The crisis of African birdlife

 

A scientifically based wake-up call to action

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1. Background and importance of birds of prey and falcons for the ecosystem

Africa’s natural habitats, particularly savannas and arid regions, are increasingly being converted to agricultural land. This is leading to massive biodiversity loss and disrupting complex ecological networks in which birds of prey play central roles as apex predators and scavengers (Ogada, Keesing & Virani, 2011). These birds regulate prey populations, assist in the rapid removal of carcasses, and thereby minimize the spread of disease—a service that also directly benefits humans (Ogada et al., 2012).
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2. What are the problems?

a) Loss of savannah birds of prey

A large-scale study (Shaw et al., 2024) of 42 bird of prey species in African savannas over a period of 20 to 40 years shows alarming declines:

• 88 % of the species examined show a population decline,
• 69 % meet the IUCN criteria for endangered species.

Large, slow-breeding species are particularly affected, with populations declining drastically outside protected areas. The study highlights that protected areas play a crucial role in the survival of these species (Shaw et al., 2024).

b) Long-term declines in Kenya

In Kenya, roadside censuses conducted over 40 years document a drastic decline in most bird of prey species:

• Population declines in unprotected areas are up to 76 %, compared to 23 % in protected areas (Ogada et al., 2022).
• Small and medium-sized species, which often serve as “indicator species” for environmental changes, are particularly severely affected (Ogada et al., 2022).

It is clear that populations of birds of prey are declining significantly more in unprotected areas than in designated protected areas – a clear indication that existing conservation concepts need to be improved (Ogada et al., 2022; Shaw et al., 2024).

c) Pesticide poisoning and its devastating consequences

Synthetic pesticides, originally introduced as a cost-effective means of wildlife control, are contributing significantly to the poisoning of birds of prey and scavengers. The legislation and enforcement of existing regulations leave much to be desired. The review article “The Power of Poison” (Ogada, 2014) shows that synthetic pesticides, originally introduced as a cost-effective means of wildlife control, are now contributing massively to the poisoning of numerous species.

• Birds of prey and scavengers that feed on poisoned carcasses are particularly affected.
• The study documents that pesticide poisonings often go undetected because many African countries lack adequate forensic investigation capabilities.
• It strongly recommends better regulation, stronger monitoring and international cooperation to contain the problem.

d) The dramatic decline of large birds in the northern Sahel

A long-term study in the northern Sahel (Thiollay, 2006) documents the almost complete loss of large bird species such as ostriches, vultures and buzzards:

• While numerous individuals were still counted in the 1970s, many of these species have now almost disappeared.
• Causes include overhunting, habitat degradation due to overgrazing and indirect poisoning (Thiollay, 2006).

e) Destruction of natural habitats

Further studies document that vulture populations are declining massively worldwide, particularly in Africa (Ogada, Keesing, & Virani, 2011), and that urban birds of prey face specific challenges that require specialized management measures (McPherson et al., 2021). Africa’s savannas and arid regions are being rapidly converted to agricultural land, leading to drastic biodiversity loss and the destruction of complex ecological networks (Ogada et al., 2011).
These findings highlight that further declines are inevitable without immediate and effective conservation action.

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3. Urgent action needs and recommendations

Studies show that African birdlife is severely threatened by a combination of habitat loss, poisoning, and inadequate protection. To reverse this trend, the following measures must be taken:

• Expansion and consistent management of protected areas: A massive expansion of protected areas, ideally to at least 30 % of the country, is needed to ensure a safe habitat for endangered species (Shaw et al., 2024). However, local residents must be involved in this process.

• Stricter regulations on the use of pesticides: Effective legal measures must be introduced and consistently enforced to prevent the poisoning of wildlife (Ogada, 2014).

• Targeted public relations: The public must be informed about the importance of birds of prey for the ecosystem in order to gain social support for urgently needed conservation measures (Ogada et al., 2011).

• International cooperation: The global dimension of the threat requires increased international cooperation to mobilize financial and technical support (Thiollay, 2006).

• Innovative measures against electrocution: The development and implementation of standardized, effective solutions to prevent electrocution must be intensified (Lehman, Kennedy & Savidge, 2007).

• Specific strategies for urban habitats: Tailored management and conservation strategies are needed for birds of prey in urban areas to minimize human-wildlife conflicts (McPherson et al., 2021).

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4. Conclusion

Scientific studies make it clear: Without decisive action, numerous key species face the irreversible extinction. Their loss would have serious consequences for entire ecosystems. Protecting African birdlife is therefore not just a matter of species conservation, but an essential contribution to maintaining ecological balance.

Together we can help ensure that Africa’s impressive birds of prey and large birds continue to play a vibrant role in nature in the future.

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5. References

• Lehman, R. N., Kennedy, P. L., & Savidge, J. A. (2007). The state of the art in raptor electrocution research: A global review. Biological Conservation, 136(2), 159–174.
• McPherson, S. C., Sumasgutner, P., Hoffman, B. H., Padbury, B. D. L., Brown, M., Caine, T. P., & Downs, C. T. (2021). Surviving the urban jungle: Anthropogenic threats, wildlife-conflicts, and management recommendations for African Crowned Eagles. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9, 662623.
• Ogada, D. L. (2014). The power of poison: Pesticide poisoning of Africa’s wildlife. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1314(1), 1–20.
• Ogada, D. L., Keesing, F., & Virani, M. Z. (2011). Dropping dead: Causes and consequences of vulture population declines worldwide. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1223(1), 57–71.
• Ogada, D. L., Virani, M. Z., Kendall, C. J., & Thomsett, S. (2022). Evidence of widespread declines in Kenya’s raptor populations over a 40-year period. Biological Conservation, 266, 109361.
• Shaw, P., Ogada, D. L., Dunn, L., et al. (2024). African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 8, 45–56.
• Thiollay, J.-M. (2006). Severe decline of large birds in the Northern Sahel of West Africa: A long-term assessment. Bird Conservation International, 16(4), 353–365.