 or email [email protected] – there is no need to get a new card!

Find out more by visiting http://www.myschool.co.za/schools/myplanet

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 34

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 34 2018/12/03 11:19 PUP’S PLACE FLAMINGO COLOUR BY NUMBERS

Match the numbers to the colours below: One - pink Two - green Three - Red Four - yellow Five - blue

35 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 35 2018/12/03 11:19 IN CLOSING: MWITU’S MISSIVE

Dear Readers

It’s hard to believe that we have come to the end of another year – is it just me or has it fl own by (much like our feathered focus of this edition)? I hope that you have enjoyed not only this, our fi nal edition of Conservation Matters for the year, but all of the news we have shared with you over the course of 2018. None of what we do would be possible without your support, and we are so grateful to have you travelling this conservation journey with us. As we enter a more refl ective time of year, and prepare for new beginnings, I also encourage you to join me in taking a moment to pause and refl ect on what each of us can do to make a difference – whether it’s following some of the tips from our Walking the Talk segments, or taking the pledge to keep our carnivores Wild ‘n Free (visit www.ewt.org.za for more), or simply sharing our work with someone who hasn’t connected yet.

I hope that however you may be celebrating the upcoming festive season and year end period, it is peaceful and joyous. I look forward to sharing more of our adventures with you in 2019!

‘Til next time

Mwitu

P.S. If you don’t already receive our electronic newsletter, ChitterChatter, which goes out in alternate months from Conservation Matters, and you’d like to subscribe, please email me ([email protected]) and we’ll add you to the mailing list.

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition 36

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 36 2018/12/03 11:19 Your kindness is

Conservation Matters is the printed magazine of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, bringing readers the latest news from the EWT, as well as thought-provoking insights into current conservation hot topics. It is a magazine for lovers of wildlife and nature, and include something for readers of all ages. killing me. Five bi-monthly issues of the magazine are produced each year, with a distribution of 7,000 copies per issue. The magazine is distributed to EWT members and other stakeholders (primarily high LDM), as well as being made available at key locations such as check-in counters, departure lounges and car hires (list available on request) within OR Tambo and Lanseria international airports in Johannesburg. The cute cubs you pet could grow up to be killed for trophies. Keep our lions wild.

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For more information or to book your space, please contact Belinda Glenn on [email protected]

ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST 37 Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 37 2018/12/03 11:19 Your kindness is killing me. The cute cubs you pet could grow up to be killed for trophies. Keep our lions wild.

SMS “SAVE” to 31913 to donate R15

ENDANGERED

Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition WILDLIFE TRUST38

A30561 Conservation Matters Magazine_Oct-Nov2018_Issue11_A4_Ver 6_FA.indd 38 2018/12/03 11:19 THERE IS NO

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artifact.co.za I Conservation Matters | Issue 11: The Avian Edition

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