Dr Rob Simmons brought the plight of Black Harriers, endemic to South Africa & Namibia, to the TBC's attention.  These magnificent birds are the least common raptor in Southern Africa and are currently facing a new threat in the form of wind turbines that kill adult birds. 

 

A current study supported by the FitzPatrick Institute and Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust, aims to determine the impact of wind farms on the Black Harrier ecology and survival by determining the birds’ behaviour around wind farms.  Two male birds have already been trapped and fitted with trackers.  The data gained from this is providing valuable insights in the birds’ flight paths that making them susceptible to fatalities from the turbines.