save the Black Harrier (Circus maurus)

  • by: Frans Badenhorst
  • recipient: WWF South Africa, SAN Parks South Africa, Kingdom of Lesotho’s Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture: Mme Lebohang Ntsinyi, Namibia Directorate of Environmental Affairs

This species is classified as Vulnerable, despite its huge range, because it has a very small population. This and its virtual disappearance from agricultural lowlands make it highly reliant on protected areas in its core breeding range.

 
The species has conceivably lost 50% of its preferred breeding habitat over the last century

 
Climate change in South Africa is predicted to cause a decrease in overall winter rainfall in the core breeding areas, which is likely to lead to a reduction in mouse populations and disruption to breeding 

 Also, 
direct negative interactions and potential competition between the species and African Marsh Harrier C. ranivorus

dear Sirs

thank you for the oppotunity to bring this issue concerning the Black Harrier to your attention. Thank you in advance for the time afforded on this matter.

If possible, please consider the following;

1. The species has conceivably lost 50% of its preferred breeding habitat over the last century and present rates in the Overberg may be over 1% per annum (R.E. Simmons in litt. 2007).

2. Habitat is primarily lost to agriculture, and this is compounded by the uncontrolled burning of fynbos and grassland, which renders these habitats unsuitable for breeding for about five years (R.E. Simmons, O. Curtis and A. Jenkins 
in litt. 2004).

3. Alien vegetation and urbanisation are also cited as causes of habitat loss (Curtis 
et al.2004). In south-western South Africa, it is thought that breeding birds have been displaced from prime lowland habitats (renosterveld and fynbos) by the spread of cereal agriculture, with breeding pairs presently occupying only coastal areas, with high productivity, and montane habitats, where breeding success is low and levels of nest predation are high (Curtis et al. 2004).

4. Rodent populations in areas of wheat cultivation may be as low as 33% of those found in renosterveld vegetation (R.E. Simmons 
in litt. 2004), and remnant patches of renosterveld, which continue to be degraded R.E. Simmons, O. Curtis and A. Jenkins in litt. 2004), hold lower numbers of rodents than coastal strandveld vegetation (R.E. Simmons in litt. 2004).

5. Low hatching rates, possibly as a result of high pesticide residues, is an increasing threat now that many remaining breeding habitats are surrounded by agricultural areas R.E. Simmons, O. Curtis and A. Jenkins 
in litt. 2004).

6. The ingestion of herbicides and pesticides may account for the death of some adults in South Africa (Simmons 2005)
, while road deaths adjacent to west coast breeding grounds numbered six birds over one breeding season in 2007 (R.E. Simmons in litt. 2007).

7. Drainage, impoundment and inappropriate management of vleis, marshes or streams near breeding grounds could prove detrimental.

8. Climate change in South Africa is predicted to cause a decrease in overall winter rainfall in the core breeding areas, which is likely to lead to a reduction in mouse populations and disruption to breeding (R.E. Simmons
 in litt. 2007).

9. The same threats may apply to the species in Namibia, and the favoured habitats of the migrant population may be overgrazed, particularly in southern Namibia (Simmons 2005)
.

10. Overgrazing in southern Namibia is attributed mainly to resident pastoralists and 'emergency grazing' by farmers from elsewhere, which is offered during years of good rainfall (R.E. Simmons
 in litt. 2007)

thanking you in advance

Regards 

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