Adam Hartman
18 August 2009
Conservationists and bird-lovers gathered in Swakopmund recently for a gala dinner to raise funds for vulture conservation in the Namib Naukluft Park.
The event saw N$8 000 raised during a three-course meal and live entertainment by George van Straten.
The money is desperately needed by volunteers of Vulture Namibia, who annually monitor and tag Lappet-faced vultures in the park.
"Unpaid volunteers run Vultures Namibia and promote vulture conservation through presentations, ringing, tagging and monitoring birds - all funded by donations and sponsors," said Peter Bridgeford of Vultures Namibia.
Aerial surveys are carried out annually to monitor the state of the vultures' breeding trends between the Swakop River and Sossusvlei. The large number of tourist vehicles, road-building and aircraft on pleasure flips are likely causes for the desertion of this prime breeding area.
Lappet-faced vultures are the largest vultures in Africa and nest on the tops of trees. From low-flying aircraft, the nest with its contents can clearly be seen. The organisation is also starting to make use of unmanned drone-aircraft to do aerial surveys.
After 'active' nests (with chicks) are located and noted with GPS co-ordinates, ground teams in 4X4 vehicles go from tree to tree. They use long extension ladders to reach the nests to ring and tag the vulture chicks. A numbered metal ring is put around the leg and a yellow, numbered plastic tag is fitted to one wing. When the bird is perched, the tag is visible from a distance, while the number can also be seen.
According to Bridgeford, these tags help Vultures Namibia monitor the movement of birds from the breeding area to other parts of Namibia and even to neighbouring countries.
"It is with the help of sponsors and wildlife lovers that Vultures Namibia will continue to bring the plight of endangered vultures to the attention of Namibians."
Anyone observing a marked bird is requested to check the tag number and report it to Vultures Namibia. The date and place seen will also be useful.
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