Raptors drowning in farm reservoirs in South Africa

In the arid areas of southern Africa, the drowning of raptors in small rese rvoirs on farms is a significant cause of mortality. Records of 322 raptors of 29 species which drowned during 163 separate incidents have been collat ed. Whitebacked Gyps africanus and Cape Vultures Gyps coprotheres, and Mart ial Polemaetus bellicosus and Black Eagles Aquila verreauxii, were the spec ies most frequently recovered from reservoirs. There are few records of sma ll raptors (<300 g) succumbing in this manner. There are several possible e xplanations as to why raptors drown. The simplest is that these birds enter the reservoir to drink or bathe and if it is not full are then unable to c limb up the structure's steep sides. There have been 12 recorded vulture ma ss drowning events, involving as many as 38 birds at one time. The reason f or these mass drownings is probably different to the individual drowning of other raptors, with the "intimate lifestyle" hypothesis being the most pla usible. There are simple, cheap and effective solutions to prevent the drow ning of raptors and these are being advocated with success in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa.