Poisoned birds of prey recuperating well

A mature African fish eagle (Haliaeetus Vocifer) and a baby barn owl, two of the hundreds, if not thousands, of birds which annually fall victim to the irresponsible use of poison, is presently recuperating at the Makalani Bird Park.
The severely dehydrated African Fish Eagle was found near Wagpos High School outside Brits approximately two weeks ago. He landed on a bird lovers’ roof who immediately called the experts to try and save him. A vet successfully re-hydrated the bird from where he was transported to Greg Strydom of the park. He and his team are taking extra special care of the precious bird with the hope to be able to release him back in the area where he was found as soon as he is fit to do so.
Linda Spencer-Coye, a well known animal lover of Hartbeespoort who is also involved with the Hartbeespoort Animal Welfare Society, introduced Kormorant to the fish eagle, whose call is widely known as the ‘voice of Africa.’
He was still walking with difficulty but the team are very pleased with his progress.
The African Fish Eagle is most frequently seen near rivers, lakes and coasts of Africa south of the Sahara. It enjoys sitting high in tall trees from where it has a good view of the stretch of river, lakeshore or coastline which is it’s territory. Near a lake with an abundant food supply, a pair may require less than a square kilometre of water to find enough food, whereas next to a small river, they may require a stretch of 25km or more.
Greg hand-fed the bird for more than a week and was overwhelmed with joy when he started eating by himself again.
Linda said the bird is very lucky to have been found by caring people. Otherwise he surely would have died.
The little barn owl is also doing very well. He was found in a nest in the Rustenburg area. His mother and five of her other babies were all dead. A dead rat was also found in the nest. The owls’ caregivers suspect that he might have been the last to be fed and may not have consumed as much poisoned food as his siblings did.
The Makalani Bird Park team said it would be wonderful to see people turn to eco friendly products. There are various products on the market which are not as harmful.
According to a report by the De Wildt Vulture unit poison has also lead to the disappearance of many vultures and other birds of prey in southern Africa.
According to the organisation there is a lack of education regarding the correct use of poisons and their effects on the wildlife. Birds can be poisoned through primary or secondary means.
Primary poisoning is where an organism is directly exposed to toxic substance through oral or inhalation, or dermal exposure. Secondary poisoning is where an organism consumes another organism that has been exposed to toxins, e.g. when a jackal that fed on a carcass which has been laced with poison, dies and is then eaten by a vulture.
According to the unit pesticides mostly involved in bird of prey and predator poisoning incidents include Strychnine Compound 1080 (illegal), Aldicarb, Carbofuran, Methamidophos, Diazinon, Fenthion, Parathion and Monocrotophos.

Did you know?

* It is estimated that for every target animal poisoned, 100 - 300 non-target animals die.
* Although insectivorous, the aardwolf, aardvark, bat-eared fox, and Cape fox are vulnerable to poisoned carcasses as they are attracted to carrion for the maggots they will find there.
* At levels too low to cause death, organochlorines can disrupt the breeding of birds by causing shell-thinning, egg-breakage, and death of embryos in unbroken eggs. This results in population decline and local extinction.
* The yellowbilled oxpecker, formerly widespread in South Africa, had died out by 1910, mainly as a result of the introduction of arsenical dipping for livestock in 1902.
* Oxpeckers die within 48 hours after eating arsenic coated ticks.
More information regarding eco friendly poison and rehabilitation etc can be obtained from the Endangered Wildlife Trust on 011 4861102, the Poison Working Group at 012 808 0592, Vulture Study Group at 011 646 8617, the Animal Rehabilitation Centre at 012 808 1106 or contact the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Association of South Africa at 011-805 2000 for more information regarding treatment and care for poisoned animals.
Call the Poison Information Centre for advice on cases of human poisoning in Johannesburg 011642 2417.

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9 July 2009