African birds declining, some face extinction – study

African birds like the bateleur, martial eagle and secretary bird – found in South Africa – face drastic population declines, a new study shows.

The research, published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, showed that 88% of the 42 raptor or bird species examined had declined to some degree. It also showed that 69% had declined at a rate considered to be at risk of extinction, based on criteria used by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).