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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEndemic to the high-altitude grasslands of southern Mpumalanga and the eastern Free State, Botha\u2019s Lark was once more widespread. Today, with fewer than 340 mature individuals remaining, its survival hangs by a thread. The species was recently uplisted to Critically Endangered in the Regional Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini<\/em>, making it the only endemic bird species in South Africa to carry the highest threat of extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After 18 months without confirmed sightings, hope has returned. Intensive surveys led by BirdLife South Africa, supported by Birding Ecotours and local landowners, have rediscovered multiple individuals – and, crucially, 22 active nests. Even more encouraging, chicks have successfully fledged, offering a rare glimpse into the species\u2019 breeding ecology and renewed hope for its survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The challenges for Botha\u2019s Lark, however, remain significant. Many nests represent repeated renesting attempts, and fewer than 21% of eggs survived to fledging. Predation by mongooses and domestic dogs is thought to be a major factor, but the species is also highly vulnerable to habitat loss and change, including agricultural expansion, altered grazing regimes, poorly timed burns, and development such as renewable energy infrastructure.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n The plight of Botha\u2019s Lark reflects a broader crisis in South Africa\u2019s grasslands, one of the country\u2019s most threatened and least protected ecosystems. These grasslands provide critical ecosystem services, including water provision, carbon storage, and support for livestock farming. Conserving Botha\u2019s Lark is therefore not just about a single species; it is about protecting the landscapes and communities that depend on them. This bird is the proverbial canary in the coal mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This year, BirdLife South Africa hosted the inaugural Botha\u2019s Lark Atlas Bash, covering sites from Amersfoort to Harrismith. The event was a tremendous success, engaging over 40 participants and resulting in 5,644 records across 227 species observed, including 31 species of conservation concern. The highlight of the event was the discovery of a new population of Botha\u2019s Lark, demonstrating the importance of citizen science and coordinated field efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a time to share the story, engage communities, and rally support for this Critically Endangered bird. This is our bird. This is our heritage. Together, we can save Botha\u2019s Lark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the Birding Ecotours Fellow for Grasslands Conservation with BirdLife South Africa, I have spent the past year dedicated to understanding and protecting one of South Africa\u2019s most elusive and endangered species: the Botha\u2019s Lark (Spizocorys fringillaris<\/em>). My role centres on research and monitoring, conducting intensive surveys to locate individuals and nests, and developing a Species Action Plan that acts as a blueprint to safeguard the future of this Critically Endangered bird. Beyond fieldwork, I also focus on raising awareness of the species and engaging with landowners, local communities, and citizen scientists to ensure conservation efforts have lasting impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My connection to Botha\u2019s Lark began in 2023, when I first visited Wakkerstroom on holiday. Like many birders, I was captivated by the challenge of finding this rare grassland specialist \u2014 only to discover it had gone unseen for several months. That experience sparked a deep desire to contribute to the survival of a species teetering on the edge. There is something profoundly motivating about working to protect biodiversity that we are fortunate enough to share this planet with, and for me, few species embody that responsibility more than Botha\u2019s Lark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The past year has been full of both challenges and triumph. After 18 months without confirmed sightings, our intensive surveys not only rediscovered the species but also observed active breeding, marking a major milestone in its conservation. These moments, especially the first time I finally saw a Botha\u2019s Lark in the wild, remain unforgettable – my hands were shaking, and it stands as one of the most remarkable experiences of my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the Grasslands Conservation Centre in Wakkerstroom, we work as a dedicated team of three: Roy Robertson, who leads our biodiversity stewardship and protected area expansion initiatives, and Zoleka Mkhize, who oversees community engagement and school outreach and myself. We collaborate closely with farmers to gain access to private lands, work alongside citizen scientists, NGOs, and government conservation agencies, and rely on the dedication of everyone who understands the urgency of protecting South Africa\u2019s grasslands. Together, we aim not only to stabilise Botha\u2019s Lark populations but also to ensure the long-term protection of the fragile ecosystems they call home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking ahead, our goal is clear: to save Botha\u2019s Lark from this precarious position and give it a secure future. Every survey, every nest monitored, and every new record contributes to this mission. Being part of such focused and collaborative conservation work is a privilege, and I am committed to doing everything possible to ensure that future generations can witness this truly South African bird.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dramatic plight of the Critically Endangered Botha\u2019s Lark highlights how targeted research, collaboration with landowners, and citizen science are bringing renewed hope for its survival, while underscoring the urgent need to protect South Africa\u2019s threatened grassland ecosystems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":4851,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[933,934],"tags":[],"topics":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-4836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-destination","category-conservation1"],"acf":[],"author_meta":{"display_name":"ZEISS Birding Team","author_link":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/author\/zeissbirding\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Michael-Mason-4-Kopie-600x600.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["Destination<\/a>","Conservation<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Destination<\/span>","Conservation<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 4 months ago","modified":"Updated 4 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on December 23, 2025","modified":"Updated on December 23, 2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on December 23, 2025 11:07 am","modified":"Updated on December 23, 2025 11:07 am"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4836"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4836\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4852,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4836\/revisions\/4852"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4836"},{"taxonomy":"topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topics?post=4836"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=4836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Michael-Mason-4-Kopie-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>Getting to know Matthew Orolowitz<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Fieldwork-2-1024x768.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"