Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology

Seasonal movements of Black Coucals Centropus grillii in Nigeria

Soladoye B Iwajomo — 2024-05-07

with the increasing availability of tracking devices. In this study, we tracked the movements of Black Coucals Centropus grillii breeding in Nigeria from late July using satellite telemetry. Individuals remained on the breeding site for several months; two individuals transmitted after October and these two moved shorter distances (< 100 km) away from the breeding site in early December. One of these was tracked for a full year, moving to a site 175 km south of the breeding site in early January and returning to the breeding site in late May. The bird migrated faster during the return journey (58 km day^–1) as compared to the post-breeding journey (5.9 km day^–1). The overall home range (90% kernel density) during breeding was 20.4 ± 3.3 km² (mean ± s.d.) and the core (50%) 5.0 ± 1.6 km²with no apparent clear change outside of the breeding season. Vegetation conditions at the distant site were apparently poorer although in an average year the move would have led to improved conditions. Short-distance seasonal migration of Black Coucals might be widespread in drier seasonal habitats.

New waterbird breeding records in Western Province, Zambia

Jonah Gula — 2024-05-07

Knowledge of where species breed is important for understanding population trends, range shifts and conservation threats. During fieldwork in 2019–2023 in Western Province, Zambia, we recorded evidence of breeding of 21 waterbird species. According to known literature, these are considered the first breeding records for 14 species in this region of Zambia. Notably, we also confirmed the persistence of a breeding population of Whiskered Terns Chlidonias hybrida in Liuwa Plain National Park over 40 years after the last published report. Despite the logistical difficulties of the region, improved ornithological coverage for waterbird species is needed.

Confirmed cases of Rüppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppelli breeding in Senegal: Advocating systematic sampling to reassess the conservation status of the species in West Africa

Antonio-Román Muñoz — 2024-05-07

Vulture populations are declining across Africa and the conservation status of Rüppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppelli has changed from Near Threatened in 2007 to Critically Endangered in 2015. Its global population was estimated at 30 000 individuals in the early 1990s and since then there have been no accurate estimates. During that period, it was observed that this cliff-nesting species stood out as one of the least studied vultures, particularly within the region of West Africa. During the 1960s there were breeding records of this species in Senegal, but these were later discarded on the ground that they had been misidentified, because they were tree-nesting events. It is noteworthy that, during a period when the decline of known populations and the scarce availability of data on the species is highlighted, Rüppell’s Vulture is frequently sighted beyond its typical range, namely in both Europe and southern Africa. In this study, we verify the breeding of Rüppell’s Vulture in Senegal, consistently noting nesting on trees. Based on the conducted counts, we provide an estimation of age ratio and conservative values regarding the abundance of the species in the area. We also give information on the characteristics of the nests and on the phenology of reproduction in the area. Finally, we discuss the potential implications for the species of the recently discovered regular movement of Rüppell’s Vultures between West Africa and Europe, where the species now breeds.

The first description of the nest and egg of the Long-billed Forest-warbler Artisornis moreaui with additional notes on the breeding of the Red-capped Forest-warbler A. metopias

Jasson John — 2024-05-07

We present the first description of the nest and egg of the Long-billed Forest-warbler Artisornis moreaui recently discovered in Nilo Nature Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Two subspecies are recognised: the nominate one, endemic to East Usambara Mountains in northeastern Tanzania, and sousae, endemic to the Njesi Highlands in northern Mozambique. Both are treated as distinct species by BirdLife International, which has classified the first as Critically Endangered, and the second as Endangered. Before this discovery, breeding information had been limited to observations of fledglings. Because in the East Usambaras A. moreaui shares habitat with its putative sister-species, Red-capped Forest-warbler A. metopias, we also provide additional information on the nesting of this species. Although the nests of the two species can be difficult to differentiate, their eggs are distinct. The markings on the egg of A. metopias are spread over the entire surface, while on the egg of A. moreaui the markings are concentrated at the broad end.

Counting Common Starlings: Is Sturnus vulgaris invasive in rural South Africa?

Adrian JFK Craig — 2024-05-07

The numbers of Common Starlings Sturnus vulgaris and indigenous starling species, as well as a subset of other common birds, were recorded from October 2006 to January 2020 at 72 point-count sites along four routes (two urban and two rural) in the Eastern Cape Province of South African. In the rural habitat, Common Starlings were localised at buildings; in the urban habitat, there was no clear indication that their presence influenced the occurrence or abundance of the Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio, a native species which has colonised towns and nests on buildings. In this region there is little evidence that Common Starlings invade areas that have not been heavily modified by human activities.

Nesting habitat of the Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola mauritanica in Morocco

Mohammed Hilmi — 2024-05-07

The Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola (subspecies mauritanica) of family Hirundinidae is endemic to Morocco and known for its ability to dig tunnels in earthen banks in which it nests. The nature of the sediment and the morphological features of the nest holes and riverbank habitat have not been thoroughly described across the species’ range in Morocco. Here, we present a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the textural characteristics of the sediment chosen by the martins in two successive breeding seasons, using a sample of 104 nests, which covered most of the species’ distribution range in Morocco. We also studied the surrounding landscape and morphological features of a total of 114 nests. Our observations show that besides nesting in natural riverbank habitat, the Brown-throated Martin can use both manmade embankments and substrates (even cement and concrete) to carry out a successful breeding cycle. This study provides important information on the nesting habitat of the Brown-throated Martin across Morocco. We believe that such descriptive work can help with the conservation of this Moroccan endemic by better targeting the right habitat to either protect or restore. The findings also include information useful to assist in creating new nesting sites for the species.

Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus are still declining in West Africa: A nearly 50-year assessment study (1969–2019)

Clément Daboné — 2024-05-07

Large-scale declines in vulture populations have been recorded in West Africa. One concern is that the current trend in Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus populations in West Africa is poorly known. To help fill this knowledge gap, we conducted nationwide road counts in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, using (where possible) the same routes and methods as counts conducted in 1969–1973 and 2003–2004 (46–50 years later). Use of exactly the same routes was unfortunately possible only in Burkina Faso as a result of the security situation in sub-Saharan West Africa at the time of this study. Our results reveal that Burkina Faso remains a stronghold for Hooded Vultures with a mean abundance of 62 individuals per 100 km, reaching a peak of 217 per 100 km in the highest abundance areas. A comparison between early and recent studies shows that populations of Hooded Vulture are still declining in the West African sub-region. In Burkina Faso, the number of Hooded Vultures per 100 km decreased from 122 to 75 (a decline of 38%) over the last five decades. In the West African sub-region, under both ‘best-case’ and ‘worst-case’ scenarios, Hooded Vultures seem to have declined by 58% to 65% between the 1970s and 2019. The main causes of this population decline in West Africa are unintentional poisoning, decreasing food availability, and the trade in vulture body parts for Traditional Medicine. Conservation actions for Hooded Vultures in West Africa could include the implementation of supplementary feeding sites (also known as ‘vulture restaurants’) and decreasing the demand for vulture body parts (for use in Traditional Medicine and mystical practices) by offering relevant alternatives such as plants and their derivatives.

Difference in acoustic responses to urbanisation in two African passerines

Dickson Anobie and Matthew — 2024-05-07

Modification of ecosystems as a consequence of urbanisation alters natural habitat structures and soundscapes, creating constraints for vocal communication in animals. Birds are able to adjust their vocalisation to the prevailing acoustic features of their habitat. As such, their sounds have been shown to reflect the level of anthropogenic disturbances across landscapes. While the effect of a single anthropogenic disturbance like ambient noise on birds’ vocal communication is widely investigated, the combined effects of various disturbances remain less explored. We tested single and combined effects of anthropogenic noise and urban physical structures on the vocalisations of two African passerines, the Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus and Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus. We predicted that (i) both species would increase the minimum frequency of their vocalisation to avoid masking by ambient noise, (ii) both species would decrease their maximum frequency to evade distortion by physical structures, (iii) the two urban components would have a significant combined effect on the vocalisations, and (iv) the change in minimum or maximum frequency will lead to a corresponding change in the vocalisation bandwidth. For the Common Bulbul, the minimum frequency increased significantly as the ambient noise level increased, but the maximum frequency did not change in response to urban physical structures. For the Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, the minimum frequency did not show a response to ambient noise, but the maximum frequency decreased significantly as physical structures and ambient noise increased. We did not find any evidence for a combined effect of urban physical structures and ambient noise on the vocal adjustment of either species. A change in either the minimum or maximum frequency resulted in a corresponding change in the vocalisation bandwidth of each species. Our findings highlight how the same vocalisation traits of different songbird species can be affected differently by novel selective pressures in acoustic communication that arise in urban environments.

The status of listing global bird species

Robin M Little — 2024-05-07

No abstract.