International Animal Rescue Foundation World Action South Africa Endangered Species Awareness Monday. Today we look at the vulnerable African endemic Blue Swallow distributed from South Africa, upto Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Generically identified as Hirundo atrocaerulea and located by Sundevall in 1850 the Blue Swallow is one of Africas most endangered wild birds, although is listed as least concern. Populations have been on the vast decline for some years now. Endemic to Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Kenya; Malawi; Mozambique; South Africa; Swaziland; Tanzania, United Republic of; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe population decline is estimated to be 36–56% since the 1850s. Literally as soon as this humble species was located its life becomes seriously threatened. A small passerine bird in the swallow family. Swallows are somewhat similar in habits and appearance to other aerial insectivores, such as the related martins and the unrelated swifts (order Apodiformes). It breeds in southern Africa, wintering further north in Uganda and Kenya. This bird breeds in montane grassland, preferring high rainfall, undulating areas. In winter it prefers open grassland, with bushes and trees. The nest is usually attached to the roof or side of a hole in the ground. According to Dr Ian Little, programme manager of the EWTs Threatened Grassland Species Programme, loss of suitable habitat was the primary cause of the Blue Swallows decline, but the causes for recent continued declines were uncertain. Four known regional populations of Blue Swallow have already gone extinct in South Africa in the past decade. This includes a breeding population that was in the Kaapsehoop region, which was once recognised as a Blue Swallow natural heritage site. The South African population now consisted of fewer than 38 known breeding pairs, with fewer than five remaining in Mpumalanga and 35 in KwaZulu-Natal, Little said. The EWT had initiated a project that aimed to microchip blue swallow chicks, in an effort to get more clarity on exactly why this species had declined so drastically over the past few years. International Union for the Conservation of Nature back in 2010 documented via Evans and Bouwman a total count of at least 1,006 pairs or 2,012 individuals. Unfortunately since 2010 great species decline has been noted from which there are if any no more than 100 breeding pairs within Africa to date 2014 January 23rd. NOTE - Estimated numbers of breeding pairs should be treated with caution, as when nests are surveyed they are assumed to indicate one breeding pair each, which may not be the case in this facultative cooperative breeder, and it has been observed that some nests are not used after construction (J. Wakelin in litt. 2007). It is placed in the band 1,000-2,499 mature individuals, equating to 1,500-3,749 individuals in total, rounded here to 1,500-4,000 individuals. Threats to this unique and very rare species are; Grassland in many parts of its range is being lost to afforestation. Intense human settlement, cultivation especially sugarcane. Intensive livestock-farming, intense grazing, intensive grass-burning. Invasion by non-native trees and bracken. Small scale mining. The drainage of wetlands also threatens the species. Displaced communities ruining habitat and damaging flora and soil. Climate change that is altering the African stratosphere and weather flow than previously believed. Grasslands are severely and immediately threatened by fragmentation, agriculture and overgrazing. Rapidly increasing human overpopulation. Fact - For 2010, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) estimates the mid-year population as 49,99 million. Fact - for 2013, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) estimates the mid-year population as 52,98 million - 2.99 million increasture. Populations are rising thus decreasing habitat via urbanization and industrialization that needs to cope with people demand. Local people in Busia commonly trap swallows for food, and this may include H. atrocaerulea. The loss of grasslands outside the Ruma National Park (Kenya) is severe, with almost every available area cultivated, heavily grazed or settled. Tourists take note! Breeding birds are known to abandon their nests in reaction to human disturbance from excessive tourism and land owners. South Africa, nesting success has been reported to decline during years with increased fog. Blue Swallows are well-adapted to flying in dense fog and have the most water repellent plumage of any terrestrial bird species. Hypothesise that elevated concentrations of sulphonates in the fog, caused by a combination of increased air pollution from the Johannesburg area and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from exotic trees, may have increased the wettability of the blue swallow plumage and lowered nesting success. Soil erosion, land loss, cattle ranch farming for hunting and public consumption is leaving the Blue Swallow with very few areas from which it can feed on many a insects. Blue swallows feed on small, soft-bodied flies and other arthropods, catching them on the wing. The Blue Swallow arrives on the breeding range at the end of September and constructs cup-shaped nests from mud and grass on the inside of sinkhole cavities, aardvark burrows and old mine shafts. The breeding system of the Blue Swallow is not well understood although co-operative breeding has been widely recorded in this species. The nests are lined with fine grass, animal hair and white feathers. Normally, three white eggs are laid. They are incubated by the female for 14 days, and the chicks are fed for approximately 22 days until they fledge. Once fledged, the young spend the next couple of days around the nest site before disappearing. Most Blue Swallows will rear a second brood before returning to the over-wintering grounds in April. Population trend is declining fast and although conservation efforts have been underway since 2010 the chances of us seeing this species preserved is very slim - we hold hope though and that is all we can do as well as work hard to now conserve this species as best we can. The EWT are working hard to preserve the Blue Swallow along with individual conservation trusts and National Parks - KNP being one of many. International Animal Rescue Foundation has since October 2013 been coordinating its Funding African Wildlife Survival (F.A.W.S) mission that sees all monetary donations raised pushed directly into conservation preservation and adding disadvantaged/ poorly equipped Anti Poaching Units that need as much attention as possible. You can help us by placing a small donation to our cause here >> https://facebook/pages/International-Animal-Rescue-Foundation-World-Action-South-Africa/199685603444685?id=199685603444685&sk=app_117708921611213 that we will be registering as a Charity within Africa this 2014. Main mission objectives; to preserve our threatened and endangered species and focusing on kitting out as many disadvantaged ranger units across the entire African peninsula For further information on Funding please email our Chief Environmental Registrar at [email protected] +4401603613367 or alternatively contact our environmental unit; +4407531167527 from which your number will be diverted to one of our team :)
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 23:35:16 +0000