As natural veld is lost – as towns and cities grow, farming activities increase, or as invasive alien plants encroach on natural vegetation – bird numbers decrease. Take the Southern Black Korhaan – once regularly spotted in the Overberg and Swartland. Today, these birds are rarely seen here. Research shows these Korhaan prefer natural veld, and will use farmland only when they have to. Fires, invasive alien plants and agriculture affect the breeding habitat of Black Harriers. These threats are also notable in the Overberg. Blue Cranes are also affected by habitat loss throughout their range, with the loss of grassland habitats and wetlands a major cause for concern. In the Overberg, Blue Cranes use altered landscapes like pastures and stubble lands for nesting. The Overberg Crane Group works closely with farmers and others to protect the birds while using these habitats. We know the importance of our farming community, and the need to secure our food resources. So we work with land users to protect the critical biodiversity areas prioritised for conservation action – like the remaining renosterveld corridors.

A 2010 study found that around 12 percent of the total Blue Crane population in the Overberg is killed each year by power line collisions. That’s around 1500 Blue Cranes per year – an unsustainable amount. The OCG, through the Endangered Wildlife Trust, works with Eskom to mitigate this threat, by installing bird diverters to areas identified as high risk. The EWT/Eskom partnership also undertakes relevant research on this issue, and looks to prevent collisions and electrocutions from taking place. Visit the EWT’s website for more info.

You can also report wildlife fatalities linked to electrical infrastructure to: 0860 111 535 or email: wep@ewt.org.za.

But power lines are only part of the problem. Wind turbines are increasingly popping up across the Overberg. This will undoubtedly increase the threats to Blue Cranes, Denham’s Bustards, Korhaans and other big (and small) birds. For the Overberg Crane Group and its partners, the aim is to encourage wind turbines that are well planned, and not a threat to Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, and therefore to the Overberg’s bird populations.

Poisoning can be intentional, where birds like Blue Cranes are targeted because they’re considered a nuisance. Or poisoning could be accidental, where another species is targeted, or when poison is accidentally taken in while feeding. Many poisoning cases in South Africa are unintentional, where either poison bait is placed to catch other species (e.g. Helmeted Guineafowl) or where birds feed in an area where insecticides have been spread. For Cape Vultures, they could die if they ingest poison left at livestock carcasses. One incident of poisoning could kill anything between 50 to 500 birds, according to the IUCN. For the Overberg Crane Group, this threat is a high priority. In fact, the OCG was established in the 1990s due to high number of Blue Crane poisonings. Today the Crane Group works in partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust, and with CapeNature (the Western Cape’s conservation authority) to combat the misuse of agrochemicals so that wildlife poisoning is limited.

Chicks are removed from the wild to satisfy this demand. Blue Cranes, the chicks and eggs are often collected for food. As Blue Cranes are protected in the Western Cape Province, it’s illegal to remove cranes and crane eggs from the wild. Cape Vultures are sometimes used in the traditional health industry. The IUCN notes that hundreds of vultures are sold every year, with harvesting taking place for traditional uses. It’s believed that certain species could be extinct in around 50 years if the current rate of exploitation continues. Even the Secretary Bird is captured and traded – albeit in smaller numbers.

The twine cuts off the circulation to the lower legs and eventually results in amputation. As cranes and other birds forage by walking through the landscape, an injury of this sort is often fatal depending on how much of the leg is amputated.