Archer's
Lark grasslands in Somaliland invaded by noxious Parthenium weed
June 2010
The rampant spread of the noxious American weed Parthenium hysterophorus
in many parts of world (including Eastern and Southern Africa) is
causing great concern as it is believed to significantly degrade
grazing and agricultural lands. The Birding
Africa expedition team to visit Somaliland (Michael Mills, Callan
Cohen, Julian Francis, Clide Carter and Gus Mills) were disturbed
to find on a recent survey that this weed has invaded the Wajaale
clay plains adjacent to the town of Tog Wajaale on the Somaliland/Ethiopia
border. The plains are the only known site for Archer's
Lark, Heteromirafra archeri,
not recorded with certainty since its discovery here in 1922.
The expedition team spent three days
extensively surveying the Wajaale Plains in a study sponsored by
the RSPB, the British Ornithologist's Union and Julian Francis.
Their findings will be published in a peer-review journal. Parthenium
weed is probably the dominant plant now over much of the plains,
and is perhaps an indicator of the widespread degradation and destruction
of the grasslands by large-scale agricultural schemes. Archer's
Lark is closely related to Rudd's Lark, Heteromirafra
ruddi, of South Africa and Liben (Sidamo)
Lark, Heteromirafra sidamoensis,
of Ethiopia.
Two years ago, Birding Africa part-funded
a study evaluating the conservation status of Liben Lark,
Heteromirafra sidamoensis.
To see the report on the BBC website, click here.
Birding Africa is a specialist birding tour company
customising tours for both world listers and more relaxed holiday birders.
We combine interests in mammals, butterflies, dragonflies, botany and
other natural history aspects and will guide you to Africa's and Madagascar's
most diverse birding destinations. Our guides'
knowledge of African birds and birding areas is our greatest strength
and together we have rediscovered species, shared exciting observations
with the birding community and had a fun time exploring our home continent.
We've even written two acclaimed guide
books on where to find Southern Africa's and Madagascar's best birds.
Birding is more than our passion, it's our lifestyle, and we are dedicated
to making professional, best value trips filled with endemic species and
unique wildlife experiences. Since 1997, we've run bird watching tours
in South Africa and further into Africa for individual birders, small
birding groups and top international tour companies. We've run Conservation
Tours in association with the African Bird Club and work with and
consult for a number of other top international tour companies and the
BBC Natural History Unit.
