BIRDS AND PEOPLE BirdLife Botswana’s Bird Conservation Newsletter March, 2012 No. 33
March, 2012 No. 33
BIRDS AND PEOPLE B I R D L I F E B O T S W A N A ’ S B I R D C O NS E R V A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R
E D I TO R I A L
IN THIS ISSUE: Management plan completed
3
Cape Vulture Task Force meets
6
First catch your vulture
8
BPM dedication
9
Photo Gallery
10/11
Together through time
12
Gamebird Management
13
A best first estimate
14
Namibia Bird Club Conference
15
Private sector supports conservation
15
Waterbird review
15
This issue features several articles on vultures. This group of birds is under serious threat in Africa, and during 2011, the Hooded Vulture was added to the list of species in Botswana that are globally threatened. It went straight from the category Least Concern to Endangered. This is a bird we take for granted in Botswana, as it is still reasonably common within its range in the northern parts of the country; however, its populations have all but collapsed elsewhere in Africa. Currently, the Whitebacked Vulture is our most numerous vulture, but it is predicted to join the Hooded in the Endangered category soon if declines throughout the rest of Africa continue. Urgent conservation action is required. Pete Hancock (Editor)
Front cover:
Mynas on the march
16
Pink-backed Pelican (Pete Hancock) Front cover: This page: Grey Heron on nest (Pete Hancock) Pied Kingfisher (Miles ThisKamakama) page: Saddle-billed Stork (Pete Hancock)
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MANAGEMENT PLAN COMPLETED
The management plan for southern Sua Pan has been completed; it is vital that it is now implemented
The southern part of Sua Pan was identified in the Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan (MFMP) as an archaeological and biodiversity hotspot, rich in heritage and biodiversity assets, which has potential to provide good livelihood improvement opportunities to the people who live there, but which requires appropriate management and development planning. In light of the above, members of four villages in the southern part of Sua Pan; Mmatshumo, Mosu, Mmea and Mokubilo, with facilitation and assistance from BirdLife Botswana and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), have expressed a desire to partner and develop a co-managed protected area around Southern Sua Pan. This proposed area comprises the gazetted, protected core (the Flamingo Sanctuary), and a surrounding buffer zone on the pan that includes the rest of CT13 and the Mosu escarpment area south of the pan— identified in the MFMP as a biodiversity and
archaeological hotspot (part of CT21 and CT16). A management plan was recently conducted by EcoStars (Pty) Ltd. to identify the appropriate development strategies and management activities required in order to realise sustainable benefit from and effective management of the area. The aim of the Management Plan is to identify and develop the community’s vision for Southern Sua Pan and outline the key activities that need to be undertaken in order to ensure appropriate management and development of the area and the ultimate realisation of this co-management vision. It provides a comprehensive guide to the effective management and development potential of the area, through a structured and logical approach that is backed up with detailed ecological and socio-economic review and analysis. The management plan provides a detailed bio-physical and socio-economic background and assessment, a community appraisal of
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the co-operative vision and detailed recommended development and management guidelines. The management plan is now complete, but there are still some big hurdles to overcome before the community can begin to implement this plan and realise its objectives: partnership agreements, establishing and registering the partner trust, securing a head lease for the area, establishment of a joint management committee responsible for the area’s management etc. In light of this, the following are some of the recommendations from the completed management plan: The four villages of Mosu, Mmatshumo, Mokubilo and Mmeya should form a partnership Trust or similar co-operative organisation with immediate effect, following the guidelines of the CBNRM policy, and use the Model Deed of Trust provided by the MEWT to develop the Constitution. Essential to this process will be the continued support and facilitation of BirdLife Botswana or similar facilitating body;
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MANAGEMENT PLAN CONTD. We recommend the community should adopt the partnership/co-operative option that allows equitable benefit sharing to be conducted on a per effort and input basis. This needs to be agreed by all parties, including the currently operating Gaing ‘O Trust if they are to be involved; The community trust should apply for the head lease of CT13, whereby it can gain natural resource use rights of the ‘buffer’ pan area around the Flamingo Sanctuary in order to conduct and benefit from controlled tourism activities; Access and use of the pan area of CT13 and, in particular, the restricted access Flamingo Sanctuary, MUST be controlled through effective protection and co-management strategies and through forging joint venture partnerships with a small number of existing and select few operators, who will bring appropriate financial investment and expertise to tourism marketing, operations and effective area
management. Joint venture partnerships should begin with the existing operators in the area, e.g. Moriti wa Selemo, Makari Extremes and Tim Liversedge, as soon as a head lease is gained by the Trust; Unfortunately, the most valuable part of the area included in the management plan boundary is the area adjacent to CT13, comprising the Mosu escarpment biodiversity and archaeological hotspot. This area holds the greatest potential for all-year round tourism activities and development. The Community Trust should apply through the respective subdistrict land boards for user rights to this area, in order to protect their management and development interests; Gaining natural resource user rights to parts of CHAs will, however, be difficult and it may take a long time to subdivide the CHAs for leasing purposes. Failing this, formal protection should be afforded the area, in which similar co-management and
development activities are carried out in accordance with the objectives of this PA. The Community Trust, DWNP and BirdLife Botswana should form a co-management committee that will co-manage the Flamingo Sanctuary, the buffer zone (the rest of CT13) around it and the Mosu escarpment hotspot area next to it. This committee will co-opt members from the sub-District Land Board, District Council, other relevant government departments and the private sector, including Botswana Ash, Debswana, A-Cap and flamingo researchers to advise and facilitate effective management; According to a government savingram, a freeze on the allocation of land to the private sector for lodges, guest houses and any other tourism related activities in multi-use grazing and arable areas has been in effect since June 2009 by Ngwato Land Board, with any allocations outside these areas to occur strictly on a preplanned and
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The management plan makes important recommendations for the way forward
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BirdLife Botswana must continue its role of facilitator in the process of implementing the plan
advertised basis. Issuing of sites for tourism development should, therefore, only happen in accordance with the tourism development plan, with zones and tourism sites identified in this management plan, and only allocated to the joint community trust. The entire CT13 area should be managed as a wildlife area, to promote the rebound of wildlife populations in the area, through effective
patrolling and antipoaching management actions. This would improve the tourism potential of the area and maintain a key ecosystem function of the Makgadikgadi ecosystem, wildlife potential and associated tourism potential as a whole, as well as maintain its links to other surrounding systems.
BirdLife Botswana has shown great motivation and support, through the GEF-
funded “Strategic Partnerships in Protected Area Management� project, and their continued support and facilitation will be a vital element in the successful progress of the project to the plan implementation stage. Dr G McCulloch Eco-Stars (Pty) Ltd.
The Makgadikgadi is a unique area, with overlooked tourism potential (Photo: G McCulloch)
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C A P E V U LT U R E TA S K F O R C E M E E T S The Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres is the most studied vulture species in Southern Africa and yet, even after decades of conservation efforts for this endemic species, the population continues to decline. During the 2011 breeding season a total of only 2,848 breeding pairs was recorded for the season, a drop from the previous estimate of 2,900 breeding pairs. Said André Botha, Manager of the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) Birds of Prey Programme, “Threats such as habitat change and fragmentation, shortage of food, persecu-
tion, poisoning, disturbance at breeding sites, illegal trade and mortalities caused by electricity infrastructure have impacted on the population of this vulture species for many years. The potential impact of emerging threats such as wind-generated power infrastructure and climate change may contribute significantly to further changes in the fate of this species in the region.” To supplement ongoing conservation efforts, the Cape Vulture Task Force was established in 2006 as a collaboration between the Endangered Wildlife
Trust’s Birds of Prey Programme (EWTBoPP), the Vulture Programme (VulPro NPC) and several other prominent conservation organizations and concerned individuals. Its overall goal is to stabilise the global Cape Vulture population by increasing collaboration and co-operation among conservationists, based on a conservation plan that was formulated to identify priorities for research and conservation action for the species. Following on the 2010 Cape Vulture Species Plan review, the Cape Vulture Task Force held a two day workshop, sponsored by the Tusk Trust and
Participants at the workshop (Photo: Andre Botha)
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The Cape Vulture continues to decline despite the best efforts of conservationists over several decades
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Sasol Limited, on the 1st and 2nd of March 2012 at VulPro in Hartbeespoort.
It is crucial that we address the threats to the Cape Vulture throughout its range
“The aim of the Task Force is to coordinate conservation efforts and monitoring for the species, collate the information, and drive and implement new and existing conservation strategies with the overall purpose of turning around the trend of decline in the species. We completed the Conservation Action Plan for the species and allocated action responsibilities and timeframes in order
to ensure the implementation of our strategy to save the Cape Vulture,” commented Kerri Wolter, the Cape Vulture Task Force Co-ordinator. Participants representing government, NGOs, landowners, private individuals and other stakeholders, as well as representatives from Zimbabwe and Botswana, took part in the workshop to identify existing and emerging threats to the species. “It is crucial that we address the threats to
The Cape Vulture is a magnificent bird (Photo: M Warrillow-Thomson)
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these birds at not only their breeding sites, but also throughout their foraging and distribution ranges. For this reason, the actions to protect the Cape Vulture should be applied throughout Southern Africa and not just in South Africa. To further actively conserve the species the Task Force will compile a Biodiversity Management Plan to be submitted to government,” concluded Botha.
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F I R S T C AT C H Y O U R V U LT U R E A pilot exercise during November last year showed that catching Lappet-faced Vultures in order to fit them with satellite transmitters is easier said than done! The birds are notoriously patient (and suspicious!), and although a variety of methods was tried, we never actually managed to get our hands on even one! During the coming
quarter, based on what we have learnt, we will be catching several Lappet-faced Vultures together with colleagues from CKGR Research and the Denver Zoo (who are providing the satellite transmitters). Although it is never good “to count your chickens before they are hatched”, we will be better organised this time round due not only to our experience, but
also thanks to the financial assistance of Rufford Small Grants. RSG has provided key funding for this project, for the capture of the birds is an essential first step in the satellite tracking project.
Project supported by
The next newsletter will provide readers with an update on progress — hopefully we’ll have something interesting to report!
A D AT E F O R Y O U R D I A RY The BirdLife Botswana Annual General meeting is scheduled to take place on Saturday 12th May at the No. 1 Ladies Opera House starting at 18h30. All members are welcome to attend; non-members are also invited, but may not vote during the election of the 2012/3 office bearers. There will be a light supper after the meeting and a cash bar will be available. The agenda for the meeting is obtainable from the Director, Kabelo Senyatso, at blb@birdlifebotswana.org.bw Birds and People No. 33
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B P M D E D I C AT I O N The Bird Population Monitoring Programme has grown tremendously as shown in the figure below. This article is dedicated to all data contributors for their tireless efforts in getting the programme into shape. Your participation has been key to the success of this project and a huge thank you goes to all of you who contributed. Through your efforts, we are
Participants in the Bird Population Monitoring project are responsible for its success
starting to get data on the most common species from the three counts done so far, as shown in the second figure at the bottom. Participants should anticipate receiving a detailed, exciting and special February 2012 count feedback. As much as we enjoyed organising this project, we know that
you also enjoyed doing these counts for us. Le ka moso! With acknowledgements to the financial sponsors of the programme: the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Global Environment Facility Small Grant Programme (GEF SGP), and our collaborating partners, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).
Number of transects and surveyors for the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 counts.
The most common species ranked by total number of individuals counted during November, 2011.
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White-winged Tern (Photo: I White)
PHOTO GALLERY
Whiskered Tern (Photo: Pete Hancock)
PHOTO GALLERY
Great White Pelican (Photo: Pete Hancock
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TO G E T H E R T H R O U G H T I M E Each year on the second weekend in May, dedicated people and organizations plan World Migratory Bird Day events to celebrate migrating birds in their region and to raise awareness about the need for their protection. Since World Migratory Bird Day began in 2006, events have been carried out in 104 countries and we hope this year even more people and countries will join the global celebration. On their epic journeys spanning thousands of kilometres, migratory birds connect continents, cultures and people along their migration routes. World Migratory Bird Day 2012 and this year’s theme Migratory birds and people - together
through time highlight the vital relationship between birds and people. Considering the cultural, social, historic, economic and spiritual connections we have with birds, it becomes clear that migratory birds and people are inseparably connected in many different ways and on many different levels. At the same time, many human activities, including excessive land use and unsustainable hunting, as well as the impacts of climate change, fishing bycatch and pollution gravely threaten migratory bird populations around the world.
This year’s poster portrays the 2012 World Migratory Bird Day theme Migratory birds and people – together through time, highlighting the many connections and historic links between migratory birds and people in a truly global way. Humanity’s fascination with migratory birds is evident in the symbolism throughout history in many ancient cultural legends. For example, in Egypt the ancient falcon-headed god Horus and in Peru the Nazca line monuments are testaments to migratory birds’ strong influences on past cultures. Also, many groups and cultures continue to rely economically on migratory birds for
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Support migratory birds through an event!
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The Ruff is the longest distance terrestrial migrant in the world (Photo: P Hancock)
Register your event on the WMBD website
their livelihoods, for example through subsistence and the growing global ecotourism and birdwatching industry. The phenomenon of bird migration is crucial to the web of life, as migrating
birds act as indicators of biodiversity, ecosystem health and climate change. Migratory birds also provide essential ecological benefits and services, such as pollination, to the ecosystems we rely on to survive.
We encourage all event organizers to register their events on the WMBD website so we can add them to the WMBD Event Map at: www.worldmigratory birdday.org
GAMEBIRD MANAGEMENT A new book promoting gamebird management has been produced by AGRED — the African Gamebird Research, Education and Development Trust. It is authored by Aldo Berruti, former Director of BirdLife South Africa, currently the Director of AGRED. The book is simply written and well-illustrated and describes practical
measures to manage gamebirds. It is farmer-friendly and advice is related to modern farming practices rather than expecting farmers to undertake activities contrary to normal farm management. The book costs R209, including airmail postage. Order direct from agred@netdial.co.za or visit the AGRED website: www.agred.org.za
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A B E S T F I R S T E S T I M AT E During a recent aerial survey of elephants in northern Botswana, researcher Dr Michael Chase and his team from Elephants Without Borders very kindly counted large birds as well, including the Globally Vulnerable Southern Ground-Hornbill. The elephant range in Botswana coincides quite closely with
that of the GroundHornbill, but not exactly, so the area in the extreme east of the country where the hornbills also occur was not counted. Consequently the numbers represent a minimum population size, and give an idea of the magnitude of the population only. The whole Okavango Delta was thoroughly
covered, as was Chobe, Nxai Pan and Makgadikgadi Pans National Parks and most of the area north of the MaunNata road. Ground-Hornbills are easily counted from a low-flying aircraft since they are large, occur in groups, and usually take off when overflown, revealing
A total of only 623 Southern GroundHornbills was counted in northern Botswana
Southern Ground-Hornbill in flight (Photo: L Francey)
the striking white in the wings. Despite this, the population estimate is only 623, with confidence limits ranging between 387 and 858. These figures are important for the following reasons: firstly, they are an objective estimate of the population size, which is much lower than one would have guessed (only 623 birds in the Okavango
and Chobe and surrounds!); secondly, future counts will be directly comparable with this one and will give vital information on the population trend, which is just as important as knowing actual numbers. The inclusion of the Southern GroundHornbill in the international Red Data Book in 2010 appears justified in the case of Botswana! Prior to this count, we never
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had even a good guesstimate of the population size. The details of the Ground-Hornbill survey will be written up and published in our scientific journal Babbler. In the meantime, BirdLife Botswana thanks Dr Chase, and Elephants Without Borders, for including large birds in the aerial survey.
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NAMIBIA BIRD CLUB CONFERENCE The Namibia Bird Club is our sister organization in Namibia. We encourage people who are interested in the region’s birds to attend the 50th anniversary conference on 30 April and 1 May in Windhoek. For further details, contact Holger Kolberg at holgerk@mweb.com.na
P R I VAT E S E C TO R S U P P O RT S C O N S E RVAT I O N We thank our ongoing loyal Corporate members for their support
BirdLife Botswana greatly appreciates the support of its Corporate members, some of whom have been regularly contributing to our conservation efforts for several years now. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge them, and encourage all readers, in turn, to support these companies. They are (in alphabetical order): &Beyond, Afriscreen, Botswana Wildlife Management Association, Canon, Desert and Delta Safaris, Drotsky’s Cabins, Flamingo Investments, Kalahari Kavango Safari Company, Ngamiland Adventure Safaris, Ngami Marine, Orient Express Safaris, Okavango Still, Okavango Wilderness Safaris, Phakalane Golf Estate, Sanctuary Retreats, SAVE, Thamalakane River Lodge, Tuli Safari Lodge, Vision Management Systems.
WAT E R B I R D R E V I E W BirdLife Botswana has an incredible 20-year dataset on waterbird numbers, derived from the bi-annual African Waterbird Counts. These counts were started in 1990, and the data from the first 10 years were analysed and written up by Dr Stephanie Tyler. She has just completed a review of the following 10 years of information, from
2000 to 2010. This report has the latest details about waterbird numbers and distribution, and is a valuable addition to the literature on Botswana birds. Copies of the review are available from your nearest BirdLife Botswana office (see contact details at end of newsletter).
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MYNAS ON THE MARCH
What, if anything, should BirdLife Botswana do about the spread of the alien Common Myna in Botswana?
At the beginning of the 20th Century, the Indian Myna, a member of the Starling Family, was introduced into South Africa at Durban, and since then it has slowly but steadily expanded its range. It only reached Gaborone in the 1990s, and since then has spread along the Eastern Hardveld from Lobatse up to Francistown. It has also been extending its range westwards, with more recent sightings from Kang, Serowe, Letlhakane and Nata. This bird is regarded by some people as a pest, by others as a
highly successful, adaptable species. Although it is noticeably aggressive and competes with other starlings for food and nesting holes, there is no scientific study that shows unequivocally that it has a deleterious effect on our indigenous birds. Nevertheless, BirdLife Botswana is concerned about its
spread, and we would like to solicit the views of the general public about this species and what, if anything, we should do about it. We’d also like to know of records (with dates) of sightings of this species at places other than those listed below. Please send any information you have to Pete Hancock.
Recorded localities: Bathoen Dam (Kanye), Dibete, Gabane, Gaborone, Jwana Game Park, Jwaneng Sewage Ponds, Kang, Khutse gate, Letlhakane, Lobatse, Mabule, Magagabe Hill, Mahalapye, Mannyelanong, Matswere (CKGR), Mochudi, Mokolodi, Molepolole, Moshupa Dam, Nata, Notwane, Otse, Palapye, Serowe, Sikwane, Sowa, Takatshwane.
The Common Myna thrives in urban environments together with humans (Photo: Ralph Green www.flickr.com)
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Membership Form Membership is due in January of each year, as the subscription runs from January to December. Rates • Standard - P120.00 • Corporate - P2000 • Professional – Rangers, Guides and SSG members - P60.00 • Life - P2000 • • • •
Students studying in Botswana – P15 Schools/Clubs – P50 plus P5 per club member with a minimum of 10 members per club SADC Region – P350 Overseas (and outside SADC) – P450
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P H O T O O F T H E M ON T H
Professional Guide Aubrey Malekane had a great sighting of Denham’s Bustard at Bodumatau in Moremi on 5th January this year. Luckily he had his camera with him! This is a Category B Rarity, meaning that BirdLife Botswana is interested in all sightings of this species. CONTACT ADDRESSES
Contact us
BirdLife Botswana PO Box 26691 Game City Gaborone blb@birdlifebotswana.org.bw
BirdLife Botswana PO Box 1529 Maun birdlifemaun@gmail.com
Tel: 3190540 6865618 Fax: 3190540 Physical address: Unit C1 Old HOORC site Kgale Siding off Disaneng road Plot 1069 KO (the old TEBA complex near St Joseph’s College) Visit our website http://www.birdlifebotswana.org.bw/ BIRDLIFE BOTSWANA MISSION BirdLife Botswana aims to conserve birds and important bird habitats, by creating awareness, carrying out research and promoting beneficial relationships between birds and people.