David Devo Oosthuizen (Devographic Activist Photography and PiX Magazine: Activism though PiX) along with BirdLife South Africa are kicking off an amazing competition to help give conservation wings. Our goal is to help the White-bellied Korhaan and support the fantastic effort from Niall Perrinsto to see 800 birds in Southern Africa in 2011. Get this month’s copy of PiX Magazine where BirdLife South Africa is featured for Activism though PiX.

800 Southern African birds in 2011

2011 is the year for Southern Africa, and the goal is to see 800 bird species.  Will he do it? Niall Perrins’ effort and inspiration to see 800 birds in Southern Africa 2011 needed a broader focus than just a personal target in his own mind. Only one birder has previously publically achieved the target of seeing 800 birds in Southern Africa in one year; the legendary Ian Sinclair. Niall’s efforts have therefore expanded into a challenge for the public to “sponsor” the birds he sees. Niall has chosen BirdLife South Africa’s White-bellied Korhaan project as the beneficiary of donations he receives. Barrow's Korhaan as "our" bird is known, has been lumped with the White-bellied Bustard, a bird more widely spread in the continent and just touching our region in the Kunene River region of Namibia. Our particular bird, Eupodotis senegalensis barrowii, is listed as Vulnerable in the Red Data List, while the more widespread White-bellled Bustard is listed as Least Concern. Barrow’s Korhaan is a near-endemic to the Grasslands. The Grasslands is an endemic biome to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, and South Africa’s most exploited biome in terms of land use for urban and agricultural developments with only 2% of the Grassland Biome formally protected.

As the White-bellied Korhaan is found in pairs or small family groups, and is of a smaller size (compared to other bustards and korhaans), it is less regularly encountered. However, these low numbers may also reflect the current status of populations throughout its range where habitat fragmentation, and an increase in the patchiness of available habitat throughout its range due to anthropogenic effects, has resulted in populations becoming restricted to protected and untransformed areas. The main threats, that similarly affect a number of other bustard species, appear to be habitat loss due to afforestation, crop farming, overgrazing, burning and habitat modifications as a result of growing human populations. Most disturbing is a decrease in reporting rates from Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2 (SABAP2) versus Southern African Bird Atlas Project 1 (SABAP1), data that likely equates to an overall reduction in abundance and a range contraction.

All funds generated during Niall’s campaign during 2011 will be directed to research and conservation of the White-bellied Korhaan.  Read more at www.birdlife.org.za or http://www.niall.co.za/800/800.htm

BirdLife South Africa Banking Details

Account name: BirdLife South Africa

Bank: First National Bank, Randburg

Account number: 62067506281

Branch code: 254005

SWIFT: FIRNZAJJ

Please quote "Bustards" as a reference and please notify Niall Perrins of your donation (Niall@kitech.co.za)

Should anyone like to nominate their favorite bird or a bird number on Niall’s list, it can be emailed to Niall, and it will be linked as such on the website http://www.niall.co.za/800/800.htm as it grows through the year. A list of donors will also appear on the site.

Please contact Dr Hanneline Smit (Conservation Manager: Oppenheimer Fellow of Conservation) if you’d like more information about BirdLife South Africa‘s species conservation work or if you’d like to support one of the species conservation projects (011 7891122 or conservation@birdlife.org.za)

Photography Competition:

Please submit your photo contributions of the White-bellied Korhaan with GPS coordinates to pixbirds@devographic.com or upload your photos and GPS coordinates on the PiX Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/pixmag

The best photo chosen will receive two nights free for 8 people in a luxurious guesthouse at Telperion, neighbouring Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, a mere 2 hour drive from Johannesburg. The fully equipped guesthouse, with pool and braai area, overlooks the pristine Bunkenveld Grassland. The winner as well as the 2 runner-up entries will also receive a 12 months subscription to PiX Magazine.

The judges’ decision is final and the closing date is Thursday, 30 June 2011. Winners will be announced on the PiX Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/pixmag and BirdLife South Africa Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Birdlife-South-Africa/112371882122716

Happy snapping!

Words by David Devo Oosthuizen and Dr Hanneline Smit. Photos by Warwick Tarboton