Being a conservationist doesn’t always mean donning khaki gear and wielding binoculars in the wilderness.
While fieldwork is undeniably exciting, conservation encompasses much more – it’s about negotiating and collaborating with people and shaping policies as much as it is about studying our precious birds in the field.
In my role as the Birds and Renewable Energy Project Manager at BirdLife South Africa, I’m tasked with promoting renewable energy while safeguarding our magnificent raptors. It’s a delicate balance, because the very wind turbines designed to combat climate change can inadvertently add pressure to already threatened bird species like the Cape Vulture, Martial Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle, Tawny Eagle and Black Harrier. Raptors and wind turbines rely on the same essential resource – the wind – putting these birds at risk of fatal collisions with turbine blades.
Vultures and raptors are essential for maintaining ecological equilibrium. With their specialised scavenging abilities, vultures play a crucial role in cleaning up carcasses and preventing the spread of disease, while eagles can help regulate prey populations.
One of my superpowers is my stubborn optimism. I understand that we cannot afford to sacrifice biodiversity to combat climate change. I also believe in assuming good intentions, recognising that most people don’t set out to harm the environment – they may simply lack the necessary tools, knowledge or resources to do better.
My job is to ensure that everyone is armed with the right tools and enough information to make good, evidence-based decisions. Through collaboration with stakeholders, we disseminate information, develop and promote the implementation of guidelines, and advocate for policies and legislation that prioritise nature amidst a growing renewable-energy sector.
Though the work can be challenging, it is also rewarding. It’s encouraging to witness how science can shape the trajectory of development. And when I do get out in the field, I never fail to be delighted when I see raptors in the sky. I feel honoured.
It’s a privilege to be able to contribute to a future where our energy comes from clean, sustainable sources, and where our raptors still own the skies.
– Samantha Ralston-Paton
This captivating and informative book focuses on the coastal and terrestrial bird species most at risk within South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini. Presented in an elegant large format, Birds on the Brink highlights the beauty, unique traits and vulnerabilities of these birds, while emphasising the human-induced threats, such as habitat loss, climate change, energy infrastructure and competition for resources. Personal accounts from scientists, conservationists and guides on the front lines offer insight into the science, skill and dedication required to safeguard these species. The birds featured are not merely fascinating creatures – they act as sentinels of biodiversity, whose decline signals concerning ecological shifts.
