Cattle Egret Reporting Rate Rose From 0.38 to 0.60 in Southern African Atlas Data
A systematic review of 173 studies found that western cattle egrets (Ardea ibis) have generally remained stable or increased in the better-studied parts of Southern Africa, while their success is closely associated with flexible use of wetlands, farmland, grazing systems and urban green spaces. The review was published on 15 September 2026. It used the traditional scientific name Bubulcus ibis, under which western and eastern cattle egrets have often been treated as one species.
Atlas reporting probability rose from 0.38 to 0.60
Population evidence was strongest from South Africa and nearby countries. Published interpretations of Southern African Bird Atlas data reported that the probability of recording cattle egrets in an atlas pentad increased from 0.38 in 1987–1991 to 0.60 from 2007 onwards — a relative increase of about 58%. This reporting probability is a measure of how often the species was recorded in surveyed atlas units, not a direct estimate of the number or density of birds. The review synthesised published atlas interpretations rather than reanalysing raw SABAP records. Other regional evidence also pointed to stable or increasing populations, although trends were less certain in poorly surveyed areas and were not uniform across the region.
Flexible habitat and foraging use characterised the species
Habitat use and foraging ecology made up the largest share of the evidence base. Cattle egrets used wetlands, irrigated pastures, cropland, communal rangelands and peri-urban areas, shifting among habitats as water levels and prey availability changed. Orthopterans such as grasshoppers dominated many diet studies, and feeding success often increased when livestock or machinery disturbed prey. Southern African communal roosts commonly held about 1,000–2,000 birds and could reach around 5,000.
Breeding was often opportunistic and synchronised with rainfall. Across the studies summarised by the authors, mean colony size was about 65 nests, average clutch size was 2.9 eggs and fledging success about 62%. Repeatedly identified pressures included loss of nesting habitat, extreme weather, contaminants and pathogen exposure at poultry interfaces. The review also notes ecosystem-service roles such as insect suppression and nutrient redistribution.
Most Southern African evidence came from South Africa
The apparently positive regional picture is unevenly documented. About three quarters of the Southern African studies came from South Africa, while Botswana contributed 8.3%; Namibia and Madagascar 5.6% each; and Zimbabwe and Lesotho 2.8% each. The authors therefore call for more standardised monitoring and broader geographic coverage, particularly in poorly studied parts of the region where current population trends remain uncertain.
Ecology
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