S A National Crane Count

• By: Debbie Thiart
• Short URL: http://www.backabuddy.co.za/sa-national-crane-count

Personal message

The National Crane Count (NCC) started in 1998 and has been a successful method of obtaining information on the location and numbers of cranes in South Africa.  It has allowed the African Crane Conservation Programme (ACCP) (formerly EWT-SACWG) of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) to gain more information about the breeding of and threats to cranes in the different regions of the country.  It has also provided the opportunity to increase awareness of cranes and for landowners to become involved by monitoring and reporting flocks of cranes on their farms.  In the past, approximately 5 000 landowners took part in this survey annually, covering an area of about 205 493 km².  The last formal NCC took place in 2006.  It is now proposed to begin the annual National Crane Count again from 2010, to simplify and diversify methods of submitting data and to increase uptake of the census to once again have a definitive census of all South Africa’s cranes.

2.      BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATION

Cranes are among the world’s most threatened family of birds.  Three crane species occur in South Africa, namely the Blue (Anthropoides paradiseus), Grey Crowned (Balearica regulorum) and Wattled (Bugeranus carunculatus) Cranes.  The Blue Crane, South Africa’s national bird is a near-endemic to South Africa with only a small isolated population occurring in Namibia, along with the Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) both are classified as Vulnerable.  The Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus), classified as Critically Endangered in South Africa with only 240 individuals left, is the most specialised of Africa’s cranes and the most dependent on wetlands for both foraging and nesting.

Although still threatened, it is only through the significant efforts of the EWT over the past 15 years that all three species of crane in South Africa are stable and may have turned the corner to slowly increasing again.  The decline of cranes in South Africa resulted from a number of factors, and included primarily habitat change, power line collisions, poisoning and trade.  Although considerable efforts have been made to reduce these impacts, it is a constant effort through continual monitoring and effective mitigation that will ensure that our cranes survive into the next century and their populations do not start to decline again.

Cranes live mainly on privately owned farms in South Africa (99% of South Africa’s cranes are found on farms with private ownership) and hence the future of cranes in South Africa depends on the involvement of these private landowners in their conservation.  It is therefore important to once again get the landowners fully involved in the NCC in 2010.  The NCC will take place at the end of July 2010.  At this time of the year the cranes will be found in larger numbers in flocks and therefore are more conspicuous for counters to record them.  During summer months, the cranes are found in their breeding territories and it may be difficult for counters to find them and they may also be found in areas that people do not visit on a regular basis and will therefore be omitted from the count.

 3.      PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The NCC is planned on the second to last Friday and Saturday of July 2010 (Friday 23^rd – Saturday 24^th July).  Over these two days landowners will be encouraged to count and record all cranes that are present on their land and give additional information about the activities that cranes use their land for and any perceived threats to the cranes throughout the year.

 Project objectives

To create a national awareness of South African cranes species.

To encourage landowners to be more involved in crane conservation and assist with the reporting of cranes and provide additional information such as reasons for mortalities.

To determine the minimum distribution of cranes and record changes in occurrence from past surveys.

To identify trends in crane numbers (whether certain populations are increasing or decreasing) and analyse the data from the national censuses held in the past to compare with data from 2010.

To obtain information about the habitat use by cranes (such as what habitat is mostly being used for flocking and roosting).

 Recording and reporting information

This year the count will be made more user friendly than ever by including several different methods of recording and reporting the information collected:

A traditional paper copy of the crane count form will be available in both English and Afrikaans.  This form will be posted to landowners already on the database and put in the agricultural supply wholesalers and co-operations (such as BKB or OVK) in the towns where cranes are found.  It will also be widely available in magazines, such as Landbouweekblad and Farmers Weekly as well as local newspapers that landowners can tear out and use.  These paper forms can be sent back via post or faxed back.

An electronic version of the form that can be sent out by e-mail to farmers or downloaded from the EWT website, filled in electronically and be sent back via e-mail.

An online copy of the form will be available on the internet that can be filled in and transmitted directly back online.

Results returned by SMS message.  This will be the first time the census has allowed results to be submitted in this way.  A standard format will be publicised for the SMS messages which will include all the basic information required.  SMS messages will then be followed up to collect more detailed information if appropriate.  A standard number will be set up receiving these messages.

 Project deliverables and outputs

A media campaign will take place to maximise participation in the count.  This will involve advance publicity about the forthcoming count and its role, as well as widespread media coverage at the actual time of the count in late July.

A summary report will be compiled and sent to sponsors and participants after the count has taken place.

A full technical report of the findings will be produced for distribution to interested parties.

These activities will result in a heightened awareness amongst landowners and the public in general of South Africa’s cranes and the threats facing them.

A media release will be made summarising the results and the issues affecting South Africa’s cranes.