Scientists warn of ‘extinction crisis’ stalking Africa’s raptors

Scientists warn of ‘extinction crisis’ stalking Africa’s raptors

An adult secretarybird on a flat-topped tree. Image by LionMountain via Pixabay (Public domain). By Malavika Vyawahare via Mongabay Secretarybirds build their nests high in flat-topped acacia trees to avoid land-bound predators. So when researcher Wesley Gush climbed up those trees to get to their nests, he knew it was a surprise for them. What the nestlings did surprised him too: They played dead, according to Gush. But a new study warns that the […]

January 30, 2024 21

Environment

South Africa’s Agulhas long-billed lark: adapting and surviving despite farming taking over their nesting grounds

By Robert Leslie Thomson, University of Cape Town The Agulhas long-billed lark (Certhilauda brevirostris) is only found in South Africa. It builds nests on the ground mainly in Renosterveld fynbos, a type of vegetation filled with grasses and wild spring flowers that is critically endangered by agricultural expansion. The University of Cape Town’s FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology recently published the first study into the nesting practices of […]

January 23, 2024 10

Environment

The Success Factors for Chicken Farming

By Hanks Saisai, Technical Advisor: Crops & Poultry Raising chickens is rapidly becoming a lucrative farming enterprise that provides affordable protein products to households all over the country. However, there are critical factors that farmers must adhere to and understand to ensure success. Firstly, to achieve success in chicken farming, housing is the most critical factor that must be prioritized by farmers. Chicken coops must be designed in manner that […]

November 27, 2023 24