Wildcast

Quelea is probably one of the most numerous birds in Southern Africa. Occurring in flocks of thousands, they wander in search of food. They are considered a pest by farmers as they do considerable damage to winter crops. Drastic measures were taken to annihilate these birds, but with no success.

During the dry season, those members of the flock that cannot find suitable food sources will starve. Nearly fifty percent of the Quelea population starve each winter. But that is not their only threat. Predators in all shapes and sizes wait for them to breed and will raid nests of eggs and nestlings. This might even decrease their numbers by a further twenty percent…

Can one actually ponder the thought when you see them in their thousands like these and ask yourself…”Are they going to be around for much longer?”