Half of Large African Birds Face 50% Population Drop

Half of Africa’s large bird and raptor species have experienced population declines exceeding 50% over the last 16 years. An international research team, including scientists from Spain’s National Museum of Natural Sciences, published these findings in Biological Conservation.

The study analyzed 400,000 kilometers of survey routes between 2009 and 2025. Researchers compared data with estimates from the Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2), a citizen science initiative. The comparison revealed that only half of the results aligned.

Thirteen of the 26 species studied showed significant declines. Affected species include the lesser kestrel, Amur falcon, jackal buzzard, Ludwig’s bustard, and blue crane.

Conversely, three species—the common kestrel, African white-backed vulture, and white-necked raven—showed clear positive trends. Researchers link the declines to human pressures, land use changes, conflicts with livestock farmers, wind farms, and climate change.