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Mercy shown to World Cup swallowsLast modified: 10 November 2007
Bird detection radar is being installed at a new World Cup airport to help save five million swallows threatened by airport expansion. Pilots flying in and out of La Mercy Airport in South Africa – being built for the 2010 World Cup - will be warned when large numbers of swallows are flying to an adjacent reedbed below and asked if they want to delay landing or approach from another direction. The plan to protect the birds will be announced tomorrow (November 11) at a special ceremony at Mount Moreland Reedbed. The swallows, many of which breed in the UK and other parts of Europe, roost overnight at the site, swooping and diving above the reeds for up to 45 minutes catching airborne insects before seeking sanctuary below. The site was threatened last November by construction of the new Durban International Airport, prompting public outcry worldwide and campaigns against the development by conservationists in South Africa and the UK. 'The threat to this roost raised huge concerns across the world and this agreement is an excellent example of collaboration between conservationists and business.' HRH The Prince of Wales supported the campaign. Neil Smith, of BirdLife South Africa, said: 'Prince Charles' support has underlined the international context of the threat to a large proportion of the population of swallows flying between Europe and Africa. 'The swallows are fantastic icons of global unity as their continental-scale migrations link many parts of the world. It would be symbolic to think that the swallows nesting around Prince Charles's residence in Highgrove will be among those having a better chance of survival following the Prince's intervention.' La Mercy Airport, 12 miles (20 km) from Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal, eastern South Africa, currently has one runway for light aircraft and no dusk or night flights. The swallow spectacle over Mount Moreland attracts tourists and sightseers from all over the world and is regarded as one of South Africa's most stunning wildlife attractions. 'The swallows have no other roosting site for thousands of miles because the reedbed is surrounded by swathes of sugar cane plantations,' Neil Smith said. 'If the reedbed had been destroyed, the birds would have had no-where else to go.' Mount Moreland has this year been classified an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because of its importance to the swallows. The reedbed is thought to host more than eight per cent of the millions of swallows breeding in Europe and is also important for lesser kestrels, corncrakes and crowned eagles. Falling numbersSwallow populations have fallen in Britain probably because of drought and pesticide use on their migration route and the conversion of farm buildings and other UK nesting sites. Dr Chris Magin, Africa Officer for the RSPB, which has helped lobby for the new solution, said: 'The threat to this roost raised huge concerns across the world and this agreement is an excellent example of collaboration between conservationists and business. 'It would have been a tragedy if these swallows were forced away because swallow populations throughout Europe would have been affected. The bird is an icon of autumn in South Africa just as it is a glorious symbol of spring in the UK.' |
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Curlew feeding in grassy field - Steve Round
Red admiral on Michaelmas daisy - Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)