BirdLife South
Africa and BirdLife International are very concerned that the proposed
development of a wind farm at Letseng in Lesotho
could have severe impacts on the already declining populations of Cape Vultures
and Lammergeiers. South Africa
and Lesotho share the
responsibility of safeguarding the populations of Lammergeiers and Cape Vultures
in the Lesotho Highlands and the surrounding escarpment of South Africa.
PowerNET
Developments (Pty) Ltd propose to erect 42 wind turbines (each with a capacity
of 850 kW) near Let?eng-La-Terae, on the north-eastern escarpment of the
Drakensberg. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed Letseng
Wind Farm is in its final stages of completion. The avifaunal specialist
report, compiled by well-respected ornithologist Dr Andrew Jenkins, indicates
that even with mitigation, the anticipated impacts of the project on highly
unique and sensitive avifauna will be of high to very high negative
significance, rendering the project unsustainable.
While wind energy
is fairly new to southern Africa, poorly
located wind turbines elsewhere in the world have had significant impacts on
bird populations. Impacts include loss of habitat, disturbance and mortality
through collisions with the turbine blades. In Smøla, Norway,
for example, wind farms caused the local population of White-tailed Eagles
(also known as Sea Eagles) to plunge by 95% ? reducing the number from 19 eagle
pairs to only one pair.
Such devastating
impacts have not occurred at all wind farms. ?The considered location of wind
farms is the key to ensuring that impacts on birds are kept to a minimum?, says
Samantha Ralston, Birds and Renewable Energy Manager for BirdLife South Africa. Among other things, turbines should be kept
well away from areas frequently used by collision-prone birds such as
large-bodied raptors.
Collision-prone
vultures cannot observe political boundaries
Vultures play an
important ecological, economic, cultural and aesthetic role. They are
scavengers and by disposing of waste and carcasses they help control
populations of other disease-carrying scavengers and pests. In this way they
help protect human health, as well as that of domesticated animals and
wildlife.
Unfortunately,
vultures appear to be particularly prone to colliding with the turbine blades.
High collision rates have been observed in Griffon Vultures at wind farms in
Europe, most notably in Tarifa,
Spain.
The Griffon Vulture is a close relative of the Cape Vulture.
A recent study in Tarifa, Spain, estimated that 0.22 vulture
deaths occurred per turbine per year. This was reduced by approximately half
with the introduction of mitigation, but even with mitigation one can expect
that for every 10 turbines at least one vulture will be killed every year.
The proposed
Letseng wind farm is located in habitat that is critical for both
Lammergeier and Cape
Vulture, both threatened
species. Lammergeier is listed as regionally Endangered and Cape Vulture
as Vulnerable in South
Africa. Birds do not observe political
boundaries and the populations of both species span South
Africa and Lesotho. A further decline of birds
in Lesotho, will severely
impact the viability and survival rates of the vultures in South Africa.
Using population models, scientists have demonstrated that even a small
increase in adult mortality could cause the rapid decline and even local
extinction of these long-lived, slow-breeding birds. ?BirdLife South Africa has
learnt from its partners in Europe and North America that incorrectly located
wind farms can cause massive mortalities of vultures and eagles?, says Mark
Anderson, CEO of BirdLife South Africa. ?For
this reason, we will strongly oppose any wind farm developments which we
believe will result in significant impacts on Lammergeier, Cape Vulture and
other threatened South African birds?, he added.
Responsible
sustainable development must be consultative
BirdLife South
Africa fully recognises the need to move towards generating clean energy and
supports the responsible development of a renewable energy infrastructure in
southern Africa. BirdLife South Africa therefore encourages wind farm developers to work
with them to help identify suitable sites for wind energy to minimise the
impact on birds and the environment while delivering lasting sustainable development.
For example, prior to siting a wind farm, a Strategic Environmental Assessment
should be undertaken as this enables avoidance of areas that are known to be
environmentally sensitive.
Dr Julius
Arinaitwe, BirdLife International?s Regional Director for Africa
says development is vital, but must progress in an environmentally sensitive
manner. ?Development is underpinned by healthy ecosystems and the biodiversity
therein. The choices we make now must not negatively affect Africa?s ability to develop in future?, he said.
BirdLife South Africa and BirdLife International are calling on PowerNET
Developments (Pty) Ltd to voluntarily withdraw the EIA application. BirdLife
South Africa is also encouraging the public
and partners to comment on the EIA report. Further information can be obtained
from Samantha Ralston at energy@birdlife.org.za
or 083-6733948.
Cape Vulture
The Cape
Vulture - Gyps coprotheres -
is Endemic to Southern Africa and is found mainly in South Africa, Lesotho,
Botswana and Namibia.
A large vulture with near-naked
head and neck. Adult creamy-buff, with contrasting dark flight- and
tail-feathers. Pale buff neck-ruff. Underwing in flight has pale silvery
secondary feathers and black alula. Yellowish eye, black bill, bluish throat
and facial skin, dark neck. Juveniles and immatures generally darker and more
streaked, with brown to orange eyes and red neck. The two prominent bare skin
patches at the base of the neck, are thought to be temperature sensors and used
for detecting the presence of thermals.
Calls are loud cackles, grunts,
hisses and roars.
It nests on cliffs and usually
lays one egg per year.
Monogamous colonial nester,
breeding in colonies. They nest and roost on cliffs and usually lay one egg per
year. The nest is mainly built by the female, consisting of a bulky platform of
sticks, twigs and dry grass, with a shallow cup in the centre lined with
smaller sticks and grass. It is typically placed on a cliff ledge, often using
the same site over multiple breeding seasons.
The breeding season is between
May and June with a single egg laid, which is incubated by both sexes for about
55 to 59 days. The chick is brooded constantly for the first 72 days, while
both parents feed it. It eventually leaves the nest at about 125-171 days old,
becoming fully independent about 15 to 221 days later.
Cape Vultures feed on carrion, searching aerially for a
carcass to feed on. They can eat 1.5kg at a sitting, which is over 15 percent
of the weight of an adult bird and can do this in five minutes. It slices off
flesh with the sharp edge of its bill eating it and storing some in its crop,
which can sustain it for about three days.
Vulnerable globally. It is
regionally extinct in Swaziland
and Critically Endangered in Namibia.
Its global population has decreased dramatically, the current population is
estimated at 8,000. This is thought to have been largely caused by habitat
loss, persecution for use in traditional medicine, human disturbance of
colonies, poisoning and improvements in animal husbandry resulting in a
decreased availability of carrion.
These large Vultures can be
seen on the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves Arid Birding Tour / Safari
/Adventure.
Aves Eastern Cape Birding
Tour / Safari /Adventure.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.
Aves North East Birding Tour /
Safari / Adventure.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.
Aves Western Cape Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.