Liben Lark: can we prevent Africa’s first
mainland bird extinction?
The sweet song of the Liben Lark
Heteromirafra archeri can only be heard
on the Liben Plain in southern Ethiopia,
one of the few remaining fragments of
open grassland in the Horn of Africa. With
over-grazing, soil erosion and cropland
conversion pressing in from all sides, it’s no
surprise that there are now fewer than 250
individuals left. Scientists warn it may soon
become the first recorded bird mainland
extinction on the African continent.
In 2016, BirdLife helped to set up
community-managed grassland reserves
known as kallos. As well as creating habitat
for breeding birds, these areas save both
livestock and human lives during drought.
But how has the Liben Lark responded? In
2018, the number of singing males recorded
was almost seven times fewer than in 2007.
However, there may be mitigating factors;
drought might have had a natural impact
from which the species may yet recover –
or, there may simply have been fewer birds
singing at the time of the survey. Further
research is required to get a clearer picture
of the Liben Lark population’s health.
LIBEN LARK Heteromirafra archeri
Photo Paul Donald