Birds and People No.33 March 2012

This issue features several articles on vultures. This group of birds is under serious threat in Africa, and during 2011, the Hooded Vulture was added to the list of species in Botswana that are globally threatened. It went straight from the category Least Concern to Endangered. This is a bird we take for granted in Botswana, as it is still reasonably common within its range in the northern parts of the country; however, its populations have all but collapsed elsewhere in Africa. Currently, the Whitebacked Vulture is our most numerous vulture, but it is predicted to join the Hooded in the Endangered category soon if declines throughout the rest of Africa continue. Urgent conservation action is required. Pete Hancock