Communal Roosts of African White backed Gyps africanus and Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus in Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

A study on communal roosts of African White-backed Gyps africanus and Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus in Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, southern Ethiopia was conducted from January to March 2012 to investigate population dynamics of vultures. The population fluctuation of vultures was estimated by direct counts made at nine roosting sites. The estimated mean abundance of African White-backed Vultures (AWBV) was 35.4 (SD ±7.2) and Hooded Vultures 118.4 (SD ± 14.9) in all roosts. The AWBV showed a stable population all through the months whereas the Hooded Vulture population peaked in March. Each roost site supported a varied number of vultures. No significant difference was noticed in the counts of vultures between the morning and evening. Plantations of exotic Eucalyptus sp. and Podocarpus falcatus trees should be protected and managed sustainably for the conservation of globally threatened vulture species in the campus.

Keywords: communal roost, Gyps africanus, Necrosyrtes monachus, Wondo
Genet, Ethiopia