Effects of Climate Change on Owls in South Africa

by Andrew*

Article by Willemien Calitz

Owl’s Residence is concerned about how our atmosphere will have an effect on owls in southern Africa. After performing some analysis we located that the owl – like several other bird species – faces a variety of challenges to sustain its existing numbers. These birds of prey play vitally essential roles in the preservation of our ecosystems and biodiversity. The high and intermediate conservation priority owl species at the moment incorporate the African Grass Owl Tyto capensis, the Marsh Owl Asio capensis and the Cape Eagle-Owl Bubo capensis.

Some of the threats to owl populations include:

Spotted Eagle Owl photo by Andrew (Scotch) Macaskill

1. Habitat loss

According to Cape Nature the loss and degradation of habitat continues to be the largest threat to avian biodiversity in the country. One of the driving forces behind this threat is the escalating human population growth and its connected impacts on the transformation of essential habitat. Important bird habitat such as indigenous forests has been degraded by means of logging, resulting in a loss or decline of species. These locations have been placed under the management of the South African National Parks, supplying the forests and their inhabitants with better statutory protection. As a establishing country, South Africa requires sustainable development to enhance its economic growth. The regulated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approach aims to either prevent development inside sensitive areas or mitigate those aspects of development that would seriously impact on the environment.

2. Powerlines

Powerlines pose a critical threat to birds either by means of birds colliding with the conductors or via electrocution, whilst landing, perching or taking off from these structures. Eskom is totally aware of the impact that their structures have on South Africa’s birdlife and have formed a partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) to monitor the problem and to create and increase mitigation measures to decrease bird mortalities. A number of Eskom powerlines in the Western Cape are ending their lifespan and are becoming refurbished and re-routed about sensitive areas. The erection of powerlines above 33kV is a listed activity in terms of the environmental impact assessment regulations.

3. Roadside bird mortality

Barn Owl a Victim of Roadside Mortality by Google Images

With the improve in the quantity of quick-moving vehicles and the simultaneous development of road developing technology, roadside bird mortality has turn into an increasingly essential environmental problem. 554 owls of four species, namely Marsh Owls, the Red Data listed Grass Owl, Barn Owl and the Spotted Eagle Owl were collected on the stretches of the R550 and N17 roads in the rural regions in between Springs and Devon in the East Rand of Gauteng Province during the period among October 2001 and September 2003. It was located that greater site visitors speeds undoubtedly having an increasingly detrimental impact on the owl mortalities. Weather circumstances also play a role in mortality counts, with the mortalities getting drastically negatively correlated to rainfall. Gravel roads had really low incidences of owl mortalities with the highest mortalities recorded along tarmac roads that are bordered by open grasslands or cattle grazing paddocks. Another element influencing the road mortalities of the owls is grain that is spilled on the road in the course of transport. This initially seemed to be the major element in attracting granivorous rodents to the roads, and in turn, attracting the owls to prey on them.

four. Climate modify

The African climate has often been altering, but the dilemma with current climate alter is thresholds, speed and compound effects. Energy pollution is making the air hotter and richer in CO than at any other time in human history – making ‘non-analogue conditions’. Statistical evidence suggests that South Africa has been getting hotter over the past four decades, with average yearly temperatures escalating by .13