BirdLife South Africa’s Vote for South Africa’s Favourite Bird Competition has the potential to be a very powerful conservation tool. Which is why Mabula Ground Hornbill Project is asking you to vote and preferably to vote for the stately southern ground hornbill.

This competition has no real prize except that the bird is listed as South Africa’s favourite, boosting awareness about the bird. This year there are 52 species competing in this feathery poll to be South Africa’s. The competition ends on 28th of February 2015.

By voting for a flagship species such as the southern ground hornbill you will bring much needed awareness to the plight of the species and provide a nationwide platform for discussing the threats that the species faces – as the plight of the ground hornbill was caused by us and it can be solved by us (humans).

Each family group of southern ground hornbills defends a huge territory of savannah and grassland (on average 100km2) and so any mitigation we can do for this species safe-guards large tracts of habitat for a myriad of other species.

So vote smart. Vote for the species that needs the greatest awareness to ensure its survival. Vote for the southern ground hornbill. And with seductive lashes like that.. how could you not?