Scopus: Journal of East African Ornithology

Distribution and population estimates of four crane species in Ethiopia: A global crane hotspot facing increasing threats

2020-08-04T09:04:55+00:00

Four species of crane occur in Ethiopia, making the country the most important in Africa for cranes. Black-crowned Balearica pavonina and Wattled Cranes Bugeranus carunculatus, both listed as Vulnerable, are resident species, while Common Grus grus and Demoiselle Cranes Anthropoides virgo, both listed as Least Concern, are migrants. We assessed the distribution and minimum population size of four crane species at the most important and main crane sites during 2007–2019. Some potentially important sites, particularly for Black-crowned Cranes, were not able to be surveyed. Breeding areas of resident cranes were also surveyed. Results showed that Black-crowned Cranes were mainly distributed in the Gambela and Lake Tana areas and the minimum population estimate was 3319 individuals. Wattled Cranes were distributed in Bale Mountains National Park, Lake Tana, Jimma wetlands, Bonga and central Rift Valley areas and the minimum population estimate was 366. Migratory Common Cranes were found in Lake Tana, central Ethiopia, south-central Rift Valley, and some places in southern Ethiopia with the highest populations recorded at Lake Tana and secondly at Debre-Zeit. The minimum population estimate for Common Cranes was 70 000. Migratory Demoiselle Cranes were restricted to the northwestern corner of Ethiopia and the minimum population estimate of 21 500 was based on previously published data. Wetlands are the main habitats for cranes and in Ethiopia these habitats are being degraded and are under increasing threat from overgrazing, water extraction for irrigation, siltation, and habitat loss from farming. Key wetland sites that should be protected or sustainably managed include those at Gambela, Lake Tana (Chimba and Yiganda, in particular), and the Boyo and Jimma areas. Cheleleka at Debre-Zeit, Sululta plain around Addis Ababa, and Shesher floodplain in Lake Tana are important roosting sites for Common Cranes.

Keywords: Black-crowned Crane, Common Crane, Demoiselle Crane, threats, Wattled Crane, breeding sites, wetlands

The avifauna of Ankobohobo Wetland, a neglected Important Bird Area in northwestern Madagascar

2020-08-04T09:54:50+00:00

We present here the first detailed inventory of the birds of Ankobohobo Wetland in northwest Madagascar, based on data collected annually in June and July 2010–2018. These wetlands consist of a c. 35 km2 area of mangroves and tidal mudflats which were designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) within the West Malagasy Wetlands Endemic Bird Area (EBA) in 2001. However, recent and detailed information on their avifauna remains lacking. We used a boat to survey three 4 km stretches of the IBA’s river system on four repeated occasions each year, supplemented by opportunistic observations made in various parts of the study area. In total, we detected 59 species in Ankobohobo Wetland through c. 608 h of observation effort. This includes 26 Malagasy endemics, two Near Threatened species, three Endangered species (Malagasy Sacred Ibis Threskiornis bernieri, Malagasy Pond Heron Ardeola idae, and Humblot’s Heron Ardea humbloti), and the Critically Endangered Madagascan Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides. These constitute substantial additions to the inventory of the established Ankobohobo Wetland IBA, which previously stood at 19 species including one Malagasy endemic. We summarise these records here, providing additional details for threatened species. We also report observed threats to the wetlands, particularly with regards to the breeding H. vociferoides population, and highlight Ankobohobo as an important conservation priority.

Keywords: Endemic, Haliaeetus vociferoides, Important Bird Area, Inventory, Mangrove

Forest-dependent birds of the Tugen Hills, Baringo County, Kenya

2020-08-04T10:17:05+00:00

We document the forest avifauna of the Tugen Hills, finding 65 forest-dependent species in three forest reserves surveyed. Several species reported here are previously unrecorded from the area, and we document breeding seasonality for a further nine species. Of particular interest in the hills, Thick-billed Seedeaters Crithagra burtoni appear distinctly different to the expected subspecies in this part of Kenya, and require further study to determine their taxonomic affinities.

Keywords: forest-dependent birds, conservation, distribution, biodiversity/species richness, inventory

Bird species richness in the montane evergreen forests of the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania

2020-08-05T10:02:51+00:00

Species richness and relative abundance of montane forest birds in the Udzungwa Mountains are presented for the 11 forests larger than 1 km2. A high positive correlation between the number of montane bird species and the size of the forest is found with the highest species richness recorded in the largest forest. A few small (< 5 km2) forest fragments also support a high richness of forest birds. Their isolation from larger forest tracts is probably relatively recent (within the last 100–200 years) and their high bird species numbers may be partly due to delayed extirpations. Twenty-three restricted range montane forest species were recorded, and many of these were widespread in the Udzungwas. The largest populations of White-winged Apalis Apalis chariessa, Dapple-throat Arcanator orostruthus, Iringa Akalat Sheppardia lowei and Usambara Weaver Ploceus nicolli are most likely in Udzungwa forests.

Keywords: Tanzania, Udzungwa Mountains, montane forest birds, distribution, abundance, extinction debt

Waterbirds of the Murchison Falls–Albert Delta Wetland System, an important Ramsar site

2020-08-05T08:12:16+00:00

The Murchison Falls–Albert Delta Wetland System Ramsar Site, declared in 2006, consists of the River Nile from the Murchison Falls up to and including a small part of Lake Albert. Before entering the lake, the river splits into three main channels passing through an extensive delta supporting a papyrus swamp; the Ramsar site also includes the land within a kilometre of the river banks, north and south. Most is within Murchison Falls National Park. The river, including the channels through the papyrus, supports large numbers of waterbirds of many species. For a year, we undertook monthly waterbird counts along the channels through the delta swamps, and on the section of Lake Albert within the Ramsar site. Overall, we recorded 78 waterbird species and the site regularly supports three globally and another seven nationally threatened species, including Shoebill Balaeniceps rex, Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum and Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius mufumbiri. The site is also important for large numbers of White-winged Black Terns Chlidonias leucopterus on passage. Most of the larger species, such as White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata and Long-tailed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus rarely, if ever breed in this area, instead their numbers drop at the times when they are expected to breed, apparently elsewhere. A number of pairs of Fish Eagles Haliaeetus vocifer breed, and there is a small colony of African Darters Anhinga rufa. The large numbers of easily-seen birds attract increasing numbers of visitors, adding to the site’s value. Various industrial activities are planned within the watershed of this Ramsar Site, mainly associated with oil and gas, and our data are expected to provide baseline data for future monitoring of the site.

Keywords: Murchison, Ramsar, waterbirds, Uganda

Notes on some Afrotropical migrants in East Africa with special reference to those recorded at the Ngulia Safari Lodge, Tsavo West National Park, Kenya

2020-08-05T08:16:33+00:00

Sixty-four species of Afrotropical birds that migrate within East Africa are treated, with emphasis on those found at Ngulia Safari Lodge, Tsavo West NP, southeastern Kenya during the long-running (1969–2019) ringing programme which concentrates on Palaearctic species. At Ngulia, the striking fact to emerge is the relative paucity of Afrotropical migrants, at least in the period October to April, compared to those from the Palaearctic.

Keywords: Afrotropical migrant, East Africa, Ngulia, Tsavo West National Park

Notes on the nesting site of the Wattled Ibis Bostrychia carunculata in the central uplands of Ethiopia

2020-08-05T08:22:48+00:00

No Abstract.

A large concentration of Allen’s Gallinules Porphyrio alleni in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania and other interesting observations of the species in Tanzania

2020-08-05T09:03:11+00:00

No Abstract.

A ‘grey-mutant’ paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone sp. from western Uganda

2020-08-05T09:08:09+00:00

No Abstract.

Does the Ethiopian Swallow Hirundo aethiopica occur in Tanzania?

2020-08-05T09:17:09+00:00

No Abstract.

A record of Chestnut-capped Flycatcher Erythrocercus mccallii from Semuliki National Park, Uganda

2020-08-05T09:20:02+00:00

No Abstract.

All-white hirundines in Uganda

2020-08-05T09:26:30+00:00

No Abstract.

East African Rarities Committee Report for 2019

2020-08-05T09:44:15+00:00

No Abstract.