Conservation and Research

The policy of BirdLife Botswana is to be actively involved with bird conservation. In the 1980's in conjunction with the Cape Vulture Study Group, BLB (formerly known as Botswana Bird Club - BBC) assisted in ensuring the survival of the important breeding colony of these endangered species near Otse.
In addition, the BBC initiated surveys of the breeding flamingos at Sua Pan and was involved in the compilation of the Bird Atlas of Botswana by Huw Penry. Later, the BBC was successful in obtaining a close season for Sandgrouse in the winter months when they are breeding, and a longer close season and reduce bag limits for waterfowl.
The BBC also helped persuade the department of Animal Health to modify a veterinary fence at Sua Pan which formerly entangled young flamingos. BirdLife Botswana has always maintained links with non-governmental organisation's (NGO's) which concern themselves with policies relating to bird protection, conservation and environmental education; and to the government's Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP).
The Society and DWNP carry out counts on pans, dams, sewerage ponds and rivers twice a year to demonstrate the importance of these wetlands for different bird species. Data collected are submitted to Wetlands International. BirdLife Botswana also contributed data on Botswana's important bird areas for the book 'Important Bird Areas of Southern Africa' (Barnes, K.N. (ed.) 1998.
The Important Bird Areas of Southern Africa. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg. ISBN: 0-620-23423-7). Data is also submitted on bird sightings and nest records by individuals, safari guides and tourist lodges all around the country, for which BLB is always grateful.

  • Bird Flu or Avian Influenza?

Ongoing research projects are:

Several projects are also being undertaken in conjunction with the Departments of Biology and Environmental Sciences at the University of Botswana.

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