DURBAN will be the experimental playground for New Zealander, Dr Shane McPherson who plans to do research in the city on the endangered African crowned eagle with high hopes of providing management solutions to sustain the eagle.
“My research on crowned eagles is throughout the KZN province but we are especially focusing on the population within the Durban Metropolitan Open Space System. This is a special situation where a population of over 25 pairs are breeding with the city limits. Crowned eagles are an endangered species and are a apex predator feeding mainly on dassie, duiker, monkeys and the like. Often predators are the first to be extinguished from city environments. So it is particularly interesting that Durban’s landscape does support a potentially significant population,” said McPherson.
McPherson is planning to continue his research which started in 2011 under the guidance of Prof. Colleen Downs, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
His doctoral thesis was titled, ‘The Urban Ecology of the Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa’.
His research is particularly concerned with the human/wildlife conflicts. He said crowned eagles encounter many dangers in the city including glass, fences, electricity, poisons and direct persecution. Many causes are avoidable but their impacts may affect the population sustainability.
“On the other hand crowned eagles do (rarely) hunt and kill cats and small dogs and this can have big consequences in the perception and tolerance of Crowned Eagles within the residential areas. We are doing as much as we can to respond to these conflicts and provide management solutions so the citizens can see and appreciate these magnificent eagles long into the future,” he said.
McPherson is seeking looking for, amongst other things, local accommodation.
“I hope that I will be able to find a local flat for the summer, and what has worked well in previous years is that, while we are very busy with the research over Christmas and New Year, often families are away on holiday. Any house and pet-sitting options would be very welcome.”
If you are able to assist with accommodation contact Shane McPherson directly at: shane.mcpherson@gmail.com.
