The Overberg Crane Group is to broaden its focus to include other threatened big bird species. At the OCG annual general meeting, held in February 2013, committee members opted to change the Constitution to include these species.
According to Mick D’Alton, Chair of the OCG, the focus of the group remains on conserving Blue Cranes. He says, “In the work that the OCG does, we regularly come across all sorts of big birds using the same habitats as the Blue Cranes that require assistance. As such, we’ve been instrumental in helping, where needed, other species, in particular the Cape Vulture.”
He says that by offering support to other big bird species, the OCG will be able to better utilise its resources to have even greater impacts. “We are very excited about this change, which will allow the OCG to play a greater role across the landscape.”
The OCG also appointed a new committee at the AGM. The new committee is: Mick D’Alton (Chair), Andrae Marais (CapeNature – Vice-Chair), Malcolm Gordon (Treasurer), Kevin Shaw (CapeNature), Donella Young (Animal Demography Unit), Odette Curtis (Overberg Lowlands Conservation Trust), Dale Wright (Birdlife South Africa) and Wicus Leeuwner.