BBU has undertaken satellite-tracking studies (and more recently high-resolution GPS-tracking studies) since 2007. Our goals were to determine where the Endangered Black Harriers foraged, how far they ranged from their nests and what habitats were favoured. The first of these results were published by PhD student Marie-Sophie Garcia-Heras in 2019 (see publications) showing an unusual East-West migration strategy across South Africa. That precipitated a habitat suitability map for the species in both the breeding and non-breeding periods created by Dr Robin Colyn using the tracking data from Dr Garcia-Heras’ research (see maps in the Black Harrier-wind farm guidelines – Simmons et al. 2020, in publications).
As more and more wind farms began to emerge across the landscape our tracked harriers started to interact – often negatively – with several of them. In a new collaboration with Dr Odette Curtis-Scott, we tagged 20 more harriers, mainly from the Overberg (see figure above). Several of these birds regularly traversed wind farms on countless occasions, resulting in two turbine fatalities at the Excelsior Wind farm (see figure below).
Using these data we and the ORCT https://overbergrenosterveld.org.za/black-harrier/ are working closely with BTE Renewables to reduce wind farm fatalities of this increasingly rare harrier. Our research, in collaboration with Dr Francisco Cervantes (Cervantes et al. 2022) indicates that if Black Harrier fatalities increase to 3 to 5 adults per year at such wind farms, this species will face extinction in 75 to 100 years. We will continue to work with new and existing wind farms to reduce fatalities of this and all collision-prone species.
