(May 2016) Vultures do not normally attack livestock for their food supply, however reports have been received of livestock losses due to vultures attacking live animals.  This can be ascribed to the following;

• due to better agricultural practises less ‘natural’ mortalities occur in agriculture resulting in less food available for vultures to consume
• in the traditional homeland areas all livestock is kraaled every night due to predator and theft problems which also results in better animal management (indirectly)

Vultures, especially the juvenile and immature groups of birds are therefore under tremendous pressure to ‘find’ food and could be seen to be attacking stock that is still alive especially weak, sick animals or animals battling to calve, lamb or kid.  It is for this reason we encourage landowners to establish restaurants to supply safe food for these birds as they play a very vital role in the ecosystem.

When putting out food for vultures one can overcome the possibility of them “attacking” your livestock as well as assisting in the survival of our vultures in Africa      However, safe food is of vital importance and one must be aware that stock that have been treated with NSAID drugs, euthanized or have died after being darted are potential killers for vultures.

Should you require any assistance with any of the following;-

• how to go about operating a vulture restaurant
• what medications are harmful to vultures
• if you are unsure of what is ‘safe’ food for vultures
• or any other queries regarding vultures

Consult the following persons:

Dr Gerhard Verdoorn (Griffon Poison information Centre), Cell no: 082 446 8946, nesher@tiscali.co.za

Kerri Wolter (VULPRO), Cell no: 082 808 5113, kerri@gmail.com

Kate Webster (VULPRO E Cape), Cell no: 082 702 5942, kate@lcom.co.za

PLEASE NOTE: should you establish a restaurant please inform VULPRO with the following details; name of landowner (restaurant operator), name of the property, co ordinates of the site, contact details and any other information you deem necessary. This will be included on our data base and the restaurant newsletter will be forwarded to you.

As South Africa works to reduce its carbon emissions through renewable energy, wind power has become a central part of the strategy. The number of operational wind turbines increased from 253 in 2014 to 825 in 2017 and in 2024 there is between 1,148 and 1,722 operational turbines. There are currently 36 wind energy facilities / farms and another 11 projects have been approved.

However, as South Africa embraces this green energy source, there are growing concerns about the impact of wind farms on the environment. The main concern is collision mortality of birds and bats with turbines and associated powerlines. There may also be behavioural changes linked to displacement and habitat loss. Other environmental impacts of large wind energy farms include disturbance (visual and noise) and local climate change.

A summary is provided by Perold et al. (2020) on the diversity of birds killed by turbine collisions at 20 wind energy facilities across southwest South Africa. Monitoring from 2014 to 2018, they recovered 848 bird carcasses of 130 species (of which 16 were migrants). Raptors were killed most often (36% of carcasses, 23 species) followed by passerines / perching birds (30%, 49 species), waterbirds (11%, 24 species), swifts (9%, six species), large terrestrial birds, such as the blue crane (5%, 10 species), pigeons (4%, six species) and other near passerines (1%, 7 species). See Ralston et al. (2017) for a complete species list (new report due in January 2025 at the website indicated).

Wind Energy and Its Impact on Raptors
Bird fatalities due to wind turbines are a documented issue globally, and South Africa is no exception. Species of conservation concern killed include the endangered Cape Vultures and Black Harriers, and a large number of Jackal Buzzards. All three these species are endemic to southern Africa – in other words, they occur nowhere else in the world. Other mortalities reported, are Verreaux’s Eagle, Martial Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Booted Eagle, Long-crested Eagle and Tawny Eagle, as well as the Spotted Eagle Owl, Barn Owl, various falcons, kestrels and kites. Many raptors are long-lived, with low reproductive rates, which make them vulnerable to increased mortality rates. As apex predators, eagles play a vital role in maintaining the health of ecosystems and their loss could lead to broader ecological repercussions.

The impact on Verreaux’s Eagles (Black Eagle / Witkruisarend) is particularly concerning because they are already listed as “regionally Vulnerable” in the Red Data Book of endangered species. Their population is estimated to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals, and has declined by more than 10% over three generations. While one monitored wind farm saw no eagle fatalities, despite a nest located approximately 4 km from the facility, by 2021, 26 Verreaux’s Eagle deaths had been reported across five wind farms. The timing of these fatalities tends to peak during the late breeding season, when eagles are more active. Additionally, poorly designed power lines near wind farms have led to electrocution fatalities, with ten eagles killed in this way.

Mitigating the Impact on Raptors
It is crucial to place wind farms away from important eagle habitats, such as nesting sites and areas with high flight activity. Cliffs, ridge tops, steep slopes, and even in relatively flat topography where thermalling flight behaviour is more likely to occur – features that are attractive to raptors due to updrafts – should be avoided. BirdLife SA has recommended a 3 km buffer around known eagle nest sites to reduce collision risks with a turbine.

While relocating eagles to alternative habitats has been suggested, this approach is not effective and could be harmful. Evidence shows that eagles often return to their original territories, and introducing them to new areas may result in territorial disputes or failure to find adequate food sources. Additionally, disturbing or destroying eagle nests in the name of wind farm development is both illegal and counterproductive. Such actions can ultimately hinder the development of wind farms and bring legal and reputational risks to developers and landowners.

There are several ways to mitigate the impact of wind turbines on raptors. One method is “curtailment,” where turbines are shut down during peak collision risk times – such as during the late breeding season or during poor weather conditions. Another promising approach involves “shut-down on demand,” where turbines are halted in real-time when birds are detected in high-risk areas. Shut-downs can be triggered by human observers, or by using automated devices (e.g. radar or camera), or a combination of both. Recent studies have shown that this method, using AI-driven camera systems to detect bird movement, can reduce eagle fatalities by up to 82%.

Making turbines more visible to birds is another effective key strategy. Raptors see contrast less effectively than humans, making fast-spinning turbine blades difficult to detect. Painting the blades in high-contrast colors can reduce collisions by improving their visibility to birds.

It is important to ensure that wind farm developers and landowners are fully aware of the legal and ecological implications of eagle conservation. While the presence of eagles may require adjustments to wind farm layouts, it should not be seen as an obstacle to development. Understanding these risks up front can prevent costly mistakes and protect both the wind energy project and the birds.

Looking Forward: A Sustainable Energy Future
Wind farm developers should ensure that the landowner understands the implications of monitoring throughout the lifespan of a wind farm – athus ensure necessary arrangements and agreements are in place. Local workers, often from surrounding communities, can be employed to conduct bird surveys, creating valuable employment in rural areas.

As South Africa continues to grow its wind energy capacity (approximately 3600 wind turbines are planned for 2030), it is crucial to balance the benefits of clean energy with the need to protect biodiversity. While wind farms can play a major role in reducing carbon emissions, they must be designed and implemented in ways that minimize harm to wildlife. Effective mitigation strategies combined with long-term monitoring, are essential to achieving this balance.

References
Labuschagne H (2023) My Broadband Newsletter, 26 September 2023, https://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/508804-all-34-wind-farms-providing-power-to-south-africa.html

Perold V, Ralston-Paton S & Ryan P (2020) On a collision course? The large diversity of birds killed by wind turbines in South Africa, Ostrich journal, 91: 228-239. https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2020.1770889

Ralston Paton S & Murgatroyd M (2021) Verreaux eagles and wind farms – guidelines for impact assessment, monitoring and mitigation, 2nd edition, BirdLife SA, Verreauxs Eagle and Wind Energy 2021 2nd edition

Ralston Paton S, Smallie J, Pearson A, & Ramalho R (2017) Wind energy’s impacts on birds in South Africa: A preliminary review of results of operational monitoring at the first wind farms of the REIPP Programme in South Africa. BirdLife South Africa Occasional Report Series No. 2, https://www.birdlife.org.za/what-we-do/policy-and-advocacy/what-we-do/birds-renewable-energy/

The colour ‘red’ aligns with colours referenced within the SACAA regulations and AMoC approval, and provides enough of a contrast from white to be visible to birds. Both the front and back of the blade must be painted. [South African Civil Aviation Authority’s (SACAA); Alternative Means of Compliance (AMoC)] Image from: Blade patterning guidelines (September 2024), https://www.birdlife.org.za/what-we-do/policy-and-advocacy/what-we-do/birds-renewable-energy/

Automated detection and shutdown technology uses microphones and/or cameras to identify species and can shutdown turbines when necessary. Image from: Allison et al. (2019), Issues in Ecology, Report no 21.

*Statue of Liberty in New York is 93 m and Big Ben in London is 96 m tall.

Flock of birds flying past wind turbines on a wind still day, and a Golden Eagle flying close to the hub of a turbine in the Northern Hemisphere. Bird fatalities is a documented global issue. Images from: https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/01/10/wind-turbines-are-friendlier-to-birds-than-oil-and-gas-drilling
https://alamedapost.com/features/alameda-life/making-wind-energy-safer-for-golden-eagles/

Foundation of a wind turbine can be more than 20 m in diameter and planted 3 m deep. Image from: https://www.backroadsnews.com/news/wind-turbine-construction-expected-begin-next-week

Ingenious wind energy turbine foundations installed at San Kraal