World Cup 2010 flights threat to bird population

Travellers flying to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa could be a threat to millions of swallows, an international bird conservation group has said.

Proposals for a new flight-path and airport extension in the roosting area of millions of Barn Swallows, could leave as much as one per cent of the world's population of the species with no where to roost.

This represents as much as eight per cent of the European breeding population of the birds.

The site, 20 kilometres north of Durban is also a tourist attraction in itself, with bird-watchers gathering to see the swallows' seasonal arrival.

"This is one of South Africa’s great wildlife spectacles," said Di Dold, environmental coordinator for the wildlife and environment society of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal Region.

"The swallow's arrival to these grounds is an emblem of the seasons. These are birds of the world, they depend on us all."

Neil Smith, of Birdlife South Africa, added: "The swallows roost here in such numbers because of the lack of other suitable roosting areas around KwaZulu-Natal. The site is an island in a surrounding sea of sugar cane plantations. It's vital. If the reedbeds are cleared, it's unlikely that these Barn Swallows will find suitable roosting places elsewhere."