Range expansion of pied crows Corvus albus and consequences for biodiversity in Southwestern Africa

Pied crows Corvus albus are widespread in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. The species has undergone a range expansion and an increase in abundance into the shrubland, known as the Karoo, in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Most range expansions are caused by changes in food availability; this one has mostly been caused by the provision of nests sites: telephone poles and wind pumps. Therefore, these crows are an additional stress on an ecosystem working at carrying capacity. Culling is not recommended because there is a population of floaters that will occupy territories that become vacant. Fortunately, most of the poles and windpumps are no longer in use, having been replaced by cell phones and solar pumps, respectively. It is recommended that telephone poles be cut down and windpumps removed.