Some experts believe climate change can be linked to decline in blue crane numbers

CAPE TOWN - Some experts believe climate change could be linked to the population decline of the blue crane bird.

The national bird’s conservation status has been changed from threatened to vulnerable by the regional Red Data Book of Birds.

The Overberg region in the Western Cape, particularly, has seen an alarming decline with a 44% drop in the past 15 years.

Dr Christie Craig of the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the International Crane Foundation said that high temperatures could cause physiological stress on the birds.

"A master’s student, Michelle Bower, did a study looking at blue cranes nesting, and she found that in high temperatures, the nesting success is lower, and given that we know that the Western Cape is becoming hotter and dryer, with climate change, this is obviously a concern for the nesting birds."

She added that South African citizens could take part in citizen science projects that allowed them to monitor the birds.

“For landowners and farmers, I think one of the best things that landowners can do is to keep an eye on their blue cranes, try limit disturbance when they are nesting, be aware of where the nest is so as not to stress the bird."