Botha’s Lark conservation: inside the documentary and why it matters
- Adam Cruickshank
- 24 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The Botha’s Lark is a critically endangered species, with an estimated 340 birds remaining. It is endemic to South Africa, found nowhere else on the planet. That alone places a responsibility on all of us to do what we can to protect it.
Over the past year, a collaborative effort between Birding Ecotours, Tread Films and BirdLife South Africa led to the creation of a documentary focused on this species and the work being done to conserve it.
But this was never meant to be just another conservation film.
More Than Just a Bird
A few years ago, I hosted a podcast on Botha’s Lark where I interviewed Dr Hanneline Smit-Robinson and Dr David Ehlers Smith from BirdLife South Africa. While recording that episode and hearing about the scale of the conservation challenges, I started thinking about how I could make a difference.
This is where the power of the bird ask comes in.
I had no filmmaking experience, so I reached out to my friend Gerhardus van den Bergh of Tread Films and asked if he would get involved. Even though I had nothing to pay him, he still agreed.
Gerhardus is not a birder, and that turned out to be one of the biggest strengths of the film. His perspective helped shape a story that could reach beyond the birding community and connect with a broader audience.
From the beginning, the aim was to move beyond facts and figures. The focus was on people. The people working in the field. The people fighting to protect what remains. The people whose lives have been shaped by this bird and its habitat.
That idea shaped everything that followed.
Last year, I started working at Birding Ecotours and was encouraged to see the company’s commitment to conservation. Through their support of Matthew Orolowitz, the Birding Ecotours Fellow of Grasslands Conservation, they are directly involved in protecting Botha’s Lark and other threatened grassland species.
I shared the idea for the film with Dr. Chris Lotz, and after some discussion, he gave his full support to move forward.
After a series of discussions with different stakeholders, the project was given the green light.
Bringing the Film Together
With his experience at WildEarth, John Kinghorn came on board as narrator, adding depth and clarity to the story.
Funding was secured, which meant there was no cost to BirdLife South Africa. What followed was a focused effort driven by a shared belief that this story needed to be told.
What is remarkable is that the entire documentary was filmed in just two weeks. In that short time, a passionate team came together to tell the story of this special bird.
The result is a film that highlights both the urgency of the situation and the people working behind the scenes to make a difference.
The response has been encouraging, both locally and internationally, with the film already reaching close to 11,000 views on YouTube.
Some of the comments highlight exactly why this story needed to be told:
“This is so inspiring. Such a familiar message about community engagement but in a very different setting.”
“I was totally mesmerized watching the video, beautifully put together. Thank you for making us more aware of our rare and wonderful gems.”
Watch the Film
The documentary is now available to watch for free online:
If it connects with you, share it. The more people who see this story, the greater the awareness for a species that desperately needs it.
Turning Awareness Into Action
There is also a practical way to support this work.
Birding Ecotours is currently running a limited promotion on 2026 African set departure tours:
Receive 5% off your tour using the code BOTHASLARK
5% of your booking value will be donated to the BirdLife South Africa Botha’s Lark Conservation Project
Valid for new bookings made between 29 March 2026 and 30 June 2026
It is a simple way to turn a trip into something that contributes directly to conservation.
Explore African tours here
Why This Story Matters
With such a small population remaining, the future of Botha’s Lark is uncertain.
But stories like this matter. They bring attention. They build understanding. And they remind us that conservation is not just about species lists, but about people, places, and the choices we make.
