A planned South African airport to be built for the 2010 World Cup is threatening swallows, environmental groups have alerted everyone.
The site, Mount Moreland reedbed near Durban, gets more than three million swallows to branch every night. The reedbed lies on the flight path of the aircrafts that will arrive and depart from the proposed La Mercy airport . Clearing of the reedbed would mean devastation of the most suitable roosting site for the swallow population.
Paul Buckley, head of global programmes at the RSPB said:
The loss of Mount Moreland, and with it thousands of British swallows, could be felt from Thurrock to Thurso and Sofia to Stockholm. It would be devastating for these birds, which are particularly sensitive to change.
These migrating birds go to South Africa for the winter months after spending spring and summer in UK and Europe. Man and natures conflicting needs come up for debate time and again. In this case I hope they will be able to look for another site to expand the airport.
Via: Guardian
