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'■Vita;/,,/'.  ^ 


22  QCT  2003 


Bulletin  of  the  African  Bird  Club 


Vol  9 No  1 March  2002 


New  birds  for 
Nigeria 


Cape  Parrot 


Nigerian  ornitho< 
iogicai  institute 


Bird  tracks  in 
Madagascar 


Birds  of  Aidabra 


New  to  Africa: 
Chatham 
Aibatross 


Conservation 
work  in  the 
Albertine  Rift 


Bird  observations 
in  Rodrigues 


African  bird 
recorders 


Red-footed  Falcon 
in  The  Gambia 


ISSN  1 352-481 X 


rl)  African  Bird  Club 


The  African  Bird  Ciub  aims  to: 

• provide  a worldwide  focus  for  African  ornithology 

• encourage  an  interest  in  the  conservation  of  the 
birds  of  the  region 

• liaise  with  and  promote  the  work  of  existing 
regional  societies 

• publish  a twice-yearly  colour  bulletin 

• encourage  observers  to  visit  lesser  known  areas 
of  the  region 

• encourage  observers  to  actively  search  for  globally 
threatened  and  near-threatened  species 

• run  the  ABC  Conservation  Programme 

Registered  Charity  No  1053920 

ABC  Web  site 

http://www.africanbirdclub.org 


ABC  Council 

Phil  Atkinson  (Chairman),  Keith  Betton.  Richard  Butler.  .Mark 
Catterall,  Stan  Davies,  Roy  Hargrea\es.  Moira  Hargreaxes. 
Gordon  Holtshausen,  Paul  Lascelles.  Rob  Lucking.  Bill  Quantrill 
(Secretary),  Alan  Williams  (Treasurer)  and  John  Wyatt. 
President:  Martin  Woodcock 

Bulletin  Editorial  Board 

Chairman  of  Board:  Vacant 
Managing  Editor:  Guy  Kirxx’an 

David  Allan,  Mark  Andrews,  Phil  Atkin.son,  Mark  Cocker.  Ron 
Demey,  Lincoln  FishpooL  Peter  Lack.  Rob  Lucking.  Rodney 
Martins,  Roger  Safford,  Tony  Stones  and  Richard  Webb. 

Membership  of  the  ABC 

Membership  of  the  ABC  is  open  to  all  and  costs,  per  annum. 
UKc£15  Individual  (Africa  & Europe),  UK.iP  Individual  (Rest 
of  the  World),  UK£18  Family  (Africa  c- Europe),  L'K.i20  Family 
(Rest  of  the  World),  UKi8  Student  (Africa  & Europe),  UK.tlO 
Student  ( Rest  of  the  World),  MYSlSLihraries/Institiitions,  LiK,t2S 
minimum  SiippoiUng  Member,  or  UKT300  Life  Member.  To  join 
or  for  further  details  please  write  to  the  membership  secreiarx' 
at  the  Club  address  below. 


Contact  ABC 


African  Bird  Club,  c/o  BirdLife  International,  Wellbrook  Court,  Girton  Road,  Cambridge  CB3  ONA. 

email:  info@africanbirdclub.org 


Further  information  can  be  obtained  directly  from  individual  council  members.  Please  use  the  following  email 
addresses  or  contact  them  via  the  club’s  postal  address.  With  email,  replace  @...  with  ©africcudjirdcliih.org,  eg 
chairman@africanbirdclub.org  will  reach  the  Chairman 


Chairman 

Secretary  & Membership 
Treasurer 

Information  Officer 
Bulletin  Editor 

ABC  Conservation  Programme 
Sales 

Country  Representatives 
Meetings 


Phil  Atkinson 
Bill  Quantrill 
Alan  Williams 
Keith  Betton 
Guy  Kirwan 
Rob  Lucking 
Moira  Hargreaves 
Paul  Lascelles 
Richard  Butler 


chairman@africanbirdclub.org 

secretary@... 

treasurer@... 

infb@... 

editor@... 

conservation@ . . . 

sales@... 

reps@... 

meetings@... 


The  Bulletin  of  the  African  Bird  Club 


The  Bulletin  of  the  ABC  provides  a forum  for  news, 
letters,  notices,  recent  publications,  expedition  results, 
reviews  and  interim  publication  of  studies  on  African 
birds  by  contributors  from  throughout  the  world.  Pub- 
lication of  results  in  the  Bidletin  of  the  ABC  does  not 
preclude  publication  of  final  results  as  journal  papers 


either  by  the  ABC  or  elsewhere.  No  material  should, 
however,  be  submitted  simultaneously  to  the  Bulletin 
of  the  ABC  and  to  any  other  publication. 

Brief  notes  for  contributors  appear  elsewhere  in  this 
bulletin  and  further  details  are  available  from  the  edi- 
tor (editor@africanbirdclub.org). 


©2001  Copyright  African  Bird  Club  and  contributors.  Quotations  should  carry  a full  acknowledgement.  No  part  etc  may  be 
reproduced,  copied  or  stored  in  a retrieval  system  without  the  prior  written  permission  of  the  Club  or  authors. 


Contents  z2L.:7m 

Bull  ABC  Vo!  9 No  1 


News  & Comment 


Features 


2 Club  News 

Compiled  by  Phil  Atkinson 

5 ABC  Conservation 
Programme 

6 Africa  Round-up 

Compiled  by  Ron  Demey  and 
Guy  M.  Kirivan 

1 1 Requests  for  Information 
11  Errata 

1 1 Advertising  rates 


12 


Reading  the  sand:  identifying  bird  tracks  in  Madaga- 
scar’s spiny  forest 

Joe  Tobias  and  Nat  Seddon 


1 ^ Bird  observations  on  the  Indian  Ocean  island  of 
' Rodrigues,  March-June  1999 

Dave  A.  Showier 

OC  Large  concentrations  of  White-winged  Black  Terns 
Chlidonias  leucopterus  at  Lutembe  Bay,  Lake  Victoria 

Achilles  Byariihanga,  Julius  Arinaitwe  and  Charles 
Williams ' 


43  Discoveries 

Chatham  Albatross  Thalassarche 
eremita:  new  to  Africa 

Peter  Ryan 

First  record  of  Red-footed  Falcon 
Falco  vespertinus  in  The  Gambia 

Anita  and  Heimo  Mikkola 

63  Short  Notes 

African  Broadbill  Smithornis 
capensis  as  a resident  in 
Soutpansberg,  Northern  Province, 
South  Africa 

Craig  T.  Symes  and  Sarah  M. 
Venter 

Extension  of  breeding  activity  for 
Rodrigues  Warbler  Acrocephalus 
rodericanus 

Dave  Showier 

Melanistic  Eurasian  Collared  Dove 
Streptopelia  decaocto  in  Morocco 

Patrick  Bergier 


27 


Occurrence  of  Cape  Parrot  Poicephalus  robustus  at 
non-forest  feeding  sites  in  South  Africa:  threats  to  a 
declining  population 

Craig  T.  Symes  and  Colleen  T.  Downs 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra 

Michael  Betts 


Testing  the  effectiveness  of  nest-boxes  in  the  conser- 
vation of  woodland  birds:  Lake  Naivasha  nest-box 
project,  Kenya 

Michael  Maina  Macharia 


C'J  New  birds  for  Nigeria  observed  during  the  Lake  Chad 
Bird  Migration  Project 

Ulf  Ottosson,  Daniel  Bengtsson,  Rolf  Giistafsson,  Philip  Hall 
Christian  Hjort,  A.P.  Leuentis,  Roland  Neumann,  Jan 
Pettersson,  Patrik  Rhonnstad,  Stephen  Rumsey,  Jonas 
Waldenstrom  and  William  Velmala 


66  Recent  Reports 

Compiled  by  Ron  Demey 

74  Reviews 
Illustrations 

Mark  Andrews 

Photographs 

Patrick  Bergier,  Michael  Betts, 
BirdLife  International,  G. 
Oiiweneel,  Peter  Ryan,  Dave  A. 
Showier,  Craig  Symes,  Joe  Tobias, 
Johan  Verba  lick 


Cfi  Conservation  importance  of  the  Aibertine  Rift  and  the 
work  of  the  Aibertine  Rift  Conservation  Society 

Dr  Laurent  Ntahuga 


58 

61 


List  of  Bird  Recorders  and  Checklist  Compilers 

Compiled  by  Keith  Betton 

A new  ornithological  institute  in  Nigeria 

Juliet  Vickery  and  Peter  Jones 


Front  cover  plate 

African  Green  Broadbill  Pseudocalyptomena  graiieri  by  John  Gale 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -1 


Club  News 


Launch  of  the  Important  Bird  Areas 
in  Africa  book  in  Johannesburg,  22 
October  2001 

The  launch  of  the  African  Important 
Bird  Areas  (IBA)  volume  has  to  be  one 
of  the  most  momentous  occasions  for 
African  bird  conservation.  This 
enormous  piece  of  work,  comprising 
1,160  pages,  took  eight  years  to 
complete,  involved  hundreds  of 
ornithologists,  volunteers  and  govern- 
ment staff  in  58  countries  and 
territories,  who  between  them  have 
identified  a comprehensive  network  of 
1,228  sites  or  IBAs.  It  is  the  first-ever 
attempt  to  list  all  of  the  sites  interna- 
tionally recognised  as  the  most 
critically  important  places  for  bird  and 
biodiversity  conservation  in  the  region, 
and  identifies  some  of  the  main  threats 
affecting  Africa’s  IBAs. 

South  Africa’s  Minister  for  Environ- 
mental Affairs  & Tourism,  Mr 
Mohammed  Valli  Moosa,  launched  the 
directory  at  a conference  hosted  by  the 
BirdLife  Africa  Partnership  and  BirdLife 
South  Africa.  ABC  was  pleased  to  be 
involved  in  the  launch  of  the  book  and 
has  supported  the  distribution  of  the 
IBA  book  to  countries  where  BirdLife 


The  South  African  Minister  of  Environmental  Affairs  & 
Tourism,  Mr  Mohammed  Valli  Moosa,  being  handed  the 
African  IBA  book  by  a member  of  the  Bethany  School  Choir 
from  Soweto,  watched  (on  the  left)  by  Dr  Muhtari  Aminu- 
Kano,  Chair  of  the  Council  of  the  BirdLife  African  Partner- 
ship (BirdLife  International) 


Ontario  Museum  for  nearly  50  years. 
Although  not  formally  educated  in 
ornithology,  Jim’s  knowledge  of  birds 
was  unsurpassed  and  his  enthusiasm 
inspired  hundreds  of  naturalists  to 
pursue  bird  study  and  conser\  ation. 
Each  year  an  amount  exceeding 
CDNS  175,000  is  raised  by  over  500 
participants  and  8,000  sponsors.  At 
least  25%  of  all  funds  raised  are 
channeled  back  to  organisations 
designated  by  the  participant.  During 
the  past  two  years  Toni  Salvadori, 

ABC's  Canadian  representative,  has 
participated  on  behalf  of  the  ABC 
raising  a small  amount  of  money  for  the 
ABC’s  Conser\  ation  Eund  which  fits  in 
perfectly  with  Jim's  original  intent.  The 
Birdathon  takes  place  during  the  month 
of  May  when  the  largest  numl:)ers  of 
birds  are  migrating  through  Ontario. 
However,  it  may  be  done  in  May,  in 
any  part  of  the  world,  as  indeed  Toni 
has  participated  in  Baillie  Birdathon's 
in  Zambia,  Australia,  Papua  New 
Guinea  and  of  course  Canada.  If  you 
wish  to  participate  or  want  to  find  out 
more  you  can  contact  Toni  via  e-mail 
(rosella@snowhite.cis.uoguelph.ca). 

The  Council  of  ABC  would  like  to 
thank  Toni  very  much  for  these  much- 
needed  funds.  As  mentioned 
elsewhere,  demand  for  Conservation 
Eund  awards  now  far  outstrips  demand 
and  all  contributions  are  gratefully 
received! 


Mike  King 

Mike  King,  who  will  have  been  known  to  many 
members  passed  away  in  January  2000  after  an  illness 
with  cancer.  Mike  was  responsible  for  setting  up  the 
Gambian  Ringing  Project  at  Ginak  Island  which  has  run 
successfully  since  the  pilot  trips  in  1994.  During  this 
time  over  5,000  Palaearctic  migrants  were  trapped  and 
the  ringing  data  have  contributed  greatly  to  the 
ornithological  knowledge  of  The  Gambia.  A full  obituary 
will  appear  in  the  next  bulletin. 


International  does  not  have  partner 
organisations.  The  IBA  book  will  now 
reach  some  of  those  African  countries 
where  much  of  this  kind  of  basic 
information  is  lacking. 

Callan  Cohen,  one  of  the  Club’s 
South  African  members,  represented 
ABC  at  the  launch  and  manned  an  ABC 
stall  at  the  exhibitors’  fair.  As  at  PAOC, 
there  was  a great  deal  of  interest  in  the 
Club  and  Callan  was  able  to  speak  to 
many  of  the  organisations  and  indi- 
viduals involved  in  the  African  BirdLife 
partnership  about  how  ABC  can 
support  their  activities  through  the 
Consei-vation  Eund,  and  other  ABC 
initiatives.  Council  would  like  to  thank 
Callan  for  helping  the  Club  in  this 
way. 

Baillie  Birdathon  assists  ABC 

Canada’s  Baillie  Birdathon,  or  Bird 
Race,  is  the  oldest  sponsored  bird 
count  in  North  America.  It  was  estab- 
lished in  1976  as  a national  fundraiser 
that  benefits  the  research  and  conserva- 
tion of  wild  birds  and  honours  the 
memory  of  James  L Baillie  (1905-1970). 
Jim  worked  as  Assistant  Curator  in  the 
Dept  of  Ornithology  at  the  Royal 


2 -Bull ABC  Vol9No  1 


Club  News 


ABC  sales  items 

The  following  items  are  currently 
available  for  sale  from  ABC.  All 
proceeds  from  sales  are  used  to 
promote  the  aims  of  the  Club,  UK 
registered  charity  1053920. 

1.  ABC  Sweatshirt  featuring  an 
embroidered  ABC  logo  and  ‘African 
Bird  Club  Working  for  Birds  in 
Africa’,  black,  navy  or  bottle  green. 
Sizes:  medium,  large,  extra  large 
and  extra-extra  large:  UKT20. 

2.  New-style  ABC  Polo  shirt  featuring 
an  embroidered  ABC  logo  and 
‘African  Bird  Club  Working  for 
Birds  in  Africa’,  bottle  green,  navy 
blue  and  black.  Sizes:  large,  extra- 
large  and  extra-extra  large: 
UKT13.50. 

3.  New  ABC  T-shirt  featuring  Bush 
Shrikes  by  Dave  Nurney,  grey. 

Sizes:  large,  extra-large  and  extra- 
extra  large:  UKT13.50. 

4.  ABC  T-shirt  featuring  Turacos  by 
Mark  Andrews,  white.  Sizes:  extra 
large:  UKT9. 

5.  ABC  caps  featuring  an  embroidered 
ABC  logo,  black,  bottle  green,  red 
and  maroon:  UKT7. 

6.  ABC  bone-china  mugs:  two  designs 
featuring  Carmine  Bee-eater  or 
Golden-breasted  Starlings  by  Martin 
Woodcock:  UK£6  or  UK£10  a pair. 

7.  ABC  badge  featuring  Egyptian 
Plover  design:  UK  £2. 

8.  White-winged  Apalis  A4  colour 
print  by  Nik  Borrow  from  Bull. 

ABC  2 (2):  signed  and  numbered 
limited  edition  of  50  at  UKT7.50; 
also  available  unsigned  at  UKTl.OO. 

9.  Nightjar  A4  colour  prints  by  Martin 
Woodcock  from  Bull.  ABC  2.2:  one 
print  illustrates  Mountain  and 
Rwenzori  Nightjars,  the  second 
depicts  Black-shouldered  and  Fiery- 
necked  Nightjars:  UKT1.50  for  the 
pair. 

10.  Locally  designed  cards  on  hand- 
made paper,  produced  by  the 
paper-  making  co-operative  of  the 
BirdLife  International-supported 
Kilum  Mountain  Forest  Project  in 
Cameroon.  A selection  of  five  cards 
in  a hand-woven  wallet:  UK£5. 

11.  Bull.  ABC,  volume  1,  1994,  number 
1 and  2:  UK£5  each. 

12.  Bull.  ABC,  volume  2,  1995,  number 
1 and  2:  UK£6  each. 

13.  Bull.  ABC,  volume  3,  1996,  number 
1 and  2:  UK£6  each. 

14.  Bull.  ABC,  volume  4,  1997,  number 
1 and  2:  UK£7  each. 


15.  Bull.  ABC,  volume  5,  1998,  number 
2 only:  UK£7  each. 

16.  Bull.  ABC,  volume  6,  1999,  number 
1 and  2:  UK£7  each. 

17.  Bull.  ABC,  volume  7,  2000,  number 
1 and  2:  UK£7  each. 

18.  Azores  Trip  Report,  Sep-Oct  1997 
by  Willem  Steenge  and  Theo 
Bakker,  29  pp  covering  travel, 
transport,  weather,  ferry  timetables 
and  fares,  itinerary  and  site  guides, 
many  maps:  UK£5. 

19.  Birds  in  the  Gaborone  Area, 
Botswana  by  S J Tyler  and  W D 
Borello,  100  pp  with  detailed 
species  information  concerning 
status  and  sites  where  they  can  be 
seen,  with  detailed  information  on 
some  sites  and  co-ordinates  for  all 
sites:  UK£10. 

20.  Cameroon  Trip  Report,  Dec  1994- 
Jan  1995  by  Richard  Webb,  72  pp 
with  sections  covering  travel, 
health,  weather,  references,  a 
detailed  itinerary,  systematic 
checklist  of  481  species  and  a 29- 
page  site  guide  including  25  maps: 
UK£6. 

21.  Cameroon  Trip  Report,  Mar-Apr 
1997  by  Jon  Hornbuckle,  22  pp, 
useful  update  to  previous  report, 
following  similar  route,  with 
logistics,  sites,  itinerary  and 
systematic  list  of  551  species  seen: 
UK£4. 

22.  Cape  Verde  Trip  Report,  Mar  1996 
by  Theo  Bakker  and  Klaas  van  Dijk, 
37  pp,  details  and  locations  of  all  6l 
species  seen  over  4 weeks,  with 
useful  information  on  travel  and 
accommodation,  and  many  detailed 
maps  and  photographs:  UKT6.50. 

23.  Ethiopia  Trip  Report,  Dec  1995-Jan 
1996  by  Richard  Webb,  sections 
covering  travel,  health,  weather, 
references,  a detailed  itinerary, 
systematic  checklist  of  478  species 
and  site  guide  for  30  locations: 
UK£7.50. 

24.  Ethiopia  Trip  Report,  Oct-Nov  1996 
by  Jon  Hornbuckle,  31  pp, 
complement  to  previous  report, 
with  logistics,  sites,  itineraiy  and 
systematic  list  of  species  seen, 
including  30  endemics:  UK£-4. 

25.  Ethiopia:  iu  search  of  oiciemic 
birds,  Sep-Oct  1997  by  Julian 
Francis  and  Hadoram  Shirihai,  45 
pp,  47  excellent  colour 
photographs  including  endemics, 
with  logistics,  travel  tips,  detailed 
itinerary  and  systematic  list  of 
species  seen,  including 


identification  notes  for  Degodi  and 
Sidamo  Larks:  UK£10. 

26.  Ethiopia/Eritrea  Trip  Report,  Mar- 
May  1998  by  David  Murdoch,  280 
species  seen,  short  but  useful 
update  to  our  other  Ethiopia 
reports,  itinerary  and  sy.stematic  list 
of  all  birds  and  mammals  seen,  also 
details  of  sites  in  Eritrea:  UIGt3. 

26.  The  Gambia,  10-17  Sep  1999  by 
Stuart  Sharp,  34  pp  including 
sections  on  travel/h(4iday  tips, 
itinerary,  brief  site  de.scriptions  and 
systematic  lists  of  birds  and 
mammals  seen:  UIU£5. 

27.  The  Gambia,  1-8  Nov  1998  by  Gruff 
Dodd,  26  pp  cover  trip  planning, 
very  detailed  itinerary  and 
systematic  list  of  180  species  seen: 
UK£4. 

28.  Birds  of  Senegamhia,  checklist: 
UK£0.50. 

29.  Birding  Ghana,  Feb  1996  by  Mindy 
and  Sherif  El  Din,  39  pp  contain 
sections  on  orientation,  itinerary', 
some  site  descriptions,  a table  of 
species  seen  each  day,  plus  extra 
notes  on  birding  hints  and  etiquette 
in  Ghana  with  more  site 
suggestions:  UK£-6.50. 

30.  Ghana  Trip  Report,  Jan-Feb  199^ 
by  Simon  Plat,  35  pp  complement 
Birding  Ghana  report,  especially  for 
travel  by  public  transport;  with 
checklist  of  220  species,  detailed 
itineraiy,  and  site  guides,  including 
coast  between  Accra  and  Takoradi. 
Kakum  National  Park,  Subri  Forest 
Reserve,  Kumasi,  Tamale, 
Bolgatanga,  Wa  and  Mole  National 
Park:  UK£4. 

31.  Cote  d'Ivoire  by  public  transport 
trip  report,  Jan-Feb  1995  by  Eddie 
Williams,  28  pp  with  se\  eral  maps. 
412  species  plus  extensive  mammal 
list,  local  information,  itinerary  and 
site  guides:  UK£4 

32.  Kenya  Trip  Report.  Feb-Mar  1995 
by  Mike  Hunter  and  Graham 
Speight,  90  pp  with  sections 

co\  ering  tra\  el.  health,  climate, 
accommodation,  references,  a 
detailed  itineran'.  systematic  list  of 
693  species,  and  a 50-page  site 
guide  co\  ering  -i8  sites  and  28 
maps:  UK.£-8. 

33.  Annotated  Checklist  of  the  Birds  of 
\airobi.  including  Nairobi  National 
Park,  by  Bill  Han  ey.  32  pp 
proN'iding  a checklist  and  details  of 
status,  frequency,  habitat 
preferences  and  frequency  in 
Nairobi  National  Park  and  Nairobi 
Arboretum:  UK.L0.SO. 


Club  News 


Bull  ABC  Vo!  9 No  1-3 


34.  Madagascar  and  the  Comores,  Oct- 
Nov  1995  by  Jon  Hornbuckle,  ‘How 
to  see  all  the  birds  without  a hire 
car’,  34  pp  list  186  species  in 
Madagascar  including  124 
endemics,  79  species  in  the 
Comores,  including  17  endemics, 
with  logistics,  itinerary,  site  notes, 
one  map,  systematic  list  of  birds 
and  mammals:  UK£4. 

35.  Madagascar,  Nov-Dec  1997  by 
Chris  Bell,  Mike  Hunter,  Dawn  Ross 
and  Malcolm  Roxby,  useful  update 
to  previous  reports  on  how  to  find 
recently  re -/discovered  species, 
with  full  species  list  including  123 
Malagasy  endemics,  itinerary,  brief 
site  guide:  UK£4. 

36.  Madagascar  (with  Mauritius  and 
Reunion),  winter  1997-98  by  Brian 
Gee,  67  pp,  21  maps,  192  species 
seen  in  Madagascar,  with  logistics 
(including  getting  around  on  public 
transport)  site  guides  (including 
Montagne  d’Ambre,  Tsiribihina 
River,  Kirindy  Forest)  systematic 
list,  advice  on  guides  etc:  UK£9. 

37.  Madagascar  Trip  Report,  October 
1998  by  Paul  Noakes,  14  pp,  three 
maps,  a brief  report  covering  over 
90%  of  the  endemics:  UKT2.50. 

38.  Malawi,  March  1997  by  Jon 
Hornbuckle,  17  pp,  logistics,  sites, 
seven  maps,  itinerary  and 
systematic  list  of  306  species  seen: 
UK£3. 

39.  Malawi  and  the  Luangwa  Valley 
(Zambia),  Jul-Aug  1997  by  Henk 
Hendriks,  45  pp,  14  maps,  with 
logistics,  site  guides,  complete 
systematic  list  of  370  species,  and 
where  to  see  rare  and  difficult 
species:  UK£8. 

40.  Southern  Malawi  and  Luangwa 
Valley  (Zambia),  Jan  1999  by  Nigel 
Wheatley,  includes  maps  of  major 
towns  and  sites,  maps  of  Senga  Bay 
and  Zomba,  sites  visited,  other  sites, 
systematic  list  of  birds  and 
mammals:  UKT7.50. 

41.  Namibia  and  the  Cape,  Nov  1994  by 
Jon  Hornbuckle,  43  pp,  logistics, 
site  notes,  one  map,  detailed 
itinerary  and  systematic  list  of 
species  seen:  UK£4. 

42.  Birding  Senegal,  10-29  Nov  1998  by 
Mindy  and  Sherif  Baha  el  Din,  26 
pp,  one  map,  details  of  travel, 
accommodation,  detailed  itinerary, 
key  habitats  and  sites,  and 
systematic  lists  of  282  bird  species 
and  mammals:  UK£5. 


43.  KwaZulu-Natal  and  Transvaal, 

South  Africa,  8-21  Oct  2000  by  Mike 
Hunter,  13  pp  covering  daily 
itinerary,  brief  notes  for  each  site 
and  comprehensive  list  of  327 
species  UK£3. 

44.  Cape  Town  to  The  Richtersveld, 
South  Africa,  4-19  May  2001  by  Paul 
Gascoigne  and  Helen  Pooley,  29  pp 
covering  detailed  daily  itinerar)^ 
accommodation  information  and 
comprehensive  list  of  I68  species 
UK£4. 

45.  Western  Cape  and  Namibia,  Nov 
1999-Jan  2000  by  Brian  Gee,  69  pp 
covering  good  general  information, 
detailed  site  guide  with  maps  and 
comprehensive  species  list  ITK£9. 

46.  Cape  Province,  South  Africa,  Feb- 
Mar  1999  by  Gruff  Dodd,  42  pp 
covering  trip  planning,  ver)- 
detailed  itinerary  and  systematic  list 
of  239  species:  UK£6. 

47.  Eastern  South  Africa  and 
Zimbabwe,  Feb-Mar  1997  by  Jon 
Hornbuckle,  35  pp,  logistics,  site 
notes,  five  maps,  detailed  itinerary 
including  Wakkerstroom,  Mkuzi, 
Umlalazi,  Sani  Pass,  Hwange  and 
Victoria  Falls,  with  systematic  list  of 
529  species:  UK£5. 

48.  Voyage  Naturaliste  au  Cape 
Provinces  clAfrique  du  Sud,  Sep- 
Oct  1997  par  Georges  et  Mireille 
Olioso,  50  pp  en  Fran^ais: 
renseignements  pratiques, 
documentation,  itineraire  et 
principaux  sites  visites.  Liste 
commente  des  246  especes 
d’oiseaux  vus,  aussi  mammiferes  et 
reptiles,  plans  des  plusieurs  sites; 
also  includes  an  11-  page  itineraiy 
plus  checklist  of  the  246  birds  and 
33  mammals  in  English:  UK£6. 

49.  Usambara  Mountains,  Tanzania, 
Jan-Feb  1996  by  Eddie  Williams, 
describes  how  to  visit  the  prime 
sites  using  only  public  transport,  24 
pp,  with  detailed  orientation 
information,  site  guides,  nine  maps 
and  a systematic  species  list: 
UK£4.50. 

50.  Uganda  Trip  Report,  Jun-Aug  1095 
by  Henk  Hendriks,  59  pp,  sections 
covering  orientation,  references, 
itinerary,  systematic  checklist  of  473 
bird  and  36  mammal  species,  and  a 
detailed  site  guide  with  ten  maps: 
UK£6.50. 

51.  Where  to  Watch  Birds  in  Uganda, 
by  Jonathan  Rossouw  and  Marco 
Sacchi,  110  pp  with  a section 
covering  general  birding  in  Uganda, 


15  main  sites  are  co\  ered  w ith  a 
map  and  sections  on  birding.  other 
wildlife,  access,  facilities  and 
nearby  sites;  also  a systematic 
checklist  co\  ering  status  at  each 
site:  UK£".50. 

52.  Wakkerstroom  Bird  and  Sature 
Guide  by  Warwick  and  .Michele 
Tarboton.  second  edn.  Mar  1998. 
detailed  description  of  this 
fa.scinating  area  on  border  of 
Mpumalanga  (Eastern  Transvaal) 
and  KwaZulu-Natal.  South  Africa 
and  what  can  be  .seen  there,  many 
illustrations:  UK£5. 

53.  Zimbabwe  (including  parts  of 
Botswana  and  South  Africa).  18 
Fela-5  .Mar  2000  by  Gruff  Dodd, 
detailed  account  of  trip  and 
systematic  list  covering  382  species: 
UK£6. 

54.  Birdwatch  Zimbabwe,  1991,  by 
Derek  Solomon  and  Jacko  Williams, 
comprehensive  guide  with  detailed 
descriptions  of  all  main  areas  with 
maps,  site  guides,  accommodation 
directions,  checklist  and  many  line 
drawings:  UK£8.50. 

Postage  and  packing:  plea.se  send  UK£2 
for  each  L^K  order,  and  11K£3  for  each 
overseas  surface  mail  order.  For 
overseas  airmail  please  add  UK£1.50 
for  each  item  ordered. 

Orders:  payments  should  be  made 
in  pounds  sterling  by  cheque/postal 
order  (payable  to  African  Bird  Club)  or 
credit  card.  Full  credit  card  details  are 
required,  please  specify  Visa,  Access, 
Mastercard  or  Eurocard;  card  number; 
cardholder's  name  (as  it  appears  on 
card);  cardholder's  address;  expiiy 
date;  cardholder’s  signature;  and 
amount  payable.  Please  be  sure  to 
specify  your  name  and  address  and  the 
full  details  of  your  order  including 
quantity,  with  size  and  colour  where 
applicable. 

Please  send  your  order  to  African 
Bird  Club,  c/o  BirdLife  International, 
Wellbrook  Court,  Girton  Road, 
Cambridge  CB3  ONA,  UK.  Enquiries 
may  also  be  sent  to  ABC  Sales  Officer, 
Moira  Hargreaves  at  the  Club’s  address 
or  e-mail:  sales@africanbirdclub.org. 


4 -Bull  ABC  Vol9No  1 


African  Bird  Club 


CONSERVATION  PROGRAMME 


ABC  Conservation  Fund 

The  ABC  Conservation  Fund  supports  small  conservation  projects  in  Africa.  To  date, 
Conservation  Awards  totalling  over  UK£10,000  (US$15,000)  have  been  made.  These 
awards  embraced  a wide  range  of  activities  in  five  countries,  from  environmental 
education  projects  to  research  on  endangered  species. 

ABC  Conservation  Awards  are  available  to  African  individuals  or  institutions,  or  to 
individuals  normally  resident  in  an  African  country,  and  the  Club  welcomes  project 
proposals  for  funding  up  to  a maximum  of  UKT750  (US$1,125).  Further  information  on 
the  Conservation  Fund  and  guidelines  on  how  to  write  a good  project  proposal  can  be 
found  on  the  ABC  website  (http://www.africanbirdclub.org),  or  obtained  from  the  Club 
address  below. 

Latest  Conservation  Fund  Awards 

A further  three  Conservation  Awards  have  been  made  since  the  last  Bulletin.  The  Nigerian 
Conservation  Foundation  received  UK£d,000  to  survey  a new  migrant  swallow  roost 
within  a community-owned  swamp  forest  at  Itu,  Nigeria.  ABC  and  Wetlands  International 
jointly  funded  Jerome  Mokolo  Okonga  to  undertake  waterbird  surveys  in  the  Kouilou 
Basin,  Congo.  Finally,  Sama  Zefania  received  UK^750  to  survey  waterbirds  on  Lake 
Sariaka,  Madagascar. 

Unfortunately  there  will  be  no  more  ABC/NHBS  Book  Awards.  ABC  would  like  to  thank 
the  Natural  History  Book  Service  for  their  support  in  this  initiative  over  the  past  three 
years. 

ABC  Expedition  Award 

The  ABC  Expedition  Award  is  a recent  initiative.  One  award  of  UK£T,000  (US$1,500)  will 
be  made  annually.  The  closing  date  for  the  next  award  is  January  2003.  Full  details  can  be 
found  on  the  ABC  website  (http://www.africanbirdclub.org)  or  obtained  from  the  Club  s 
address  below. 

Further  information... 

For  further  information  about  the  African  Bird  Club  Consewation  Programme,  please 
write  to  Rob  Lucking  at  African  Bird  Club,  c/o  BirdLife  International,  Wellbrook  Court. 
Girton  Road,  Cambridge  CB3  ONA,  UK,  or  by  e-mail  to  conseiTation@africanbirdclub.org 


ABC  Conservation  Fund 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 - 5 


Africa  Round-up 


General 

A new  initiative  in  phylogenetic 
nomenclature 

PhyloCode,  which  will  be  operational 
in  ‘a  few  years’  seeks  to  develop  a 
formal  set  of  rules  governing 
nomenclatural  decisions  in  phylogeny. 

It  permits  freedom  of  taxonomic 
opinion  with  regard  to  hypotheses 
concerning  relationships  and  is 
concerned  only  with  how  names  are 
applied  within  the  context  of  a given 
phylogenetic  hypothesis.  The  project  is 
profiled  at  http://www.ohiou.edu/ 
phylocode/  where  the  content  is 
highly  technical.  With  strong  popular 
interest  in  at  least  some  of  the  avail- 
able frameworks  for  conceptualising 
and  categorising  ‘species’  it  may  be  of 
use  to  readers  interested  or  intending 
to  publish  in  systematic  biology 
(including  taxonomy).  At  this  juncture 
the  project  is  concerned  with  working 
toward  international  consensus  in  the 
naming  only  of  clades  and  will 
perhaps  interest  those  with  a strong 
evolutionary  outlook.  However,  an 
invitation  to  interested  individuals  to 
participate  in  provisional  discussions 
toward  dealing  with  names  at  species 
level  in  the  future  is  also  included.  No 
doubt  the  project  organisers  will  seek 
to  develop  a format  unburdened  by 
the  inadequacies  of  the  traditional 
Linnean  system.  It  will  be  interesting 
to  see  how  the  problem  presented  by 
the  category  ‘subspecies’  is  resolved. 

Source:  Kees  Hazevoet  in  litt.  April 
2001  and  http://www.ohioii.edu/ 
phylocode/ 

New  White  Stork  migration  route 

Satellite  tracking,  which  is  increasingly 
being  used  to  monitor  the  migration 
routes  of  larger  non-passerines,  has 
recently  been  used  to  follow  White 
Stork  Ciconia  ciconia  movements  from 
Europe  to  Africa.  Of  75  individuals  that 
were  fitted  with  satellite  transmitters,  26 
moved  as  far  south  as  Sudan,  but  15  of 
these  did  not  make  their  final  destina- 
tion the  east  of  the  country,  which 
according  to  ringing  studies  is  a major 
wintering  area  for  the  species  in  Africa, 
but  rather  stayed  in  west  Sudan  or 
Chad,  and,  in  one  instance,  moved 


White  Storks  Ciconia  ciconia 
by  Mark  Andrews 

through  Cameroon  into  Nigeria. 

Clearly,  further  studies  concerning  its 
African  wintering  grounds  are  required. 

Source:  Ibis  143,  pp  450-455 

New  WIWO  reports 

Among  the  latest  batch  of  reports 
produced  by  the  Working  Group 
International  Waterbird  & Wetland 
Research  (WIWO)  are  two  that  will  be 
of  interest  to  readers  of  this  Bulletin. 

The  first,  in  French  and  English,  is 
entitled  Spoonbill  count  on  the  Banc 
d'Argiiin,  Mauritania,  January  2000 
and  costs  Dfl  20,  while  the  second 
concerns  a Waterbird  count  of  Zanzi- 
bar and  Pemba  Islands,  Tanzania, 
January  1998  and  costs  Dfl  30.  Full 
details  on  these  and  many  other 
reports,  and  how  to  order,  can  be 
found  on  the  internet  at  www.wiwo- 
international.org. 

Source:  Ekko  Smith  in  litt.  Jiuie  2001 

Separation  of  Fea’s  and  Zino’s 
Petrels  at  sea 

The  threatened  Fea’s  Pterodroma  feae 
and  Zino’s  Petrels  P.  madeira,  both 
formerly  treated  as  races  of  Soft- 
plumaged  Petrel  P.  mollis  (eg  in  Birds 
of  Africa),  are  notoriously  difficult  to 
separate  and  were,  until  recently, 
considered  indistinguishable  at  sea. 
Michael  Tove  checked  suspected  field 
characters  and  found  that  differences 
in  wing  shape  are  species-specific, 
Zino’s  wings  being  consistently 
shorter,  broader  and  blunter  tipped. 
Other  differences  include  a slightly 
smaller  size,  more  slender  body, 
slimmer  bill,  rather  paler  crown  and 


facial  markings,  and  more  indistinct 
Lippenving  pattern.  Birds  with  long, 
slender  pointed  wings,  as  well  as  a 
relati\  ely  long,  robust  bill  and  a well- 
defined  dark  M pattern  on  the 
Lipperparts  are  therefore  Fea  s Petrels. 
According  to  the  author,  wing-shape 
differences  alone  would  be  sufficient 
for  conclusive  identification  in  the 
majority  of  cases. 

Source:  Birding  World  14.  pp  283-289 

Identifying  Atlantic  Islands  Yellow- 
legged Gulls 

In  a recent  paper,  illustrated  with  30 
photographs,  Philippe  Dubois  dis- 
cusses the  identification  of  Atlantic 
Islands  Yellow-legged  Gull  Lams 
micahellis  atlantis  (Birds  of  Africa 
consideres  L.  micahellis  to  be  a race  of 
Herring  Gull  L.  argentatus).  This 
relati\  ely  poorly  known  form  is 
present  year-round  on  the  Azores,  but 
as  a pelagic  feeder  it  may  be  prone  to 
vagrancy.  Though  birds  breeding  on 
the  Canaries.  Madeira  and  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  of  Morocco  are  reputedly 
ver}’  similar,  they  may  actually  be 
intermediate  between  true  atlantis  and 
Mediterranean  Yellow-legged  Gull  L. 
m.  michahellis.  The  author  states  that 
true  atlantis  is  quite  distinct  in  some 
plumages  with,  for  example,  third- 
years  having  densely  streaked  heads 
during  post-breeding  moult  when  they 
appear  grey-hooded  at  a distance. 
Juveniles  and  first-winters,  however. 


Fea’s  Petrel  Pterodroma  (mollis)  feae 
by  Craig  Robson 


6 - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Africa  Round-up 


are  variable  and  can  have  a mix  of 
characters  similar  to  nominate  Yellow- 
legged, Lesser  Black-backed  L.fiiscus 
graellsii/intermediiis,  and  even  some 
forms  of  Herring  Gull  Z.  argeutatiis. 

Source:  Birding  World  14,  pp  293-304 

Distinguishing  races  of  Southern 
Grey  Shrike 

A well-illustrated  paper  by  Tom 
Conzemius,  offering  a detailed  presen- 
tation of  all  races  of  the  Lanins 
[excubitor]  superspecies  in  the  western 
Palearctic,  includes  six  of  the  nine 
subspecies  of  the  Southern  Grey  Shrike 
Lanins  meridionalis  occurring  in  the 
area  covered  by  the  ABC:  nominate 
meridionalis,  koenigi  (Canary  Islands), 
algeriensis,  elegans,  ancheri  and 
pallidirostris.  These  are  illustrated  with 
41  photographs  and  their  field  marks 
are  summarised  in  a table. 

Source:  Limicola  15,  pp  185-227 

Wood-Hoopoes  under  scrutiny 

Violet  Wood-Hoopoe  Phoenicnlns 
damarensis  has  traditionally  been 
regarded  as  two  taxa,  the  nominate  in 
south-west  Angola  and  north-west 
Namibia  (which  is  thought  to  be 
threatened)  and  grand  in  south 
Ethiopia  and  Kenya.  It  has  been  noted 
to  form  a superspecies  with  Green  P. 
purpureus  and  Black-billed  Wood- 
Hoopoes  P.  somaliensis,  and  indeed  all 
three  might  be  best  considered  as  one 
species.  The  results  of  a recent  DNA 
study  of  these  taxa  suggests  that 
damarensis  should  be  considered  a 
synonym  of  pwpureus  as  the  level  of 
differentiation  is  very  low. 

Source:  Ibis  143,  pp  572-579 

Piratical  drongos  use  mimicry 

While  studying  a group  of  meerkats  in 
the  Kgalagadi  Transfrontier  Park, 
southern  Africa,  Justin  O’Riain  discov- 
ered that  Fork-tailed  Drongos  Dicrurus 
adsimilis  closely  watched  the  progress 
of  the  foraging  mammals.  The  prevail- 
ing drought  forced  the  meerkats  to  dig 
in  the  sun-baked  sands  in  an  attempt  to 
unearth  prey  such  as  lizards  and 
beetles.  If  a meerkat  was  successful,  the 
nearby  drongo  would  utter  a very 
accurate  imitation  of  the  high-pitched 
meerkat  alarm  call,  invariably  sending 
the  mammals  scurrying  for  safety, 
thereby  abandoning  their  hard-won 
food  item.  The  drongos’  mimicry  thus 
permitted  them  to  obtain  high-quality 
food  that  was  previously  unavailable  to 
them. 

Source:  Africa — Birds  & Birding  6 (5), 
p 20 


Online  bird-sound  resource 

Over  the  past  c20  years,  Shaun  Peters 
(recbirds@yahoo.co.uk)  has  been 
collecting  bird-sound  recordings, 
mainly  from  published  LPs/CDs  and 
tapes.  Currently  his  collection  com- 
prises 6,900  species  (based  on 
Clements  5th  edition,  plus  updates).  He 
has  recently  established  a website  that 
lists  all  these  recordings.  There  are  two 
main  purposes  to  this:  firstly,  to  serve 
as  a resource  for  travelling  birders  and 
secondly  to  spur  additions  to  the 
collection.  The  URL  is 
www.birrding.freeserve.co.Lik  (please 
note  the  double  r in  birding).  The 
systematic  list  is  broken  down  into  four 
sections.  Recordings  are  a little  slow  in 
downloading  (2-3  minutes  each),  but 
once  downloaded  the  information  is 
then  readily  accessible. 

Source:  Shaun  Peters  in  litt. 

September  2001 

Southern  Africa  and  Indian 
Ocean  islands 

Rarity  news  from  Southern  Africa 
on  the  web 

Monthly  rarity  news  from  Southern 
Africa  can  be  found  on  the  following 
website  http://www.zestforbirds.co.za, 
while  photos  of  the  latest  rarities  can  be 
viewed  on  the  ‘recent  rarity  photos’ 
page. 

Zambia  Bird  Report  1999 

The  1999  Zambia  Bird  Report  is  now 
available  from  the  Zambian  Ornitho- 
logical Society  (ZOS).  For  further 
details,  please  contact  Pete  Leonard  or 
ZOS  on  zos@zamnet.zm.  Contents  of 
the  latest  issue  include:  birds  of  the 
Mafinga  Mountains,  bird  ringing  in 
Zambia,  review  of  Sooty  Falcon  Falco 
concolor  records  in  Zambia,  Kori 
Bustard  Ardeotis  kori  in  Zambia,  bird 
surveys  of  the  Barotse  floodplains,  the 
first  country  records  of  Spur-winged 
Lapwing  Vanellus  spinosus,  White- 
throated  Bee-eater  Merops  albicoUis 
and  (Northern)  Carmine  Bee-eater  M 
nubicus,  status  of  Great  Crested  Grebe 
Podiceps  cristatns,  Pacific  Golden 
Plovers  Pluvialis  (dominica)  fnlva  in 
Lochinvar  with  a review  of  Zambian 
records,  an  African  Emerald  Cuckoo 
Chrysococcyx  cnprens  in  a Common 
Bulbul  Pycnonotns  barbatns  nest,  and 
Baglafecht  Weavers  Plocens  baglafecbt 
near  Mbala. 

Source:  Pete  Leonard  in  litt.  to  African 
Birding  November  2001 


Damara  Tern  Sterna  halaenarum 
by  Mark  Andrews 

Damara  Terns  react  positively  to 
conservation  efforts 

Some  13,500  pairs  of  Damara  Tern 
Sterna  balaenarum,  the  vast  majority 
of  the  entire  population,  nest  in 
Namibia.  Nesting  is  unfortunately 
concentrated  on  open  gravel  plains  on 
the  central  coast — areas  where  humans 
also  congregate.  In  December-Januar)’, 
the  height  of  the  breeding  season,  nests 
are  particularly  at  risk  from  being 
trodden  upon,  driven  over  or  disturbed 
by  tourists,  fishermen  and  quad-bikers. 
The  densest  colony  lies  just  south  of 
Swakopmund  and  supports  120  pairs. 

In  1995,  it  was  found  that  870  vehicles 
crossed  this  colony  in  one  month, 
resulting  in  low  breeding  success.  Rod 
Braby  of  the  Namibian  Ministry’  of 
Environment  and  Tourism,  and  the 
Wildlife  Society,  therefore  decided  to 
organise  a roadside  barrier  to  prevent 
cars  careering  across  the  colony  to  the 
beach  and  placed  posters  and  informa- 
tion boards  at  new  parking  areas, 
informing  visitors  of  the  importance  of 
this  patch  of  sand  to  terns.  Quad-bikers 
were  talked  to  and  alternative  dune 
areas  were  suggested  for  them  to  use. 

As  a result,  no  vehicles  passed  in  the 
first  month  of  2001  and  the  terns' 
hatching  success  increased  from  a mere 
56%  to  80%.  Chick  hatching  doubled 
from  just  OL  er  six  to  12  chicks  per  knr 
per  month.  Reduced  dismrbance  thus 
resulted  in  doubled  producth  in-  of  the 
colony. 

Source:  Africa — Birds  N Birding  6 i Sr 

Pl~ 

Waterbird  counts  in  Botswana 

Counts  of  waterbirds  for  the  .African 
Waterbird  Census  of  Wetlands  Interna- 
tional began  in  Botswana  in  1901.  Da\  e 
Bishop  organised  the  counts  for  six 
years  until  199“  when  Stephanie  Tyler 
took  o\  er  as  the  Wetlands  Intema- 


Africa  Round-up 


Bull  ABC  Vo!  9 No  1-7 


tional  organiser.  A special  94-page 
supplement  of  Babbler,  published  by 
BirdLife  Botswana,  entitled  A review  of 
waterbird  counts  in  Botswana,  1991- 
2000  summarises  information  gathered 
from  over  60  sites  throughout  the 
country.  There  is  a bias  to  the  south- 
east where  28  sites,  small  and  large 
dams  and  sewage  ponds,  were  regu- 
larly counted  over  the  ten  years,  but 
several  others,  notably  Shashe  Dam,  in 
eastern  Botswana  were  also  well 
covered.  Important  but  less  regular 
counts  came  from  parts  of 
Makgadikgadi  Pans,  Chobe  River  and 
Okavango  Delta.  Quantitative  data  are 
presented  for  each  species,  with  sites  of 
particular  importance  being  identified. 
For  every  site  there  is  a brief  descrip- 
tion and  a table  depicting  mean  and 
maximum  counts  for  both  wet  and  dry 
seasons.  Those  sites  meeting  Ramsar 
criteria  are  highlighted  and  include 
Makgadikgadi  Pans,  with  their  impor- 
tant breeding  populations  of  Lesser 
Phoeniconaias  minor  and  Greater 
Flamingos  Phoenicopteriis  ruber,  Great 
White  Pelican  Pelecanus  onocrotaliis. 
Chestnut-banded  Plover  Charadriiis 
pallidus  and  migrant  waders,  notably 
Eurasian  Avocet  Recuruirostra  avosetta, 
and  the  Chobe/Linyanti  River  and 
floodplain.  Recommendations  are  made 
for  further  work.  Already  one  of  these 
has  been  acted  upon,  with  BirdLife 
Botswana’s  Crane  Group  undertaking 
an  aerial  survey  of  Wattled  Crane 
Bugeranus  cariinculatus  in  the 
Okavango  Delta  in  August  2001. 
Contributions  by  all  volunteer  counters 
are  noted  and  the  sponsors  of  the 
report,  the  Programme  of  International 
Nature  Management  (PIN)  of  the 
Ministry  of  Agriculture,  Nature  Manage- 
ment and  Fisheries  (LNV)  and  the 
Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs/Develop- 
ment Co-operation  (NEDA)  of  The 
Netherlands,  through  Wetlands 
International,  are  gratefully  acknowl- 
edged. Copes  of  the  supplement  are 
available  from  Stephanie  Tyler  (Yew 
Tree  Cottage,  Lone  Lane,  Penallt, 
Monmouthshire  NP25  4AJ,  UK  or  e-mail 
steph_tyler2001@hotmail.com)  for 
UKT5.00,  or  from  BirdLife  Botswana, 
P/Bag  00300,  Gaborone  or  e-mail 
iucn@iucnbot.bw  (marked  EAO 
BirdLife)  for  30  pulas  (costs  to  cover 
post  and  packing). 

Source:  Stephanie  Tyler  in  litt. 

November  2001 


Cory’s  Shearwater  of  the  race 
borealis  in  South  Africa 

An  exhausted  Cory’s  Shearwater 
Calonectris  diomedea  of  the  race 
borealis  was  picked  up  on  the  beach  at 
Jeffrey’s  Bay,  Eastern  Cape,  South 
Africa,  on  12  January  2000  and  died  a 
few  hours  later.  It  had  been  ringed  as  a 
nestling  on  Madeira,  8,322  km  from  the 
recovery  site,  on  13  October  1984.  The 
race  borealis,  which  breeds  on  the 
Atlantic  Islands,  disperses  mainly  to  the 
western  Atlantic  and  is  therefore  rare  in 
southern  African  waters,  whereas  the 
nominate  race  (sometimes  considered  a 
separate  species,  Scopoli's  Shearwater), 
which  breeds  in  the  Mediterranean,  is  a 
common  visitor.  Only  two  specimens  of 
Coiy’s  Sheaixvater  have  previously 
been  recovered  in  southern  Africa,  one 
of  which  consisted  of  C.  d.  borealis. 

Source:  Africa— Birds  & Birding  6 (2). 

p22 

Helmeted  Guineafowl  decline  in 
KwaZulu-Natal 

A four-year  project  to  study  the  causes 
of  recent  marked  declines  in  Helmeted 
Guineafowl  Niimida  meleagris  in 
southern  KwaZulu-Natal,  South  Africa, 
has  been  conducted  by  a team  of 
gamebird  biologists  led  by  Professor 
Tim  Crowe  of  the  Percy  EitzPatrick 
Institute,  University  of  Cape  Town.  It 
was  found  that  habitat  fragmentation 
and  destruction  as  a result  of  massi\'e 
increases  in  crop  agriculture  from  the 
1970s  through  to  the  late  1980s  was  the 
main  cause  of  the  population  crash. 

The  indirect  effects  of  pesticides 
worsened  the  situation  by  reducing  the 
availability  of  food  resources  and  edge 
habitats.  The  study  concluded  that 
resuscitating  guineafowl  populations  to 
viable  levels  requires  farmers  to  leave 
patches  of  land  to  lie  fallow,  in  order  to 
recreate  weedy  areas  with  adjacent 
open  spaces,  the  species’  preferred 
habitat. 

Source:  Africa — Birds  & Birding  6 (2), 
pp  48-52 

Red-billed  Leiothrix:  a potential 
threat  to  Reunion’s  indigenous 
plants 

The  recently  established  Red-billed 
Leiothrix  (Pekin  Robin)  Leiothrix  lutea, 
introduced  on  Reunion  from  the 
Oriental  region,  has  been  proven  to  be 
a potential  hazard  for  indigenous 
plants  on  the  island.  By  the  positive 
effect  of  ingestion  on  germination  it 
favours  dispersion  of  three  invasive 
alien  plants  that  produce  fruits  in 


winter.  It  therefore  appears  desirable 
to  control  the  species'  distribution  or 
even  to  eradicate  it  from  Reunion. 

Source:  Alauda  69.  pp  381-585 

Seychelles  Bird  Records 
Committee  news 

The  recently  launched  website  of 
Seychelles  Bird  Records  Committee 
(SBRC)  contains  a checklist  of  all  birds 
recorded  in  the  archipelago,  as  well  as 
an  historical  section,  which  pro\  ides 
details  of  all  accepted  first  records  of 
vagrants,  a list  of  the  most  recent 
accepted  records  and  record  sheets, 
which  should  be  completed  by  an\’ 
obser\  ers  encountering  a description 
species’.  The  site  is  located  at  http: 
www.stokecoll.ac.uk  sbrc  index.htm. 
Visitors  to  the  islands  are  recom- 
mended to  take  a look  at  the  site  prior 
to  their  trip. 

Source:  Bird\\  atch  38.  p 23 

SAFRING  News  to  change  its  name 
and  approach? 

The  latest  i.ssue  contains,  among  the 
usual  array  of  feature  articles,  a 
proposal  to  change  the  journal’s  name 
to  AFKING  News  and  become  continent 
wide  in  its  scope  and  content.  A host  of 
interesting  ringing  recoveries  is  also 
presented,  including  many  longest 
elapsed-time  data,  which  will  be  of 
significant  interest  to  those  studying 
longevity  in  birds  and  similar  issues. 
Source:  SAERING  News  29,  pp  59-99 

Seychelles  White-eye  recovery 
continues 

The  globally  threatened  Seychelles 
White-eye  Zosterops  modestus,  which  is 
confined  to  Conception  and  Mahe, 
appears  to  be  doing  reasonably  well  on 
the  former  where  it  was  only  discov- 
ered in  1997.  Recent  suiweys,  backed 
by  a colour-ringing  programme  have 
located  280  birds  and  gathered  a 
significant  amount  of  information 
concerning  its  natural  history,  espe- 
cially breeding  biology.  Most 
remarkably  it  appears  to  adopt  a 
cooperative  breeding  strategy.  The  next 
stages  of  the  Seychelles  White-eye 
Recovery  Programme  will  be  the 
formulation  of  a Recovery  Action  Plan 
for  the  species,  plans  to  translocate 
birds  to  suitable  predator-free  islands 
and  the  implementation  of  manage- 
ment recommendations  for  Conception 
and  Mahe. 

Source:  World  Birdwatch  23  (2),  p 7 


8 - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Africa  Round-up 


East  Africa 

Ethiopian  Bird  Club  founded 

A new  organisation,  the  Ethiopian  Bird 
Club  (EBC),  held  its  first  meeting  in 
March  2001  in  Addis  Ababa.  The 
founder  members  comprise  ornitholo- 
gists, tour  guides  specializing  in 
birdwatching,  and  members  of  the 
Ethiopian  Wildlife  and  Natural  History 
Society  and  Ethiopian  Wildlife  Organi- 
zation. The  new  club’s  logo  is  a Prince 
Ruspoli’s  Turaco  Tauraco  ruspolii. 
Membership  is  open  to  all  for  a fee  of 
cUS$12  to  international  members. 
Institutional  membership  costs 
cUS$180.  A bi-annual  newsletter  in 
Amharic  and  English  is  planned,  as  is  a 
website.  To  contact  the  new  organisa- 
tion e-mail  ethiopiabirds@excite.com  or 
write  to:  EBC,  P.O.  Box  2560  Addis 
Ababa,  Ethiopia.  If  you  are  visiting 
Ethiopia  on  a bird  trip  the  club  would 
be  pleased  to  hear  from  you  and  may 
able  to  assist  your  visit. 

Source:  Gebregeorgis  Yohannes, 
Founder  Chairman  in  litt.  July  2001 

Mass  dying  of  flamingos  at  Lakes 
Nakuru  and  Bogoria,  Kenya 

A year  or  so  ago  it  was  noted  that  the 
flamingos  at  Lake  Nakuru  were  dying 
in  vast  numbers.  This  was  ascribed  to 
the  influx  into  the  lake  of  effluent  from 
nearby  industries  or  agriculture. 
However,  on  a recent  visit  to  Lake 
Bogoria,  Daryl  Balfour  found  that  the 
flamingos  there  were  also  dying  there 
in  hundreds.  The  cause  remains  a 
mystery.  Unlike  Lake  Nakuru,  Lake 
Bogoria  is  remote  and  far  from  any 
industrial  developments,  so  toxic  waste 
is  unlikely  to  be  involved.  And  as  the 
rains  have  been  excellent,  the  water  of 
the  lake  has  risen  to  normal,  pre- 
drought levels.  Apparently  no  studies 
have  yet  been  undertaken  to  determine 
the  cause  of  this  mass  dying. 

Source:  Africa — Birds  & Birding  6 (5), 
p 16 

West  Africa 

Update  on  Bijol  Islands 
Conservation  Project 

As  reported  in  Bull.  ABC  8:  39-43,  Bijol 
Islands  in  The  Gambia  have  received 
protection  in  the  form  of  a regular  boat 
patrol.  With  funds  supplied  by  the 
British  High  Commission  to  The 
Gambia  and  Wetlands  International  in 
Dakar,  the  Department  of  Parks  and 
Wildlife  Management  has  obtained  a 
7 m fibreglass  boat  and  outboard 


motor,  plus  running  costs  for  the  first 
year.  The  boat  is  crewed  by  staff 
members  of  Tanji  River  (Karinti)  Bird 
Reserve,  who  have  all  been  trained  in 
boat  handling,  and  is  already  having  a 
profound  affect  on  the  conservation  of 
this  unique  site  in  The  Gambia.  In  mid- 
April  2001,  the  boat  crew  apprehended 
13  Senegalese  fishermen  illegally 
harvesting  eggs  of  Grey-headed  Gull 
Larus  cirrocephalus.  The  haul  of  310 
eggs  would  probably  have  been  sold  as 
food,  though  they  were  very  close  to 
hatching  and  would  not  have  been 
suitable  for  eating.  The  men  have  been 
charged  and  will  appear  in  court. 
Hopefully  they  will  be  fined  the  highest 
amount  permitted  (the  equivalent  of 
cUK£250  each)  and/or  will  serve  up  to 
two  years  in  prison.  They  may  also 
have  their  boat  confiscated.  The 
subsequent  publicity  should  hopefully 
deter  others  from  raiding  the  islands,  as 
will  the  continuing  presence  of  the 
patrol  boat,  which  is  also  used  for 
regular  monitoring  of  the  islands’  bird 
population  and  has  revealed  that  the 
size  of  the  Royal  Tern  Sterna  maxima 
colony  increased  by  over  1,000  pairs  to 
8,500  pairs  in  2001. 

Source:  Linda  Barnett  and  Craig  Emms 
in  litt.  July  2001 

Common  Coot  breeding  in  Senegal 

The  first  breeding  of  Common  Coot 
Fulica  atra  in  West  Africa  was  re- 
corded on  II  January  2001,  when  a pair 
with  two  chicks  of  cl 5 days  old  was 
observed  in  Djoudj  National  Park.  A 
second  pair  had  a chick  of  cIO  days 
old.  All  were  seen  again  on  15  January. 
The  nearest  previously  known  breed- 
ing sites  are  in  Morocco  and  Algeria. 
The  species  is  a regular  Palearctic 
winter  visitor  to  the  Senegal  delta,  with 
first  arrivals  in  September.  Maximum 
numbers  were  recorded  in  1987-88, 
when  450  were  present. 

Source:  Alauda  69,  p 328 

Seabirds  in  the  Cape  Verdes 

Recent  reportage  in  World  Birdwatch 
highlights  the  perilous  state  of  the 
islands’  seabirds.  Human  pressure, 
including  direct  harvesting  of  several 
species,  is  much  to  blame  for  the 
problems,  which  appear  to  have 
reached  crisis  proportions.  Immediate 
and  fast-working  conservation  action  is 
clearly  needed  to  preserv'e  the  \^eiy  rich 
seabird  populations  for  which  the  Cape 
Verdes  are  responsible. 

Source:  World  Birdwatch  23  (2). 

pp  24-20 


Bald  Ibis  Geronticus  eremita 
by  Mark  Andrews 

North  Africa 

New  threat  to  the  Bald  Ibis... 

In  July  2001,  the  Groupe 
D’Ornithologie  du  Maroc  (GOMACj 
learnt  of  a proposal  to  constmct  a Club 
Mediterranean  on  a 260  ha  site  at  Tifnit, 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  nesting 
and  feeding  area  of  the  last  colony  of 
Bald  Ibis  Gefvnticus  eremita,  in  the 
Souss-Massa  National  Park.  GOMAC 
has  been  collaborating  since  1989  in 
efforts  by  Moroccan  and  foreign 
scientists  to  safeguard  this  prestigious 
species.  In  recent  years,  work  under- 
taken by  the  administration  of  the 
Souss-Massa  National  Park  under  the 
auspices  of  BirdLife  International  has 
produced  encouraging  results,  with 
numbers  of  Bald  Ibis  increasing  for  the 
first  time  since  their  catastrophic 
decline.  While  GOMAC  and  other 
conservation  organisations  support  the 
development  of  tourism  in  Morocco, 
they  do  not  wish  to  see  the  loss  of  one 
of  the  most  precious  jewels  of  the 
Moroccan  natural  heritage.  GO.^L\C.  in 
strongly  opposing  construction  of  the 
Club  on  the  proposed  site,  particularly 
given  the  existence  of  alternati\  e sites 
close  to  the  one  proposed,  v,  hich 
would  have  less  serious  consequences 
for  the  Bald  Ibis  feeding  grounds, 
mobilised  a petition  against  the 
development,  of  which  we  await  the 
result.  Ecological  tourism  is  developing 
rapidly  in  Morocco  and  among  foreign 
visitors  to  the  countiy  are  a \ er\'  high 
number  of  ornithologists  who  come 
specifically  to  see  the  Bald  Ibis.  Its 
disappearance  would  therefore  bring 
an  ine\'itable  loss  to  the  .Moroccan 
tourist  economy.  To  tr)'  to  reintroduce 
the  species  from  capti\  e-bred  birds, 
should  it  become  extinct  in  the  wild, 
would  be  extremely  costly. 

Source:  GOMAC  petition.  July  20  I 


Africa  Round-up 


Bull  ABC  Vot  9 No  1 -9 


...and  new  Bald  Ibis  newsletter 

We  recently  received  a copy  of  the 
inaugural  newsletter  of  the  Interna- 
tional Advisory  Group  for  Northern 
Bald  Ibis  Geronticus  eremita.  The 
electronic  pamphlet  seeks  to  provide  a 
regular  update  on  current  projects 
involving  wild  and  captive  Bald  Ibis, 
and  the  first  issue  includes  articles 
dealing  with  the  conservation  of  the 
wild  population  in  south-west  Mo- 
rocco, a behaviour  and  release 
methodology  project  (based  in  Austria), 
release  trials  in  Israel,  the  planned 
release  programme  in  Morocco,  the 
status  of  the  semi-wild  population  at 
Birecik,  in  Turkey,  and  recent  genetic 
studies.  There  is  also  a review  of  recent 
publications  on  the  species. 

Source:  Chris  Bowden  in  litt. 

October  2001 

Glaucous-winged  Gull  in  mainland 
Africa 

Details  of  the  first  Glaucous-winged 
Gull  Larus  glaucescens  for  Morocco, 
discovered  on  the  beach  near  Essaouira 
on  31  January  1995,  and  accepted  by 
the  Moroccan  rarities  committee  (see 
Bull  ABC  7:  18-28),  have  now  been 
published.  This  apparently  constitutes 
the  second  record  for  the  ABC  region, 
the  first  being  from  El  Hierro,  Canary 
Islands,  on  7-10  Eebruary  1992.  This 
species,  which  breeds  and  winters 
around  the  north  Pacific,  is  a very 
unexpected  vagrant  to  the  African 
shores  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

Source:  Dutch  Birding  23,  pp  271-274 

Conservation  status  of  Moroccan 
wetlands 

Previous  research  in  1978  (see  Biol. 
Conserv.  24:  161-182)  detailed  the 
nature  of  24  major  Moroccan  wetlands 
visited,  with  a total  area  of  4,529  ha. 
These  were  recently  revisited:  25%  of 
the  wetland  area  had  been  destroyed 


Glaucous-winged  Gull  Larus 
glaucescens  by  Mark  Andrews 


by  1999.  Lo.ss  was  concentrated  in 
wetland  types  of  low  salinity,  with  a 
98%  lo.ss  of  seasonal  me.sohaline  sites, 
41%  kxss  of  mountain  lakes  and  33% 
loss  of  seasonal  Phragmites,  Sciipiis 
lacustris  marshes.  Sur\  iving  mountain 
lakes  showed  increased  conductivities. 
sLigge.sting  reduced  inflow.  No  loss  in 
area  of  other  wetland  types  was 
recorded,  though  degradation  has 
occurred  at  all  sites  due  to  hydrological 
impacts,  overgrazing  or  excessive  reed- 
cutting, sedimentation,  urban 
development,  pollution,  introduction  of 
exotic  fish  and  other  cau.ses.  .Similar 
threats  face  another  23  major  .Moroccan 
wetlands  reviewed  in  the  recent  study, 
also  to  be  published  in  Biol.  Co)iserr. 

Of  the  47  wetlands  studied,  only  10 
have  any  protection  status.  The 
importance  of  these  wetlands  for 
waterbirds  and  aquatic  submerged  or 
floating  plants  was  asse.ssed.  The 
results  demonstrate  that  the  number  of 
plant  species  recorded  is  strongly 
correlated  to  the  number  of  threatened 
waterbird  species  (but  not  the  total 
number  of  waterbird  species).  Natural 
freshwater  wetlands  most  affected  by 
wetland  loss  hold  more  species  of 
aquatic  plants  and  in\  ertebrates,  and 
are  of  great  value  for  threatened 
waterbirds  such  as  Marbled  Teal 
Marinaronetta  aiigustirostris.  Ferrugi- 
nous Duck  Aythya  nyroca.  Ruddy 
Shelduck  Tadorna  ferrugi)iea  and 
especially  Crested  Coot  Fiilica  cristata. 
Most  sur\4ving  natural  fresh  wetlands 
are  unprotected,  and  measures  to 
consen'e  them  are  urgently  required. 
Human-made  wetlands  such  as 
reseiToirs  have  some  \ alue  for  threat- 
ened waterbirds  (especially  Ruddy 
Shelduck  and  Marbled  Teal),  but  hold 
much  lower  densities  of  waterbirds 
than  natural  wetlands,  and  support 
fewer  plant  species.  Thus,  they  do  not 
compensate  for  the  continuing  loss  of 
natural  wetlands. 

Source:  Andy  Green  in  litt.  to 
MEBirdNet,  June  2001 

Saving  Zino’s  Petrel 

Zino’s  Petrel  Pterodroma  ( mollis) 
madeira,  listed  as  Critical  (BirdLife 
International  2000)  and  confined  to  the 
high  central  massif  of  Madeira,  had  an 
estimated  breeding  population  of  only 
six  pairs  in  1986.  The  same  year,  the 
Freira  Conservation  Project  was 
founded  with  the  aim  of  increasing  this 
population  by  controlling  rats  and 
human  interference,  the  principal 
perceived  threats  to  the  species.  This 
control  was  extended  to  cats  following 


.\tlas  Flycatcher  Ficedula  bypoleuca 
speculigera  by  .Mark  .\ndrews 

1991.  w hen  one  or  more  cats  managed 
to  access  one  of  the  breeding  ledges 
and  kill  ten  adults.  Due  to  the  effort.s 
of  the  project,  the  small  colony  is 
making  a slow . but  steady  reco\en 
and  numbered  29  breeding  pairs,  with 
16  chicks  Hedged,  in  2000.  Ilowe\er. 
the  situation  is  still  critical  and  the 
current  population  monitoring  and 
predator  control  should  continue,  and 
steps  should  be  taken  to  purcha.se  the 
breeding  area,  which  is  still  pri\ately 
ow  ned.  limiting  the  interxention  of 
.Madeiran  authorities. 

Source:  Oryx  3S.  pp  128-136 

The  Atlas  Flycatcher 

Recent  mtDN.A-sequence  analysis  of 
the  black-and-white  Ficedula  Ilycatch- 
ers  inhabiting  the  Western  Palearctic 
has  produced  one  \ er\'  surprising 
result:  the  identification  of  a potential 
new  species,  provisionally  termed  the 
Atlas  Flycatcher.  Ficedula  bypoleuca 
speculigera,  which  is  endemic  as  a 
breeder  to  the  Atlas  Mountains,  and 
w’as  heretofore  regarded  as  a subspe- 
cies of  Pied  Flycatcher  F.  bypoleuca, 
possesses  a DNA  profile  as  distinct 
from  other  traditional  species  as  that 
between  Pied  and  Collared  Flycatchers 
F.  albicollis.  Its  plumage  characteristics 
are  rather  similar  to  Collared  Fly- 
catcher, but  the  white  wing  patch  is 
smaller  than  the  latter,  being  intermedi- 
ate between  it  and  Pied  Flycatcher  and 
speculigera  lacks  the  striking  wiaite 
collar  of  albicollis.  Further  studies  will 
doubtless  follow,  but  provisionally  this 
dramatic  discovery  appears  well 
founded. 

Source:  Ibis  143,  pp  494-497 


10-BullABCVol9No  1 


Africa  Round-up 


Requests  for  Information 


Colour-ringed  birds  in  Tanzania 

Tom  Romdal  is  conducting  a research 
project  in  the  Udzungwa  Mountains 
National  Park,  in  central  Tanzania, 
under  TANAPA/TAWIRI  authority, 
which  involves  colour-ringing  forest 
birds.  Thus  far  464  birds  have  been 
colour  ringed,  but  many  more  will 
hopefully  be  ringed  in  2001-2002. 
Anyone  observing  a colour-ringed 
bird  in  this  area  should  contact  Tom, 
as  recorded  movements  of  birds 
could  be  of  great  significance  to  the 
study.  Please  mention  the  colour  and 
position  of  the  rings,  as  well  as  the 
altitude  of  observation.  Birds  are 
being  ringed  at  Mwanihana  forest, 
near  the  trail  leading  from  Sonjo 


village  towards  Mwanihana  Peak.  This 
is  not  the  site  of  the  Sanje  Waterfalls, 
which  are  above  Sanje  village,  and 
where  birds  were  ringed  15  years  ago. 
The  Mwanihana  trail  is  well  kept  and 
can  be  recommended  to  birders 
interested  in  the  local  specialities.  By 
camping  for  one  night  along  the  trail  it 
should  be  possible  to  record  Moreau’s 
Sunbird  Cinnyris  moreaui,  Green- 
throated  Greenbul  Andropadus 
chlorigula  (treated  within  Mountain 
Greenbul  A.  tephrolaemus  by  BoA), 
Rufous-winged  Sunbird  Cinnyris 
riifipennis,  Swynnerton’s  Robin 
Swynnertonia  suynnertoni  and 
Dapple-throated  Mountain-Robin 
Arcanator  orostriithus.  You  are 


welcome  to  contact  Tom  in  advance 
of  your  visit  by  e-mail  at 
TSRomdal@zmuc.ku.dk. 

Information  on  Banco  National 
Park  sought 

Olivier  Lachenaud,  ABC  representa- 
tive in  Cote  d’Ivoire,  is  working  on  a 
paper  on  the  birds  of  Banco  National 
Park  near  Abidjan  and  neighbouring 
Anguededou  forest.  Any  informa- 
tion— on  birds,  but  also  mammals 
and  flora — would  be  welcome.  Please 
send  any  data  to  Olivier  Lachenaud, 
Delegation  du  CIRAD,  01  BP  6483, 
Abidjan  01,  Cote  d’Ivoire  or  by  e-mail 
to  lachenaud@cirad.fr.  'fj 


Errata  to  Bull.  ABCS  (2) 


In  the  paper  entitled  The  Lake  Chad 
Bird  Migration  Project:  Malamfatori 
revisited,  the  following  should  be 
noted.  Fig  2 (p.  122)  should  be 
credited  to  NASA  (not  Ulf  Ottosson), 


Fig  6 should  be  credited  to  Rolf 
Gustaffsson  (not  Ulf  Ottosson),  Fig  7 
should  be  credited  to  William  Velmala 
(not  Lllf  Ottosson)  and  in  the  Acknowl- 
edgements, the  Institute  for  Avian 


Research,  ‘Vogelwarte  Helgoland’ 
Wilhelmshaven  (Germany)  should 
have  been  credited  for  their  financial 
support  of  the  project. 


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Bull  ABC  Vo!  9 No  1-11 


Reading  the  sand:  identifying  bird  tracks  in 
Madagascar’s  spiny  forest 

Joe  Tobias  and  Nat  Seddon 


La  foret  epineuse  du  sud-ouest  malgache  est  situee  sur  iin  sol  sablonneux  siir  Icquel  les  espcces 
terrestres  laissent  des  traces  identifiables.  Les  sept  especes  terrestres  prindpales  de  cetie  foret. 
comprenant  les  deux  endemiques  (le  Brachypterolle  a longue  queue  Umteloniischimaem  et  le  Mesite 
monias  Monies  benschi),  peuvent  etre  recensees  (et  localisees)  facilement  en  suivant  ces  traces. 
L’article  donne  des  precisions  sur  I’identification  de  ces  traces. 


Introduction 

The  dry  forest  of  south-west  Madagascar  is  a 
strange  land  of  stunted  baobabs  Adansonia, 
spinescent  cactus-like  plants  Didierea  and  Alluaiidia 
and  succulent  flora  (Aloe  and  Euphorbia).  This  area, 
commonly  known  as  the  spiny  forest,  is  a conserva- 
tion priority  due  to  high  rates  of  endemism  and  rapid 
forest  lossL  To  ornithologists,  the  area  between  the 
Fiherenana  and  Mangoky  rivers  is  perhaps  the  most 
interesting,  as  it  is  home  to  two  of  Madagascar’s  most 
distinctive  and  specialised  birds:  Long-tailed  Ground- 
Roller  Uratelornis  chimaera  and  Subdesert  Mesite 
Monias  benschi,  both  members  of  monotypic  genera 
within  endemic  families. 

One  important  feature  of  the  spiny  forest  is  that  it 
stands  on  a substrate  of  sand.  Every  terrestrial  forest 
creature  thus  leaves  evidence  of  its  movements  in  the 
form  of  footprints  or  body  prints,  from  the  clumsy 
clambering  of  chameleons,  to  the  slithers  of  snakes 
and  limbless  skinks  and  tiptoeing  of  tenrecs.  It  is, 
unsurprisingly,  much  easier  to  find  the  tracks  of 
terrestrial  birds  than  the  species  themselves,  and 
tracks  provide  information  which  can  lead  to  sightings 
of  their  maker.  Most  pertinently,  it  is  possible  to 
determine  roughly  how  recently  tracks  were  made 
(within  an  hour  they  begin  to  lose  their  definition), 
and  in  which  direction  the  bird  went.  Following  fresh, 
correctly  identified  tracks  regularly  leads  to  sightings 
of  mesites  or  ground-rollers,  or  the  discovery  of  a 
nest,  as  well  as  many  scratches  from  thorn-bushes. 

Birders  visiting  the  area  near  the  villages  of  Ifaty 
and  Mangily  have  for  many  years  been  taken  to  see 
the  two  sought-after  endemics  by  local  guides.  After 
working  with  them,  and  three  seasons  of  field  work 
targeting  the  behavioural  ecology  of  mesites  and 
ground-rollers,  we  have  become  familiar  with  the 
tracks  of  a multitude  of  birds,  reptiles  and  mammals. 
This  knowledge  proved  immensely  useful  when 
searching  for  our  study  species,  and  vital  during  rapid 
surveys  of  remote  regions  when  censusing  their  popu- 
lation and  determining  their  distribution^  As  this 


information  might  therefore  pro\'e  useful  to  field 
workers  or  visiting  birders  in  the  future,  we  offer  brief 
details  of  track  identification  for  the  seven  essentially 
terrestrial  bird  species  in  the  spiny  forest. 

For  the  purposes  of  this  article,  the  distance  across 
the  footprint  at  its  broadest  point  is  termed  ’width', 
this  being  the  distance  between  the  tips  of  the  inner 
and  outer  fore  toes  in  all  relexant  species,  except 
couas.  In  couas,  measurements  for  the  'instep'  (di.s- 
tance  between  tips  of  the  two  toes  ckxse.st  to  the 
opposite  foot)  and  ‘outstep’  (distance  between  the 
two  toes  furthest  from  the  opposite  foot)  are  given.  It 
should  be  noted  that  footprints  degrade  with  age  and 
become  harder  to  measure,  and  also  that  they  appear 
larger  and  deeper  in  soft  diy  sand  than  in  firm  damp 
sand. 

Subdesert  Mesite  benschi 

A group-living  bird,  thus  one  of  the  most  distinctix'e 
features  of  mesite  tracks  is  that  they  usually  occur  in 
sets  of  2-8  in  close  proximity,  often  with  subsets  of  2- 
4 individuals  following  each  other  very  closely.  The 
footprint  is  a symmetrical  trident  shape,  with  all  toes 
similar  in  length  and  the  side  toes  forming  c45°  angles 
to  the  central  toe.  The  gap  between  prints  (usually 
60-70  mm)  is  often  distinctly  larger  than  between  the 
smaller  hoopoe  prints,  or  the  veiy  similar  turtle-dove 
prints  (see  below),  but  note  that  stride  length  varies 
depending  on  circumstance.  The  length  of  the  foot- 
print is  c55-65  mm  and  the  width  is  c34-44  mm.  The 
hind  toe  tends  to  drag  sometimes,  leaving  an  unusu- 
ally elongated  impression.  Mesite  prints  are  usually 
made  in  straighter  lines  than  dove  prints,  the  latter 
often  proceeding  in  tight  curves,  often  with  the  cen- 
tral fore  toe  pointing  into  the  direction  of  the  curve 
making  the  print  asymmetrical  (see  below). 

Madagascar  Buttonquail  Turnix  nigricoUis 
This  species’  feet,  in  common  with  all  other  members 
of  its  family,  are  tiny  and  lack  a hind  toe,  making  the 
identification  of  buttonquail  tracks  in  the  area  straight- 


72  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Identifying  bird  tracks  in  Madagascar’s  spiny  forest:  Tobias  & Seddon 


Long-tailed  Ground-Roller  Urateloniis  chimaera 


Subdesert  Mesite  Monias  beuschi 


Running  Coua  Coiia  cursor 
All  photos  by  Joe  Tobias 


Green-capped  Coua  Coua  O'uficeps)  oliraceiceps 


Identifying  bird  tracks  in  Madagascar's  spiny  forest:  Tobias  & Seddon 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -13 


forward.  The  central  toe  is  considerably  longer  (27- 
30  mm)  than  the  outer  toes  (18-23  mm)  and  are 
arranged  to  form  a neat  shaft-less  triplet,  27-30  mm 
across. 

Madagascar  Turtle-Dove  Streptopelia  picturata 
This  species  leaves  tracks  remarkably  similar  to  those 
of  Subdesert  Mesite  (usually  55-68  mm  long  and  40- 
45  mm  wide)  and  the  two  are  easily  confused. 


Helpfully,  dove  tracks  are  normally  encountered  as 
lone  individuals  or  pairs  (though  sometimes  3-1 
loosely  associated  doves  forage  together,  and  lone 
mesites  are  not  particularly  rare);  in  shape  they  ap- 
pear slightly  stubbier  than  mesite  tracks  and  are  more 
often  asymmetrical,  the  central  fore  toe  being  more 
mobile.  A few  further  clues  indicate  that  tracks  are 
made  by  doves,  not  mesites.  Firstly,  they  tend  to  be  in 
fairly  open  areas,  the  doves  often  preferring  to  follow 


Figure  1.  Diagrams  of  bird  tracks  in  the  spiny  forest  (82%  life  size);  top  row  from  left  to  right:  Subdesert  Mesite  Monias  benschi, 
Madagascar  Turtle  Dove  Streptopelia  picturata,  Madagascar  Hoopoe  Upupa  marginata  and  Long-tailed  Ground-Roller  Uratelornis 
chimaera-,  bottom  row  from  left  to  right:  Running  Coua  Coua  cursor,  Green-capped  Coua  Coua  iruficeps)  olivaceiceps  and 
Madagascar  Buttonquail  Turnix  nigricollis.  The  two  most  similar  are  the  mesite  and  dove,  and  these  are  most  accurately  separated 
by  referring  to  their  pattern  of  placement  in  the  sand. 


14 -Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Identifying  bird  tracks  in  Madagascar's  spiny  forest:  Tobias  & Seddon 


roads  or  paths  rather  than  cross  them;  mesites  tend  to 
take  the  shortest  routes  between  patches  of  cover. 
Secondly,  doves  regularly  take  to  flight,  the  sudden 
termination  of  tracks  being  a useful  pointer  differen- 
tiating their  tracks  from  those  of  mesites,  which  are 
very  rarely  interrupted  by  flight  (unless  you  hire  a 
guide  to  achieve  this  result).  Thirdly,  the  gap  between 
prints  is  shorter,  usually  10-30  mm.  Lastly,  the  direc- 
tion of  walking  is  much  more  irregular  in  doves  than 
mesites,  the  former  meandering  in  many  tight  curves, 
while  the  latter  are  more  often  in  straight  lines  (see  Fig 
1).  All  of  these  criteria  require  some  caution  in  their 
application  as  mesites  can  sometimes  walk  along 
roads  or  paths,  forage  or  sing  in  apparently  aimless 
convolutions  and  take  flight  when  disturbed. 

Only  two  other  columbids  occur  in  the  spiny 
forest:  Namaqua  Dove  Oena  capensis,  which  has  tiny 
feet,  and  should  not  be  confused  with  any  of  the 
species  treated  here,  and  Madagascar  Green-Pigeon 
Treron  australis,  which  very  rarely  descends  to  the 
ground. 

Running  Coua  Coiia  cursor  and  Green-capped 
Coua  Coua  (ruficeps)  olivaceiceps 
Of  the  three  species  of  coua  in  the  spiny  forest. 
Crested  Coua  Coua  cristata  is  arboreal  and  rarely,  if 
ever,  leaves  tracks.  The  two  terrestrial  couas,  how- 
ever, are  both  very  common  and  possess  similar  foot 
structures.  Both  are  immediately  recognisable  be- 
cause of  their  zygodactylic  feet  that  create  small 
asymmetric  crosses  on  the  sand  (see  Fig  1).  Couas 
have  a shorter  instep  than  outstep;  that  is  the  pair  of 
toes  closest  to  the  opposite  foot  are  shorter  than  the 
pair  of  toes  furthest  from  the  opposite  foot.  Care 
should  be  taken  to  check  several  prints  as  some  can 
appear  (through  erosion  or  overlap  with  other  prints) 
to  have  a single  hind  toe,  or  three  forward-pointing 
toes,  and  are  then  potentially  mistaken  for  mesite 
tracks.  Once  established  as  a coua,  specific  identity  is 
based  on  size.  The  smaller  of  the  duo  is  Running 
Coua,  with  an  instep  of  30-43  mm,  an  outstep  of  42- 
48  mm  and  a width  of  18-28  mm.  Its  larger  cousin 
normally  has  an  instep  of  44-56  mm,  an  outstep  of 
58-78  mm  and  a width  of  31-37  mm.  There  should 
thus  be  no  confusion  between  tracks  of  the  two. 


Long-tailed  Ground-Roller  Uratelornis  chimaera 
This  species  leaves  rather  odd  tracks,  which  can  be 
identified  with  practise  on  the  basis  of  several  criteria. 
Its  footprints  are  relatively  small  for  its  size  (35- 
45  mm  in  length),  but  surprisingly  far  apart  due  to  its 
long  legs.  The  angle  between  the  fore  toes  is  variable, 
with  some  prints  having  these  three  toes  fairly  close 
together  and  others  being  more  splayed  (23-33  mm 
in  width).  For  some  reason,  each  fore  toe  often  makes 
an  unusual  blob-shaped  impression  (see  Fig  1).  An- 
other distinctive  feature  is  the  fairly  short  hind  toe 
(13-17  mm)  that  is  usually  characteristically  angled  to 
the  side. 

Long-tailed  Ground-Roller  is  encountered  in- 
credibly rarely  in  daylight;  in  clO  months  of  fieldwork 
at  Mangily  and  PK32  we  almost  never  met  an  indi- 
vidual that  was  not  either  singing  or  near  a nest-burrow. 
Despite  this  its  tracks  and  nests  are  quite  easy  to  find 
and  offer  a much  better  means  of  determining  its 
presence.  That  its  tracks  are  often  found  in  the  centre 
of  straight  sandy  roads  where  it  is  very  rarely  seen  in 
daylight  suggests  that  the  species  is  more  active  noc- 
turnally.  This  was  proven  during  transects  in  the 
Mikea  Forest  after  dark;  several  times  we  came  across 
this  fabulous  ground-roller  on  forest  roads. 

Madagascar  Hoopoe  Upupa  marginata 
Prints  left  by  the  hoopoe  are  similar  to  mesite  tracks, 
but  considerably  smaller  and  of  slightly  different 
structure.  Their  overall  length  is  shorter  (usually  48- 
57  mm),  but  more  noticeably  the  outer  toes  are  held 
at  a more  acute  angle  from  the  mid-line,  making  the 
foot  overall  less  broad  (usually  23-29  mm).  The  toes 
leave  a slim  impression  and  the  long  hind  toe  is  in  line 
with  the  central  fore  toe.  "f)' 

References 

1.  Seddon,  N.,  Tobias,  J.,  Yount,  J.W.. 
Ramanampamonjy,  J.R.,  Butchart.  S.  and 
Randrianizahana,  H.  2000.  Conser\'ation  issues  and 
priorities  in  the  Mikea  Forest  of  south-west  Mada- 
gascar. Otyx  34:  287-304. 

2.  Tobias,  J.  and  Seddon,  N.  (submitted)  A reassess- 
ment of  population  size  in  the  Subdeseit  Mesite: 
implications  for  consewation.  Biol.  Conserv. 

131  Catharine  Street,  Cambridge  CBl  jBP.  UK. 


Identifying  bird  tracks  in  Madagascar's  spi)iy  forest:  Tobias  & Seddon 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -15 


Figure  1 Rodrigues  Warbler  Acrocephaliis  rodericanus 
Figure  2 Rodrigues  Warbler  Acrocephalus  rodericanus 
Figure  3 Rodrigues  Fody  Foudia  flavicans 

All  photos  by  Dave  A.  Showier 


16 -Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Bird  observations  on  the  Indian  Ocean  island  of  Rodrigues:  Showier 


Bird  observations  on  the  Indian  Ocean  isiand  of 
Rodrigues,  March-June  1999 

Dave  A.  Showier 


Quand  I’Tle  de  Rodrigues  fut  colonisee  par  Thomme,  en  I69I,  elle  comptait  an  moins  17  especes  de 
vertebres  endemiques,  dont  12  oiseaux,  quatre  reptiles  et  une  roussette.  Toutes,  sauf  trois,  sent 
maintenant  eteintes.  L’extinction  de  cette  faune  est  supposee  avoir  ete  provoquee  par  la  destruction  de 
la  foret  indigene  et  la  predation  par  des  mammiferes  introduits.  Les  trois  especes  encore  presentes,  le 
Foudi  de  Rodrigues  Foudia  flavicans,  la  Rousserolle  de  Rodrigues  Acrocephalus  rodericanus  et  la 
Roussette  de  Rodrigues  Pteropus  rodericensis,  sont  considerees  comme  etant  menacees.  Les  populations 
du  foudi  et  de  la  rousserolle  ont  ete  recensees  du  31  mars  au  5 juin  1999;  I’habitat  occupe  a egalement 
ete  etudie.  La  population  du  foudi  a ete  estimee  a au  moins  911  individus  et  celle  de  la  rousserolle  a 
au  moins  150.  La  vegetation  ligneuse  indigene  ayant  completement  clisparu,  les  deux  especes  survivent 
dans  des  zones  dominees  par  des  arbres  et  arbustes  introduits.  Malgre  le  fait  que  leurs  effectifs  aient 
augmente  de  fagon  significative  depuis  la  fin  des  annees  I960,  principalement  a cause  de  la  regeneration 
de  la  vegetation  ligneuse,  leur  expansion  est  probablement  limitee  par  la  predation  des  mammiferes 
introduits  et  les  effets  negatifs  des  cyclones.  Les  oiseaux  indigenes  et  introduits  observes  pendant  les 
recensements  sont  brievement  presentes  et  des  details  sont  fournis  sur  deux  especes  occasionnelles, 
le  Chevalier  de  Siberie  Heteroscelus  brevipesei  le  Martinet  epmeux  Hirundapus  caudacutus,  observees 
pour  la  premiere  fois  sur  File. 


Introduction 

Rodrigues  is  one  of  the  world’s  most  ecologically 
degraded  tropical  oceanic  islands^L  At  least  17 
species  of  endemic  vertebrate — a fruit  bat,  12  birds, 
two  giant  tortoises  and  two  day-geckos — have  inhab- 
ited the  island.  Now  all  but  three  are  extinef.  The 
extant  species,  Rodrigues  Fody  Foiidia  Jlavicans, 
Rodrigues  Warbler  Acrocephalus  rodericanus  and 
Rodrigues  Fmit-bat  Pteropus  rodericensis  are  all  threat- 
ened^^’^^  (see  Appendix  1 for  list  of  extinct  bird 
species).  The  almost  total  extinction  of  the  vertebrate 
fauna  is  considered  to  have  primarily  occurred  through 
a combination  of  destruction  of  native  forest  and 
predation  by  introduced  mammals.  A similar  fate  has 
befallen  the  flora  and  fauna  of  many  other  isolated 
islands.  Today  there  is  no  remaining  native  forest  and 
all  but  two  of  the  36-38  endemic  flowering  plant  taxa 
are  Endangered-^.  In  1999,  surveys  of  the  two  surviv- 
ing endemic  birds  were  undertaken  by  Andy  Impey 
(studying  the  fody)  and  DAS  (the  warbler).  The  sur- 
vey results  are  summarised,  along  with  observations 
of  other  non-endemic  indigenous  and  naturalised 
birds,  and  two  vagrants  previously  unrecorded  on  the 
island. 

Geography  and  topography 

Rodrigues  is  the  most  remote  of  the  Mascarenes 
(which  also  comprise  Mauritius  and  Reunion),  situ- 
ated in  the  Indian  Ocean,  almost  1,500  km  east  of 
Madagascar.  It  is  18.3  km  x 8.5  km,  with  an  area  of 


110  kmk  Terrain  is  mostly  hilly,  the  highest  point 
being  396  m.  There  is  a 7-km  central  ridge  on  an  east- 
west  axis  that  averages  c300  m in  altitude^^,  from 
which  numerous  steep-sided  valleys  radiate  seaward. 
Rodrigues  is  volcanic  in  origin  and  geologically  the 
youngest  of  the  Mascarenes  at  c2. 5 million  years  old'^. 
It  is  surrounded  by  a coral  reef,  within  which  lie  18 
small  islets.  Beyond  is  a shallow  7-20  km-wide  sub- 
merged shelf  and  it  appears  that  during  the  most 
recent  ice  age  Rodrigues  covered  a much  larger  area 
than  at  presenL,  perhaps  accounting  for  the  high 
number  of  endemic  species  on  such  a small,  young 
island-*^.  Rodrigues  was  probably  entirely  forested 
prior  to  human  colonisation  in  l691"~.  Today  c25% 
consists  of  rough  grassland,  with  scrub  and  occa- 
sional trees,  grazed  by  free-ranging  domestic  cattle 
and  goats;  one-third  is  cultivated;  and  7%  ‘forest 
reserve’  (planted  for  watershed  and  soil  protection)^', 
but  this  comprises  almost  entirely  introduced  spe- 
cies, with  only  a few  scattered  native  trees  and  shrubs. 
Rodrigues  is  densely  populated,  with  over  35.000 
inhabitants  (323/kmA  in  1999^^  and  human  dv^'eUings 
are  scattered  throughout  the  island. 

Rodrigues  Fody  and  Rodrigues  Warbler 

Rodrigues  Warbler  is  considered  Endangered  D1 
(population  <250  mature  individuals)  and  Rodrigues 
Fody  Vulnerable  Db  D2  (population  <1.000  mature 
indi\aduals;  area  of  occupancy  <100  knrVy  Histori- 
cal records  suggest  that  both  were  formerly  common 


Bird  observations  on  the  Indian  Ocean  island  of  Rodrigues:  Sboivler 


Bull  ABC  Vo!  9 Not  -17 


and  probably  distributed  throughout  the  island*'’--. 
Both  are  thought  to  have  reached  all-time  population 
lows  in  the  late  1960s  due  primarily  to  deforestation, 
but  also  to  the  devastating  effects  of  Cyclone  Monica, 
which  struck  in  March  1968.  Immediately  following 
this  the  fody  population  was  thought  to  be  just  5-6 
pairs  and  the  warbler  to  have  been  ‘almost  wiped 
out’^^  as  three  observers  failed  to  find  any  in  Decem- 
ber 1969.  However,  some  survived  and  subsequently 
Ales,  based  on  limited  coverage,  estimated  a popula- 
tion of  no  more  than  30  individuals  in  1971-2*°.  In 
1999,  during  31  March  to  5 June,  ten  intensive  week- 
long  population  censuses  and  habitat-use  surveys,  by 
Andy  Impey  (of  F.  flavicans)  and  DAS  {A. 
rodericanus),  were  undertaken.  Both  species’ 
ecologies  are  poorly  known  and  the  only  previous 
comprehensive  censuses  were  undertaken  by  Cheke^ 
in  1974-5,  with  sporadic  surveys  of  limited  coverage 
since,  which  nonetheless  have  indicated  a gradual 
increase  in  numbers  of  both  species. 

Rodrigues  Warbler  survey  results 

A census  technique  was  devised  using  an  amalgama- 
tion of  point  counts  and  playback  of  warbler  song, 
and  tail-feather  moult/re-growth  characteristics  to 
enable  recognition  of  individuals  in  the  field.  At  least 
103  warblers  in  nine  wooded  localities  were  ob- 
served. Extrapolating  from  this,  based  on  the  area  of 
available  habitat,  a minimum  population  of  150  birds 
was  estimated,  with  a maximum  population  of  c200. 
It  occurs  in  hills  and  valleys  in  the  central  uplands 
from  cl 50  m,  though  mostly  above  200  m,  to  the 
summit  of  Mont  Limon  at  396  m.  Most  individuals 
(78%)  and  the  highest  densities  (2.3/ha)  were  in  scrub 
and  woodland  dominated  by  an  introduced  invasive 
tree,  Syzygium yaw6os(jamrosa),  native  to  south-east 
Asia.  It  was  formerly  extensively  planted  on  the  island 
for  watershed  protection.  Other  woody  species  com- 
monly found  in  habitat  occupied  by  the  warbler 
include  Litseaglutinosa,  another  introduced  invasive 
tree  from  south-east  Asia,  and  Psidium  cattleianum 
(guava),  native  to  South  America.  Vegetation  analysis 
indicates  that  a dense  structure  of  small  branches  is  an 
important  habitat  feature,  and  that  low-intensity  cut- 
ting may  promote  the  growth  of  new  shoots  thus 
perpetuating  the  vegetation  structure  favoured  by 
Rodrigues  Warbler.  The  species  was  occasionally 
found  at  low  densities  in  plantations  dominated  by 
Swietenia  mahogani  (mahogany),  Tabebuia  pallida 
(tecoma)  and  Araucaria  cunningbamii  (Norfolk  Is- 
land Pine)^°. 


Rodrigues  Fody  survey  results 

Territory  mapping  employing  the  Common  Birds 
Census  technique  was  used  to  census  the  fody.  Three 
hundred  and  thirty-four  territories  were  mapped, 
representing  a minimum  breeding  population  of  33-t 
pairs.  Additionally,  58  unpaired  males,  85  juveniles 
and  100  sub-adult  (grey-plumaged)  birds  were  re- 
corded, giving  a minimum  population  estimate  of  91 1 
individuals.  Over  60%  were  in  tall,  mixed  exotic  fore.st 
where  densities  reached  8/ha;  14%  were  in  more 
open,  patchy  forest.  Despite  not  being  considered 
ideal  habitat,  Syzygium  jam  bos-domm'diGd  areas  sup- 
ported 13%  of  the  population.  Fody  densities  increased 
significantly  with  tree  height,  canopy  cover  and  tree 
species  diversity*/  Like  the  warbler,  most  were  ob- 
seix^ed  in  the  central  uplands,  but  it  is  more  widespread 
and  was  occasionally  obseiTed  at  low  altitudes  near 
the  north  coast. 

Conservation  outlook 

Provided  existing  areas  of  tall  mixed  forest  are  safe- 
guarded, the  future  for  the  fody  appears  bright*/  The 
warbler’s  situation  is  more  problematic.  It  has  ob\'i- 
OLisly  benefited  from  woodland  regeneration  o\  er 
the  last  three  decades,  but  other  population-limiting 
factors,  eg  predation  by  introduced  predators  such  as 
rats  Rattus  rattiis  and  R.  norvegiciis  and  cats  Felis 
catus,  low  food  availability  etc,  may  be  suppressing 
population  growth-*’.  In  an  attempt  to  bolster  their 
numbers,  translocating  birds  to  the  ecologically  reha- 
bilitated, predator-free  islets  of  lie  aux  Sables  and  lie 
Coco,  3 km  off  the  west  coast  of  the  main  island,  is 
being  considered  (C  Jones  pers  comm  1999).  In  light 
of  the  lack  of  other  conseiwttion  options  it  is  a strat- 
egy worth  considering.  More  research  into  the  ecology 
of  both  species  is  desirable,  especially  factors  con- 
straining distribution,  breeding  success  and  survival. 

Observations  of  naturalised  birds 

Nine  or  10  species  (including  Feral  Pigeon  Columba 
livia)  of  bird  are  generally  considered  to  have  be- 
come fully  naturalised  on  Rodrigues  following 
introduction^  ' ^'^/  Of  these  one.  Grey-headed  Love- 
bird Agapqrnis  canus  has  been  eradicated,  and 
Helmeted  GmnQ2.iovc\  Numida  meleagris,  previously 
more  widespread,  now  appears  mostly  tied  to  human 
habitation.  Eight  introductions  can  currently  be  con- 
sidered fully  naturalised:  Grey  ¥Y2Lnco\mFrancolinus 
pondicerianus,  Feral  Pigeon,  Barred  Ground  Dove 
Geopelia  striata,  Yellow-fronted  Canaiy  Serinus 
mozambicus,  Common  W2Lxhil\Estrildaastrild,  House 
Spnnow  Passer domesticus,  Madagascar  Vody  Foudia 
madagascariensis  and  Common  Myna  Acridotheres 
tristis.  All  are  widespread  and  fairly  common  to  abun- 


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Bird  observations  on  the  Indian  Ocean  island  of  Rodrigues:  Showier 


dant,  with  the  exception  of  F.  poudicehanus,  which 
appears  scarce  and  local.  A summary  of  introduction 
dates  derived  from  early  accounts  of  visitors  to  the 
island,  taken  mostly  from  Staub-^  and  Cheke\  and 
notes  on  current  status  based  on  observations  in 
1999,  is  presented  below: 

Grey  Francolin  Francolimis  pondicerianus 
The  date  of  the  first  successful  introduction  is  un- 
known but  was  probably  1862b  possibly  earlierh 
Reported  by  Slater  in  1874-b  by  which  time  it  was  well 
establishedb  It  has  been  hunted  to  protect  maize  Zea 
mays  crops^  and  for  food^.  Though  not  observed  by 
Impey  or  myself  it  was  reported  to  occur  around  St 
Francois  and  Point  Cotton  (east  Rodrigues)  in  Acacia 
eburnea  and  Lantana  camara  scrub  (J  Marla  pers 
comm  1999).  Droppings,  presumably  of  this  species, 
were  observed  on  lie  Fregate  on  22  May  1999.  This 
island,  situated  750  m off  the  south-west  coast,  was 
formerly  stocked  with  francolin  for  hunting  purposes 
(A  Maljkovic  pers  comm  1999). 

Helmeted  Guineafowl  Numida  meleagris 
Introduced  between  1803  and  1832b  In  1857  it  was 
considered  plentiful  in  the  north,  centre  and  west  of 
the  island-’  but  by  1916  it  was  becoming  rare,  appar- 
ently due  to  nest  predation  by  feral  pigsb  Like  F. 
pondicerianus,  it  was  hunted  to  protect  crops’’  and 
was  eradicated  shortly  before  19647  However,  in 
1999,  a pair  of  free-ranging  guineafowl  with  young 
was  observed  on  Mont  Malartic  with  domestic  hens, 
and  a pair  was  observed  at  La  Source  throughout 
April-May.  It  is  possible  that  it  could  again  establish 
a feral  population. 

Feral  Pigeon  Columba  livia 
Introduced  between  1874  and  1916.  Nesting  has  been 
observed  on  cliffs  at  Cascade  Victoire,  on  the  east 
coast,  and  elsewhereb  Widespread  but  not  common 
on  the  island  in  1999. 

Barred  Ground  Dove  Geopelia  striata 
According  to  Bertuchi,  released  in  1862b  but  VinsoW^ 
suggests  that  it  was  introduced  as  early  as  1764^7  This 
small  dove  is  very  common,  especially  in  open  wood- 
land, at  all  altitudes.  Flocks  of  30-33  were  observed 
around  La  Source,  and  another  of  72  was  seen  at  Mt 
Cimetiere  in  April-May  1999. 

Grey-headed  Lovebird  Agapornis  canus 
Tafforet,  in  1725,  briefly  mentioned  a third  species  of 
Psittacidae  that  he  observed  on  Rodrigues  and  some 
authors,  eg  Staub-7  consider  this  evidence  of  an  early 
introduction  of  A.  canus.  Cheke^Nirgues  against  this, 


believing  Tafforet  was  describing  a female  Psittacula 
exsul  and  that  it  was  probably  introduced  in  1862.  It 
was  abundant  until  1956,  becoming  scarce  following 
this,  apparently  due  to  a cyclone  in  1957’  and  perse- 
cution to  protect  maize  crops^  furthered  its  demise. 
Local  people  reported  a few  persisting  on  lie  Gombrani 
(1  km  off  the  south  coast)  in  197(P^'  and  in  Cascade  St 
Louis  in  1974-7  The  last  record  is  thought  to  be  of  one 
in  September  1974^’’,  though  Friedmann  et  at  men- 
tion it  to  be  ‘now  very  rare’,  without  further  details.  It 
was  not  observed  in  1999  and  appears  to  have  been 
eradicated  from  Rodrigues. 

Yellow-fronted  Canary  Seriniis  mozambicus 
According  to  Vinson,  introduced  around  1764^7  but 
the  precise  date  is  uncertain,  with  no  definite  record 
before  1964-^’7  In  1999  it  was  observed  singly  and  in 
pairs  throughout  most  of  the  island.  They  appeared  to 
favour  drier,  more  exposed  areas,  eg  along  the  coastal 
strip  in  localities  planted  with  Casuarina  equisetifolia, 
and  inland  on  open  wooded  ridges  and  hillsides, 
again  with  Casuarina  but  also  other  introduced  trees 
such  as  Eucalyptus  tereticornis,  Tabebuia pallida  and 
Terminalia  arjuna.  In  April,  one  was  observed,  on  Mt 
Cimetiere,  using  the  tall  flowering  spike  of  an  aloe 
Fucraea  foetida  as  a song  post. 

Common  Waxbill  Estrilda  astrild 
According  to  Vinson  introduced  around  1764-’  but 
dated  as  between  1803  and  1864  by  Cheke-^  7 It  is  now 
veiy  common  in  open  woodland  and  cultivated  areas 
at  all  altitudes  throughout  the  island.  Birds  were 
frequently  observed  carrying  nesting  material  (blades 
of  grass)  in  April  and  early  May.  Three  were  also  seen 
on  lie  Fregate  in  May  1999. 

House  Sparrow  Passer  domesticus 
Apparently  first  mentioned  by  Marragon  in  P95“7  but 
considered  to  have  been  introduced  between  18~-a 
and  1916  by  Cheke^-7  It  is  common  in  open  wood- 
land, cultivated  areas  and  around  villages  and  other 
habitation  throughout  the  island.  Also  obsen'ed  on 
lie  Coco. 

Madagascar  Fody  Foiidia  madagascariensis 
According  to  Moreau  this  fody  reached  Rodrigues 
sometime  after  1865"7  although  Cheke-"  suggests  that 
it  w'ds  introduced  between  IF'u  and  1916.  It  is  com- 
mon in  open  woodland  and  cultivated  areas 
throughout  the  island. 

Common  Myna  Acridotberes  tristis 

Possibly  unsuccessfully  introduced  between  I'b"^ 

and  1825,  but  repeated  introduction  attempts  for 


Bird  observations  on  the  Indian  Ocean  island  of  Rodrigues:  Shoirler 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -19 


crop-pest  control  purposes  reportedly  failed,  accord- 
ing to  Hoards  Successful  introduction  is  considered 
to  have  occurred  between  1864  and  1874-^  \ It  is  now 
common  in  woodland,  cultivated  areas  and  villages 
throughout  the  island.  A large  communal  roost  (sev- 
eral hundred)  was  noted  in  a large  banyan  tree  Ficus 
henghalensis  in  the  main  town  of  Port  Mathurin  on 
the  north  coast.  Five  were  seen  on  lie  Fregate  in  May 
1999. 

Observations  of  indigenous  birds 

Wedge-tailed  Shearwater  Puffinus  pacificus 
An  old  nest  probably  of  this  species  among  large 
boulders  on  lie  Fregate,  on  22  May  1999-  ‘Fouquet’ 
(the  Creole  name  for  shearwater)  reportedly  fly  to  the 
island  at  night,  according  to  a local  boatman,  but  it 
was  unclear  if  any  were  breeding  in  1999-  Feral  cats 
are  present  on  this  islet  (many  scats  were  observed), 
but  it  is  possible  that  a small  breeding  colony  persists. 
A cat-eradication  programme  was  initiated  in  1999. 
This  shearwater  previously  bred  on  many  islets'^  but 
was  probably  confined  to  Fregate  as  early  as  18257 

Red-tailed  Tropicbird  Phaethon  riihricaiida 
A colony  of  clO  pairs  breeds  on  inland  cliffs  at  Cas- 
cade Victoire  where  P.  leptimis  also  nests  (C  Jones 
pers  comm  1999).  A max.  count  of  13  was  made  here 
in  May  1999. 

White-tailed  Tropicbird  Phaethon  leptiirus 
A colony  of  c20  pairs  breeds  at  Cascade  Victoire  (C 
Jones  pers  comm  1999).  A max.  count  of  eight  was 
made  here  in  May  1999.  Three  were  seen  over  lie 
Coco  also  in  May,  and  singles  occasionally  over  the 
main  island  throughout  the  survey.  Reported  to  prob- 
ably breed  at  Anse  Baleine  and  Riviere  Bouteille^  but 
these  localities  were  not  visited  in  1999. 

Green  Heron  Butorides  striatus 
The  race  B.  s.javanicus  occurs  on  Rodrigues"  and  is 
a common  resident  along  streams,  rivers,  around 
dams  and  on  the  coast.  At  least  ten  were  observed  on 
lie  Coco  on  12  May  1999. 

Greater  Sand  Plover  Charadrius  leschenaultii 
One  on  the  beach  at  Port  Sud  Est  on  25  April  and  two 
at  Baix  aux  Huitres  on  27  April  1999. 

Grey  Plover  Pluvialis  squatarola 
One  at  Anse  Mourouk  on  18  April  and  6 May;  two  on 
the  beach  at  Port  Sud  Est  on  25  April;  five  on  a sand 
bank  off  lie  Coco  on  12  May  1999. 


Sanderling  Calidris  alha 

One  between  Port  Sud  Est  and  Point  Colton  on  18 
April,  and  two  on  lie  Coco  on  12  May  1999. 

Whimbrel  Ahimeniiis phaeopiis 
Three  at  Anse  Mourouk  with  at  least  fix  e more  be- 
tween Port  Sud  Est  and  Point  Cotton  on  18  April;  15 
along  coast  in  vicinity  of  Anse  Mourouk  and  Port  Sud 
Est  on  25  April;  one  at  Anse  Mourouk  on  6 May  and 
two  on  13  May;  and  six  on  a sand  bank  off  lie  Coco  on 
12  May  1999. 

Greenshank  Thnga  nehiilaria 
Singles  at  Anse  Mourouk  on  25  April.  6 May  and  13 
May,  and  one  at  Baix  aux  Huitres  (west  of  Port 
Mathurin)  on  27  April  1999. 

Ruddy  Turnstone  Arenaria  inteipres 
The  most  numerous  wader:  max.  33  at  Anse  Mourouk 
on  18  April,  with  19  at  Port  Sud  Est  on  25  April,  and 
three  on  a sand  bank  c250  m south-east  off  lie  Coco 
on  12  May  1999. 

Lesser  Crested  Tern  Sterna  hengalensis 
One  adult  and  one  immature  off  Baie  Pistache  on  12 
May  1999  were  distinguished  from  S.  hergii  by  the 
slimmer,  orange  bill  and  paler  upperparts.  This  may 
constitute  the  first  record,  though  it  was  listed  by 
Hartlaub,  quoting  Nexvton  who  referred  to  Sterna 
veloxS  Hartlaub  uses  the  synonym  5.  relax  in  discus- 
sion of  both  crested  terns,  complicating  matters  by 
adding  a third  ‘species'  hernsteini,  but  there  is  no 
reason  to  suppose  that  Newton  was  using  velox  to 
denote  anything  other  than  S.hergii/hernsteinh . 

Sooty  Tern  Sterna  fuscata 

Breeding  colony  on  beach  at  south-west  tip  of  lie 
Coco,  with  200+  adults  and  juveniles  (including  some 
incubating/brooding  young)  on  12  May  1999. 

Lesser  Noddy  Anoiis  temiirostris 
Breeding  colony  on  beach  at  southern  tip  of  lie  Coco: 
200+  adults  (some  incubating)  and  juveniles,  and  45 
fledglings  on  12  May  1999.  A total  of  4,620  nests  was 
counted  in  August  19917 

Brown  Noddy  Anous  stolidus 
Breeding  colony  on  ground  and  in  Casiiarina 
equisetifolia  on  lie  Coco  numbered  200+  adults  and 
juveniles  on  12  May  1999.  A total  of  288  nests  was 
counted  in  19917 


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Bird  observations  on  the  Indian  Ocean  island  of  Rodrigues:  Showier 


Fairy  Tern  Gygis  alba 

Ten  to  20  pairs  breed  on  lie  aiix  Sables  (C  Jones  pers 
comm  1999).  At  least  five  were  around  nearby  lie 
Coco  (1.25  km  to  the  south  of  Sables)  on  12  May  1999- 

Vagrants 

Two  species  were  recorded  for  the  first  time  on 
Rodrigues.  These  are  considered  vagrants  (having 
been  recorded  fewer  than  10  times)  to  the  region 
encompassing  Madagascar,  the  Seychelles,  the 
Comoro  and  the  Mascarenes-h 

Grey- tailed  Tattler  Heteroscehis  hrevipes 
One  in  a silt  inlet  recently  planted  with  mangrove  at 
Anse  Mourouk  on  18  April  1999-  Presumably  the 
same  bird  seen  again  on  the  beach  at  Port  Sud  Est, 
500  m to  the  west  of  the  first  sighting,  on  25  April. 
Prolonged  views  were  obtained  but  only  upon  hear- 
ing the  distinctive  two-note  call  was  it  positively 
distinguished  from  H.  incanus. 

White-throated  Needletail  Hirundapus 
caudacutus 

One  was  observed  flying  around  the  vicinity  of  Mont 
Malartic  on  26  April  1999  and  was  present  at  the  same 
locality  on  the  following  two  days.  Easily  distin- 
guished from  other  Hirundapus  species  by  the 
combination  of  strongly  contrasting  white  throat, 
pale  lores  and  pale  ‘saddle’. 

Acknowledgements 

I am  extremely  grateful  to  Anthony  Cheke  for  his 
comments  concerning  the  status  of  birds  on  Rodrigues, 
and  for  making  his  unpublished  checklist  available, 
which  forms  the  basis  of  Appendix  2.  In  addition, 
many  thanks  to  Andy  Impey  for  his  records  and 
observations;  Dr  Carl  Jones  for  initiating  the  fody  and 
warbler  surveys  and  other  Mauritian  Wildlife  Eounda- 
tion  (MWE)  staff,  especially  Aleks  Maljkovic  (former 
Plant  Conservation  Officer)  and  Richard  Payendee 
(Conservation  Officer)  for  general  assistance;  the 
Rodrigues  Eorestry  Services,  especiallyjacques  Leclerc 
Marla  and  Ravan  (Eorestry  Guards)  for  their  enthusi- 
astic help  in  conducting  surveys;  and  Roger  Safford 
for  comments  on  a draft  of  this  paper.  BirdLife 
provided  use  of  their  library  and  computer  facilities. 
The  field  work  was  funded  by  MWE  and  School  of 
Biological  Sciences,  University  of  East  Anglia,  Nor- 
wich, under  the  supervision  of  Dr  Isabelle  Cote, 

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15.  Ministry  of  Rodrigues.  1999.  Human  Population 
Census.  Mauritius:  Government  of  Mauritius. 

16.  Newton,  A.  1865.  On  two  new  birds  from  the  island 
of  Rodriquez.  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London  [18651: 46-48. 

17.  OSTROM  and  MSIRI.  1986.  LesSols  deL  lie  Rodrigues. 
Mauritius:  Office  de  la  Recherche  Scientifique  et 
Technique  Outre-Mer  & Mauritius  Sugar  Industry- 
Research  Institute. 

18.  Rowlands,  B.W.  1987.  Seabirds  and  shorebirds  ob- 
served on  Rodrigues  and  lagoon  islets  in  July  1986. 
Cormorant  14:  31-38. 

19.  Saddul,  P.  1995.  Mauritius:  a Geomoiphical Analy- 
sis. Moka:  Mahatma  Gandhi  Instimte  Press. 

20.  Showier,  D.A.  1999.  Population  census  and  habitat 
use  of  Rodrigues  NJ-Wolev  Acrocephalus  rodericaniis 
(Aves:  Sylviidae).  MSc  Thesis.  Noiwich:  L'niversity 
of  East  Anglia. 

21.  Sinclair,  I.  and  Langrand.  O.  1998.  Birds  of  the 
Lndia)i  Ocean  Islands.  Cape  Town:  Stinik. 


Bird  observations  on  the  Indian  Ocean  island  of  Rodrigues:  Showier 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1-21 


22.  Slater,  H.H.C.  1875.  Notes  on  the  birds  of  Rodriguez. 
MS  in  Newton  Library.  Cambridge,  UK:  Cambridge 
University  Zoology  Department. 

23.  Smith,  D.S  and  Cheke,  A.S.  2000.  The  first  record  of 
a Short-tailed  Shearwater  Piiffimis  teniiiwstris  for 
the  Mascarene  Islands.  Bull.  Br.  Oniithol.  Cl.  120: 
259-260. 

24.  Stattersfield,  A.J.  and  Capper,  D.R.  (eds)  2000.  Threat- 
ened Birds  of  the  World.  Cambridge,  UK:  BirdLife 
International  & Barcelona:  Lynx  Edicions. 

25.  Staub,  F.  1973.  Birds  of  Rodriguez  Island.  Proc. 
Royal  Soc.  Arts  and  Sci.  Mauritius  4:  17-59. 


26.  Staub,  F.  1976.  Birds  of  the  Mascarenes  and  .Saint 
Brandon.  Mauritius:  Organisation  .Normale  des  En- 
terprises. 

27.  Strahm,  W.  1989.  Pknit  Red  Data  Book  for  Rodrigues. 
Konigstein:  Koeltz  Scientific  Books. 

28.  Strahm.  W.A.  1993-  The  consen  ation  and  re.stora- 
tion  of  the  flora  of  Mauritius  and  Rodrigues.  RhI) 
thesis.  Reading:  LMix  ersity  of  Reading. 

29.  Vinson,  J.  1964.  Quelques  remarques  sur  L lle 
Rodrigues  et  sur  sa  faune  terrestre.  Proc.  Royal  Soc. 
Arts  and  Sci.  Mauritius  2:  263-2^1. 

E-mail:  dashouier@hotmail.com. 


Appendix  1.  Extinct  endemic  birds  of  Rodrigues.  (Sources:  Diamond^  and  Stattersfield  & Capper^^) 


Scientific  name  Engiish  name  Last  recorded 


Nycticorax  megacephalus 

Rodrigues  Night-heron 

1726 

Aphanapteryx  leguati 

Rodrigues  Rail 

1726 

Pezophaps  solitaria 

Rodrigues  Solitaire 

1761 

Alectroenas  rodericana^ 

Rodrigues  Pigeon 

1726 

Psittacula  exsul 

Newton’s  Parakeet 

1875 

Necropsittacus  rodericanus 

Rodrigues  Parrot 

1761 

Mascarenotus  murivorus 

Rodrigues  Owl 

1726 

Hypsipetes  sp. 

bulbul 

Known  only  from  sub-fossil  bones 

Necrospar  rodericanus 

Rodrigues  Starling 

1726 

Rodriguites  microcarina 

unknown  affinity 

Known  only  from  sub-fossil  bones 

^May  warrant  a monotypic  genus,  but  further  work  is  required. 


Appendix  2.  Checklist  of  the  birds  of  Rodrigues. 
Compiled  by  Dave  A.  Showier  and  Anthony  Cheke 

The  checklist  is  intended  to  be  as  complete  and  up  to  date  as 
possible,  and  includes  introduced  species  considered  fully  natural- 
ised (or  formerly  so).  Extinct  endemics  are  listed  separately  in 
Appendix  1 . Rodrigues  is  an  ornithologically  very  under-watched 
island  and  previously  unrecorded  species,  especially  seabirds  and 
waders,  are  to  be  expected.  Seabirds  observed  in  nearby  waters 
include  Flesh-footed  Shearwater  Puffinus  carneipes  and  Wilson’s 
Storm-petrel  Oceanites  oceanicu^.  Two  calidrids,  either  Red  Knot 
Calidris  canutus  or  Great  Knot  C.  tenuirostris,  at  Port  Sud  Est  in 
1999,  could  not  be  conclusively  identified.  Details  of  additional 
species  are  welcome.  The  checklist  is  compiled  from  two  primary 
references;  Staub^^  and  Cheke^  with  the  addition  of  Common  Tern 
Sterna  hirundom  1982  (C  Jones  pers  comm).  Light-mantled  Sooty 
Albatross  Phoebetria  palpebrata,  recorded  for  the  first  time  in 
1 986^®,  Ringed  Plover  Charadrius  hiaticula  and  Common  Sandpiper 
Actitis  hypoleucos  in  1997,  and  Grey-tailed  Tattler  Heteroscelus 
brevipes,  Lesser  Crested  Tern  Sterna  bengalensis  and  White- 
throated  Needletail  Hirundapus  caudacutus,  observed  in  1999. 

Dowsett  & Dowsett-Lemaire®  published  the  most  recent  bird 
checklist  for  Rodrigues.  Red-tailed  Tropicbird  Phaethon  rubricauda 
was  omitted  from  this  list,  but  its  presence  as  a breeding  bird  on 
Rodrigues  is  well  known.  Helmeted  Guineafowl  Numida  meleagris 
was  also  omitted,  probably  on  the  basis  that  while  formerly  natural- 
ised it  had  been  eradicated  by  the  early  1960s®.  However,  some 
free-ranging  birds  were  observed  in  1999  (see  Observations  of 
naturalised  birds  above)  and  we  therefore  include  it  here.  The 
occurrence/status  of  four  species  listed  by  Dowsett  & Dowsett- 
Lemaire  requires  clarification. 


Yellow-nosed  Albatross  Thalassarche{Diomedea)  chlororhynchos 
An  immature  albatross  beached  following  a cyclone  in  December 
1972  was  initially  identified  as  a Yellow-nosed  and  was  listed  as 
such  by  Dowsett  & Dowsett-Lemaire.  However,  subsequent  exami- 
nation of  a photograph  of  the  bird  demonstrates  this  identification  to 
be  incorrect.  It  was  thereafter  considered  to  be  an  immature  Black- 
browed  Albatross  Thalassarche  {=Diomedea)  melanophry^  but  the 
virtually  identical  Campbell  Albatross  T.  impavida  (recently  raised  to 
species  rank)  could  not  be  eliminated.  Further  examination  sug- 
gests that  it  is  more  likely  an  immature  Shy  Albatross  T.  cauta  (or 
eremita/salvini,  which  have  also  recently  been  accorded  species 
rank),  but  it  cannot  be  assigned  further.  It  is  therefore  included  as 
Thalassarche  sp.  below. 

Common  Quail  Coturnix  coturnix 

Incorrectly  listed  as  a native  resident.  The  species  has  never  been 
native  on  any  of  the  Mascarenes  and  it  appears  probable  that 
Dowsett  & Dowsett-Lemaire  wrongly  quoted  Staub  1973^®,  who 
discussed  it  for  Mauritius,  in  a section  on  introduced  birds.  Colin 
reported  12  ‘quails’  (species  unknown)  released  on  Rodrigues  in  the 
1860s,  which  were  rapidly  ‘destroyed  by  wild  cats’®.  This  appears  to 
be  the  only  reference  to  quails  on  Rodrigues  and  therefore  C. 
coturnix  is  omitted  from  the  checklist. 

Grey-headed  Lovebird  Agapornis  canus 
Dowsett  & Dowsett-Lemaire  list  it  as  ‘record  definitely  rejected’ 
referencing  Diamond®  as  the  source.  This  is  erroneous  as  Cheke  (in 
Diamond)®  discusses  its  introduction  (see  above)  and  given  the 
several  references  concerning  this  lovebird  on  Rodrigues^'^®  its 
former  presence  as  a naturalised  species  is  apparent. 


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Java  Sparrow  Pada  oryzivora 

Listed  by  Dowsett  & Dowsett-Lemaire  as  ‘occurrence  requires  proof’. 
Staub^^  is  quoted,  but  like  Common  Quail  the  species  is  clearly 
mentioned  only  for  Mauritius.  Slater^^  reported  a few  Java  Sparrow 
on  Rodrigues,  but  this  is  considered  a short-lived  introduction  as  the 
species  was  not  recorded  by  others^  It  is  therefore  omitted  here. 

The  following  species,  sometimes  considered  as  having  occurred 
in  Rodrigues,  are  rejected  on  the  following  rationale. 

Ringed  Plover  Charadrius  hiaticula 
Indicated  as  occurring  by  Sinclair  & Landgrand^'  based  on  observa- 
tions in  February  1 997  by  R Charles  (I  Sinclair  pers  comm  2001 ).  No 
further  details. 


Eurasian  Curlew  Numenius  arquata 
Rejected  as  there  is  no  confirmed  record;  Newton^®  thought  he  saw 
a curlew  (but  was  uncertain)  as  did  Rountree  in  1943®.  Whimbrel  is 
regular  on  Rodrigues,  thus  it  is  possible  that  these  records  refer  to 
this  species.  However,  Curlew  is  a regular  visitor  to  Mauritius  and 
can  be  expected  on  Rodrigues. 

Common  Sandpiper  Actitis  hypoleuca 
Indicated  as  occurring  by  Sinclair  & Landgrand®^  based  on  observa- 
tions in  February  1997  by  R Charles  (I  Sinclair  pers  comm  2001). 
Occurrence  expected  as  it  is  a common  visitor  to  Mauritius®®. 


Checklist  of  the  Birds  of  Rodrigues 


Scientific  name 

English 

Creole  (French) 

Status 

Thalassarche  (Diomedea)  albatross 
sp. 

(albatros) 

V:  an  immature  found  alive  on  a beach  following  a 
cyclone  in  1972.  Examination  of  a photo  shows  it  to 
be  a sub-adult  T.  melanophris^  (or  impavida),  or  Shy 
Albatross  T.  cauta  (or  eremita/salvini) 

Phoebetria  palpebrata 

Light-mantled 
Sooty  Albatross 

(Albatros  fuligineux) 

V:  an  emaciated  bird  on  the  south  coast  in  July  1986^® 

Macronectes 

Southern  Giant  Petrel/ 

(Fulmar  geant/ 

V:  one  collected  following  a cyclone  in  1956; 

giganteus/halli 

Northern  Giant  Petrel 

Fulmar  de  Hall) 

specimen  subsequently  rotted  and  species  not 
determined® 

Pterodroma  baraui 

Barau’s  Petrel 

Fuke,  ‘fouquef 
(Petrel  de  Barau) 

?:  one  record  of  confirmed  breeding;  at  Quatre  Vents, 
in  1974®® 

Pterodroma  aterrima 

Mascarene  Petrel 

Fuke,  ‘fouquef 
(Petrel  de  Bourbon) 

Only  documented  evidence  is  a mandible  found  in 
Plaine  Corail  caves  in  19th  century® 

Puffinus  pacificus 

Wedge-tailed 

Shearwater 

Fuke,  ‘fouquef 
(Puffin  Fouquet) 

?:  formerly  bred  on  several  offshore  islets.  Probably 
confined  to  lie  Fregate  by  1825,  where  it  possibly  still 
breeds®'®® 

Puffinus  tenuimstris 

Short-tailed  Shearwater 

(Puffin  a bee  grele) 

V:  one  found  alive  on  a beach  in  June  1974^3 

Phaethon  rubricauda 

Red-tailed  Tropicbird 

Paille-en-queue  [ruz], 
payahke  [ruz]  (Phaeton 
a brins  rouges) 

Local  breeder  (clO  pairs) 

Phaethon  lepturus 

White-tailed  Tropicbird 

Paille-en-queue, 
payahke  (Phaeton 
a bee jaune) 

Local  breeder  (c20  pairs) 

Sula  sula 

Red-footed  Booby 

Fu,  tratra 

(Fou  a pieds  rouges) 

Extirpated:  formerly  bred  on  lie  Fregate  (and  possibly 
other  islets),  but  no  longer  nesting  by  1916®'“ 

Papasula  abbotti 

Abbott’s  Booby 

Bef,  ‘boeuf 
(Fou  d’Abbot) 

Extirpated:  formerly  bred.  Probably  survived  until 
1857®'“ 

Fregata  minor 

Greater  Frigatebird 

Fregat,  ‘fregate’ 
(Fregate  du  Pacifique) 

Perhaps  formerly  bred  (see  F.  ariel).  Only  one  definite 
record;  an  adult  male  over  the  sea  near  lie  Coco  in 
1942® 

Fregata  ariel 

Lesser  Frigatebird 

Fregat,  ‘fregate’ 
(Fregate  ariel) 

F.  ariel  and/or  F.  m/'nor  formerly  bred  on  lie  Fregate, 
where  last  reported  nesting  in  1795.  Several 
observations  of  unidentified  frigatebirds  since,  but 
only  one  specific  record;  one  collected  following  a 
cyclone  in  1956®®® 

Butorides  striatus 

Green  Heron 

Begasse,  gasse 
(Heron  vert) 

Common  R 

Phoeniconaias  minor 

Lesser  Flamingo 

(Flamant  nain) 

V:  two  at  Baie  aux  Huitres  in  1923® 

Anas  querquedula 

Garganey 

(Sarcelle  d’ete) 

V:  two  following  a cyclone  in  January  1945® 

Numida  meleagris 

Helmeted  Guineafowl 

Pentad,  ‘pintade’ 
(Pintade  de  Numidie) 

R,  1:  formerly  naturalised,  now  only  occasional 
free-ranging  birds 

Francolinus 

pondicerianus 

Grey  Francolin 

Perdzi,  perdrix,  ‘perduif 
(Francolin  gris) 

R,  1:  uncommon 

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Porphyria  alien! 

Allen’s  Gallinule 

(Taleve  d’Allen) 

V:  one  in  December  1873;  specimen  in  Newton 
collection,  Cambridge^ 

Dramas  ardeola 

Crab  Plover 

(Drome  ardeole) 

?M':  uncommon 

Charadrius  hiaticula 

Ringed  Plover 

(Pluvier  grand-gravelot) 

?V:  recorded  in  February  1997  by  R Charles 
(1  Sinclair  pers  comm) 

Charadrius  leschenaultii 

Greater  Sand  Plover 

(Pluvier  de  Leschenault) 

?M:  rare/irregular 

Pluvialis  squatarola 

Grey  Plover 

Zalwet  (Pluvier  argente) 

M:  on  coast  in  small  numbers 

Calidris  alba 

Sanderling 

alouette  de  mer 
(Becasseau  sanderling) 

M:  small  numbers  year-round,  mostly  on  offshore 
islets^ 

Calidris  minuta 

Little  Stint 

(Becasseau  minute) 

?M':  rare/irregular 

Calidris  ferruginea 

Curlew  Sandpiper 

Zalwet  (Becasseau  cocorli) 

M:  occurs  year-round,  mostly  on  offshore  islets’-^-^^ 

Limosa  lapponica 

Bar-tailed  Godwit 

(Barge  rousse) 

?M' 

Numenius  phaeopus 

Whimbrel 

Korbizo,  ‘corbiseau’ 
(Courlis  corlieu) 

M:  on  coast  in  small  numbers,  mostly  summer 
visitor^  with  a few  winter  records’® 

Tringa  nebularia 

Greenshank 

Zalwet  (Chevalier  aboyeur) 

M:  on  coast  in  small  numbers 

Heteroscelus  brevipes 

Grey-tailed  Tattler 

(Chevalier  de  Sibere) 

V:  one  on  south  coast,  in  April  1999 

Actitis  hypoleucos 

Common  Sandpiper 

(Chevalier  guignette) 

?V:  recorded  in  February  1997  by  R Charles 
(1  Sinclair  pers  comm) 

Arenaria  interpres 

Ruddy  Turnstone 

Zalwet,  eswifes 
(Tornepierre  a collier) 

M:  present  year-round,  considered  the  commonest 
wader® 

Sterna  dougallii 

Roseate  Tern 

Golan,  ‘golon’ 
(Sterne  de  Dougall) 

?:  probably  sporadic  breeder  on  various  offshore 
islets 

Sterna  bergii 

Greater  Crested  Tern 

Golan,  malen 
(Sterne  huppee) 

?:  one  record.  Slater  in  1874  collected  two®-^®,  but  also 
reported  by  local  fishermen® 

Sterna  bengalensis 

Lesser  Crested  Tern 

(Sterne  voyaguese) 

M?:  uncommon 

Sterna  hirundo 

Common  Tern 

(Sterne  pierregarin) 

?:  one  definite  record,  two  on  1 March  1982 
(C  Jones  pers  comm) 

Sterna  fuscata 

Sooty  Tern 

Golet,  yeye,  ‘goilette’ 
(Sterne  fuligineuse) 

Local  breeder  on  offshore  islets 

Sterna  albifrons/ 
saundersi 

Little  Tern/ 
Saunders’  Tern 

(Sterne  naine 
/Sterne  de  Saunders) 

?V:  recorded  in  1991  off  lie  Coco’ 

Anous  tenuirostris 

Lesser  Noddy 

Malen,  marianne 
(Noddi  marianne) 

Local  breeder  on  offshore  islets 

Anous  stolidus 

Brown  Noddy 

Malen,  macoua  (Noddi  brun) 

Local  breeder  on  offshore  islets 

Gygis  alba 

Fairy  Tern 

Golet  blan,  golon,  ‘goilette’ 
(Gygis  blanche) 

Uncommon  local  breeder  on  offshore  islets 
(10-20  pairs) 

Columba  livia 

Feral  Pigeon 

Pizoh  (Pigeon  biset) 

R,  1 : fairly  common,  widespread 

Geopelia  striata 

Barred  Ground  Dove 

Tutrel,  gettel,  ‘tourterelle’ 
(Geopelie  zebree) 

R,  1:  common,  widespread 

Streptopelia  picturata 

Madagascar  Turtle-Dove 

(Pigeon  de  Madagascar) 

Extirpated,  but  recently  confirmed  as  having  been  a 
native  (see  Smithsonian  Contrib.  Paleobiol.  89:  1-38) 

Agapornis  canus 

Grey-headed  Lovebird 

Perrige,  peris 
(Inseperable  a tete  grise) 

Introduced  in  1862,  common  until  1956,  but  last 
reported  in  1974® 

Hirundapus  caudacutus 

White-throated  Needletail 

(Martinet  epineux) 

V:  one  in  April  1999 

Acrocephalus 

rodericanus 

Rodrigues  Warbler 

Zwazo  lohbek,  zoiseau 
longbec,  ‘fauvette’ 

ER:  min.  population  cl 50  birds  in  1999,  local 

Acridotheres  tristis 

Common  Mynah 

Marten,  ‘martin’  (Martin  triste) 

R,  1:  common,  widespread 

Passer  domesticus 

House  Sparrow 

Mwano,  ‘moineau’ 
(Moineau  domestique) 

R,  1:  common,  widespread 

Foudia 

madagascariensis 

Madagascan  Fody 

Kardinal,  serin  ruz  (Cardinal 
Rouge  de  Madagascar) 

R,  1:  common,  widespread 

Foudia  flavicans 

Rodrigues  Fody 

Zoiseau  zaune,  serin  zon 
(Foude  de  Rodrigues) 

ER:  min.  population  911  birds  in  1999,  local 

Estrilda  astrild 

Common  Waxbill 

Bengali,  bengali 
(Astrild  ondule) 

R,  1:  common,  widespread 

Serinus  mozambicus 

Yellow-fronted  Canary 

Sereh,  serin  (Serin  du  Pays) 

R,  1:  uncommon  but  widespread 

Key:  E— Endemic,  1— Introduced,  M— Passage  migrant,  R— Resident,  V— Vagrant,  ? —Status  uncertain. 

Note  on  vernacular  names:  Creole  names  (somev\/hat  variable  and  spellings  may  vary  due  to  transliteration  difficulties)  taken  from  Cheke^  and 
pers  comm  (2001),  Friedmann  ef  a/®  and  Staub^^ 


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Large  concentrations  of  White-winged  Black  Terns 
Chlidonias  leucopterus  at  Lutembe  Bay,  Lake  Victoria 

Achilles  Byanihanga,  Julius  Arinaitwe  and  Charles  Williams 


Un  nombre  extremement  important  cle  Guifettes  leucopteres  Chlidonias  leucopterus  a etc  observe  ces 
dernieres  annees  a Lutembe  Bay,  sur  la  rive  ougandaise  du  Lac  Victoria.  Des  denombrements  faits  le 
soir  ont  revele  I’importance  cle  ce  site  pour  I’espece.  Les  effectifs  les  plus  importants  etaient  de  c2,5 
millions  d’oiseaux,  au  debut  du  mois  de  decembre  1999,  et  cle  2 millions,  en  fevrier-mars  2000.  A cela 
il  faut  ajouter  un  million  d’oiseaux  denombres  a Maramba  Bay,  mi-mars  2000.  Recemment,  1,5  million 
d’oiseaux  ont  ete  rapportes  du  Parc  National  Reine  Elizabeth,  en  Ouganda  occidental.  La  population 
mondiale,  qui  etait  prececlemment  estimee  a 1,25-1,5  million  d’oiseaux,  parait  done  avoir  ete 
serieusement  sous-estimee.  Les  methodes  utilisees  pour  denombrer  les  oiseaux  au  dortoir  a Lutembe 
Bay  sont  examinees. 


Lutembe  Bay  lies  on  the  Ugandan  shore  of  Lake 
Victoria,  cl 5 km  north-east  of  Entebbe  and  on 
the  west  side  of  Murchison  Bay.  It  is  a shallow, 
papyrus-fringed  bay  of  c5  km-  with  numerous  low 
mud  islands  and  is  important  for  a variety  of  tern,  gull 
and  other  waterbird  species.  In  1999  NatureUganda 
identified  it  as  one  of  Uganda’s  30  Important  Bird 
Areas  (IBAs),  on  the  strength  of  large  concentrations 
of  White-winged  Black  Chlidonias  leucopterus  and 
Gull-billed  Terns  Gelochelidon  nilotica  and  records 
of  two  Near-threatened  species.  Papyrus  Gonolek 
Laniarius  mufumhiri  and  Shoebill  Balaeniceps  rex\ 
Large  flocks  of  Great  Cormorants  Phalacrocoraxcarho 
use  the  bay  and  there  is  an  unconfirmed  report  of 
Papyrus  Yellow  Warbler  Chloropetagracilirostrisixom 
the  site,  which  is  considered  Vulnerable.  Slender- 
billed  Gull  Larusgenei,  a mainly  coastal  species,  has 
also  been  increasing  in  numbers  at  Lutembe  since 
1998L 

Until  October  1999  regular  waterbird  counts  were 
undertaken  in  the  morning  at  Lutembe,  when  up  to 
c200,000  White-winged  Black  Tern  were  recorded. 
Subsequently,  evening  counts  have  revealed  the  true 
importance  of  the  bay’s  mud  islands  as  roost  sites  for 
the  species.  Numbers  rose  from  cl  million,  in  Novem- 
ber 1999,  to  a peak  of  c2.5  million,  in  early  December 
1999,  and  2 million  in  Eebruary-March  2000.  An 
additional  1 million  were  estimated  at  Mabamba  Bay, 
cl 5 km  away,  on  one  evening  in  mid-March  2000. 
These  extremely  high  totals  give  credence  to  an 
earlier  record  of  cl  million  White-winged  Black  Terns 
at  Lutembe  (by  AB)"^  and  a recent  report  from  Queen 
Elizabeth  National  Park,  western  Uganda,  of  a flock  of 
1.5  million^  These  totals  also  indicate  that  an  esti- 
mated world  population  of  1.25-1.5  million  and  the 
Asia/ African  flyway  total  of  c250,000-^  are  massive 
underestimates. 


Lutembe  Bay  is  a difficult  area  to  count  accu- 
rately. There  are  20-30  mud  islands  depending  on  the 
water  level.  Because  of  the  fringing  swamp  and  local 
topography  there  is  no  high  vantage  point  close 
enough  to  count  from,  so  one  has  to  count  island-by- 
islancl  from  a boat.  The  low  angle  of  view  makes  it 
easy  to  underestimate  numbers  of  resting  birds,  while 
flocks  on  the  wing  are  so  large  and  fast  moving  as  to 
be  impossible  to  accurately  estimate.  Therefore,  while 


LOCATION  OF  LUTEMBE  BAY  IN  UGANDA 


' KABJi 

I 


L... 


LEGEND  i LOCATION  OF  UGANDA  IN  AFRICA 


Map  of  I'ganda  sIk^w  ing  the  position  of  Lutembe  Ba\'.  Lake 
Metoria 


White-winged  Black  Terns  at  Lutembe  Bay,  Lake  Victoria:  Byanihanga  et  at 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1-25 


satisfied  that  our  counts  are  of  the  right  order  of 
magnitude,  we  are  seeking  to  improve  their  accuracy. 
Counting  birds  as  they  come  in  to  roost  at  the  mouth 
of  the  bay  is  very  difficult  because  flocks  frequently 
fly  back  out  over  Lake  Victoria  before  settling  for  the 
night.  Nonetheless,  it  was  possible  to  detect  birds 
against  the  night  sky  and  we  estimated  their  numbers 
as  they  flew  past  according  to  units  of  time  and  then 
multiplied  this  by  the  total  period  over  which  birds 
were  observed  arriving  at  the  roost  site.  Apart  from 
aerial  photography  of  the  entire  roost  site,  our  best 
chance  of  obtaining  better  estimates  may  be  to  use  a 
good  high-speed  SLR  camera  to  photograph  flocks  on 
individual  islands  as  they  take  flight.  Counts  from  the 
photos  could  then  be  compared  with  estimates  of  the 
same  flock  at  rest  immediately  before. 

The  overall  number  and  variety  of  waterbirds  at 
Lutembe  offer  a dramatic  wildlife  spectacle  close  to 
Kampala  making  it  a potential  site  for  ecotourism. 
The  question  of  how  to  provide  suitable  viewing 
points  without  increasing  disturbance  must  be  ad- 


dressed. The  site  is  unprotected  and  horticultural  and 
tourist  development  around  the  bay  pose  potential 
threats.  T' 

References 

1.  Byaruhanga,  A.,  Kasoma,  P.M.B.  and  Pomeroy. 
D.E.  2001.  ImpoHaut  Bird  Areas  in  Uganda.  Kam- 
pala: NatureUganda. 

2.  Dijksen,  A.J.  and  Ouweneel,  G.L.  2000.  An  obsen  a- 
tion  of  Slender-billed  Gull  Lams  geuei  in  Uganda. 
Bull.  ABC1-.  55. 

3.  Rose,  P.M.  and  Scott,  D.A.  1997.  Waterfowl  Popula- 
tion Estimates.  Wageningen:  Wetlands  International. 

4.  Taylor,  V.  and  Rose,  P.  1994.  African  Waterfowl 
Census  1994.  Slimbridge:  International  Waterfowl 
Research  Bureau. 

5.  Wilson,  M.  2000.  Home  from  home.  Bird  watch  48: 
25-27. 

NatureUganda,  c/o  East  Africa  Natural  Histoiy  Society, 
P.O.  Box  27034,  Kampala,  Uganda.  E-mail: 
eanhs@imiil.com. 


26 -Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


White-winged  Black  Terns  at  Lutembe  Bay,  Lake  Victoria:  Byaruhanga  et  al 


Occurrence  of  Cape  Parrot  Poicephalus  robustus 
at  non-forest  feeding  sites  in  South  Africa: 
threats  to  a declining  population 

Craig  T.  Symes  and  Colleen  T.  Downs 


II  est  estime  que  moins  de  500  inclividus  du  Perroquet  robuste  Poicephalus  rohiistus  surwwenl  dans  les 
forets  montagnardes  du  sud-est  de  I’Afrique  du  Sud.  L’espece  est  menacee  par  la  destruction  de  son 
habitat,  la  persecution  mal  intentionnee,  la  capture  pour  le  commerce  illegal  et,  peut-etre,  par  des 
maladies.  Cette  espece  principalement  forestiere  se  nourrit  egalement  en  dehors  du  milieu  forestier;  ce 
comportement  a ete  observe  dans  toute  la  zone  de  distribution  et  est  probablement  lie  a une  penurie 
saisonniere  de  fruits  en  foret.  Des  petits  rassemblements  a certains  sites,  dont  I’importance  est  mise  en 
lumiere,  pourraient  etre  constitues  d’oiseaux  provenant  d’un  aire  plus  vaste.  A cette  epoque,  I’espece 
est  particulierement  vulnerable  et  menacee  par  la  persecution  des  braconniers.  La  disparition  d’un  petit 
nombre  d’individus  pourrait  avoir  un  effet  negatif  significatif  sur  les  chances  de  survie  a long  terme  de 
I’espece  dans  la  nature. 


Introduction 

Cape  (Brown-necked)  ?2inoi  Poicephalus  robustus 
occurs  in  a discontinuous  belt  through  the  natu- 
rally fragmented  indigenous  forests  of  south-eastern 
South  Africa,  from  Fort  Beaufort  in  Eastern  Cape 
Province  to  the  Karkloof  of  KwaZulu-Natal  Prov- 
ince^b  A relict  population  is  found  600  km  north  in 
forests  on  the  eastern  escarpment  around  Tzaneen, 
Mpumalanga  Province^’^b  Its  distribution  was  possi- 
bly once  continuous,  as  historical  records  for  regions 
between  these  two  populations  exisbb  Like  many 
other  parrot  species,  habitat  destruction  and  capture 
of  birds  for  illegal  trade  have  resulted  in  population 
declines  Additional  threats  to  wild  populations  in- 
clude disease  and  shooting  of  birds  as  pests'b 

Of  recent  concern  has  been  the  report  of  Cape 
Parrots  being  shot  or  captured  at  feeding  sites  away 
from  indigenous  forest  patches.  ‘Problem  birds’  caus- 
ing significant  damage  to  commercial  pecan-nut  crops 
have  been  shot.  Recently,  at  a site  in  the  KwaZulu- 
Natal  midlands,  c20  individuals  were  reportedly 
captured  at  an  orchard,  but  prosecution  of  the  alleged 
perpetrators  was  unsuccessful.  With  c200  birds  in  the 
area,  this  may  have  significant  implications  on  wild 
populations. 

Skead^“  estimated  as  few  as  600  Cape  Parrots 
remaining  in  the  Eastern  Cape  and  recent  estimates  of 
the  total  wild  Cape  Parrot  population  are  of  no  more 
than  1,000  birds,  with  possibly  fewer  than  500"b 
However,  misconceptions  persist,  with  overly  opti- 
mistic impressions  of  the  number  of  remaining  birds 
being  garnered  from  the  occurrence  of  large  Hocks  at 
profitable  food  sources-^’.  These  gatherings  occur 


away  from  forests  and  can  involve  flocks  of  up  to  200 
indivicluals-b 

A study  in  KwaZulu-Natal  noted  that  Cape  Parrot 
is  a dietaiy  specialist,  feeding  mainly  on  yello\\xvoods 
Podocarpus  spp.^b  Though  Cape  Parrot  is  an 
Afromontane  forest  specialist^°’^b  it  has  adapted  to 
using  exotic  and  indigenous  food  sources  outside 
forests^*^.  In  addition,  dead  yellowwoods,  especially 
Outeniqua  Yellowwood  P.  falcatiis,  are  used  as  so- 
cialising points  in  forests  and  natural  cavities  as  nesting 
sites-b  Yellowwoods  were  formerly  heavily  logged 
and  the  effects  of  this  activity  are  probably  evident. 
Food  trees  have  been  reduced  in  many  forests  and 
there  are  few  extant  large  dead  trees  capable  of 
providing  appropriate  nest  cavities  for  this  relatively 
large  parrot.  Also,  South  African  Afromontane  forests 
have  irregular  fruit  production  and  occasional  peri- 
ods of  low  food  productivity^- '^"b  Cape  Parrot  is 
therefore  reliant  on  additional  food  sources  during 
such  periods-f  Here,  we  highlight  the  importance  of 
pecan-nut  and  alternative  food  sources  in  the  diet  of 
Cape  Parrot,  and  the  consequences  of  large  flocks 
gathering  at  these  and  other  feeding  sites. 

Methods 

Flock  size  of  Cape  Parrot  was  recorded  at  a pecan-nut 
orchard  (c4  trees)  in  Donnybrook.  K\AaZulu-Natal 
since  1998  (P  St  Pern  pers  comm).  Additional  and 
historical  records  gathered  during  our  in\  oh  ement  in 
Cape  Parrot  research  since  199-1  were  also  collated. 
The  implications  of  these  gatherings  outside  forest 
were  in\  estigated. 


Cape  Parrot  at  uou-forest  feeding  sites  in  South  Africa:  Symes  & Doinis 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 Not  -27 


Results 

Examples  of  sites  where  Cape  Parrots  have  been 
recorded  feeding  away  from  indigenous  forest  are 
summarised  in  Table  1.  This  list  is  not  exhaustive. 

Max.  daily  numbers  of  Cape  Parrots  at  a pecan- 
nut  orchard  (site  1,  Table  1)  over  a three-year  period 
are  shown  in  Fig  1 . Here,  Cape  Parrot  was  common  in 
June-September,  when  pecan-nuts  were  fruiting.  In 
1998  they  were  first  seen  feeding  on  11  June  and  last 
observed  on  3 July.  They  did  not  appear  in  1999  but 
in  2000  were  seen  on  11-25  August  (Fig  1). 

In  April  1998,  a hock  of  52  was  seen  feeding  on 
pecan-nuts  at  Nqadu,  Eastern  Cape  Province  (site  10, 
Table  1),  during  the  annual  Cape  Parrot  Big  Birding 
Dayh  The  following  year  a total  of  five  was  seen  at  the 
same  site  and  a larger  hock,  of  c77,  was  at  Misty  Mount 
(site  11,  Table  1),  30  km  distant.  In  this  region  (Umtata) 
they  fed  predominantly  on  pecan-nuts  in  March- 
Mayk 

In  the  1960s  flocks  of  up  to  100  were  observed 
feeding  on  Black  Wattle  Acacia  mearnsii  in  the 
Karkloof  (L  Bouwer  pers  comm;  site  7,  Table  1). 
Today  Cape  Parrot  is  scarce  in  the  region  and  seldom 
are  more  than  ten  seen  together  in  this  area.  In  the 
early  1980s,  hocks  of  10-20  were  periodically  re- 
corded (CTS  pers  obs)  feeding  in  a pecan-nut  orchard 
at  Menin  farm  (site  3,  Table  1).  Here  it  was  also 
recorded  unsuccessfully  attempting  to  feed  on  pears. 
In  certain  years  hocks  hew  over  between  Hlabeni 
forest  adjacent  to  Menin  farm,  and  Centocow  Mission 
station  (site  4,  Table  1),  in  the  early  morning  and  late 
afternoon.  In  1994  the  species  was  recorded  feeding 
on  Syringa  Melia  azadarach^^  and  in  the  1950s  often 
fed  in  apricot  orchards  at  Centocow  (T  Symes  pers 
comm).  Flocks  of  up  to  200  were  not  uncommon  at 
this  time  and  were  shot  because  of  damage  caused  to 
orchard  crops  (T  Symes  pers  comm).  In  the  Umzimkulu 
Valley,  peach  trees  in  the  yards  of  tribal  land  residents 
were  used  by  Cape  Parrot.  A popular  feeding  site  in 
the  1970s  was  at  a church  near  Centocow  Mission  (T 
Symes  pers  comm). 

Discussion 

Approximately  33%  of  parrot  species  face  threats  in 
their  natural  habitat^k  However,  in  certain  areas  par- 
rots have  achieved  pest  status^’^,  and  in  urban  areas 
feral  populations  have  become  establishedk  Some 
instances  of  human  activity  have  benefited  parrots  by 
providing  alternative  food  sources  and  drinking 
troughs  in  dry  areas.  For  example,  the  range  of 
Riippell’s  Parrot  Poicephalus  rueppellii  has  possibly 
increased  as  a result  of  the  presence  of  drinking  sites 
provided  for  livestock  in  dry  regions  of  Namibia^ k 
Grey-headed  P.  (robustiis)  suahelicus,  Meyer’s  P. 


Date 

Figure  1.  Occurrence  of  Cape  Parrot  Poicephalus  robust  us  at 
Splendora  Farm  (pecan-nut  feeding  .site).  Donnybrook. 
Kw  aZulu-Natal,  show  ing  ma.\.  number  recorded  each  day  ( 1’  St 
Pern  pers  comm). 

nieyeri  and  Brown-headed  Parrots  P.  ayptoxautbiis, 
and  Black-cheeked  Agapornis  (lilicmae)  tiigrigctiis. 
Rosy-faced  A.  roseicollis  and  Lillian  s Lo\ebirds  A. 
lilianae  have  all  been  ob.sen  ed  at  artificial  drinking 
sites  and  planted  crops  in  xairious  parts  of  their  range 
(CTS  pers  obs;  S Taylor.  L Warburton  pers  comm). 

Frugivores.  seedeaters  and  nectari\ores  are  lim- 
ited by  food  resources,  and  thus  restricted  to  larger, 
more  productive  forests-  ‘k  Therefore,  in  periods  of 
low  food  production  in  forests  wild  birds  are  forced  to 
forage  in  neighbouring  forests  or  seek  alternati\’e 
food  sources  outside  forests.  In  Eastern  Cape  Pro\  - 
ince  flocks  of  Cape  Parrot  occurred  closer  to  the  coast 
in  drier  years  and  during  periods  of  possible  lower 
forest  fruit  production Overland  flights,  first  de- 
scribed by  SkeacP''  and  the  importance  of  non-forest 
food  sources  w'ere  noted  nearly  100  years  ago.  Da\'ies ' 
collected  specimens  near  Flagstaff,  Eastern  Cape  Prov- 
ince, where  Cape  Parrot  w^as  present  in  ‘great  numbers’, 
their  crops  filled  with  Black  Wattle  seeds. 

Cape  Parrot  is  known  to  travel  up  to  90  km  daily 
to  food  sources  away  from  regular  forest  feeding 


Figure  2.  Naturally  fragmented  Afromontane  forest  patches, 
habitat  of  Cape  Parrot  Poicephalus  robustiis. 

Figure  3.  Cape  Parrot  Poicephalus  robustiis  flocking  in 
exotic  Eucalyptus  spp.  near  pecan-nut  orchard. 

Figure  4.  Cape  Parrot  Poicephalus  robustiis  feeding  on 
unripe  pecan-nuts  at  Nqadu,  Umtata. 

Figure  5.  Overland  flights  of  Cape  Parrot  Poicephalus 

robustiis  between  a pecan-nut  orchard  at  Nqadu 
and  indigenous  forest. 

Figure  6.  Cape  Parrot  Poicephalus  robustiis  feeding  on  ripe 
pecan-nuts  at  Donnybrook. 

Figure  7.  Cape  Parrot  Poicephalus  robustiis  feeding  on 
unripe  Outeniqua  Yellowwood  Podocaipus 
falcatus  in  a farmyard  in  Boston,  KwaZulu-Natal. 


28  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Cape  Parrot  at  non-forest  feeding  sites  in  South  Africa:  Symes  & Downs 


Cape  Parrot  at  non-forest  feeding  sites  in  South  Africa:  Symes  & Doinis 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -29 


Table  1.  Examples  of  feeding  sites  of  Cape  (Brown-necked)  Parrot  Poicephalus  robustus  outside  indigenous  forest  (Transkei  records 
refer  to  the  former  Transkei  homeland  prior  to  1994,  now  incorporated  within  Eastern  Cape  Province) 


Site  Locality 

Food  source 

Year 

Reference 

1 

Splendora  Farm,  Donnybrook  (KZN) 

Pecan-nuts 

1998.  2000 

This  study,  Fig  1 

2 

Donnybrook  (KZN) 

Wild  Cherry 

1997 

CTD  unpubl.  data 

3 

Menin  Farm,  Creighton  (KZN) 

Pecan-nuts,  pears,  apples 

cl  983 

CTS  pers  obs 

4 

Centocow,  Creighton  (KZN) 

Syringa  Melia  azedarach 

1992-1993 

Wirminghaus  et  aP 

5 

Centocow,  Creighton  (KZN) 

Apricot 

cl  950s 

T.  Symes  pers  comm 

6 

Ngele,  Weza  (KZN) 

Black  Wattle  Acacia  mearnsii 

1996-1997,  2001 

Wirminghaus  et  aF,  C Forsyth  pers  comm 

7 

Clan,  Karkloot  (KZN) 

Black  Wattle  Acacia  mearnsii 

1960s 

L Bouwer  pers  comm 

8 

Bulwer  (KZN) 

Apples 

1995 

CTD  unpubl.  data 

9 

Boston  (KZN) 

Outeniqua  Yellowwood 
Podocarpus  faicatus  (tree  in  garden) 

1998 

CTD  unpubl.  data 

10 

Nqadu,  Umtata  (Transkei) 

Pecan-nuts 

1997-2001 

Downs  & Symes^ 

11 

Misty  Mount,  Umtata  (Transkei) 

Pecan-nuts 

1999-2001 

Downs  & Symes^  D Kemp  pers  comm 

12 

King  Williams  Town  (EC) 

Wild  Plum  Harpephyltum  caffrum 
(indigenous  tree  planted  in  town) 

1990s 

J Sheard  pers  comm 

Pecan-nut  plantations  are  clumped  and  not 
abundant.  Concentrations  of  Cape  Parrot  occur  at 
these  sites  during  periods  of  low  forest  fruit  produc- 
tion and  birds  at  such  gatherings  may  represent  a 
large  proportion  of  those  in  a huge  area  of  the  species' 
range-'. 

There  has  been  much  speculation  as  to  the  rea- 
sons for  the  recent  decline  in  Cape  Parrot  numbers. 
The  compound  effects  of  trapping  for  illegal  trade, 
habitat  destruction  and,  in  particular,  removal  of 
mature  yellowwoods,  disease  and  shooting  have  re- 
sulted in  a significant  decline  in  the  last  50  years"'  ‘‘0  It 
is,  however,  at  non-forest  feeding  sites  that  large 
flocks  are  vulnerable  to  capture  and  persecution. 
These  sites  require  documentation  and  their  impor- 
tance for  conservation  noted. 

Because  Cape  Parrot  occurs  in  a naturally  frag- 
mented habitat  it  is  difficult  to  consewe"^.  Afromontane 
forests  are  under  the  jurisdiction  of  many  landowners 
and  are  threatened  by  over-exploitation'^'',  ranging 
from  subsistence  removal  of  forest  fauna  and  flora  to 
over-use  of  products  removed  for  various  reasons,  eg 
medicinal  purposes.  This  is  difficult  to  control  and, 
together  with  the  threat  to  populations  at  feeding 
sites,  has  implications  for  the  consewation  of  Cape 
Parrot.  Recent  efforts,  involving  certain  landowners 
at  non-forest  feeding  sites  (eg  Splendora  Farm,  Don- 
nybrook)  have  aimed  to  protect  and  monitor  Cape 
Parrot  numbers.  By  making  available  newly  planted 
pecan-nut  trees,  future  feeding  sites  can  be  estab- 
lished and  the  species’  conservation  assured,  "fi' 


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4.  Da\ies.  C.G.  IPO".  Notes  on  birds  obser\’ed  and 
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1904-1906  and  the  beginning  of  1907./.  South  Afr. 
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5.  Downs,  C.T.  and  Symes,  C.T.  1998.  Cape  Parrots. 
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7.  Downs,  C.T.  2000.  The  Cape  Crusader.  Parrots  36: 
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8.  Koen,  J.H.  1992.  Medium-term  fluctuations  of  birds 
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15.  Symes,  C.T.,  Wirminghaus,  J.O.  and  Downs,  C.T.  in 
press.  Species  richness  and  seasonality  of  forest 
avifauna  in  three  South  African  Afromontane  For- 
ests. Ostrich. 

16.  Wirminghaus,  J.O.  1990.  The  role  and  significance 
of  rodents  in  the  functioning  of  a forest  ecosystem. 
MSc  thesis.  Pietermaritzburg:  University  of  Natal. 

17.  Wirminghaus,  J.O.  1997.  Cape  Parrot  Poicephalus 
robustus  In:  Harrison,  J.A.,  Allan,  D.G.,  Underhill, 


L.G.,  Herremans,  M.,  Tree,  A.J.,  Parker,  V.  and 
Brown,  C.J.  (eds)  The  Atlas  of  Southern  African 
birds.  Vol  1.  Johannesburg:  BirdLife  South  Africa. 

18.  Wirminghaus,  J.O.,  Downs,  C.T.,  Symes,  C.T.  and 
Perrin,  M.R.  1999.  Conservation  of  the  Cape  Parrot 
Poicephalus  r.  robustus  in  southern  Africa.  South 
Afr.J.  Wildl.  Res.  29:  118-129. 

19.  Wirminghaus,  J.O.,  Downs,  C.T.,  Symes,  C.T.  and 
Perrin,  M.R.  2000.  Abundance  of  the  Cape  Parrot  in 
South  Africa.  South  Afr.J.  Wildl.  Res.  30:  43-52. 

20.  Wirminghaus,  J.O.,  Downs,  C.T.,  Perrin,  M.R.  and 
Symes,  C.T.  2001.  Abundance  and  activity  of  the 
Cape  Parrot  Poicephalus  robustus  in  Afromontane 
forests  in  southern  Africa.  Afr.  Zool.  36:  71-77. 

21.  Wirminghaus,  J.O.,  Downs,  C.T.,  Symes,  C.T.  and 
Perrin,  M.R.  in  press.  Diet  of  the  Cape  Parrot 
Poicephalus  robustus  in  Afromontane  forests  in 
KwaZulu-Natal,  South  Africa.  Ostrich. 

22.  Wirminghaus,  J.O.,  Downs,  C.T.,  Symes,  C.T.  and 
Perrin,  M.R.  in  press.  Taxonomic  relationships  of 
the  subspecies  of  the  Cape  Parrot  Poicephalus 
robustus  (Gmelin).  /.  Nat.  Hist. 

Research  Centre  for  African  Parrot  Conservation,  School 

of  Botany  and  Zoology,  University  of  Natal,  P/Bag  XOl, 

Scottsville,  3209,  South  Africa.  E-mail:  symes@nu.ac.za. 


Cape  Parrot  at  non-forest  feeding  sites  in  South  Africa:  Symes  & Downs 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 - 31 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra 

Michael  Betts 


La  premiere  liste  systematique  et  clocumentee  cles  oiseaux  de  I'Atoll  d'Aldabra  depuis  1%"  est 
presentee.  Elle  est  precedee  d’une  courte  description  du  site  et  des  actix  ites  scientiFiques  et  de 
conservation  qui  y sont  menees.  Le  texte  inclut  des  informaticms  siir  la  distribution,  les  periodes  de 
nidification  et  des  estimations  de  populations.  Les  dates  d'obsen'ation  des  especes  aecidentelles  ,sont 
mentionnees.  Un  appel  est  lance  pour  signaler  toute  obsen  ation  non  incluse  dans  la  presente  liste. 


Introduction 

Aldabra  is  the  xvoiid’s  largest  raised  coral  atoll, 
situated  at  the  northern  end  of  the  Mozambique 
Channel,  850  km  south-east  of  Dar  es  Salaam  on  the 
African  mainland  and  450  km  north-west  of  Madagas- 
car. It  is  the  south-westernmost  outpost  of  Seychelles, 
1,100  km  from  the  administrative  capital  of  Victoria 
on  Mahe.  The  landmass,  c34  km  east-west  by  15  km 
north-south,  comprises  c30%  of  the  total  land  area  of 
Seychelles'^’,  and  encircles  a large,  tidal  lagoon,  which 
contains  almost  1,000  islands  and  islets‘5  Astove, 
Cosmoledo  and  Assumption  are  the  other  islands  of 
the  Aldabra  group. 

The  Royal  Society  initiated  a programme  of  biologi- 
cal research  at  Aldabra  in  1967,  leading  to  the 
establishment  of  a permanent  Research  Station  in 
1971“7  Since  1981  the  atoll  has  been  managed  by 
Seychelles  Islands  Foundation,  a government  statutoiy 
body,  as  a Nature  Reserve  and  Natural  World  Heritage 
Site,  with  the  stated  priorities  of  protection,  consen^a- 
tion  and  appropriate  research  and  monitoring^ 

All  records  of  species  of  less  than  annual  occur- 
rence in  Seychelles,  which  require  confirmation  by 
Seychelles  Bird  Records  Committee  (SBRC),  are  in- 
cluded here  (to  31  December  2000)  and  have  been 
accepted  by  SBRC  unless  otheiwise  stated.  Numbers 
of  records  of  vagrants  are  presented  in  brackets, 
while  nomenclature  and  sequence  follow  that  used 
by  SBRC.  A previous  systematic  list  of  Aldabra ’s  birds 
was  compiled  by  BensoW  in  1967,  and  a more  recent 
oveiwiew  of  the  atoll  and  its  birds,  including  taxo- 
nomic status,  by  SkerretD’.  A map  showing  place 
names  is  available  in  Stoddart  & Westoll-7 

Jouanin’s  Petrel  Bulweria  fallax 

Vagrant  (one):  two  between  Aldabra  and  Assumption 

on  24  November  1998. 

Wedge-tailed  Shearwater  Pufjiniis  pacificus 
Vagrant  (two):  one  found  ashore  at  Station  in  1976  (R 
Prys-Jones  pers  comm)  and  another  flew  north  with 
Lesser  Noddies  Anoiis  tenuirostris  on  19  February  1999- 
Breeds  throughout  western  Indian  Ocean,  presumably 
under-recorded. 


Audubon’s  Shean\^ater  Puffimis  Ihermiuicri 
Breeds:  population  e.stimated  at  c2S0  pairs  in  2000'. 
breeding  on  rat-free  lagoon  islets.  A 1996  claim  that 
Aldabra  birds  constitute  a race  distinct  from  iiicoUic. 
named  P.  I.  colstoui-'.  is  disputed  (Bretagnolle  N Austin 
Linpubl.  DNA  analysis). 

Swinhoe’s  Storm-petrel  Occauodroma  monorhis 
\7igrant  (two):  one  between  .Assumption  and  .Aldabra 
on  12  October  1996.  another  in  .same  area  on  6 Decem- 
ber 1998. 

Red-tailed  Tropicbird  Phacthou  nihricaiula 
Breeds:  population  e.stimated  at  1.9S0  pairs  in  1999 
2000",  sea.sonally  breeding  on  rat-free  lagoon  islets, 
main  laying  period  January- .March'd 

White-tailed  Tropicbird  Phactboji  tcptiinis 
Breeds:  population  estimated  at  2.000  pairs  in  1999 
2000'’,  breeding  in  all  months  on  rat-free  lagoon  islets'-. 

Masked  Booby  Sulci  dactylatni 
Occasional  xisitor?  ‘Has  been  seen  at  Aldabra’'”.  No 
further  records.  Breeds  in  large  numbers  at  Cosmoledo, 
70  km  axx'ay,  possibly  ox  erlooked. 

Red-footed  Booby  Si  da  sulci 

Breeds:  population  estimated  at  9,000-11,000  pairs  in 
1999/2000,  an  increase  of  50%  since  1967/68'’”.  in  man- 
groves fringing  lagoon,  most  eggs  in  November-April". 
The  white  form  predominates,  with  fewer  than  0.5%  of 
the  white-tailed  brown  phase”.  One  percent  or  more  of 
African  population-d 

Brown  Booby  Sul  a leiicogaster 
Annual  visitor.  Up  to  four  seen  in  all  months  but  few 
overall  records.  Breeds  at  Cosmoledo  in  very  small 
numbers,  and  on  Madagascar. 

Long-tailed  Cormorant  Phalacrocorax  africaniis 
Vagrant  (17):  one  on  26  January  1999  was  first  con- 
firmed record  for  Seychelles,  with  further  sightings  of 
singles  until  April,  then  up  to  21  in  Bras  L’Fglise/Bassin 
Flamant  areas,  quite  possibly  more  (29  April  1999). 
Only  occasional  sightings  of  1-2  subsequently,  last  on 
25  November  1999,  with  no  signs  of  breeding.  Common 
breeder  on  Madagascar  and  Africa. 


32  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra:  Betts 


African  Darter  Anhiuga  riifa 

Unconfirmed  vagrant:  one  at  West  Channels  on  16  July- 
16  September  1972  is  under  consideration  by  SBRC. 
There  are  no  other  Seychelles  records. 

Great  Frigatebird  Fregata  minor 
Breeds:  census  in  2000'"^  indicated  no  significant  changes 
in  numbers/distribution  of  combined  breeding 
populations  of  this  and  F.  ariel  since  1976/77,  when 
4,000  pairs  of  minor  estimated--.  Three  colonies  in 
mangroves  at  Camp  Fregat,  Middle  Camp  and  (fewer) 
Gionnet.  Most  eggs  laid  August-January.  One  percent 
or  more  of  African  population-/ 

Lesser  Frigatebird  Fregata  ariel 
Breeds:  census  in  2000'^  indicated  no  significant  changes 
in  numbers/distribution  of  combined  breeding 
populations  of  this  and  previous  species  since  1976/77, 
when  6,000  pairs  of  ariel  estimated-/  Main  colony  in 
mangroves  at  Camp  Fregat,  with  fewer  at  Middle  Camp 
and  Gionnet.  Most  eggs  laid  April-October.  One  per- 
cent or  more  of  African  population-/ 

Green-backed  Heron  Biitorides  striatiis 
Breeds:  no  population  estimate,  but  number  of  pairs 
probably  in  high  hundreds.  Breeds  throughout  atoll, 
mainly  October-March,  colonial  in  some  areas  (up  to  79 
nests  lie  Aux  Aigrettes).  Race  crawfordi  restricted  in 
Seychelles  to  Aldabra  group  and  probably  Amirantes-/ 

Cattle  Egret  Bubulciis  ibis 

Breeds:  no  population  estimate,  but  probably  fewer 
than  100  pairs,  nesting  October-March,  at  lie  Aux  Ai- 
grettes, Squacco  Island,  Fleron  Island,  north-west  of 
Gros  ilot  Cavalier.  Roosts  near  Dune  d’Messe,  Heron 
Island,  Cinq  Cases  and  Takamaka  Grove.  Follows  goats 
and  tortoises.  Nominate  race  restricted  in  Seychelles  to 
Aldabra  and  Farquhar-/ 

Malagasy  Pond-heron  Ardeola  idae 
Breeds:  an  estimated  20-50  pairs^/  chiefly  in  south-east 
of  atoll,  with  the  main  known  breeding  site  being  lie 
Aux  Aigrettes,  in  October-March.  All-white  breeding 
plumage.  Endemic  to  Aldabra,  Madagascar  and  Europa 
(in  the  southern  Mozambique  Channel). 

Little  Egret  Egretta  garzetta 

Breeds:  population  estimate  1,000-3,000  pairs-/  race 
dimorpha  (Dimorphic  Egret),  proportion  of  white  form 
to  dark  c3:l/  Breeds  mainly  December-March  in  colo- 
nies of  up  to  50  pairs,  mainly  in  mangrove,  at  a variety 
of  sites  but  particularly  on  lagoon  islands  eg  lie  Aux 
Aigrettes  and  lie  Moustiques. 

Great  White  Egret  Egretta  alba 
Vagrant  (three):  singles  at  Cinq  Cases/Bassin  Elamant 
on  28-29  August  1986,  14  Eebruary  1995,  23  July  1998 
and  5 October  1998,  the  latter  two  probably  same  bird. 
Breeds  Madagascar  and  East  Africa. 


Grey  Heron  Ardea  cinerea 

Breeds:  no  population  estimate,  but  probably  fewer 
than  200  pairs,  breeding  throughout  atoll  mainly  in 
north-west  monsoon,  but  pattern  perhaps  less  seasonal 
than  other  herons.  Not  strongly  colonial,  up  to  five  pairs 
on  some  rat-free  islets  at  La  Gigi  and  Coffee  Camp.  Legs 
bright  pink  in  breeding  season. 

Sacred  Ibis  Threskiornis  aethiopiciis 
Breeds:  population  estimated  at  100-250  pairs’^.  Breeds 
colonially  December-March,  up  to  three  eggs  laid. 
Known  sites  at  Bassin  Elamant  (up  to  63  pairs^-), 
Takamaka  Pool,  Ibis  Pool  and  near  Bras  des  Cedres  in 
south-west  Grande  Terre.  Communal  roost  in  non- 
breeding season  at  Takamaka  Grove.  Endemic  race  T. 
a.  abbotti  confined  to  Aldabra,  considered  along  with 
Madagascar  population  to  be  distinct  from  African  spe- 
cies, as  T.  bernieri  by  some  authorities^^-^'’.  Individual  of 
African  form  T.  a.  aethiopiciis,  brown-eyed  with  black 
primary  tips,  at  Cinq  Cases  17  December  1967-23  Eeb- 
ruary 1968,  photographed. 

Greater  Flamingo  Phoenicopteriis  ruber 
Breeds:  population  25-50  individuals,  the  only  atoll  and 
oceanic  breeding  site  known,  except  Galapagos-^.  Breed- 
ing not  confirmed  until  13  April  1995"/  when  a chick 
one-third  to  half-grown,  three  nests  and  three  incom- 
plete nests  were  found  at  a freshwater  pool  in  the 
Takamaka  region.  A juvenile  with  13  adults,  on  23 
November  1995,  suggests  a successful  outcome.  Four 
juveniles,  three  nest  mounds  and  eggshells  were  found 
in  1996-/  Sightings  largely  confined  to  south-east  part  of 
atoll  and  lagoon.  Fifty  in  February  1968  is  the  largest 
count,  with  30  several  times  in  the  1990s,  apparently 
resident,  though  Abbott  reported  ‘hundreds’  in  the  late 
19th  century.  Breeds  Madagascar  and  East  Africa. 

White-faced  Whistling  Duck  Dendrocygna  vidiiata 
Vagrant  (three):  single  adults  on  21  September  1969 
(specific  locality  unknown),  at  Cinq  Cases  on  15-26 
April  1973  and  26-27 June  1974.  Only  Seychelles  records 
apart  from  one  at  Assumption.  Three  other  uncon- 
firmed sightings.  Common  East  Africa  and  Madagascar. 

Garganey  Anas  qnerqiiediila 

Vagrant  (one):  eclipse  drake/female  probably  of  this 
species  at  Settlement  Reef  on  12  No\'ember  1986/ 
Annual  migrant  to  Seychelles  and  East  Africa. 

Black  (Yellow-billed)  Kited//7r//s  {migrans)  aegyptiiis 
Vagrant  (6+):  Abbott  collected  two.  on  2 October 
and  19  December  1892.  and  also  taken  by  Mortimer 
on  18  November  1903  and  another  by  Thibault  on  6 
August  1906.  Series  of  sightings  in  early  19~-t  in- 
volved 3-6  birds:  one  at  Settlement  on  21  January, 
two  from  24  January.  2-3  on  2S  January-1  February 
and  one  on  9 February.  One  at  Takamaka  on  2^ 
January,  one  at  Dune  d'Messe  on  26  January  and  2 
February,  and  one  at  Cinq  Cases  on  10  February 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra:  Betts 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -33 


1974.  Only  confirmed  Seychelles  records.  Common 
at  Comoros  and  Madagascar  and  an  intra-African 
migrant. 

Montagu’s/Pallid  Harrier  Circus  pygargus/C. 
macrourus 

Vagrant  (one):  female/immature  at  Bassin  Cabri  on  4 
March  2000.  No  other  Seychelles  records  of  either  spe- 
cies. 

Madagascar  Kestrel  Falco  newtoni 
Breeds:  not  more  than  50  individuals,  probably  closer  to 
15-20  pairs^^  Up  to  five  eggs  laid  October,  in  traditional 
territories,  eggs  sometimes  infertile.  Endemic  to  Aldabra 
and  Madagascar^^ 

Eleonora’s  Falcon  Falco  eleonorae 
Vagrant  (seven):  recorded  on  six  dates  in  1972  between 
31  October  and  27  December,  with  three  on  21  Novem- 
ber. Adult  on  7-19  November  1999.  Eighteen  other 
records,  12  in  late  September-December  and  six  in 
March-April,  may  refer  to  this  species  or  Sooty  Ealcon  F. 
concolor.  Breeds  Mediterranean/North  Africa,  most 
moving  to  Madagascar  in  non-breeding  season.  Pre- 
sumably under-recorded,  possibly  near  annual. 

Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor 

Vagrant  (one):  single  photographed  on  12  December 
1972  at  Settlement.  See  also  Eleonora’s  Ealcon. 

Aldabra  (White-throated)  Rail  Dryolimnas  cuvieri 
Breeds:  c8,000  individuals  estimated  in  1974/5'^  with 
counts  in  1999/2000  indicating  no  significant  change^4 
Eound  also  on  Madagascar,  but  race  aldabranus  en- 
demic to  Aldabra^^  and  recently  considered  specifically, 
D.  aldabranus^^ . Main  population  on  lie  Malabar,  small 
numbers  on  Polymnie,  lie  Aux  Cedres  and  some  other 
lagoon  islets.  Cats  are  thought  to  have  caused  local 
extirpations  on  Grande  Terre  and  Picard.  The  Aldabra 
form  has  lost  power  of  flighC°  (those  on  Madagascar 
have  not)^^,  and  is  only  remaining  flightless  bird  in 
Indiai)  Ocean.  Breeds  December-March.  Nine  pairs 
reintroduced  to  Picard  in  October  1999  from  Malabab’-^/ 

Striped  Crake  Aenigmatolimnas  marginalis 
Vagrant  (one):  single  collected  by  E R Mortimer  at 
Picard,  as  a male,  on  10  December  1904,  and  held  in 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History  (New  York),  sub- 
sequently accepted  as  female^®. 

Allen’s  Gallinule  Porphyrio  alleni 
Vagrant  (two):  adult  photographed  at  Bassin  Flamant  on 
15  February  1995,  and  an  adult  at  Station  on  10  January 
1999.  Breeds  Madagascar. 

Gallinule  sp. 

Vagrant  (one):  juvenile  at  Bassin  Flamant  on  29  July 
1999  may  have  been  P.  alleni  or  an  American  Purple 
Gallinule  Porphyrio  martinica. 


Crab  Plover  Dromas  ardeola 

Annual  migrant:  up  to  2,800  September-May.  peaking 
January-ApriP’,  is  1%  or  more  of  African  population-  . 
Few  hundred  usually  present  May-Augu.st.  Major  roo.si 
sites  at  La  Gigi,  Settlement  Beach,  Grand  Cavalier,  islets 
west  of  ile  Michel  and  especially  lie  Moustiques. 

Eurasian  Oystercatcher  Haematopus  ostralegiis 
Vagrant  (one):  single  at  east  end  of  atoll  on  29  October 
1976-4  August  1977. 

Pacific  Golden  Plover  Pliiiialis  idominica)  fulra 
Vagrant  (two):  three  males  and  two  females  at  Cinq 
Cases  on  15  April  1973,  one  male  in  full  breeding 
plumage,  and  an  adult  entering  breeding  plumage  near 
Bassin  Flamant  on  1 April  1999.  Annual  migrant  to 
Seychelles. 

Grey  Plover  Pluvialis  sqiiatarola 

Annual  migrant.  Up  to  50  at  Dune  Patates  high-tide 

roost.  Scarce  April-August. 

Ringed  Plover  Charadrius  hiaticula 

Annual  migrant.  Present  in  small  numbers  September- 

May,  max.  count  17. 

Lesser  Sand  Plover  Charadrius  mougoliis 
Annual  migrant.  Seldom  distinguished  from  Greater 
Sand  Plover  C.  leschenaultii.  Up  to  60  at  Dune  Patates 
roost  in  December,  outnumbering  leschenaultii.  Scarce 
April-July. 

Greater  Sand  Plover  Charadrius  leschenaultii 
Annual  migrant.  Seldom  distinguished  from  Lesser  Sand 
Plover  C.  mongolus.  Up  to  1,000  of  both  species  at  Dune 
Patates  high-tide  roost  October-March,  scarce  April- 
July. 

Bar-tailed  Godwit  Limosa  lapponica 
Annual  migrant.  Small  parties  August-March  at  Grand 
Cavalier  and  lie  Moustiques  at  high  tide,  up  to  350 
counted  in  January  2000. 

Whimbrel  Numenius  phaeopus 
Annual  migrant.  Largest  counts  at  high-tide  roosts  (La 
Gigi,  lie  Moustiques,  Grand  Cavalier)  usually  in  March, 
max.  170  in  2000,  scarce  May-August. 

Eurasian  Curlew  Numenius  arquata 
Vagrant  (six):  singles  at  Grand  Cavalier  on  30  November 
and  6 December  1967,  five  at  lie  Moustiques  on  26 
August  1974  and  two  there  on  8 October  1978,  with  one 
at  Grand  Cavalier  on  13  January  2000  and  two  there  on 
26  January  2000.  Annual  migrant  to  Seychelles  and  East 
Africa,  presumably  under-recorded. 

Common  Greenshank  Tringa  nebularia 

Annual  migrant.  Small  numbers,  max.  count  50  at  ile 

Moustiques  in  March  2000.  Scarce  April-July. 


34  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra:  Betts 


Wood  Sandpiper  Tringa  glareola 
Vagrant  (two):  two  near  Cinq  Cases  on  24  December 
1967,  one  to  at  least  28  January  1968^”,  and  one  at  Cinq 
Cases  landing  stage  on  2 February  1999.  Strongly  migra- 
tory, annual  in  Seychelles,  presumably  under-recorded. 

Common  Sandpiper  Act  it  is  hypoleuca 
Annual  migrant.  Present,  usually  singly,  around  lagoon 
shore  and  inland  pools,  scarcer  May-June.  Occasional 
parties  in  March,  presumably  migrating,  max.  23  on  25 
March  1999. 

Terek  Sandpiper  Xeniis  cinereus 
Vagrant  (clO):  small  numbers  recorded  by  Penny^^ 
around  lagoon  shore,  max.  12  on  6 December  1967  at 
Grand  Cavalier,  with  singles  at  Passe  Dubois  on  24 
August  1974,  and  Picard  Station  on  3 October  1983  and 

17  September  1999.  Annual  visitor  to  Seychelles,  Mada- 
gascar and  East  Africa,  presumably  under-recorded. 

Turnstone  Arenaria  interpres 
Annual  migrant.  Estimated  500-1,000  in  non-breeding 
season,  is  1%  or  more  of  African  population'^  Decline 
in  late  April,  numbers  increasing  again  in  August. 

Pintail  Snipe  Gallinago  stenura 

Vagrant  (one);  single  caught  and  killed  at  Settlement, 

Picard,  on  20  November  1973.  Breeds  Asia. 

Sanderling  Calidris  alba 

Annual  migrant.  Scarce  but  undoubtedly  under-re- 
corded. Generally  absent  March-August.  Usually  only 
1-3,  rarely  up  to  22,  with  max.  91  at  Anse  Mais  on  4 
December  1967^^. 

Little  Stint  Calidris  minuta 

Vagrant  (four):  recorded  by  Penny^®  on  30  November 
1967  and  2 December  1967  (44  at  Esprit),  and  by  Erith'^ 
on  3 October  1972  (12)  and  5 October  1973  (200).  No 
other  double-figure  counts  in  Seychelles,  where  it  is  an 
annual  migrant. 

Curlew  Sandpiper  Calidris  ferruginea 
Annual  migrant.  Large  numbers  feed  in  lagoon  at  low 
tide,  scarce  late  April-late  August,  counts  of  up  to  2,000 
in  Dune  Patates  high-tide  roost  October-March. 

Subantarctic  Skua  Catharacta  antarctica 
Vagrant  (seven):  recorded  in  November  1971,  on  7 May 
1976,  21  December  1977,  30  June  1981,  all  as  ‘Great 
Skua’,  then  on  6 December  1998, 15  December  1998  and 

18  June  1999,  the  latter  identified  as  race  lonnhergi,  the 
most  likely  to  occur.  Annual  migrant  to  Seychelles  from 
Antarctic  breeding  grounds  and  presumably  under- 
recorded. 

Lesser  Black-backed  Gull  Lams  fiisciis 

Vagrant  (one):  sub-adult  of  nominate  race,  which  breeds 

Baltic  and  north  Norway,  at  Picard  Station,  on  19-28 


November  1999.  Three  earlier  records  unconfirmed,  in 
1964‘‘6  on  7 December  1976  and  28  December  1984. 
Vagrant  to  Seychelles. 

Black-/Grey-/Brown-headed  Gull  Lams  ridihundus/ 
cirrocephaliis/hmnnicephalus 

Vagrant  (one):  single  at  Cinq  Cases  on  19  December 
1994-15  Eebruary  1995. 

Caspian  Tern  Sterna  caspia 

Breeds:  five  pairs  in  2000'’.  The  only  breeding  site  in 
Seychelles.  Twelve  pairs  in  July  1986,  and  30  in  May 
1972  are  the  largest  counts.  lie  Moustiques  is  favoured 
breeding  location,  though  Sylvestre,  Champignon  des 
Os,  Esprit,  La  Gigi  and  possibly  lie  Michel  also  used. 
Lays  April-August,  with  high  tides  main  cause  of  egg 
loss,  though  Ship  Rats  Rattiis  rattus  may  contribute'^. 
Apparently  resident. 

Greater  Crested  Tern  Sterna  hergii 
Breeds:  6O-IOO  pairs'^'L  Lays  December-Januai*)^  and 
June-August'6  on  lagoon  islets:  Northern  Mentor,  Pti 
Mentor,  lies  Chalands,  Table  Ronde,  ilot  Deder,  Grand 
Mentor,  Ilot  Marquoix,  Champignon  des  Os  and  Sesame. 
Largest  count  150  at  lies  Chaland  on  25  June  1997.  Close 
observation  causes  desertion'^  Present  year-round. 

Lesser  Crested  Tern  Sterna  bengalensis 
Probably  near-annual  migrant.  Recorded  regularly  Janu- 
ary-early April  in  1967/68'°.  Up  to  four  displaying  at 
Picard  in  June  1998,  followed  by  occasional  sightings  of 
1-2  in  November  1998-May  1999,  with  up  to  seven  in 
late  December  1999.  Breeds  in  East  Africa,  common 
migrant  to  Madagascar  and  annual  migrant  to  Sey- 
chelles, presumably  under-recorded  at  Aldabra. 

Common  Tern  Sterna  hinindo 
Vagrant  (seven),  but  probably  annual  migrant:  adult  in 
breeding  plumage  in  March  1995,  first-summer  on  22- 
24  July  1998,  adult  on  25  September  1998,  adult  on  11 
October  1998,  two  on  6 Januaiy  1999,  1-2  juveniles  on 
four  dates  in  November  1999  and  four  adults  on  2~ 
November  1999.  Presumably  under-recorded,  being  an 
annual  migrant  to  Seychelles  and  East  .\frica. 

White-cheeked  Tern  Sterna  repressa 
Vagrant  (one):  adult  in  full  breeding  plumage  photo- 
graphed with  Black-naped  Terns  5.  siuuatrana  at  lies 
Chaland  on  12  December  1976  was  previously  accepted 
as  Seychelles'  first  Common  Tern  S.  bimndcr"  but  has 
been  re-identified  and  accepted  by  SBRC  as  first  Sey- 
chelles S.  repressa. 

Black-naped  Tern  Sterna  sumatrana 
Breeds:  population  1999  2000  thought  unchanged  since 
estimate  of  c^O  pairs  in  196"  68"  '''.  Breeds  on  rat-free 
lagoon  islets  in  tiny  groups  of  up  to  three  pairs  per  islet. 
Eggs  February-March  and  August-September . Fifn' 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra:  Betts 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -35 


roosting  on  beach  at  Cinq  Cases  in  November  1985  is 
largest  count.  Present  throughout  year. 

Saunders’  Tern  Sterna  saiindersi 
Annual  visitor.  Wintering  population  800  birds'C  Usu- 
ally arrives  late  August,  roosting  on  south  coast,  especially 
at  Cinq  Cases,  West  Grande  Terre  (max.  800  in  October 
1997)  and  lagoons  at  lies  Chaland  and  Champignon  des 
Osh  By  mid-February  90%  in  breeding  plumage,  when 
absence  of  white  supercilium  indicative  of  saiindersi. 
Absent  April-July,  main  breeding  areas  around  Red  Sea 
and  southern  Somalia. 

Bridled  Tern  Sterna  anaethetus 
Vagrant  (two):  singles  near  lie  Esprit  on  25  July  1971  and 
off  Picard  on  18  June  2000.  Breeds  Cosmoledo’C  pre- 
sumably under-recorded. 

Sooty  Tern  Sterna  fuscata 

Annual  visitor.  No  record  of  breeding,  huge  colony  on 
Cosmoledo-h  Small  parties  offshore  or  heard  at  night 
during  breeding  season,  May-October,  peaking  August 
when  parties  may  number  up  to  50. 

White-winged  Black  Tern  Chlidonias  leiicopteriis 
Vagrant  (six):  breeding-plumage  adult  and  immature  in 
East  Lagoon  on  5-6  April  1974,  first-year  at  Passe 
Femme  on  17-18  December  1998,  immature/non-breed- 
ing adult  at  Cinq  Cases  landing  stage  on  1 April  1999, 
two  first-years  off  West  Grande  Terre  on  22  November 
1999,  and  single  there  16  and  21  December  1999. 
Annual  migrant  to  Seychelles,  possibly  under-recorded. 

Brown  Noddy  Anoiis  stolidiis 
Breeds:  estimate  of  min.  3,500  birds'h  Breeds  on  rat-free 
lagoon  islets,  particularly  Coffee  Camp,  Table  Ronde 
and  Pink  Rock,  most  lay  September-March,  few  outside 
this  periodic  Present  throughout  year. 

Lesser  Noddy  A^oz/5  teniiirostris 
Occasional  visitor:  one  landed  on  a yacht  10  km  off 
north-west  coast  on  28  October  1976,  died,  and  is  now 
in  the  Natural  Histoiy  Museum  (Tring);  one  in  lagoon  on 
10  September  1998;  and  up  to  10  feeding  with  Brown 
Noddy  A.  stolidiis  and  Red-footed  Booby  Siila  siila  1- 
5 km  off  Station  on  12-13  February  1999,  with  5,000+ 
flying  north  in  dense  groups  at  dusk,  probably  continu- 
ing to  pass  after  dark,  on  19  February  1999’  (a 
phenomenon  repeated  in  February  2000'’).  Abundant  in 
Seychelles  with  strong  seasonal  movements,  easily 
overlooked  among  Brown  Noddy  A.  stolidiis  and  pre- 
sumably under-recorded. 

Fairy  Tern  Gygis  alba 

Breeds:  100-400  pairs^^  mainly  in  mangroves  fringing 
lagoon  (not  southern  shore)  and  on  islands  within  it, 
eggs  September-early  ApriPL  Present  throughout  year. 


European  Turtle  Dove  Streptopelia  tiirtiir 
Vagrant  (one):  single  shot  at  Picard  Station  on  t Decem- 
ber 1972  was  first  record  in  Seychelles. 

Madagascar  Turtle  Dove  Slreptopelia  pictiirala 
Resident  breeder:  2,000-5.000  pairs-'.  Nests  mainly  Octo- 
ber-Februar\'.  Race  coppi ngeri  con\"med.  in  Se\  chelles. 
to  Aldabra  and  Cosmoledo-p  though  recent  study  may 
indicate  that  latter  population  is  di.stinct  subspecies  (G 
Rocamora  tk  A Skerrett  pers  comm).  Birds  from  .Mdabra 
have  apparently  reached  lies  Glorieuse-'. 

Comoro  Blue  Pigeon  Alectroenas  sganzini 
Resident  breeder:  no  population  estimate,  but  probably 
more  than  1,000  pairs.  Widely  di.stributed,  highest  den- 
sity on  Malabar",  eggs  January-.March.  Race  minor 
endemic  to  Aldabra-7 

Eurasian  Cuckoo  Ciiciiliis  canoriis 
Vagrant  (one):  a juvenile  at  Settlement  on  29-31  Octo- 
ber 1999. 

Cuckoo  Ciiciiliis  spp. 

Vagrant  (two):  one  on  2-16  November  19“'2  and  one 
near  Settlement  on  15  January  2()()().  .-\t  least  three 
additional  unconfirmed  records.  Kurasian  C.  canoriis, 
Asian  Lesser  C. poliocephaliis.  Oriental  C.  satiiratiis  .xodi 
Madagascar  Lesser  C.  rochii  all  possible,  and  first  two 
are  vagrants  to  Seychelles. 

Madagascar  Coucal  Cenlropiis  toiiloii 
Resident  breeder:  population  of  race  insiilaris,  en- 
demic to  Aldabra,  estimated  at  +00-800  pairs-\  Eggs 
December-early  April^L  Widely  but  sparsely  distrib- 
uted, greatest  density  at  Picard". 

Barn  Owl  Tyto  alba 

Formerly  resident,  now  extinct.  ‘Common  on  Aldabra  in 
1893  when  Abbott  was  there,  one  collected  in  1906,  not 
seen  since’ Presumed  natural  colonist.  Shortage  of 
rat-,  cat-  and  crab-proof  nest-sites  (elevated  caves  pre- 
ferred in  granitic  islands)  may  have  contributed  to 
extinction. 

Madagascar  Nightjar  Caprimiilgiis  madagascariensis 
Resident  breeder:  race  aldabrensis  endemic  to  Aldabra-’ 
estimated  at  500-1,000  pairs’^.  Nests  September-Janu- 
ary.  Widely  but  thinly  distributed. 

Common  Swift  Apiis  apiis 

Vagrant  (three),  but  records  listed  with  qualifier  regard- 
ing other  all-dark  swifts^h  one  collected  by  Abbott  on  1 
December  1892,  one  collected  by  Benson  & Penny”*  on 
8 September  1967  at  Settlement  and  one  on  15  March 
1968. 


36 -Bull  ABC  Vo!  9 No  1 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra:  Betts 


Blue-cheeked  Bee-eater  Merops  persicus 
Vagrant  (three):  two  at  Anse  Var  on  22-23  March  1968, 
four  around  Station  on  2-5  April  1999  and  two  at  Anse 
Var  on  6 April  1999. 

European  Roller  Comcias  garrulus 
Vagrant  (six):  singles  on  19  March  1968,  10  December 
1974,  20-21  March  1975,  26  March  1999  and  1-7  April 
1999,  with  two  on  16-17  March  1975. 

Broad-billed  Roller  Eurystomiis  glaiiciirus 
Probably  annual  migrant:  27  records  of  up  to  six  birds^^. 
One  on  7 November  1999  at  Settlement  was  killed  and 
eaten,  presumably  by  an  Eleonora’s  Falcon  present  in 
same  area.  Main  passage  mid-October-late  December 
(25  records),  particularly  November,  with  singles  Janu- 
ary and  March.  Further  record  on  25  October  2000 
under  consideration  by  SBRC.  Vagrant  in  Seychelles. 

Hoopoe  Upiipa  epops 

Vagrant  (two):  one  at  Settlement,  on  20-22  October 
1993,  was  photographed  and  demonstrated  to  be  of  the 
African  form  U.  e.  afhcana,  while  a probable  juvenile  at 
Station/Old  Settlement,  on  14-18  October  1999,  had 
white  in  the  primaries,  a feature  of  European  and  North 
African  races. 

Sand  Martin  Riparia  riparia 

Vagrant  (two):  one  collected  by  Abbott  on  2 December 
1892  and  two  at  West  Channels  on  2 January  1968.  One 
on  5 October  2000  is  under  consideration  by  SBRC. 

Mascarene  Martin  Phedina  borbonica 

Vagrant  (two):  one  collected  by  Abbott  on  19  November 

1892  and  one  at  Station  on  8 October  1973. 

Barn  Swallow  Hirundo  rustica 
Near-annual  migrant.  Records  are  incomplete  but  show 
almost  30  sightings  late  September-early  April  (26  listed 
by  SBRC^®),  over  50%  in  late  October-November,  with 
smaller  peak  mid-March-early  April.  Never  more  than 
six,  apart  from  25  on  l6  March  1975  and  over  50  on  24 
March-7  April  1999^.  Vagrant  in  Seychelles. 

Common  House  Martin  Delichon  urbica 
Vagrant  (two):  single  at  Station  on  13  October  1974  and 
two  at  Cinq  Cases  on  14  March  1975. 

Yellow  Wagtail  Motacilla  flava 
Vagrant  (six):  M.  f lutea  collected  by  Abbott  on  20 
December  1892,  same  race  at  Cinq  Cases  on  22  February 
1968  and  Passe  Houareau  on  15  March  1968,  single  at 
Dune  Jean-Louis,  also  on  15  March  1968,  single  of 
unspecified  race  on  25-28  March  1996  and  first-year 
male  lutea  at  Station  on  24-25  March  1999. 

White  Wagtail  Motacilla  alba 

Vagrant  (two):  one  at  Dune  Jean-Louis  on  7 March  1973 

and  one  for  four  weeks  from  21  November  1983. 


Tree  Pipit  Anthiis  trivialis 

Probably  near-annual  migrant:  13  records^^.  Up  to  four 
present  simultaneously,  mainly  October-December, 
rarely  January-March.  Series  of  sightings  on  23  Novem- 
ber-25 December  2000  under  consideration  by  SBRC. 
Vagrant  in  Seychelles. 

Madagascar  Bulbul  Hypsipetes  madagascariensis 
Resident  breeder:  4,000-8,000  pairs^L  Race  rostratus 
endemic  to  Aldabra^L  Breeds  December-February,  wide- 
spread including  larger  islets;  highest  density  Picard 
and  south-east  Grande  TerreL 

Red-backed  Shrike  Lanius  collurio 
Vagrant  (five):  one  on  16-17  March  1975,  then  in  1999, 
two  males  at  Settlement  and  another  at  La  Gigi  on  24 
March,  a female  at  Settlement  on  25  March  and  a further 
male  at  Passe  Houareau  on  26  Marche 

Lesser  Grey  Shrike  Lanius  minor 

Vagrant  (one):  male  in  breeding  plumage  at  Picard, 

collected  on  28  March  1968,  is  only  Seychelles  record. 

Northern  Wheatear  Oenanthe  oenanthe 
Near-annual  migrant:  25  records,  all  between  22  De- 
cember and  30  March,  are  as  follows  December  (one), 
January  (11),  February  (six)  and  March  (seven).  Vagrant 
in  Seychelles. 

Aldabran  Brush  Warbler  Nesillas  aldabranus 
Probably  extinct,  former  resident  breeder.  Species  en- 
demic to  Aldabra,  discovered  by  Penny  on  Royal  Society 
Expedition  of  1967:  male,  female,  nest  and  three  eggs 
collected,  now  at  Natural  History  Museum  (Tring).  Only 
ever  seen  within  a 50  m x 2 km  coastal  strip  at  west  end 
of  Malabar.  Max.  population  c25  birds,  last  sighting 
September  1983^^.  Bred  probably  October-JanuaiA’. 
Searches  during  1990s  unsuccessfuP'^. 

Willow  Warbler  Phylloscopiis  troebilus 

Vagrant  (one):  adult  around  Station  and  La  Gigi  on  17 

February-14  March  2000. 

WiUow  Warbler/Chiffchaff  Phylloscopiis  troebilus 
P.  collybita 

Vagrant  (one):  single  at  an  islet  in  Passe  Femme  on  10 
April  1972. 

Wood  Warbler  Phylloscopiis  sibilatrix 
Vagrant  (one):  single  shot  on  12  December  19~2. 

Common  Whitethroat  Sylvia  communis 
Vagrant  (one):  single  trapped  at  Anse  \4tr  on  30  October 
1974  is  only  Seychelles  record. 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra:  Betts 


Bull  ABC  Vo!  9 No  1 - 37 


38  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra:  Betts 


Figure 

Figure 

Figure 


Figure 

Figure 

Figure 

Figure 

Figure 

Figure 

Figure 

Figure 

Figure 

Figure 

Figure 

Figure 

Figure 

Figure 


1.  Little  Egret  Egretta  garzetta  dimotpha 

2.  Sacred  Ibis  Threskiornis  aethiopicus 

3.  Juvenile  Malagasy  Pond-heron  Ardeola  idae 
foraging  alongside  Aldabra  Giant  Tortoise 
Dipsochelys  dussumieri 

4.  Broad-billed  Roller  Eurystomus  glaucurus 

5.  Aldabra  (White-throated)  Rail  Dryolimnas  cuvieri 

6.  Old  reef,  Anse,  Aldabra 

7.  Juvenile  Aldabra  Drongo  Dicrurus  aldabranus 

8.  (Aldabra)  Forest  Fody  Eoudia  eminentissima 
aldabrana 

9.  Dune  d’Messe  camp,  Grande  Terre  with  lagoon 
in  background,  Aldabra 

10.  Red-tailed  Tropicbird  Phaethon  rubricauda 

11.  Comoro  Blue  Pigeon  Alectroenas  sganzini 

12.  Madagascar  White-eye  Zosterops  maderaspatana 

13.  Souimanga  Sunbird  Nectarinia  souimanga 

14.  Black-naped  Tern  Sterna  sumatrana 

15.  Madagascar  Kestrel  Ealco  newtoni 

16.  Madagascar  Turtle  Dove  Streptopelia  picturata 

17.  Madagascar  Bulbul  Hypsipetes  madagascariensis 


All  photos  by  Michael  Betts 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra:  Betts 


Bull  ABC  Vo!  9 No  1-39 


spotted  Flycatcher  Miiscicapa  striata 
Near-annual  migrant  with  21  records:  four  in  Novem- 
ber, one  in  December,  l6  in  March.  Usually  singles, 
occasionally  more  in  March  (at  least  13  in  1999b-  Va- 
grant in  Seychelles. 

Souimanga  Sunbird  Nectarinia  souimanga 
Resident  breeder:  easily  most  abundant  bird  on  Aldabra, 
with  number  of  pairs  in  the  high  tens  of  thousands^-^h 
Nests  mainly  September-April,  throughout  atoll  includ- 
ing small  lagoon  islets,  highest  density  south-east  Grande 
Terreh  Race  aldabrensis  endemic  to  Aldabra-h  recently 
considered  conspecific  only  with  Madagascar  popula- 
tion, with  those  on  other  three  islands  of  Aldabra  group 
being  considered  separate  species^^-^9  Re-trapping  of 
ringed  birds  has  shown  they  can  survive  for  over  ten 
years^ . 

Madagascar  Whitc-cyc  Zosterops  maderaspatana 
Resident  breeder:  4,000-10,000  pairs'^  may  be  a signifi- 
cant underestimate^^  Race  aldabrensis  endemic  to 
Alclabra-h  Breeds  mid-September-March,  widespread 
and  abundant,  scarcer  on  Malabarb  Feeding  and  roost- 
ing parties  number  up  to  35  individuals. 

Aldabra  Drongo  Dicriinis  aldabraniis 
Resident  breeder:  c500  pairs^h  Endemic  to  Aldabra. 
Breeds  November-Januaiy.  Widely  but  thinly  distrib- 
uted, favouring  Casuarina  woodland  and  mangrove, 
the  latter  an  extensive  habitat  at  Aldabra. 

Pied  Crow  Cormis  albits 

Resident  breeder:  60-73  individuals  in  2000,  no  overall 
increase  since  19749  Nests  November-February,  but 
success  very  low  and  few  breeding  attempts  in  some 
years.  Numbers  perhaps  remain  low  through  combina- 
tion of  low  productivity  due  to  occasional  food  shortages 
in  breeding  period,  and  an  unknown  level  of  unauthor- 
ised killing  of  adults'^’.  Thought  to  have  colonised 
naturally  and  was  recorded  at  Astove,  in  the  Aldabra 
group,  as  early  as  1836,  long  before  human  settlement’. 

European  Golden  Oriole  Oriohis  orioliis 
Vagrant  (four):  female  at  Settlement  on  11-28  March 
1968  (collected),  female  or  first-year  at  Settlement  on  19 
November  1972,  female  at  La  Gigi  on  24  March  1999  and 
four  singing  males  at  Cinq  Cases  on  1 April  19999 

Wattled  Starling  Creatophora  cinerea 

Vagrant  or  recent  colonist  (10+):  two  on  29  September 

1998,  two  on  2 November  1998  and  14  on  2 September 

1999,  with  up  to  seven  fairly  regularly  in  same  area 
( Bassin  Cabri,  near  Research  Station  on  Picard)  through- 
out 2000,  but  breeding  not  confirmed.  One  other 
Seychelles  record. 

(Aldabra)  Forest  Vody  Foudia  eminentissima 
Resident  breeder:  1,000-3,000  pairs'L  Race  aldabrana 


endemic  to  Alclabra-L  though  recently  treated  specifi- 
cally*'. Breeds  October-micl-April-’,  widespread, 
favouring  mixed  scrub  and  Casuarina  woodland,  rather 
than  Pemphis  thicker  and  also  mangrox'e.  Many  nests 
predated  by  Ship  Rat  Rattiis  rattiis^".  Parties  of  up  to  50 
at  Cinq  Cases,  but  not  in  recent  years.  Flaxistic  birds 
seen  occasionally. 

Domestic  Fowl  Callus  galliis 

Extinct,  formerly  a domestic  import,  which  v^’as  sporadi- 
cally present  until  late  1997. 

Records 

For  long  periods  ( particularly  during  1980s  and  1990s) 
systematic  bird  recording  was  not  maintained  at 
Aldabra  and  records  are  sparse.  There  are  uncon- 
firmed records  of  Squacco  Heron  Ardeola  ralloides. 
Black-crowned  Night  Heron  XycticoraA'  nycticoiriw 
Humblofs  Heron  Ardea  hiiinbloti,  PinVdil  Anas  acuta . 
White-throated  Neeclletail  Hirundapus  caudaciitiis 
and  European  Bee-eater  Merops  apiaster.  Anyone 
with  information  on  these  or  any  other  records  not 
included  here  is  requested  to  send  details  to  Adrian 
Skerrett,  Shipping  House,  PO  Box  336,  Victoria, 
Mahe,  Seychelles;  e-mail  aclrian@skerrett.fsnet.co.uk. 

Acknowledgements 

Thanks  to  Seychelles  Islands  Foundation  for  provid- 
ing access  to  records  from  Aldabra  during  my  time 
there  as  Warden  & Scientific  Officer,  in  June  1998- 
August  2000;  Anna  Liljevik  for  providing  records  for 
August-December  2000;  Ross  Wanless  for  allowing 
use  of  unpublished  data;  Adrian  Skerrett,  Secretaiy  of 
SBRC,  for  advice  and  comments  on  the  draft;  and 
Susan  Barclay  for  computer  work,  fj 

References 

1.  Aldabra  Data  Unit,  undated.  Aldabra  Library  Card 
Index.  Unpublished. 

2.  Beaver,  K.  and  Gerlach,  R.  1998.  Aldabra  Manage- 
ment Plan.  Unpublished  report  of  Seychelles  Island 
Foundation. 

3.  Benson,  C.W.  1967.  The  birds  of  Aldabra  and  their 
status.  Atoll  Res.  Bull  118. 

4.  Benson,  C.W.  and  Penny,  M.  1971.  Landbirds  of 
Aldabra  Station  Report.  Unpublished  typescript. 

5.  Betts,  M.  1999.  Aldabra  Research  Officer’s  Report  to 
Seychelles  Islands  Foundationjune  1998-June  1999- 
Unpublished. 

6.  Betts,  M.  2000.  Aldabra  Research  Officer’s  Report  to 
Seychelles  Islands  Foundation  june  1999-July  2000. 
Unpublished. 

7.  Betts,  M.  2000.  Fall  of  Palearctic  migrants  at  Aldabra 
atoll.  Bull.  ABC  7:  47. 

8.  Burger,  A.E.  and  Betts,  M.  2001.  Monitoring 
populations  of  Red-footed  Boobies  Sula  sula  and 


40  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra:  Betts 


frigatebirds  Fregata  spp.  breeding  on  Aldabra  Atoll, 
Indian  Ocean.  Bull  Br.  Ornithol.  Cl.  121:  236-246. 

9.  Collar,  N.J.  1993.  The  conservation  status  in  1982  of 
the  Aldabra  White-throated  Rail  Dryolimnas  ciwieri 
aldabranus.  Bird  Conserv.  Intern.  3:  299-305. 

10.  Diamond,  A.W.  1971.  Ecology  of  the  seabirds  of 
Aldabra.  Phil.  Trans.  Royal Soc.  London  B 260:  56l- 
571. 

11.  Diamond,  A.W.  1974.  The  Red-footed  Booby  on 
Aldabra  Atoll,  Indian  Ocean.  Ardea  62:  196-218. 

12.  Diamond,  A.W.  1975.  Biology  of  tropicbirds  at 
Aldabra  Atoll.  Auk  92:  16-39. 

13.  Diamond,  A.W.  and  Prys-Jones,  R.  1986.  Biology  of 
terns  nesting  at  Aldabra  Atoll,  with  particular  refer- 
ence to  breeding  seasonality.  /.  Zool.  London  A 210: 
527-549. 

14.  Frith,  C.B.  1975.  New  observations  of  migrants  and 
vagrants  for  Aldabra,  Farquhar  and  Astove  Atolls. 
Atoll  Res.  Soc.  C 27. 

15.  Frith,  C.B.  1977.  Life  history  notes  on  some  Aldabran 
land  birds.  Atoll  Res.  Bull.  201. 

16.  Rambler,  C.,  Rambler,  K.  and  Newing,  J.M.  1985. 
Some  observations  on  Nesillas  aldabranus,  the 
endangered  brush  warbler  of  Aldabra  Atoll,  with 
hypotheses  on  its  distribution.  Atoll  Res.  Bull.  290. 

17.  Langrand,  O.  and  Sinclair,  I.  1998.  Birds  of  the 
Indian  Ocean  Islands.  Cape  Town:  Struik. 

18.  Penny,  M.  1971.  Migrant  waders  at  Aldabra  Sept. 
67-Mar.  68.  Phil.  Trans.  Royal  Soc.  London  B.  260: 
549-559. 

19.  Penny,  M.  1974.  Birds  of  Seychelles.  London,  UK: 
Collins. 

20.  Prys-Jones,  R.  1984.  Occurrence  of  migrant  and 
vagrant  terns  at  Aldabra  Atoll.  Bull.  Br.  Ornithol.  Cl. 
104:  73-75. 

21.  Rainbolt,  R.E.,  Augeri,  D.M.,  Pierce,  S.M.  and 
Bergeson,  M.T.  1997.  Greater  Flamingos  breed  on 
Aldabra  Atoll,  Republic  of  Seychelles.  Wilson  Bull. 
109:  351-353. 

22.  Reville,  B.J.  1983.  Numbers  of  nesting  frigatebirds 
on  Aldabra  Atoll.  Biol.  Conserv.  27:  59-76. 


23.  Rocamora,  G.  and  Skerrett,  A.  2001.  Seychelles.  In 
Fishpool,  L.D.C.  and  Evans,  M.I.  fed.s)  Important 
Bird  Areas  in  Africa  and  Related  Islands:  Priority 
Sites  for  Conservation.  Cambridge,  UK:  BirdLife 
International. 

24.  Shirihai,  R.  and  Christie,  D.A.  1996.  A new  taxon  of 
small  shearwater  from  the  Indian  Ocean.  Bull.  Br. 
Ornithol.  Cl.  116:  180-186. 

25.  Skerrett,  A.P.  1996.  The  first  report  of  the  Seychelles 
Bird  Records  Committee  Bull.  ABC  3:  45-50. 

26.  Skerrett,  A.P.  1999.  Birds  of  Aldabra.  Bull.  ABC  6: 
42-47. 

27.  Skerrett,  A.P.,  Bullock,  I.D.  and  Disley,  T.  2001. 
Birds  of  Seychelles.  London,  UK:  A.  & C.  Black. 

28.  Skerrett,  A.P.  and  Seychelles  Bird  Records  Commit- 
tee 2000.  The  second  report  of  the  Seychelles  Bird 
Records  Committee.  Bull.  ABC  8:  23-29. 

29.  Stoddart,  D.R.  and  Westoll,  T.S.  1979.  The  Terres- 
trial Ecology  of  Aldabra.  London,  UK:  Royal  Society 
of  London. 

30.  Wanless,  R.M.  in  press.  Can  the  flightless  Aldabra 
Rail  Dryolimnas  cuvieri  aldabranus  actually  fly.^ 
Atoll  Res.  Bull. 

31.  Wanless,  R.M.,  Cunningham,  J.,  Rockey,  P.A.R., 
Wanless,  J.,  White,  R.W.  and  Wiseman,  R.  submit- 
ted. The  success  of  a soft-release  reintroduction  of 
the  flightless  Aldabra  Rail  Dryolimnas  cuvieri 
aldabranus  on  Aldabra  Atoll,  Seychelles.  Biol. 
Conserv. 

32.  Wanless,  R.M.  and  Prys-Jones  R.P.  in  prep.  Conser- 
vation status  and  population  trends  of  Aldabran 
terrestrial  avifauna.  Biodiv.  & Conserv.  , 

33.  Woodell,  R.  1976.  Notes  on  the  Aldabran  Coucal 
Centropus  toulou  insularis.  Ibis  118:  263-268. 

c/o  73  College  Street,  Cleethoipes,  Lincolnshire.  DX35 

8BN,  UK. 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra:  Betts 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1-41 


42  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


A systematic  list  of  the  birds  of  Aldabra:  Betts 


Figures  1-3.  Chatham  Albatross  Thalassarcbe  eremita,  at  sea  off  Cape  Point.  South  Africa.  2~  May  2001  (Peter  Ryan 
videograbs) 


Discoveries 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -43 


Discoveries 


Chatham  Albatross  Thalassarche  eremita\ 

new  to  Africa 

Peter  Ryan 

Un  Albatros  des  Chatham  Thalassarche  eremita  a ete  vu  pres  d’lin  chalutier  au  large  du  Cap,  Afrique 
dll  Slid,  le  27  mai  2001.  Ceci  constitiie  la  premiere  obseiTation  dociimentee  en  Afrique,  en  dehors  de 
rOcean  Pacifique,  d’une  espece  consideree  comme  ‘Gravement  menacee  d’extinction'  par  BirdLife 
International. 


The  advent  of  regular  pelagic  trips  off  Cape  Town 
has  demonstrated  several  pelagic  seabirds  to  be 
more  common  than  previously  thought,  and  has  now 
confirmed  a new  species  for  the  African  list.  On  27 
May  2001,  an  adult  Chatham  Albatross  TJoalassarche 
eremita  was  found  scavenging  behind  a trawler  c50  km 
south-west  of  Cape  Point.  It  was  initially  located  on 
the  water  less  than  20  m away,  squabbling  over  fish 
scraps  among  a group  of  Shy  T.  caiita  and  Black- 
browed  T.  melanophrys  albatrosses. 

It  was  easily  identified  by  virtue  of  its  dark,  uni- 
form grey  head  (with  a slightly  paler  fore-crown)  and 
striking  yellow  bill.  From  close  range,  there  was  an 
obvious  dark  spot  at  the  tip  of  the  lower  mandible.  In 
flight  it  showed  the  largely  white  underwing  and  dark 
‘thumb-print’  characteristic  of  all  species  within  the 
Shy  Albatross  {sensu  lato)  complex.  Settling  again,  it 
was  easily  located,  even  at  long  range,  by  its  very  dark 
grey  head.  The  bird  was  flushed  twice,  then  disap- 
peared among  a huge  group  of  birds  and  was  not 
relocated,  despite  spending  more  than  an  hour  at  the 
trawler.  Other  albatrosses  present  included  a few 
Indian  Yellow-nosed  Albatrosses  T.  [chlororhynchos] 
hassi  and  one  Northern  Royal  Albatross  Diomedea 
sanfordi. 

The  Chatham  Albatross  record  swiftly  follows  the 
first  well-substantiated  reports  of  Salvin’s  Albatross  T. 
salvini  off  South  Africa ( Chatham  Albatross  is  the 
most  distinctive  of  the  Shy  Albatross  complex.  Mostert 


Kriek  reported  one  near  a trawler  off  the  Cape  on  8 
October  1993,  but  the  record  has  not  been  submitted 
to  the  national  rarities  committee.  Chatham  Albatross 
breeds  on  Pyramid  Rock,  a stack  off  the  Chatham 
Islands,  east  of  New  Zealand,  and  migrates  across  the 
South  Pacific  to  winter  off  the  west  coast  of  South 
America,  between  Chile  and  Peru.  This  record  is  the 
first  to  be  documented  outside  the  Pacific  Oceank 
With  a population  of  5,333  breeding  pairs,  it  is  one  of 
the  rarest  albatrosses  and  is  listed  by  BirdLife  Interna- 
tional as  Critical". 

References 

1.  Ryan,  P.  2001.  All  at  sea.  Africa — Birds  & Birding  6 
(1):  13. 

2.  Stattersfield,  A.J.  and  Capper,  D.R.  (eds.)  2000. 
Threatened  Birds  of  the  World.  Cambridge,  UK: 
BirdLife  International  & Barcelona:  Lynx  Edicions. 

3.  Tickell,  W.L.N.  2000.  Albatrosses.  Robertsbridge: 
Pica  Press. 

Percy  FitzPatrick  Institute,  University  of  Cape  Town, 
Rondebosch  7701,  South  Africa.  E-mail: 
pryan@botzoo.iict.ac.za. 

Birds  of  Africa  Vol  1 places  all  Thalassarche  species 
in  Diomedea.  Both  Chatham  and  Salvin’s  Albatrosses 
are  treated  as  races  {eremita  and  salvini  respectively) 
of  Shy  Albatross  Diomedea  cauta.  Eds. 


44  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Discoveries 


First  record  of  Red-footed  Falcon  Falco  vespertinus 

in  The  Gambia 

Anita  and  Heimo  Mikkola 

La  premiere  observation  du  Faucon  kobez  Falco  vespertinus  on  Gambie  est  documentee.  Il  s’agissait 
d’lin  male  adulte,  siirvolant  la  cote  gambienne  en  direction  du  nord  a Cape  Point,  le  mars  2001.  Les 
observations  anterieures  dans  les  pays  limitrophes  sont  brievement  examinees,  ainsi  que  le  statut  et  les 
mouvements  de  I’espece  en  Afrique. 


On  1 March  2001  at  19.00  hrs  we  observed  an  adult 
male  Red-footed  Falcon  Falco  vespertinus  mi- 
grating north  over  our  house  at  Cape  Point,  The 
Gambia.  It  followed  the  coastline  at  a height  of  c30  m, 
in  purposeful  flight  with  steady  wingbeats.  Our  first 
impression  was  of  a small,  all-dark  falcon  about  the 
size  of  African  Hobby  F.  cuvierii  and  clearly  smaller 
and  more  slender  than  Grey  Kestrel  F.  ardosiaceus, 
with  a much  more  buoyant  flight.  The  latter  two 
regularly  occur  in  this  area.  Through  binoculars  the 
bright  red  feet  and  reddish  lower  belly  and  thighs 
contrasted  conspicuously  with  the  rest  of  the  plum- 
age, which  was  uniformly  dark.  There  was  no  white 
on  the  underwing,  thus  excluding  Amur  Falcon  F. 
amurensis.  We  are  both  familiar  with  the  species  from 
Hungary.  This  apparently  constitutes  the  first  record 
for  The  GambiaL 

Red-footed  Falcon  is  a widespread  Palearctic  mi- 
grant, which  enters  Africa  principally  through  the 
eastern  Mediterranean  and  Middle  East,  and  winters 
mainly  in  southern  Africa,  most  abundantly  in  south 
Angola,  north  Namibia  and  Botswana,  where  it  ar- 
rives from  late  October^-^’^.  Return  migration  starts  in 
late  February  and  follows  a more  westerly  course, 
crossing  the  Mediterranean  further  west  from  mid- 
April;  its  migration  route  thus  describes  a loop^  L It 
breeds  from  eastern  Europe  east  to  central  Russia  and 
extreme  north-west  China'^'^. 

In  West  Africa  the  species  is  a rare  to  uncommon 
passage  migrant  almost  throughout^  In  the 
westernmost  countries  it  is  invariably  rare,  with  few 
records  from  Mauritania  and  Senegal,  mostly  along 
the  coast,  in  September,  November-January  and 
March-ApriP’^°.  It  is  slightly  more  frequent  in  Mali, 
mostly  in  the  Sahel,  where  small  groups  have  been 
recorded  in  September/October-April/May^. 


Acknowledgements 

We  thank  Ron  Demey  for  encouraging  us  to  write  this 
note  and  improving  its  draft.  We  also  thank  all  those 
who  replied  to  our  appeal  via  the  African  Birding  e- 
mail  discussion  group  for  data  on  Red-footed  Falcon 
in  West  Africa. 

References 

1.  Barlow,  C.,  Wacher,  T.  and  Disley,  T.  1997.  A Field 
Guide  to  Birds  of  The  Gambia  and  Senegal. 
Robertsbridge:  Pica  Press. 

2.  Borrow,  N.  and  Demey,  R.  in  press.  Birds  of  Western 
Africa.  London,  UK:  A.  & C.  Black. 

3.  Brown,  L.H.,  Urban,  E.K.  and  Newman,  K.  (eds) 
1982.  The  Birds  of  Africa.  Vol  1.  London,  UK: 
Academic  Press. 

4.  Cramp,  S.  and  Simmons,  K.E.L.  (eds)  1980.  The 
Birds  of  the  Western  Palearctic.  Vol  2.  Oxford: 
Oxford  University  Press. 

5.  Forsman,  D.  1999.  The  Raptors  of  Europe  and  the 
Middle  East.  London,  UK:  T.  & A.D.  Poyser. 

6.  del  Hoyo,  J.,  Elliott,  A.  and  Sargatal,  J.  (eds)  1994. 
Handbook  of  the  Birds  of  the  World.  Vol  2.  Barce- 
lona: Lynx  Edicions. 

7.  Lamarche,  B.  1980.  Liste  commentee  des  oiseaux  du 
Mali.  1:  Non-passereaux.  Malimbus  2:  121-158. 

8.  Lamarche,  B.  1988.  Liste  commentee  des  oiseaux  de 
Mauritanie.  Etudes  Sahariennes  et  Oiiest-Africaines 
1 (4):  1-162. 

9.  Mendelson,  J.M.  and  Herremans.  M.  199”.  Western 
Redfooted  Kestrel  Ealco  vespeitinus.  In:  Harrison. 
J.A.,  Allan,  D.G.,  Underhill,  L.G.,  Herremans.  M.. 
Tree,  A.J.,  Parker,  V.  and  Brown.  C.J.  (eds)  Tl?e Atlas 
of  Southern  African  Birds.  \M1  1.  Johannesburg: 
BirdLife  South  Africa. 

10.  Morel,  G.  J.  and  Morel,  M.-Y.  1990.  Les  Oiseaux  de 
SOiegambie.  Paris:  ORSTOM. 

EAO  Representation.  Private  Mail  Bag  10.  Banjul.  The 
Gambia. 


Discoveries 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1-45 


ORNITHOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 
OF  THE  MIDDLE  EAST 


■ promotes  the  study  and  conservation 
of  birds  throughout  the  Middle  East 

■ encourages  the  standardised  recording 
of  bird  observations 

■ brings  together  knowledge  of  the  region's 
birdlife 

■ maintains  a conservation  and  research  fund 
to  support  small-scale  projects  by  members 

■ publishes  Sandgrouse  twice  a year, 
sent  to  all  members 

Join  us 
today! 


To  join  (UK  fee  £12  a year),  write  to  Membership  Secretary, 
OSME  do  The  Lodge,  Sandy,  Bedfordshire  SG19  2DL,  UK 


the 


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Return  fares  from 

1 fcorrect  at  time  of  aoina  to  oressi 

Nairobi 

£369 

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Windhoek 

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Tunisia 

£169 

Entebbe 

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Libreville 

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(includes  all  pre-paid  taxes) 

tATA 


46  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Advertisement 


Testing  the  effectiveness  of  nest-boxes  in  the 
conservation  of  woodland  birds: 

Lake  Naivasha  nest-box  project,  Kenya 

Michael  Maina  Macharia 


La  destruction  de  la  foret  claire  autoiir  du  Lac  Naivasha,  Kenya,  a reduit  le  nombre  de  sites  de 
nidification  pour  les  especes  cavernicoles.  Afin  d’ameliorer  le  succes  de  reproduction  de  ces  especes, 
le  Projet  Nichoirs  du  Lac  Naivasha  a ete  mis  en  oeuvre.  Une  approche  similaire  a ete  couronnee  de 
succes  ailleurs.  En  mai  1999,  45  nichoirs  en  bois — 39  petits  (1.500  cm^)  et  six  grands  (17.340  cmb — 
ont  ete  places,  a 6-8  m de  hauteur,  dans  des  arbres  aux  alentours  du  Elsamere  Conservation  Centre 
et  du  Eisherman’s  Camp.  Une  campagne  de  sensibilisation,  soulignant  la  valeur  de  la  foret  claire,  a ete 
lancee  en  meme  temps.  Trois  ecoles  ont  regu  de  la  documentation  sur  la  protection  de  la  nature  et  ont 
ete  impliquees  dans  le  placement  des  nichoirs.  Des  exposes  sur  la  protection  des  oiseaux  ont 
egalement  ete  presentees  dans  les  ecoles  cibles.  Des  affiches  ont  ete  placees  a des  endroits 
strategiques  afin  de  sensibiliser  le  public.  Avec  I’aide  de  guides  ornithologiques  residents,  les  nichoirs 
sont  suivis  de  fagon  permanente.  A la  fin  octobre  2000,  au  moins  quatre  especes  d’oiseaux  avaient 
inspecte  les  nichoirs,  mais  il  n’y  avait  pas  encore  eu  de  tentative  d’occupation. 


Introduction 

Lake  Naivasha  is  well  known  for  its  rich  and 
diverse  birdlife.  The  lake  is  cl 00  km  north-west 
of  Nairobi,  in  Rift  Valley  Province.  It  is  a Ramsar  site 
and  an  Important  Bird  Area  (IBA)L  Several  national 
parks  and  wildlife  sanctuaries  are  situated  around  or 
near  the  lake.  Its  southern  part  is  largely  surrounded 
by  tall  woodland  (c20  m),  dominated  by  Yellow- 
barked  Acacia  Acacia  xanthophloea,  with  a narrow 
papyrus  fringe  near  the  lake.  The  northern  part  has  a 
broader  papyrus  fringe,  with  lower  scrub  (c2-3  m 
high)  inland.  The  lake  environment  is  threatened  by 
human  activities,  chiefly  horticulture  and  deforesta- 
tion, with  substantial  ecological  changes  already 
reported^’L  Community  action  and  support  for  nature 
conservation  could  prove  indispensable  in  the  pro- 
tection of  birds  and  habitats. 

Project  aims 

Some  bird  species,  eg  barbets  and  hoopoes,  use 
cavities  in  tree  trunks,  earth  banks  or  walls  for  nesting 
and  roosting.  These  cavities  can  be  natural  or  artifi- 
cial. Artificial  nest-boxes  have  proved  a valuable 
conservation  and  educational  tool  in  many  parts  of 
the  world^  but  their  use  is  currently  limited  in  Kenya. 
The  Naivasha  area  is  one  of  the  very  few  examples 
where  several  farms  have  erected  nest-boxes,  though 
the  exercise  is  purely  out  of  casual  interest  by  a 
handful  of  people. 

Destruction  of  woodlands  around  Lake  Naivasha 
has  greatly  diminished  potential  breeding  sites  for 


hole-nesting  birds  such  as  woodpeckers,  barbets  and 
hornbills.  This  project  aimed  (i)  to  use  nest-boxes  to 
create  extra  nest  sites  for  such  hole-nesting  bird 
species,  and  (ii)  generate  community  awareness  of, 
and  involvement  in,  bird  conservation.  The  goals  are 
to  improve  the  breeding  success  of  hole-nesting  spe- 
cies and  invoke  a positive  attitude  towards  the 
conservation  of  birds  and  habitats. 

Methods  and  progress 

The  project  commenced  in  May  1999  and  was  de- 
signed to  last  for  18  months.  Here  I present  a summar\- 
of  the  developments  thus  far  and  anticipated  work 
still  to  be  undertaken. 

Study  sites 

Eorty-five  boxes  were  erected  during  May  1999  at  tv,’o 
sites.  Twenty  boxes — 15  small  and  five  large — were 
sited  at  Elsamere  Eield  Study  Centre  in  riparian  wood- 
land dominated  hy  Acacia  xanthophloea.  The  centre 
is  adjacent  to  the  lake,  c20  km  from  Naivasha  town 
and  is  a base  for  environmental  research,  education 
and  training  around  Naivasha. 

Another  25  boxes  (24  small  and  one  large)  were 
erected  at  Eisherman’s  Camp.  This  is  a resort.  c3  km 
from  Elsamere  Study  Centre,  also  by  the  lake,  which 
is  frequented  by  tourists  and  birdv,'atchers.  The  habi- 
tat is  reasonably  undisturbed,  being  well  grassed  and 
wooded  compared  to  the  surroundings.  Many  bird 
species,  especially  insecth'ores,  take  ad\  antage  of 
this  area. 


Lake  Naivasha  nest-hox  project,  Kenya:  Macharia 


Bull  ABC  Vo!  9 No  1 - 47 


Box  preparation 

Two  sizes  of  box  were  constructed:  one  small,  meas- 
uring 10  cm  X 10  cm  x 15  cm  and  one  large,  17  cm  x 
17  cm  X 60  cm.  Both  were  treated  externally  with  oil 
to  prolong  their  life  and  prevent  ants,  termites,  rats, 
snakes  and  bees  from  predating  any  occupantsv 
Entry  holes  were  all  at  least  3.75  cm  from  the  hinged 
roof,  thereby  leaving  a substantial  depth  below  it. 
Hole  diameter  of  the  smaller  boxes  was  3.75  cm 
(targeted  at  smaller  birds,  eg  woodpeckers  and 
barbets)  and  6.25  cm  for  larger  boxes  (for  hornbills). 
But  hole  diameters  were  also  constructed  to  the 
smallest  size  feasible  to  avoid  predation  by  African 
Harrier  Hawk  Polyhoroides  typus,  which  has  long  legs 
and  can  easily  take  eggs  or  nestling  from  boxes  with 
large  holes.  Hornbills  typically  seal  their  nest-holes  to 
a minimum  following  egg  laying,  making  this  less  of 
a problem.  Moreover,  the  preseiwative  used,  being 
dark,  enhanced  the  boxes  camouflage. 

Setting  up  nest  boxes 

Boxes  at  Elsamere  were  6-8  m above  ground,  while 
those  at  Eisherman’s  Camp  were  usually  higher  (above 
8 m)  due  to  the  availability  of  a taller  ladder.  Boxes 
were  often  placed  facing  away  from  the  lake,  in  order 
to  shield  the  entrance  from  winds  that  regularly  blow 
from  the  latter,  and  to  provide  some  shelter  from  sun 
and  rain.  Based  on  the  growth  of  green  moss,  it  was 
possible  to  determine  where  rainwater  mainly  ran 
down  the  trunk,  making  it  possible  to  assess  those 
trees  and  which  side  best  suited  placement  of  the 
nest-box. 

Monitoring  the  boxes 

I checked  each  box  for  breeding  activity  at  least  once 
every  two  days  over  the  three-month  period  (June- 
August  1999)  that  I was  permanently  stationed  in 
Naivasha,  observations  being  made  at  the  two  sites 
on  consecutive  days.  I used  binoculars  to  obseiwe  any 
activity  around  the  boxes  from  a hide  cl 5 m distant 
from  the  relevant  tree,  for  at  least  15-20  minutes  per 
box.  After  August  1999, 1 visited  either  once  or  twice 
a month,  checking  all  boxes  on  each  visit.  Since 
January  2000,  boatmen-cum-bircl  guides  at  both  study 
sites  have  unsystematically  checked  the  boxes  for 
any  signs  of  breeding  activity. 

Results  at  Elsamere  demonstrate  that  several  bird 
species  showed  some  interest  in  the  boxes,  peering 
into  them  from  outside  and  occasionally  entering. 
However,  none  as  yet  has  occupied  any  of  the  boxes. 
Species  observed  investigating  boxes  include  White- 
headed  Barbet  Lyhiiis  leucocephalus,  Nubian 
Woodpecker  Campethera  nuhica,  White-bellied  Tit 


Parus  alhiveutris  and  ^'hite-eyed  Slaty  Elycalcher 
Melaenon  i is  fisc  he  ri. 

At  Eisherman's  Camp.  Green  Wood-Hoopoe 
Phoeniciiliis  pinpiireiis  appeared  to  show  greater 
interest  in  the  nest-boxes,  carrying  ne.sting  materials 
into  them.  But,  such  activity  continued  only  for  one 
week  in  June  and  then  ceased.  SuKsequent  monitor- 
ing did  not  re\’eal  any  occupancy  suggesting  ongoing 
breeding,  and  no  acti\  e nests  or  egg-laying  actix  ities 
were  obsened.  As  at  Elsamere.  no  box  has  been 
occupied. 

Information  is  generally  scarce  concerning  the 
breeding  seasons  of  these  bird  species,  with  most 
perhaps  nesting  almost  year-round""'.  Most  probably 
the  lack  of  interest  in  the  boxes  was  related  to  the 
birds  being  unfamiliar  with  such  structures,  rather 
than  a lack  of  interest  in  breeding.  Euture  monitoring 
work  should  clarify  this. 

Community  awareness  work 

I visited  two  primary  schools,  two  high  schools  and 
the  local  community,  gixing  talks  concerning  the 
project  and  bird  consen  ation  in  general.  In  addition. 
I issued  books  and  magazines  dealing  with  enx  iron- 
mental  con.senation  issues.  Wildlife  Clubs  at  the 
primaiy  schools  showed  some  interest,  x'isiting  the 
study  sites  with  me  and  freely  assisting  m)’  work, 
especially  siting  the  boxes.  Eurthermore.  they  in- 
formed the  local  communit)'  about  the  project  and  its 
importance  in  enx'ironmental  conserx  ation.  The  chil- 
dren’s enthusiasm  for  the  project  resulted  in  a number 
of  adults  questioning  me  as  to  how  they  could  con- 
struct their  own  nest-box,  and  what  measures  they 
could  take  to  curb  (and  possibly  reverse)  woodland 
destruction.  Lastly,  I erected  ten  posters,  with  rel- 
evant information  concerning  the  project,  its  aims 
and  detailing  local  conseiwation  problems,  at  con- 
spicuous places  around  the  study  sites  and  public 
market  places. 

Future  work  and  monitoring 

Each  nest-box  has  been  accorded  a number  that  will 
make  for  easy  and  accurate  monitoring  in  future. 
Observations  are  scheduled  to  continue  for  at  least 
nine  months.  All  activities  by  any  bird  species  in  or 
around  the  boxes  will  be  recorded.  If  any  breeding 
occurs,  detailed  obseiwations  will  be  undertaken  to 
ascertain  fledging  success.  I will  also  continue  to 
survey  other  areas,  educate  people  about  birds  and  it 
is  hoped  enhance  awareness  of  conservation  issues 
affecting  birds  specifically  in  Naivasha  where  cavities 
or  nest-trees  are  scarce. 


48  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Lake  Naivasha  nest-hox  project,  Kenya:  Macharia 


Acknowledgements 

I thank  the  African  Bird  Club  for  the  award  to  establish 
the  project,  and  Elsamere  Conservation  Centre  and 
Fisherman’s  Camp  for  their  support.  Dr  Leon  Bennun 
and  Colin  Jackson  offered  encouragement  and  ad- 
vice. Special  thanks  to  Mwangi  Githiru,  Paul  Kariuki 
and  Anthony  Kuria  for  their  help  in  compiling  this 
report.  Bernard  Chege  and  Samuel  Njoroge  (local 
bird  guides)  offered  continuing  monitoring  assist- 
ance at  Elsamere  and  Fisherman’s  Camp,  and  pupils 
from  Mvuke  and  DCK  Primary  Schools,  and  Naivasha 
Mixed  Boarding  Secondary  School  played  various 
roles.  Finally,  this  work  would  have  been  impossible 
without  the  special  training  offered  to  myself  and 
other  upcoming  ornithologists  by  the  Department  of 
Ornithology,  National  Museums  of  Kenya,  f) 


References 

1.  Bennun,  L.A  and  Njoroge,  P.  1999.  Important  Bird 
Areas  in  Kenya.  Nairobi:  East  Africa  Natural  History 
Society. 

2.  Du  Feu,  C.  1993.  Nest  boxes.  BTO  Guide  23.  Thetford: 
British  Trust  for  Ornithology. 

3.  Everard,  M.  1998.  Lake  Naivasha  expeditionary  sci- 
ence. FBA  Newsletter  5. 

4.  Everard,  M.  1999.  Return  to  Naivasha.  FBA  Newslet- 
ter 1. 

5.  Fry,  C.H.,  Keith,  S.  and  Urban,  E.K.  (eds)  1988.  The 
Birds  of  Afric2i.  Vol  3.  London,  UK:  Academic  Pre.ss. 

6.  Fry,  C.H.,  Keith,  S.  and  Urban,  E.K.  (eds)  2000.  The 
Birds  of  Africa.  Vol  6.  London,  UK:  Academic  Press. 

7.  Urban,'  E.'k.,  Fry,  C.H.  and  Keith,  S.  (eds)  1997.  The 
Birds  of  Africa.  Vol  5.  London,  UK:  Academic  Press. 

Ornithology  Department,  National  Museums  of  Kenya 

P.O  Box  40658,  Nairobi,  Kenya. 


^ Supported  by  ABC  Conservation  Fund 


Lake  Naivasha  nest-box  project,  Kenya:  Macharia 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 Not  -49 


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New  birds  for  Nigeria  observed  during  the  Lake 
Chad  Bird  Migration  Project 

Ulf  Ottosson^,  Daniel  Bengtssojf,  Rolf  Gustafssorf , Philip  Half\  Christian  Hjof.  A.P.  Leventist. 
Roland  Neumanrh\  Jan  Petterssorf,  Patrik  Rhonnstad' , Stephen  Riimsey,  Jonas  Waklenstronf 

and  William  Velmald‘ 


Un  projet  concernant  les  oiseaux  migrateurs  a ete  mis  en  oeuvre  dans  le  nord-est  du  Nigeria,  sur  la 
rive  occidentale  du  lac  Tchad,  en  2000,  apres  des  visites  preliminaires  dans  la  zone  a partir  de  199". 
Pendant  I’execution  du  projet,  six  especes  nouvelles  pour  le  Nigeria  ont  ete  obsen’ces,  I'Aigle  des 
sieppes  Aquila  (rapax)  nipalensis,  I’Engoulevent  a collier  roux  Caprimiilgiis  nificollis.  I'Engoulex-ent 
dore  C.  eximius,  la  Prinia  aquatique  Prinia  fliiviatilis.  le  Craterope  fauve  Tiirdoides  fiilriis  et 
I’Etourneau  caroncule  Creatophora  cinerea,  ainsi  que  deux  especes  dont  la  presence  restait  a 
confirmer,  I’Aigle  pomarin  Aquila  pomahna  et  la  Rousserolle  \'erderolle  Acrocephaliis paliistris.  La 
Prinia  aquatique  etait  assez  commune  dans  son  habitat  normal,  tandis  que  I'Engoulex-ent  dore  et  I'Aigle 
des  steppes  semblaient  etre  des  visiteurs  ou  hotes  de  passage  reguliers. 


Introduction 

The  Lake  Chad  basin,  centred  within  the  diy  Sahel 
zone  immediately  south  of  the  Sahara,  is  a major 
topographical  feature  of  the  northern  savannas  of 
Africa  (Pig  1).  North-east  Nigeria,  along  the  shores  of 
the  lake,  received  considerable  ornithological  atten- 
tion in  the  past.  During  the  1960s  and  early  1970s  Dr 
A J Hopson,  director  of  the  Lake  Chad  Research 
Institute,  at  Malamfatori,  studied  the  area’s 
avifauna^’‘^’^°,  while  in  the  late  1960s,  Malamfatori 
became  the  base  for  the  British  Ornithologists’  Union 
(BOU)  expeditions  working  on  Palearctic  migrants--^  L 
But  since  the  1970s,  the  area  has  been  little  visited  by 
ornithologists.  The  observations  described  in  this 
paper  were  made  in  October  1997,  October-Novem- 
ber  1998,  April  and  November  1999,  and  Eebruary-May 
and  August-November  2000,  during  reconnaissance 
for  and  the  ringing  programme  of  the  Lake  Chad  Bird 
Migration  Project,  in  the  vicinity  of  Malamfatori^*^' 
This  intense  field  work  produced  observations  of  six 
species  new  to  Nigeria,  plus  observations  of  two 
species  of  previously  ‘unconfirmed’  statusL 

Study  area 

The  observations  presented  here  were  made  in  an 
area  largely  bordered  by  the  roads  between  Cross 
Kauwa-Malamfatori-Baga-Cross  Kauwa  (Pig  1).  Other 
observations  were  made  along  the  Yobe  River  from 
Yo-Abadam-Bosso-Kaniram  and  at  the  Yobe  River 
mouth  at  Doro.  Some  records  also  derive  from  islands 
in  western  Lake  Chad.  Most  time  was  spent  within  an 
area  c6  km  east  and  south  of  the  Lake  Chad  Research 
Institute’s  old  fishery  research  station  at  Duguri,  5 km 
south  of  Malamfatori  town,  which  was  the  temporary 
base  of  the  Lake  Chad  Bird  Observatory.  In  the  late 


1960s,  when  it  was  the  base  for  the  BOL^  expeditions, 
the  station  was  by  the  lakeshore.  but  it  is  now  sur- 
rounded by  farmland  at  the  edge  of  a rather  dense 
savanna,  which  imaided  the  former  lake  bottom  when 
the  northern  lake  basin  dried  out  in  the  droughts  of 
the  1970s-1980s.  Agricultural  rather  than  fisheiy  stud- 
ies are  now  undertaken  here.  Species  included  in  this 
paper  are  those  not  mentioned  or  considered  ‘not 
confirmed'  by  ElgoocP. 


N 

t 


Figure  1.  Map  of  the  study  area  in  north-east  Nigeria;  note 
that  the  shoreline  of  Lake  Chad  shown  here  is  not  the 
current  one. 


52  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


New  birds  for  Nigeria:  Ottosson  et  at 


Species  new  to  Nigeria 

Lesser  Spotted  Eagle  Aqiiila  pomarina 
Two,  one  juvenile  and  one  adult,  were  obsewed  on 
8 November  1998,  north-west  of  Baga,  along  the  road 
to  Mitile.  They  were  initially  identified  by  their  silhou- 
ette: broad  rounded  wings,  short  tail  and  slightly 
drooping  outer  wings.  The  juvenile  was  dark  brown 
with  paler  brown  wing-coverts,  with  a narrow  wing- 
band  formed  by  pale  tips  to  the  greater  coverts  on  the 
upper  side.  The  adult  was  darker,  but  still  had  con- 
trasting, paler  underwing-coverts  and  was  in  moult.  A 
second  juvenile  was  observed  on  l6  October  2000, 
between  Cross  Kauwa  and  Alagarno.  It  was  in  fresh 
plumage  with  yellowish-brown  wing-coverts  and  clear 
white  tips  to  the  greater  coverts  forming  a narrow 
wing-band.  There  is  an  earlier  record  of  a bird  south 
of  Maiduguri,  tentatively  identified  as  A.  pomarina, 
but  the  record  lacks  substantiationh 

Steppe  Eagle  Aquila  (rapax)  nipalensis 
Two  first-years,  both  having  a broad  white  wingbar 
on  the  underwing,  were  observed  between  Baga  and 
Mitile,  on  8 November  1998.  Other  characters  were 
the  pale  brown  ground  colour,  pale  trailing  edge  to 
the  wing  and  silhouette  with  level  and  narrow  8- 
curved  wings.  Direct  comparison  with  other  raptors, 
eg  Tawny  A.  rapax  and  Booted  Eagles  Hieraaetus 
pennatus  was  made.  On  27  November  1999,  two 
more  juveniles  were  observed  between  Arege  and 
Alagarno,  c30  km  south  of  Malamfatori,  and  on  10 
November  2000,  c6  were  between  Mitile  and  Baga.  It 
appears  that  the  area  west  of  Lake  Chad  may  be  a 
regular  passage  or  wintering  site  for  Steppe  Eagle. 

Red-necked  Nightjar  Caprimulgus  ruficollis 
One  found  dead  on  the  road  close  to  Cross  Kauwa,  on 
7 November  1998.  A second  was  flushed,  on  15  March 
2000,  at  a ringing  site  in  an  area  of  farmland,  saltbush 
Salvadora persica  2ind  Acacia  savanna.  The  observer 
first  thought  it  was  a Long-tailed  Nightjar  Caprimulgus 
climacurus  (the  most  common  Caprimulgus  here). 
Subsequently  two  were  present;  their  size  appeared 
too  large  for  female  Long-tailed  (or  a male  in  non- 
breeding plumage).  Both  had  cl/4  of  the  outertail 
feathers  white,  a distinct  reddish  hindneck,  a large 
white  spot  below  the  cheek  and,  in  flight,  a distinct 
white  area  on  the  primaries  and  reddish-brown 
underwing-coverts.  Distinct  bands  were  obvious  on 
the  wing-coverts  when  at  rest,  and  starting  at  each 
‘shoulder’  there  was  a pale  band  across  the  back. 
They  were  extremely  well  camouflaged  and  veiy 
difficult  to  locate  on  the  ground.  On  at  least  one 
occasion  we  heard  a chokk  call.  By  dusk  we  returned 
to  the  station  and  searched  the  literature;  it  appeared 


that  they  were  Red-necked  Nightjars.  The  sound  was 
similar  to  the  display  sound  of  that  species,  of  which 
we  had  a tape.  Regular  ‘display’  was  heard  each 
morning  until  we  left  the  area,  on  11  May.  On  10  May 
we  attempted  to  tape-lure  one  into  a net.  It  reacted 
immediately  to  playback  of  Red-necked  Nightjar, 
flying  towards  the  net,  but  without  being  trapped. 
Given  our  records  of  regular  display,  it  is  possible  that 
the  species  is  resident,  rather  than  just  a winter  visitor 
to  this  area.  It  is  known  from  neighbouring  Chad  and 
Mali. 

Golden  Nightjar  Caprimulgus  eximius 
One  was  found  dead  on  the  road  between  Monguno 
and  Cross  Kauwa,  on  7 November  1998,  2-3  more 
were  found  dead  there  the  following  day  and  on  9 
November  a live  bird  was  seen  in  the  headlights  of  a 
car.  Two  were  found  dead  south  of  Cross  Kauwa,  on 
26  and  27  November  1999-  Another  live  individual 
was  observed  south  of  Duguri,  on  23  October  2000 
and  up  to  ten  more  were  found  dead  on  the  road 
between  Cross  Kauwa  and  Maiduguri  in  October- 
November  2000.  All  had  the  characteristic 
golden-yellow  plumage  with  silvery-grey  spots  on 
the  mantle  and  wing-coverts,  and  white  patch  on  the 
outer  primaries.  Leathers  from  one  of  these  birds 
were  depicted  on  the  cover  of /.  Avian  Biol,  in  2001 
(Eig  2).  These  records  may  indicate  an  extension  of 


Figure  2.  Front  co\  er  of/.  Avicm  Biol.  32  t200D.  showing 
feathers  from  Golden  Nightjar  Cciprinuilgus  eximius  found 
dead  on  a road  at  Malamfatori  (reproduced  with  pemiission 
of/.  Avicm  Biol.). 


New  birds  for  Nigeria:  Ottosson  et  al 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -53 


the  species’  range  from  Further  north,  in  Chad,  Niger 
and  Mali,  where  it  is  mainly  resident,  although  it  is 
now  known  south  of  14‘’N  in  Burkina  Faso'. 

Marsh  Warbler  Acwcephcilits  pciliistris 
A first-year  was  mist-netted  and  ringed  in  a reedhed 
near  Malamfatori,  on  l6  September  2000,  as  part  of 
regular  ringing  work  at  the  site  during  autumn  2000 
(see  Fig  7 in  Ottosson  et  al'A.  A first-year  Reed 
Warbler  A.  sciipaceiis  was  mist-netted  simultane- 
ously, permitting  direct  in-hand  comparisons.  In 
distinguishing  Marsh  Warbler  from  Reed  \\  arbler  we 
followed  the  protocol  described  by  Svensson'F  The 
general  jizz  differed  from  that  of  Reed  Warbler  in  the 
shorter  bill  and  shorter  hind  claw.  Most  striking  were 
the  legs,  feet  and  claws,  which  were  straw-yellow,  not 
grey  as  in  Reed  Warbler.  The  Marsh  Warbler  had 
paler,  slightly  more  olive-brown  (not  rufous-brown) 
Lipperparts,  especially  the  rump,  which  lacked  all 
rufous  tones.  The  dark  brown  tertials  were  diffusely, 
but  clearly  edged  yellowish;  this  feature  is  not  shown 
by  Reed  Warbler.  The  Marsh  Warbler  had  x en'  fresh 
plumage  and  the  inner  six  primaries  were  tipped  off- 
white.  The  alula  was  relatively  dark  and  contrasted 
with  the  rest  of  the  wing.  A second  first-year  Marsh 
Warbler  was  trapped  on  4 October  200().  I'he  first 
individual  measured:  wing  70  mm,  .second  primap' 
notch  9.5  mm,  third  primary  51.5  mm,  first  primary  to 
primary-covert  -2  mm,  tail  57  mm,  bill  to  skull 
17.6  mm,  bill  to  base  of  feathering  12.7  mm,  bill  width 

3.8  mm,  tarsus  22.5  mm  and  hind  claw  6.6  mm;  weight 

9.9  g.  The  second  measured:  wing  68  mm,  second 
primary  notch  9.5  mm,  third  primary  51  mm  and  tar- 
sus 22.6  mm;  weight  9.9  g.  A previous  record  of  one 
mist-netted  at  Malamfatori,  on  7 September  1965.  was 
considered  doubtful  by  Dowsetd  and  not  mentioned 
by  Urban  et  aP\  One  other  record  in  West  Africa,  a 
bird  reportedly  in  song  in  Senegal apparently  lacks 
supporting  evidence. 

River  Prinia  Phnia  fliiviatilis 
First  observed  on  an  island  in  Lake  Chad,  close  to 
Baga,  in  November  1997  and  subsequently  found  at 
the  same  location,  on  9 November  1998.  During  the 
trapping  programme  at  Malamfatori  one  was  ringed 
in  April  1999  and  38  in  2000  (see  Fig  6 in  Ottosson  et 
a/").  All  were  trapped  at  sites  close  to  or  within  water, 
at  what  we  termed  the  ‘wet  sites’.  River  Prinia  is  very 
similar  to  Tawny-tlanked  Prinia  P.  siihflava  but  is 
paler  and  has  a different  call  and  song.  Tawny-tlanked 
Prinia  is  not  very  common  around  Malamfatori  and 
was  always  observed  in  dry  habitat,  not  in  ‘wet’  areas. 
The  underparts  of  River  Prinia  lack  all  brownish 
tones,  with  upperparts  cold  grey  (unlike  siihflava, 


w hich  has  brow  nish  upperpansi.  .M.so  useful  in  their 
separation  was  the  more  contrasting  head  pattern  ol 
fliiviatilis.  with  clear  w hite  supercilium  and  darker 
brow  n lores.  Legs  darker  than  siihflava.  Call  higher 
pitched  than  siihflava  and  song  different,  more  pure 
and  less  grating  than  latter.  The  discoxerx  of  Rixer 
Prinia  in  this  region  is  relatixely  unsurprising,  gixeii 
that  it  is  known  from  areas  south  of  Lake  Cihad  m 
Cameroon  and  Cihad  '. 

Fulvous  Babbler  TiinloUles  fiilvus 
One  w as  obserx  ed  1 km  south  of  our  field  station  ,it 
Duguri.  on  20.  25  and  3o  .March  2ooo.  It  intiallx  llexx 
from  a saltbush  in  In  int  ( >f  the  car.  The  shape  and  Bight 
immediately  led  thoughts  to  a babbler,  of  xx  hich  the 
obserx  er(l)B)  had  seen  sex  eral  species  in  other  parts 
of  .\frica.  I nlortunately  the  biixl  disapjXMied  xx  ithout 
being  specificallx'  identified.  Fix  e days  later,  at  exactly 
the  same  site,  good  x iexx  s were  exentually  obtained 
of  possibly  the  same  bird,  xx  hich  xx  as  easily  identified 
as  a Fulxoiis  Babbler.  The  long  tail,  brow  n upperparts. 
fulxous  Lindeiparts.  xx  hite  throat,  dark  bill  and  dark 
eyes  were  all  noted.  In  autumn,  on  15  .September 
2(K)(),  a small  Hock  of  four  xx  as  seen  at  the  same  j'llace. 
This  species  may  also  be  expanding  its  range  south- 
XX  arc!  in  response  to  increasing  desertification. 

Wattled  .Starling  (.reatophora  ciiierea 
Three  on  21  .August  2000.  2 km  east  of  the  old  Fishep 
Station  at  Duguri.  xxere  obserxed  from  25  m in  a 
treetop  xx  ith  a Hock  of  Greater  Blue-eared  Cilossy 
Starlings  Laniprotoniis  chalyhaeiis  for  a coujile  of 
minutes  before  they  llexx  aw  ay.  They  IkuI  a x ep  pale 
ox  erall  impression.  'I'he  body  xx  as  pale  greyish  broxvn 
xx  ith  a conspicuous  off-xx  hite  rump.  The  belly  xxas 
whitish,  and  tail  and  xxing  feathers  blackish.  The 
pointed  bill  xx  as  pale  yelloxx  ish.  xx  ith  bare  yelloxx'  and 
black  skin  surrounding  it.  as  xxell  as  behind  the  eye 
and  lores.  Legs  xx  ere  pale  broxx  n.  They  xx  ere  approxi- 
mately the  size  of  the  Greater  Blue-eared  Glos.sy 
Starlings  and  the  appearance  xx  as  that  of  a typical 
Stiiniiis  starling,  short  tailed  and  bulky  bodied. 

Unconfirmed  observations 

Three  Barbap'  Falcon  Falco  {peregrin  us)  pelegriuoicles 
and  one  or  tw'o  Saker  A.  cherriig  sightings  were  made, 
but  the  obseivations  w^ere  so  brief  that  proper  de- 
scriptions could  not  be  made.  These  species  probably 
occur  in  the  area  and  future  obsen'ers  should  attempt 
to  confirm  their  presence. 

Acknowledgements 

Thanks  to  the  Hasselblad  Foundation,  Carl  Tp’ggers 
Foundation,  Institut  fiir  'Vogelforschung  'Vogelwarte 


54 -Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


New  birds  for  Nigeria:  Ottosson  et  al 


Helgoland',  The  Crafoord  Foundation  and  The  Helge 
Ax:son  Johnson  Foundation,  as  well  as  the  Lake  Chad 
Research  Institute  in  Maiduguri  for  placing  the  facili- 
ties at  Duguri  at  our  disposal.  Its  local  director,  Josiah 
Ozue  and  his  staff  are  thanked  for  their  full  support  in 
all  matters.  We  also  thank  the  local  army  commander. 
Major  Joshua  Gidon,  for  support  and  Bornu  State 
Police  Force  for  seconding  officers  to  protect  the  field 
workers.  Finally  we  thank  Mari  Madu,  Maiduguri  for 
many  other  kinds  of  help,  f' 

References 

1.  Balanca,  G.  and  Visscher,  M.-N.  1997.  Composition 
et  evolution  saisonniere  d’un  peuplement  d’oiseaux 
au  nord  du  Burkina  Faso  (nord-Yatenga).  Malimhiis 
19:  68-94. 

2.  Dowsett,  RJ.  1968.  Migrants  at  Malamfatori,  Lake 
Chad,  spring  1968.  Bull.  Niger.  Ornithol.  Soc.  5:  53- 
56. 

3.  Dowsett  RJ.  1969-  Migrants  at  Malamfatori,  Lake 
Chad,  autumn  1968.  Bitll.  Niger.  Ornithol.  Soc.  6: 
39—45. 

4.  Elgood,  J.H.  1994.  The  Birds  of  Nigeria:  au  anno- 
tated check-list.  BOU  checklist  No.  4.  Second  edi- 
tion. Tring:  British  Ornithologists’  Union. 

5.  Fry,  C.H.,  Ash,  J.S.  and  Ferguson-Lees,  I.J.  1970. 
Spring  weights  of  some  Palaearctic  migrants  at  Lake 
Chad.  Ihis  112:  58-82. 

6.  Hjort,  C.,  Ottosson,  U.  and  Pettersson,  J.  1999.  Lake 
Chad — bird  migration  focus  in  the  middle  of  Africa. 
Vdr  Fdgelvdrld  58  (2):  22-24.  [In  Swedish] 

7.  Hjort,  C.  and  Ottosson,  U.  1999.  Whitethroat  boom 
at  Lake  Chad — successful  start  of  the  ringing  in 
April.  Vdr  Fdgelvdrld  58  (5):  22-23.  [In  Swedish] 

8.  Hjort,  C.,  Ottosson,  U.  and  Gustafsson,  R.  2000.  Lake 
Chad  2000 — one  year  with  migrant  birds  south  of 
the  Sahara.  Vdr  Fdgelvdrld  59  (2):  20-23.  [In  Swed- 


ish] 

9.  Hopson,  AJ.  1964.  Preliminary  notes  on  the  birds  of 
Malamfatori,  Lake  Chad.  Bull.  Nigerian  Ornithol. 
Soc.  1;  7-14. 

10.  Hopson,  J.  and  Hopson,  AJ.  1965.  Additions  to 
local  avifaunas:  Malamfatori,  Lake  Chad.  Bull.  Niger. 
Ornithol.  Soc.  2:  18-19. 

11.  Ottosson,  U.,  Hjort,  C.  and  Hall,  P.  2001.  The  Lake 
Chad  Bird  Migration  Project:  Malamfatori  revisited. 
Bull.  ABCS-.  121-126. 

12.  Rodwell,  S.P.,  Sauvage,  A.,  Rumsey,  S.J.R.  and 
Braunlich,  A.  1996.  An  annotated  check-list  of  birds 
occurring  at  the  Parc  National  des  Oiseaux  du 
Djoudj  in  Senegal,  1984-1994.  Malimbiis  18:  74- 

111. 

13.  Svensson,  L.  1992.  Identification  Guide  to  Euro- 
pean Passerines.  Fourth  edition.  Stockholm:  pri- 
vately published. 

14.  Urban,  E.K.,  Fry,  C.H.  and  Keith,  S.  (eds)  1997.  The 
Birds  of  Africa.  'Vol  5.  London,  UK:  Academic  Press. 

“Ottenhy  Bird  Observatory,  PI  1500,  SE-380  65 
Degerhanm,  Sweden."^ 

’’Pro  Natura  International,  27  Mekuwen  Road,  Ikoyi, 
Lagos,  Nigeria. 

Ne  vent  is  Overseas  Ltd,  West  African  House,  Hanger 
Lane,  Ealing,  London  W5  3QR,  UK. 

'Tnstitiit fiir  Vogelforschung,  Vogelwarte  Helgoland,  An 
der  Vogelwarte  21,  D-26386  Wilhelmshaven,  Germany. 

Hhe  Wetland  Trust,  Elms  Farm,  Pett  Lane,  Lcklesham, 
Winchelsea,  East  Sussex  TN36  4AH,  UK. 

Correspondence  to  Ulf  Ottosson,  18a  rue  de Mainer,  LU- 
8280  Kehlen,  Luxemburg. 


New  birds  for  Nigeria:  Ottosson  et  al 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 - 55 


Conservation  importance  of  the  Albertine  Rift 
and  the  work  of  the  Albertine  Rift 
Conservation  Society  (ARCOS) 

Dr  Laurent  Ntahiiga 


La  Societe  de  Conservation  du  Rift  Albertin  (Albertine  Rift  Conserx'ation  Society.  ARCOS)  a ete  creee  en 
1995  afin  de  promouvoir  la  protection  de  la  nature  dans  les  six  pays  de  la  region,  le  Burundi,  la 
Republique  Democratique  du  Congo,  le  Rwanda,  la  Tanzanie.  I'Uganda  et  la  Zambie.  par  le  biais  d un 
partenariat  regional  d’Organisations  Non-Gouvernementales  (ONGs).  Les  activites  presentes  et  passees 
de  I’association  sont  presentees,  ainsi  que  ses  projets. 


Introduction 

The  Albertine  Rift  extends  for  cl, 500  km  over  six 
countries  in  eastern  and  central  Africa,  including 
Burundi,  the  Democratic  Republic  of  Congo  (DRC), 
Rwanda,  Tanzania,  Uganda  and  Zambia,  from  Lake 
Albert  in  the  north  to  Lake  Tanganyika  in  the  south. 
The  region  is  characterised  by  a rich  biodiversity  and 
the  high  variety  of  ecosystems  found  there  partially 
results  from  the  range  of  altitudes,  from  770  m (at  Lake 
Tanganyika)  to  5,109  m (in  the  Ruwenzori  Moun- 
tains). 

Conservation  importance 

Despite  the  marked  and  ever-increasing  degradation 
of  biodiversity  in  the  region,  the  Albertine  Rift  still 
possesses  an  impressive  variety  of  animal  and  plant 
species  both  within  and  outside  protected  areas. 
Furthermore,  its  forests,  lakes  and  wetlands  achieve 
the  highest  score  in  Africa  in  terms  of  endemism  (see 
Table  1),  and  rank  among  the  highest  biodiversity 
hotspots  for  other  taxa  such  as  butterflies,  primates 
and  plants.  Moreover,  Albertine  Rift  montane  forests 
are  ecologically  important  for  their  role  in  local  and 
regional  climate  regulation,  anti-erosion  control  and 
watershed  protection  for  the  two  principal  hydro- 
logic  basins  of  Africa  (the  Nile  and  Congo  basins),  as 
well  as  providing  existential  resources  for  local  com- 
munities. 


Table  1.  Albertine  Rift  overall  species  numbers  and  endemism 


Class 

Species  numbers 

% Endemism 

Mammals 

224 

14 

Birds 

712 

5 

Reptiles 

116 

26 

Amphibians 

64 

42 

ARCOS  mission  and  performances 

The  Albertine  Rift  Con,ser\ation  Society  (ARCOS)  was 
established  in  1995  as  a regional  NGO  operating  in 
the  six  Albertine  Rift  countries  mentioned  above  w ith 
a mi.ssion  to  enhance  hiodirersity  conserration  and 
sustainable  use  of  natural  resources  of  the  Albertine 
Rift  regio)i  through  the  promotion  of  coUahorat ire 
conservation  action,  airareness  raising  and 
biodiversity  information  exchange  in  the  region. 

ARCOS's  major  achievements  ha\  e been  made  in 
the  promotion  of  a regional  network  consisting  of 
partners,  partner  organisations  (NGOs.  government 
representatives,  re.search  in.stitutions,  etc)  and  Focal 
Points  within  and  outside  the  rift  region.  The  regional 
priority-setting  workshop  Promoting  comminiity- 
hased  conservation  and  regional  information 
excluuige  in  support  of  Alberti  ne  Rift  montane  forests. 
facilitated  by  ARCOS,  was  held  on  13-15  July  1999  in 
Kampala  (Uganda)  and  contributed  greatly  towards 
consolidating  collaboration  among  local  consena- 
tion  organisations. 


Table  2.  ARCOS  Focal  Points  in  the  Albertine  Rift  countries 


Country 

Focal  point’s  name 

Organisation 

1 Burundi 

Dr  Gaspard  Bikwemu 

Burundi-Nature 

2 DRC 

Didier  de  Failly  s.j.  (Sud-Kivu) 

BEST 

Claude  Sikubwabo  (Nord-Kivu) 

VONA 

3 Rwanda 

Dr  Emmanuel  Twarabamenye 

ACNR 

4 Tanzania 

Alice  Bukholi 

WCST 

5 Uganda 

Dr  Julius  Arinaitwe 

Nature  Uganda 

6 Zambia 

Mwape  Sichilongo 

WCSZ 

With  funding  from  various  sources,  ARCOS  has  also 
implemented  a number  of  projects: 

• Production  of  a regional  newsletter,  which  pub- 
lishes articles  from  across  the  region  in  a bilingual 
(English  and  French)  format  twice  a year. 


56  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Conservation  importance  of  the  Albertine  Rift:  Ntahiiga 


• Visits  to  national  focal  organisations  in  Burundi, 
DRC,  Rwanda,  Zambia,  Tanzania  and  Uganda  to 
develop  the  ARGOS  partnership  and  consolidate 
the  regional  network. 

• Assessing  biological  and  socio-economic  knowl- 
edge of  Itombwe  Forest  and  its  surroundings. 

• Production  of  key  materials,  fact  sheets,  a techni- 
cal report  on  Conseivation  Status  of  Albertine  Rift 
Montane  Forests:  Preliminary  Review  and  other 
working  documents. 

• Developing  a methodology  and  guidelines  to 
assess  impacts  of  armed  conflicts  on  Albertine  Rift 
biodiversity  conservation. 

Future  activities 

The  framework  of  actions  for  ARGOS  is  described  in 
its  document  entitled  First  Steps,  which  also  provides 
a review  of  its  1995-1998  activities  and  a three-year 
work  plan  for  1999-2002.  The  various  events  and 
project  proposals  for  which  funding  is  still  being 
sought  are: 

• ARGOS  core  activities  for  biodiversity  conserva- 
tion in  the  Albertine  Rift,  phase  2. 


• Itombwe  Forest  Project  follow-up  proposal. 

• Albertine  Rift  Montane  Forest  Conservation  Sta- 
tus: Challenges  and  Opportunities  handbook  to 
facilitate  decision-making  phase  2.  This  is  a policy- 
targeted  handbook  and  GD-ROM  to  guide 
decision-making  for  the  conservation  and  sus- 
tainable use  of  Albertine  Rift  montane  forests. 

• Albertine  Rift  Regional  Expert  workshop  on  spe- 
cies data  and  information  sharing. 

• ARGOS  Second  Biannual  Forum. 

• Gase  studies  on  integrated  conservation  and  de- 
velopment in  the  Albertine  Rift  region. 

• Framework  for  biodiversity  conservation  plan- 
ning and  monitoring  of  Albertine  Rift  montane 
forests. 

The  way  forward 

Over  the  next  two  years,  ARGOS  will  need  to  deploy 
considerable  efforts  on  some  of  these  issues,  but  of 
paramount  importance  are  the  development  of  a 
Regional  Biodiversity  Information  Gentre,  further 
projects,  and  fund-raising  strategy  and  techniques, 

ARCOS  Regional  Coordinator,  Kampala,  Uganda. 


^ Supported  by  ABC  Conservation  Fund 


Conservation  importance  of  the  Albertine  Rift:  Ntahiiga 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1-57 


List  of  Bird  Recorders  and  Checkiist  Compiiers 

Compiled  hy  Keith  Betton 


In  Bull.  ABC  1:  39-48,  John  Fanshawe  reviewed 
the  state  of  the  African  hireling  community  in  1994, 
the  year  of  the  ABC  launch.  The  present  compilation 
aims  to  update  ABC  members  on  bird  recorders  and 
checklist  compilers  for  all  of  the  countries  covered 
within  the  ABC  region  (see  Bull.  ABC  1:  12).  Updates 
can  be  sent  to  the  address  at  the  foot  of  the  article  or 
by  e-mail  to  keithbetton@hotmail.com.  We  urge  all 
ABC  members  to  submit  records  or  trip  reports  from 
any  visits,  future  or  past,  to  the  region  to  the  relevant 
recorders  in  order  that  the  information  can  be  utilised, 
and  not  remain  ‘buried’  in  obsewers’  notebooks. 

Algeria 

Paul  Isenmann,  CEFE/CNRS,  1919  Route  de  Mende, 
E-34293  Montpellier  Cedex  5,  Erance.  E-mail: 
isenmann®  cefe . enrs-mop . fr 

Angola 

Dr  W.  Richard  J.  Dean,  P.O.  Box  47,  Prince  Albert, 
6930,  South  Africa.  E-mail:  lycium@mweb.co.za 

Ascension  Island 

Dr  K.  E.  L Simmons,  c/o  The  Administrative  Secretary, 
British  Ornithologists’  Union,  The  Natural  Histoiy 
Museum,  Sub-department  of  Ornithology,  Tring,  Herts 
HP23  6AP,  UK.  E-mail:  bou@bou.org.uk 

Azores 

Holder  Costa,  Socieclade  Portuguesa  para  o Estuclo 
das  Aves,  Rua  da  Vitoria  53,  3°  Esq.,  1100-618  Lisboa, 
Portugal.  E-mail:  spea@spea.pt 

Benin 

Patrick  Claffey,  8 Teignmouth  Road,  London  NW2 
4HN,  UK.  E-mail:  PMClaffeysvd@aol.com 

Botswana 

Chris  Brewster,  Matshekge  Hill  Secondaiy  School, 
Private  Bag  24,  Bobonong,  Botswana.  E-mail: 
cbrewster@botsnet.bw 

Burkina  Faso 

Ron  Demey,  Van  der  Heinstraat  52,  2582 
SB  Den  Haag,  The  Netherlands.  E-mail: 
lO6706.603@compuserve.com 

Burundi 

Dr  Jean  Pierre  vande  Weghe.  E-mail: 
j pvandeweghe®  internetgabon . com 

Cameroon 

Marc  Languy,  c/o  WWE  Cameroon  Office,  BP  6776, 
Yaounde,  Cameroon.  E-mail:  marclanguy@camnet.cm 


Canary  Islands 

Tony  Clarke,  Republica  Dominica  No  (H.  Barrio  de 
Fatima,  38500  Guimar,  Tenerife.  Islas  Canarias.  Spain. 
E-mail:  clarke@arrakis.es 

Juan  Antonio  Lorenzo.  La  Laguna  L5iiversity.  Ten- 
erife, Islas  Canarias.  Spain. 

Cape  Verde  Islands 

DrCornelisJ.  Haze\oet.  Curator  of  Ornithology.  Mu.seu 
e Laboratorio  Zoologico  e Antropoldgico  (Mu.seu 
Bocage),  Mu.seu  Nacional  de  HisuVia  Natural.  Rua  da 
Escola  Politecnica  58.  1250-102  Li.sboa.  Portugal. 
E-ma i 1 : ha ze\oet @ fc .ul.pt 

Central  African  Republic 

R.  J.  Dowsett,  12  rue  des  Lavandes,  Ganges  F-34190. 
Erance.  E-mail:  Dow.sett@aol.com 

Chad 

Paul  Scholte,  Nw.  Teertuinen  12C,  1013  L\‘  Amster- 
dam, The  Netherlands.  E-mail:  ScholKerst@cs.com 

Comores 

Dr  Michel  Louette,  I lead  of  Department  of  Zoology. 
Royal  Museum  for  Central  Africa.  Lem  ensesteenweg 
13,  3080  Ter\uren.  Belgium.  E-mail: 

loLiette@africamuseum.be 

Congo,  Republic  of  (formerly  French  Congo, 
Congo-Brazzaville) 

R.  J.  Dowsett.  12  rue  des  Lavandes,  Ganges  F-3-H90. 
Erance.  E-mail:  Dowsett@aol.com 

Congo,  Democratic  Republic  of  (formerly  Zaire, 
Belgian  Congo,  Congo-Kinshasa) 

Tommy  Pedersen,  Ha\Te\'eien  28,  N-0680  Oslo, 
Noiway.  E-mail:  stingray@online.no 

Cote  d’Ivoire 

Hugo  Rainey,  School  of  Biology,  Bute  Medical  Build- 
ing, University  of  St  Andrew^s,  St  Andrews  KYI6  9TS 
UK.  E-mail:  hjr3@st-andrews.ac.uk 
Volker  Salewski,  Prinz-Rupprecht-Str.  34, 
93053  Regensburg,  Germany.  E-mail: 
volker.salewski@biologie.uni-regensburg.de 

Djibouti 

Geoff  Welch,  Minsmere  Reserve,  Westleton, 
Saxmundham,  Suffolk  IP  17  3BY,  UK.  E-mail: 
geoffandhilaiy.welch@virgin.net 

Egypt 

Sherif  Baha  el  Din,  3 Abdalla  El  Katib  St,  Apt  3,  Dokki, 
Cairo,  Egypt.  E-mail:  baha@internetegypt.com 


58  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


List  of  Bird  Recorders  and  Checklist  Compilers:  Betton 


Equatorial  Guinea 

Jaime  Perez  del  Val,  Museo  Nacional  de  Ciencias 
Naturales,  Jose  Gutierrez  Abascal  2,  28006  Madrid, 
Spain.  E-mail:  jperezval@mncn.csic.es 

Eritrea 

Dr  Chris  Hillman,  Assistant  Head  of  Research,  Minis- 
try of  Marine  Resources,  Box  923,  Asmara,  Eritrea. 

Ethiopia 

Mengistu  Wondafrash,  Ethiopian  Wildlife  and  Natu- 
ral History  Society,  PO  Box  60074,  Addis  Ababa, 
Ethiopia.  E-mail:  ewnhs@telecom.net.et 
Dr  John  Ash,  Paysanne,  Godshill  Wood, 
Eordingbridge,  Hampshire,  SP6  2LR,  UK. 

Gabon 

Patrice  Christy,  BP  2240  Libreville,  Gabon.  Pax  + 241 
775534  / 732345  / 747780 

Ghana 

Samuel  Kofi  Nyame,  Ghana  Wildlife  Society, 
Box  13252,  Accra,  Ghana.  E-mail: 
sknyame@wildlifesociety.org.gh 

Guinea  Bissau 

No  contact. 

Guinea  Conakry 

Ron  Demey,  Van  der  Heimstraat  52,  2582 
SB  Den  Haag,  The  Netherlands.  E-mail: 
lO67O6.603@compuserve.com 

Kenya 

Colin  Jackson,  Mwamba,  Box  383,  Watamu,  Kenya. 
E-mail:  colin.jackson@bigfoot.com 

Lesotho 

Dr  David  Ambrose,  National  University  of  Lesotho, 
PO  Roma  180,  Lesotho. 

Liberia 

Dr  Wulf  Gatter,  Buchsstrasse  20,  D-73252  Lenningen, 
Germany.  E-mail:  wulfgatter@aol.com 

Libya 

Graham  Bundy,  5 Voesgarth  Crescent,  Baltasound, 
Unst,  Shetland  ZE2  9DT,  UK.  E-mail: 
Gb5voes@btinternet.com 

Madagascar 

Prank  Hawkins,  BirdLife  International,  BP  1074, 
Antananarivo  101,  Madagascar.  E-mail:  mesite@dts.mg 

Madeira 

Helder  Costa,  Sociedade  Portuguesa  para  o Estudo 
das  Aves,  Rua  da  Vitoria  53,  3°  Esq.  1100-618  Lisboa, 
Portugal.  E-mail:  spea@spea.pt 


Malawi 

Lawrence  Luhanga,  Malawi  Ornithological  Society, 
c/o  Department  of  Ornithology,  Museum  of  Malawi, 
PO  Box  30360,  Chichiri,  Blantyre  3,  Malawi.  E-mail: 
nature50@hotmail.com/mos@malawibirds.org 

Mali 

Bruno  Lamarche,  B.  P.  4311  Nouakchott,  Mauritania. 
E-mail:  manola@opt.mr 

Mauritania 

Bruno  Lamarche,  B.  P.  4311  Nouakchott,  Mauritania. 
E-mail:  manola@opt.mr 

Mauritius 

Mauritian  Wildlife  Poundation,  Tamarin,  Mauritius, 
Indian  Ocean. 

Morocco 

Prof.  Jacques  Pranchimont,  Quartier  Abbas  Lemsaadi, 
rue  n°6,  n°22,  50.000  Meknes  V.N,  Morocco.  E-mail: 
j.franchimont@extra.net.ma 

Mozambique 

Vincent  Parker,  Mozambique  Bird  Atlas,  Private  Bag 
XI 1,  Parkview,  2122  South  Africa  (or  within  Mozam- 
bique) Projecto  Atlas  de  Aves,  CP  4203,  Maputo. 
E-mail:  vinparker@yahoo.com 

Namibia 

Chris  Hines,  Namibia  Bird  Club,  PO  Box  67,  Windhoek, 
Namibia.  E-mail:  chines@polytechnic.edu.na 

Niger 

Joost  Brouwer,  Brouwer  Environmental  & Agricul- 
tural Consultancy,  Wildekamp  32, 6721 JD  Bennekom, 
The  Netherlands.  E-mail:  brouwbar@bos.nl 

Nigeria 

Phil  Hall,  c/o  Leventis  Overseas  Ltd,  West  Africa  House, 
Ashbourne  Road,  London  W5  3QP,  UK.  E-mail: 
llO226.2654@compuserve.com 

Reunion 

Societe  des  Etudes  Ornithologique  de  la  Reunion,  via 
Mme  Sonia  Ribes,  Conservateur,  Museum  d'Histoire 
Naturelle,  Rue  Poivre,  97400  St-Denis,  Reunion. 
E-mail:  seorun@wanadoo.fr 

Rodrigues 

Dave  A.  Showier,  c/o  Wedgwood  Drive.  Hughenden 
Valley,  High  Wycombe,  Bucks  HP  14  4PA.  UK.  E-mail: 
Dashowler@hotmail . com 

Rwanda 

Dr  Sam  Kanyamibvat,  VA\T  Eastern  Africa  Regional 
Programme  Office,  ACS  Plaza.  Lenana  Road. 
PO  Box  62440,  Nairobi.  Kenya.  E-mail: 
skanyamibwa@wwfeafrica . org 


List  of  Bird  Recorders  and  Checklist  Compilers:  Betton 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -59 


St  Helena 

Beau  W.  Rowlands,  l60  Doncaster  Road,  Sandyford, 
Newcastle  upon  Tyne,  NE2  IRB,  UK.  E-mail: 
B.W.Rowlands@tesco.net 

Sao  Tome  & Prmcipe 

Dr  Peter  Jones,  ICAPB  (Zoology  Building),  The 
King’s  Building,  Edinburgh  EH9  3JT,  UK.  E-mail: 
peter.jones@ed.ac.uk 

Senegal 

Moussa  Sega  Diop,  331  Sicap  Mbao,  BP  20077 
Thiaroye,  Dakar,  Senegal.  E-mail: 
msediop@hotmail.com 

Seychelles 

Adrian  Skerrett,  Secretaiy,  Seychelles  Bird  Records 
Committee,  Box  336  Victoria,  Mahe,  Seychelles.  E- 
mail : adrian@ skerrett .fsnet.co.uk 

Sierra  Leone 

Conservation  Society  of  Sierra  Leone,  4 Sanders  Street, 
Box  1292  Ereetown,  Sierra  Leone.  E-mail: 
ddsiaffa@hotmail.com 

Geoffrey  Eield,  37  Milton  Grove,  New  Milton,  Hants 
BH25  6HB,  UK. 

Socotra 

Richard  Porter,  c/o  BirdLife  International,  Wellbrook 
Court,  Girton  Road,  Cambridge  CB3  ONA,  UK. 

Somalia 

Dr  John  Ash,  Paysanne,  Godshill  Wood, 
Eordingbridge,  Hampshire  SP6  2LR,  UK. 

South  Africa 

Trevor  Hardaker,  Chairman,  South  African  Rarities 
Committee,  c/o  BirdLife  South  Africa,  PO  Box  515, 
Randburg2125,  South  Africa.  E-mail:  trevor@dhk.co.za 


Sudan 

Gerhard  Nikolaus,  Feldkuche,  Strich.  D-2~632  Dorum- 
Padingbiittel,  Germany. 

Tanzania 

Neil  & Liz  Baker,  Tanzania  Bird  Atlas.  1^0  Box  9601. 
xMoshi,  Tanzania.  E-mail:  kifufu@eoltz.com 

The  Gambia 

Gambian  Ornithological  Society.  Box  ”5~  Banjul.  The 
Gambia. 

Togo 

Dr  Robert  Cheke.  Natural  Re.sources  Institute.  Central 
Avenue,  Chatham  Maritime,  Chatham,  Kent  .ME-t  tTB. 
UK.  E-mail:  R.A.Cheke@greenwich.ac.uk 

Tunisia 

Hichem  Azafzaf.  GTO  Coordinator.  1 1 rue  abou  el  alia 
el  maari,  2080  Ariana.  Tunisia.  E-mail: 
azafzaf@excite.com 

Uganda 

Prof.  Derek  lk)meroy.  Institute  of  En\  ironment  and 
Natural  Resources,  .Makerere  Uni\ersity.  Box  "’298 
Kampala,  Uganda.  E-mail:  derek@imul.com 

Zambia 

Zambian  Ornithological  Society,  Box  33944  Lu.saka, 
Zambia.  E-mail:  zos@zamnet.zm 

Zimbabwe 

Executive  Officer,  BirdLife  Zimbabwe,  P.O  Box  CY 
l6l.  Causeway,  Harare.  Zimbabwe.  E-mail: 
birds@zol.co.zw  T 

8 Dukes  Close,  folly  Hill,  Faniham,  Surrey  GV9  ODR, 
UK. 


60  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


List  of  Bird  Recorders  and  Checklist  Compilers:  Betton 


A new  ornithological  institute  in  Nigeria 

Juliet  Vickery  and  Peter  Jones 


Nigeria  is  ornithologically  the  richest  country  in 
West  Africa  because  its  immense  size  encom- 
passes nearly  all  of  Africa’s  major  vegetation  zones 
(from  lowland  rainforest  to  Sahelian  semi-desert) 
and,  at  883  recorded  species,  almost  half  of  the  con- 
tinent’s avifauna.  It  is  also  the  most  populous  country 
in  Africa,  supporting  120  million  people  within  its 
924,000  km^.  Almost  in  the  centre  of  the  country  the 
Jos  Plateau  rises  to  800-1,200  m from  the  surrounding 
Guinea  savanna.  Here  intensive  agriculture,  tin  min- 
ing and  accompanying  towns  and  settlements  jostle 
for  space  among  massive  granite  inselbergs  arising 
from  a wide,  open  landscape. 

The  Amurum  Forest  at  Laminga,  c5  km  outside 
Jos,  the  administrative  capital  of  Plateau  State,  is  one 
of  the  last  remnants  of  natural  woodland  on  the 
plateau  and  still  has  a rich  avifauna.  Over  160  bird 
species  have  been  recorded  in  an  area  of  little  more 
than  100  ha,  among  which  are  two  highly  restricted 
endemics.  Rock  Firefinch  Lagonosticta 
sanguinodorsalis  and  its  brood  parasite  Jos  Plateau 


Indigobird  Vidua  maryae,  the  former  described  only 
in  1998.  It  could  soon  be  a pivotal  area  for  ornithology 
in  Nigeria  and  perhaps  West  Africa  as  a whole,  it 
being  the  site  of  a new  research  facility,  the  A P 
Leventis  Ornithological  Research  Institute.  Opened 
in  June  2001  with,  as  the  title  suggests,  very  generous 
funding  by  A P Leventis — a name  familiar  within 
Nigerian  conservation  circles — the  project  involves 
collaboration  between  the  University  of  Jos,  Nigerian 
Conservation  Foundation  (NCF)  and  nearby  Laminga 
community.  The  centre  is  dedicated  to  the  study  of 
birds  in  particular,  biodiversity  conservation  in  gen- 
eral and  is  the  only  specialist  ornithological  institute 
in  West  Africa. 

The  Institute  building  is  almost  complete  and 
comprises  a lecture  room,  library  (already  boasting  a 
collection  many  European  institutions  would  be  proud 
of,  due  to  the  generosity  and  foresight  of  its  founder), 
a laboratory  and  several  offices.  There  is  on-site  living 
accommodation  for  four  researchers  and  separate 
accommodation  for  a round-the-clock  watchman. 


View  of  the  A P Leventis  Ornithological  Research  Institute,  Jos  Plateau,  Nigeria  (Peter  Jones) 


A new  ornithological  institute  in  Nigeria:  Vickeiy  and  Jones 


Bull  ABC  Vo!  9 No  1-61 


View  of  the  A P Leventis  Ornithological  Research  Institute, 
Jos  Plateau,  Nigeria  (Peter  Jones) 


The  site  is  superb:  the  bottle-green  building  nestles 
between  two  inselbergs,  commanding  beautiful  views 
over  Amurum  Forest.  Fox  Kestrel  Fcilco  cilopex  and 
Fanner  Falcon  F.  hiarmicus  soar  above  the  building 
and  around  the  tallest  granite  outcrops,  Mocking 
Cliff-Chat  Myrmecocichla  cinnamomeiventris  flits 
over  the  rock  faces  in  flashes  of  chestnut  and  white, 
and  early  in  the  morning  Rock  Hyrax  Procciria 
capensis  bask  in  the  sun.  Amurum  is  not  pristine 
woodland  but  its  future  as  a study  site  appears 
assured  as  the  focus  of  a NCF  community  forest 
project  dedicated  to  its  sustainable  use  by  the  Laminga 
community. 

The  first  Head  of  the  Institute  is  Dr  Augustine 
(Gus)  Ezealor,  a charismatic  and  skilled  Nigerian 
ornithologist  seconded  from  Ahmaclu  Bello  Univer- 
sity in  Zaria.  Gus  is  already  well  known  to  many  ABC 
members  for  his  work  on  Nigerian  IBAs  for  BirclLife 
International.  Field  work  at  the  Institute  has  already 
begun  with  the  arrival  of  the  first  two  postgraduate 
students,  Ross  McGregor  and  Jared  Wilson,  who  are 
undertaking  DPhil  projects  at  Oxford  University  in 
collaboration  with  the  University  of  Jos,  and  are  co- 
supervised by  Will  Cresswell  (University  of  Oxford) 
Peter  Jones  (University  of  Edinburgh)  and  Juliet 
Vickery  (British  Trust  for  Ornithology). 

One  studentship  (Jared  Wilson)  will  focus  prima- 
rily on  Palearctic  migrants.  More  than  25%  of  all 
European  bird  species  winter  in  areas  of  farmed  and 
grazing  lands  in  the  seasonal  savannas  of  West  Africa, 
yet  very  little  is  known  of  their  winter  habitat  require- 
ments or  how  they  interact  with  Afrotropical  residents. 
However,  the  habitats  on  which  these  species  rely  are 
subject  to  increasing  human  pressure  and  perhaps 
also  climate  change.  Eor  many  taxa  survival  on  their 
wintering  grounds  plays  a major  role  in  their  popu- 


lation dynamics.  The  research  will  aim  to  i olivet 
ba.seline  data  on  the  density  and  di.stribulion  of 
Palearctic  migrants  wintering  in  Sahel  and  (juinea 
.savanna  to  determine  habitat  requirements,  and  the 
effects  of  habitat  modification. 

The  second  .studentship  (Ro.ss  Macgregori  w ill 
focus  on  Afrotropical  residents.  .Many  tropical  forest 
species  are  threatened  by  habitat  change  and  in  order 
to  better  predict  or  manage  future  populations  of 
these  species  an  understanding  of  their  demographics 
is  required.  However,  few  detailed  .studies  of  the 
population  dynamics  of  We.st  African  species  exist.  In 
addition,  though  it  is  known  that  many  species  under- 
take long  intra-African  migrations,  the  degree  of 
residency  or  itinerancy  of  these  to  breeding  and 
wintering  areas  is  poorly  known.  This  study  aims  to 
obtain  baseline  data  on  sur\  i\  al  rates  and  residency 
patterns  of  a broad  range  of  Ri\erine  and  Guinea 
sax'anna  forest  species. 

Obviously,  the  Institute  is  more  than  just  a good 
ba.se  for  'outside'  stuclent.s — its  main  role  will  be  to 
offer  training  and  education  for  Nigerians  (and  stu- 
dents from  elsewhere  in  the  continent,  particularly 
We.st  Africa).  With  this  in  mind  it  will  run  a MSc 
course  in  Con.sen  ation  Biology  within  the  Zoology 
Department  of  Jos  Uni\ersity.  with  the  first  students 
due  to  enroll  in  October  2002. 

The  potential  for  the  Institute  is  enormous.  It 
prewides  a scenic  and  well-equipped  base  for  a di- 
verse range  of  research  and  training  acti\  ities,  and  a 
long-o\  erdue  opportunity  for  a fruitful  exchange  and 
sharing  of  African  and  European  expertise.  Nigeria 
does  not  haw  an  especially  positiw  image  abroad, 
largely  based  on  that  of  the  big  cities  such  as  Lagos 
and  Kano.  Reaching  jos  is  straightforward,  with  regu- 
lar and  reliable  Rights  from  Lagos.  The  higher  altitude 
has  a pleasant  climate  and  Jos  is  a safe  and  friendly 
place,  despite  recent  troubles.  Enthusiasm  for  the 
Institute,  within  NCE  and  the  University  of  Jos,  is 
huge.  We  hope  that  ABC  members  and  their  col- 
leagues will  share  this  enthusiasm  and  consider  how 
they  might  collaborate  in  a unique  initiative. 

Eurther  information  can  be  obtained  from  any  of 
the  following: 

Phil  Hall:  llO226.2654@compuserve.com 

Gus  Ezealor:  ncf@hyperia.com 

Peter  Jones:  peter.jones@ed.ac.uk 

Juliet  Vickery:  juliet.vickery@bto.org 

Will  Cresswell:  will.cresswell@zoology.oxford.ac.uk 


62  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


A new  ornithological  institute  in  Nigeria:  Vickery  and  Jones 


Short  Notes 


African  Broadbill  Smithornis  capensis  as  a resident  in 
Soutpansberg,  Northern  Province,  South  Africa 

Craig  T.  Symef  and  Sarah  M.  VenteC 

L’Eurylaime  du  Cap  Smithornis  capensis  a recemment  ete  decouvert  dans  le  Soutpansberg,  Province 
du  Nord,  Afrique  du  Sud,  ou  il  pourrait  nicher  comme  hote  d’ete.  Des  observations  recentes,  faites  dans 
une  foret  pres  de  Louis  Trichardt,  semblent  indiquer  que  I’espece  est  residente  dans  la  region.  Le  statut 
taxonomique  de  cette  population  isolee  merite  d’etre  examine. 


African  Broadbill  Smithornis  capensis  w2iS  recently 
found  to  occur  in  the  Soutpansberg,  Northern 
Province,  South  Africa,  where  it  was  suggested  to  be 
seasonal.  Subsequently,  it  has  been  discovered  at  a 
forest  near  Louis  Trichardt  (site  3 in  Symes  & Perrin^) 
in  winter.  On  21  June  2000  at  least  two  were  recorded 
in  Roodewaal  forest  (23°00’S  30°01’E,  where  heard  at 
08.00  hrs;  and  23°01’S  30°02’E,  where  seen  and  heard 
at  12.00  hrs).  On  10  October  2000  attempts  were 
made  to  locate  these  individuals,  using  playback  at 
various  sites.  A male  was  attracted  on  one  occasion 
(08.45  hrs),  but  did  not  call.  On  25  May  2001,  another 
was  heard  on  the  south  side  of  Roodewaal  forest,  a 
site  where  it  had  not  been  previously  recorded. 

These  data  suggest  that  African  Broadbill  may  be 
resident  in  the  Soutpansberg  during  winter  (May- 
June),  and  thus  throughout  the  year.  The  forest  is 
classified  as  re-growth  foresC  and  the  canopy  seldom 
exceeds  10  m.  During  winter  the  understorey  be- 
comes particularly  dry.  The  bird-species  community 
includes  those  recorded  in  higher  altitude 
Afromontane  forest  and  lower  altitude  bushveld  and 
re-growth  forest  in  the  region^.  Eurther  research  into 
the  status  of  African  Broadbill  here  is  required^  In 
addition,  the  taxonomic  status  of  those  in 
Soutpansberg,  which  is  separated  by  250-300  km 
from  the  nearest  known  population,  should  be  inves- 
tigated. It  is  possible  that  an  undescribed  form  occurs 
here.  Otherwise,  contrary  to  the  suggestion  that  they 
are  of  the  subspecies  conjunctu^,  it  is  more  likely  that 
cryptoleucus  is  involvedk  Based  on  biogeographic 
evidence,  this  population  more  likely  has  affinities 
with  those  occurring  to  the  east  and  south-east  in 
Mozambique,  Swaziland  and  KwaZulu-NataP  - L 


References 

1.  Allan,  D.G.  2000.  African  Broadbill  Smithornis 
capensis.  In:  Barnes,  K.N.  (ed)  The  Eskom  Red  Data 
Book  of  Birds  of  South  Africa,  Lesotho  and 
Swaziland.  Johannesburg:  BirdLife  South  Africa. 

2.  Cohen,  C.  1997.  African  Broadbill  Smithornis 
capensis.  In:  Harrison,  J. A.,  Allan,  D.G.,  Underhill, 
L.G.,  Herremans,  M.,  Tree,  A.J.,  Parker,  V.  and 
Brown,  CJ.  (eds)  The  Atlas  of  Southern  African 
Birds.  Vol  2.  Johannesburg:  BirdLife  South  Africa. 

3.  Geldenhuys,  CJ.  1999.  Forestwood—DWAF  Con- 
servation Forestry  Proposal.  Unpublished  report. 
Pretoria:  Department  of  Water  Affairs  & Torestry. 

4.  Keith,  S.,  Urban,  E.K.  and  Fry,  C.H.  (eds)  1992.  The 
Birds  of  Africa.  Vol  4.  London,  UK:  Academic  Press. 

5.  Parker,  V.  1998.  The  Atlas  of  the  Birds  of  Sul  do  Save, 
Southern  Mozambique.  Cape  Town:  Avian  Demog- 
raphy Unit. 

6.  Symes,  C.T.  and  Perrin,  M.R.  2000.  Range  extension 
of  African  Broadbill  Smithornis  capensis  into 
Soutpansberg,  Northern  Province,  South  Africa.  Bull. 
ABC1-.  135-138. 

7.  Symes,  C.T.,  Venter,  S.M.  and  Perrin,  M.R.  2000. 
Afromontane  forest  avifauna  of  the  eastern 
Soutpansberg  mountain  range.  Northern  Province. 
South  Africa.  J.  South  Afr.  Forestiy  189:  71-80. 

‘’School  of  Botany  and  Zoology,  University  ofXatal.  P/ 

Bag  XOl,  Scottsville,  3209,  KwaZiilu-Xatal.  South  Af- 
rica. E-mail:  symes@nu.ac.za. 

'’Department  of  Water  Affairs  & Forestiy.  P/Bag  X2413. 

Louis  Trichardt,  0920,  Xoithern  Province.  South  Af- 
rica. E-mail:  VenterS@dwaf.mpii. gov. za. 


Short  Notes 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 Not  -63 


Extension  of  breeding  activity  for  Rodrigues  Warbler 

Acrocephalus  rodericanus 

Dave  A.  Showier 

La  Roiisserolle  de  ^odngues  Acrocephalus  roclericamis,  espece  menacee,  est  endemique  a Rodrigues. 
Line  des  lies  formant  I’archipel  des  Mascareignes,  situee  dans  le  sud  de  LOcean  Indien.  I’n  jmenile. 
observe  pendant  qu’il  etait  nourri  par  un  adiilte,  le  30  avril  1999,  etait  estime  a\'oir  quitte  le  nid  moins 
de  cinq  jours  auparavant.  Ceci  est  de  6 a 8 semaines  plus  tard  que  les  dates  d'enx'ol  constatees 
auparavant.  II  est  possible  que  la  saison  de  nidification  soit  plus  tardix  e pendant  certaines  annees  ou 
qu’il  y ait  plus  d’une  nidification  par  an,  selon  les  conditions  meteorologiques  ou  I'abondance  de 
noLirriture. 


The  Endangered  Rodrigues  Warbler  dcrocep/?c////s 
rodericanus  is  endemic  to  the  Indian  Ocean 
island  of  Rodrigues.  A juvenile  Rodrigues  Warbler 
observed  being  fed  by  an  adult  in  xvoodland  at  St 
Gabriel  (central  Rodrigues),  on  30  April  1999,  was 
estimated  to  be  fewer  than  five  days  out  of  the  nest.  Its 
bill  length  was  approximately  three-quarters  that  of 
the  adult  feeding  it,  it  had  obvious  gape  flanges,  some 
down  on  the  lower  throat  and  the  tail  xvas  c25  mm 
long.  This  is  6-8  weeks  later  than  any  previously 
observed  Hedging  date.  The  fledging  period  of 
Rodrigues  Warbler  is  unknown,  but  is  probably  cl4 
daysL  The  fledging  period  of  its  slightly  larger  conge- 
ner, Seychelles  Warbler  A.  sechellensis  is  18-20  daysf 
Backdating  indicates  that  the  bird  hatched  some  time 
during  the  second  week  of  April.  The  incubation 
period  of  Rodrigues  Warbler  is  also  unknown,  but 
Seychelles  Warbler  incubates  for  18  daysk  On  this 
basis,  the  egg-laying  date  would  have  been  c25  March, 
at  the  start  of  the  Southern  Hemisphere  winter.  It  is 
possible  that  in  some  years  the  breeding  season  may 
be  extended  or  breeding  may  occur  more  than  once 
per  annum,  eg  a pair  of  warblers  nested  twice  in  the 
1974-75  season  and  two  broods  is  perhaps  the  normf 
Breeding  activity  is  presumably  linked  to  weather 
conditions  and  food  availability.  Examples  can  be 
drawn  from  the  findings  of  extensive  research  into 
the  breeding  biology  of  Seychelles  Warbler.  On  its 
native  island  of  Cousin,  where  food  availability  varies 
seasonally.  Diamond^  found  that  the  species  bred 
twice  in  most  years  (once  in  the  wet  and  once  in  the 
diy  season),  apparently  using  rainfall  frequency  to 
predict  peak  abundance  in  insect  food.  Eurther, 
KomdeuA  was  able  to  test  the  hypothesis  that  sea- 
sonal changes  in  feeding  conditions  are  an  important 
proximate  factor  controlling  reproduction,  following 
translocation  of  some  pairs  (as  a conservation  meas- 
ure) to  Aride,  an  island  with  high  year-round  food 
availability.  Here,  birds  prolonged  their  reproductive 
season,  increased  the  annual  number  of  broods  and 


annual  production  per  pair  xxas.  on  axerage.  far 
higher  than  that  of  the  same  pair  prior  to  transloca- 
tion k 

On  Rodrigues,  in  addition  to  the  xx  arbler.  xxinter- 
breeding  of  Rodrigues  Fody  Foiidia  jlavicaus.  the 
only  other  extant  endemic  bird,  has  also  been  ob- 
served'. Interestingly,  xxinter  breeding  is  almost 
Linknoxvn  for  pas.serines  on  the  txxo  more  xxesleiiy 
Mascarene  islands.  .Mauritius  and  Reunion,  xxhere 
nesting  seasons  are  xx  ell  knoxx  n ( R .Salford  pers  comm 
2001).  Cheke  (pers  comm  2001)  suggests  that  xx  inter 
breeding  is  an  adaptation  to  the  much  le.ss  predictable 
xveather  precipitation  patterns  in  Rodrigues,  xx  hen  it 
xvoiild  be  an  advantage  to  be  able  to  make  effective 
use  of  Lin.seasonal  rainfall,  as  the  main  rainy  .sea.son 
often  does  not  arrix’e.  Eurther  ecological  .studies  on 
Rodrigues  are  required  to  examine  the  reproductix'e 
strategies  and  breeding  success  of  both  of  the  en- 
demic passerines. 

Acknowledgements 

Many  thanks  to  Anthony  Cheke  for  his  thoughts  on 
the  winter  breeding  of  the  txvo  endemic  passerines  on 
Rodrigues,  and  Roger  Safforcl  for  comments  on  the 
draft  manuscript. 

References 

1.  Cheke,  A.S.  1987.  Obserx^ations  on  the  surxaving 
endemic  birds  of  Rodrigues.  In:  Diamond,  A.W. 
(ed)  Studies  of  Mascarene  Island  Birds.  Cambridge, 
UK:  Cambridge  University  Press. 

2.  Diamond,  A.W.  1980.  Seasonality,  population  struc- 
ture and  breeding  ecology  of  the  Seychelles  Brush 
Warbler  Acrocephalus  sechellensis.  Proc.  U Pan- 
Afr.  Orn.  Congr.-.  253-266. 

3.  Komdeur,  J.  1996.  Seasonal  timing  of  reproduction 
in  a tropical  bird,  the  Seychelles  Warbler:  a field 
experiment  using  translocation./.  Biol.  Rhythms  11: 
333-346. 

E-mail:  dash owler@hot mail. com . 


64  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Short  Notes 


f 

f Melanistic  Eurasian  Collared  Dove 

Streptopelia  decaocto  in  Morocco 

^ Patrick  Bergier 

Une  Tourterelle  turque  Streptopelia  decaocto  melanique,  observee  a Tan  Tan  Plage,  Maroc,  le  26  avril 
2001,  est  decrite.  L’oiseau  etait  presque  entierement  noir,  seules  les  remiges  secondaires  et  tertiaires, 
les  couvertures  et  les  scapulaires  etant  plus  pales,  gris  fonce.  Cette  aberration  de  plumage  ne  semble 
pas  avoir  ete  rapportee  precedemment  chez  cette  espece. 


The  Eurasian  Collared  Dove  reached  Morocco  in 
the  late  1970s  and  subsequently  spread  rapidly 
across  the  entire  country 6 including  desert  areas.  On 
the  Atlantic  coast,  it  reached  Dakhla  in  1998  and  is 
now  resident  in  most  of  towns  to  the  north  of  there. 

On  the  26  April  2001,  the  species  was  found  to  be 
common  around  the  port  and  town  of  Tan  Tan  Plage 
(28°29’N  11°20’W).  Among  normal-plumaged  birds. 


colleagues  and  myself  discovered  an  almost  entirely 
black  individual  near  the  Restaurant  Equinoxe  CEigs 
1-3);  only  the  secondaries,  tertials,  wing-coverts  and 
scapulars  appeared  paler  and  greyer.  Its  behaviour 
was  the  same  as  the  other  individuals. 

Slight  colour  variations  are  fairly  common  in  this 
species^,  but  1 have  failed  to  discover  any  instances  of 
melanism  in  the  literature,  (fj 


References 

1.  Bergier,  P.,  Eranchimont,  J.  and  Thevenot,  M.  1999- 
Implantation  et  expansion  geographique  de  deux 
especes  de  columbides  au  Maroc:  la  Tourterelle 
turque  Streptopelia  decaocto  et  la  Tourterelle  maillee 
Streptopelia  senegalensis.  Alaiida  67:  23-36. 

2.  Sueur,  E.  1999.  La  Tourterelle  turque.  Saint  Yriex  sur 
Charente;  Eveil  Nature. 

11  rue  Saint  Pol  Roux,  78280  Guyancourt,  France.  E- 

mail:  pbergier@yahoo.fr. 


Figures  1-3.  Eurasian  Collared  Dove  Streptopelia  decaocto, 
Tan  Tan  Plage,  Morocco,  26  April  2001  (Patrick  Bergier) 


Short  Notes 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 Not  -65 


Recent  Reports 


These  are  largely  unconfirmed  records 
published  for  interest  only;  records 
are  mostly  from  2001,  with  a few 
from  earlier  dates.  We  thank  all 
birders  who  have  sent  in  their  records 
and  urge  them  to  submit  full  details  to 
the  relevant  national  or  regional 
organisations  (see  pp.  58-60).  It  is 
suggested  that  observations  of  each 
species  be  compared  with  relevant 
literature  to  set  new  data  in  context 
and  that  observers  who  are  unfamiliar 
with  the  status  of  birds  in  a particular 
country  refer  to  R.J.  Dowsett’s  (1993) 
Afrotropical  avifaunas:  annotated 
country  checklists  (in:  R.J.  Dowsett  and 
F.  Dowsett-Lemaire.  A Contribution  to 
the  Distribution  and  Taxonomy  of 
Afrotropical  and  Malagasy  Birds. 
Tauraco  Research  Report  5.  Liege: 
Tauraco  Press)  or  more  recent  or 
appropriate  sources  before  submitting 
records. 

Azores 

In  April  2001,  four  Black-winged  Stilts 

Himantopus  himantopiis  were 
photographed  at  Lajes  do  Pico,  Pico,  on 
8th;  probably  the  same  four  were  at  Cabo 
da  Praia,  Terceira,  on  22nd  (per  Dutch 
Birding  23:  l60). 

In  September,  at  least  10  Black 
Ducks  Anas  rubripes  {including  hybrids) 
were  at  Lagoa  Seca,  while  a male 
Common  Pochard  Aythya  ferina  was 
at  Lagoa  Azul,  Sao  Miguel,  on  5th. 
Nearctic  waders  included  an  adult 
Semipalmated  Plover  Charadriiis 
semipalmatus  and  a juvenile 
Semipalmated  Sandpiper  Calidris 
pusilla  at  Cabo  da  Praia  quarry,  Terceira, 
on  6-18th  at  least,  single  adult  and 
juvenile  Least  Sandpipers  C.  minutilla 
also  there  on  6th,  a Baird’s  Sandpiper 
C.  bairdii  at  Praia  da  Vitoria,  Terceira, 
on  5th,  two  Pectoral  Sandpipers  C. 
melanotos  at  Cabo  da  Praia  quarry, 
Terceira,  on  ll-18th  at  least,  and  two 
more  at  Praia  da  Vitoria,  Terceira,  on 
11th,  a juvenile  Buff-breasted 
Sandpiper  Tryngites  subruficollis  at 
Cabo  da  Praia  quarry,  Terceira,  on  11- 
12th,  and  one  at  Santa  Cruz  das  Flores 
airfield,  Flores,  on  l6-18th,  a Lesser 
Yellowlegs  Tringa  flavipes  at  Lagoa  do 
Caiado,  Pico,  on  8th,  and  a Spotted 
Sandpiper  Actitis  macularia  at  Lajes  do 
Pico,  Pico,  also  on  8th.  A Wilson’s 
Phalarope  Phalaropus  tricolor  was  at 


Lagoa  Verde,  Sao  Miguel,  on  l(S-20th.  A 
first-winter  American  Herring  Gull 
Lams  argmitatus  smitbso)iianus  was  at 
Ponta  Delgada,  Flores,  on  Pth.  The  first 
Cliff  Swallow  LLirundo  pyrrbonota  for 
the  Azores  was  at  Cabo  de  Praia. 
Terceira,  on  28th  {g>cx  Birding  World  la: 
369  & 421  and  Dutch  Birding  23;  299). 

Botswana 

Six  Egyptian  Vultures  Xeophron 
percnopteriis  were  claimed  at 
Mabuasehube  Pan.  Kgalagadi 
Transfrontier  Park,  on  2 October  2001 
(ZfB).  Other  claims,  from  .Maun,  yet  to 
be  assessed  by  HirdLife  Botswana's 
rarities  and  records  sub-committee 
include  a Corn  Crake  Crexcrex  in  early 
2001,  a Common  Tern  Sterna  hirundo 
in  July  and  a Terek  Sandpiper  Xeiuis 
ciJiereus  in  October  (573.  A group  of  ten 
Caspian  Plovers  Charadriiis  asiaticus 
was  on  the  Phukhu  Flats,  Chobe  National 
Park,  on  9 October.  A Common 
Redshank  Tringa  totaniis.  a rare 
migrant  in  the  country,  was  obser\ed  at 
Bobonong  on  25-2^  October  (ZfB). 
Other  unusual  waders  in  September- 
October  included  a Bar-tailed  Godwit 
Limosa  lapponica  at  Lake  Ngami,  a 
Whimbrel  Xiimenius  phaeopus  in  the 
north-west  and  one  at  Lake  Ngami 
(possibly  the  same  bird),  a Eurasian 
Curlew  N.  arqiiata  in  the  Nossob  \alley, 
south-west  Botswana,  and  Ruddy 
Turnstones  Arena ria  interpres  near 
Maun.  Earlier  in  the  year  two  Pectoral 
Sandpipers  Calidris  melanotos  were 
seen  near  Maun  (ST).  A Lesser 


White-backed  Night  Heron  Gorsachius 
leuconotus  by  Craig  Robson 


YeUowiegs  T.  Jlaripes  \\:\s  seen  on  the 
banks  of  the  Kwai  River,  northern 
Botswana,  on  25  JuK  : this  is  a \ er\  rare 
Nearctic  vagrant  w ith  only  two  pre\  ioiis 
records  in  southern  .MVica  (Harrison  et 
al  H/P.  The  Atlas  (f  Southern  African 
Birds),  in  Zimbabwe.  December  1T9. 
and  .South  .MVica.  .August  1983  GiL.  CL& 
LFR).  Green  Sandpiper  T.  ochropus 
was  at  Nata  on  I t October.  Two 
Collared  Flycatchers  Ficedula 
albicollis  were  reported  from 
Kwanokeng  Camp,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Limpopo  River  near  the  border  with 
South  .Africa,  on  22  .August  iZjB). 

Burkina  Faso 

Since  the  di.scovery  of  >X'hite-backed 
Night  Heron  Goisachius  leuconotus  at 
Nazinga  Game  Ranch  in  September  1999. 
more  than  30  sightings  ha\e  been 
obtained  totalling  63  indix  iduals.  w ith  a 
max.  of  11  adults  together  on  I t .May 
200 1 . An  African  Swallow-tailed  Kite 
Chelictinia  riocoiirii  was  obser\ed  at 
Banfora  on  2S  February  and  again  on  12 
.March.  Two  adult  Lappet-faced 
Vultures  TorgosiAegypiiis)  tracheliotos. 
seen  on  19  Februar\’,  were  the  first  for 
Nazinga.  Fi\e  Lesser  Jacanas 
Microparra  capensis.  found  at  Tengrela 
on  25  Februan',  were  still  there  on  12 
.March.  The  first  Egyptian  Plover 
Pliii'ianiis  aegyptiiis  for  Nazinga  was 
recorded  on  -t-l6  .April,  and  the  first 
European  Turtle  Dove  Streptopelia 
turtiir  on  7 March.  Twelve  'White- 
rumped  Swifts  Apus  caffer  on  6 June 
was  a remarkable  high  number  for 
Nazinga;  usually  only  1-2  are  seen.  Two 
Yellow-breasted  Apalis  Apalis  flavida 
w ere  obser\  ed  near  Bobo-Dioulasso  on 
24  Februar)-  (BP). 

Cameroon 

Bob-tailed  Weaver  Brachycope 
anomala  was  found  breeding  in  Kika, 
extreme  south-east  Cameroon,  on  6 
October  2001;  this  is  the  second  record 
for  the  countiy,  50  years  after  the  first  in 
nearby  Moloundou.  Another  interesting 
record  from  the  same  area  is  the  capture 
of  a vagrant  Secretary  Bird  Sagittarius 
serpentarius  in  a gap  within  dense 
tropical  forest  (ML). 

Canary  Islands 

Records  in  March-November  2001 
include  the  following.  A Tea’s  Petrel 


66  - Bull  ABC  Vot  9 No  1 


Recent  Reports 


Pterodroma  {.mollis) feae  was  spotted  off 
Tenerife  on  28  July.  A Red-billed 
Tropicbird  Phaethou  aethereiis  and 
c200  Great  Shearwaters  Piijf inns  gravis 
were  seen  from  the  La  Palma-Tenerife 
ferry  on  25  August  ( TO.  Sea  watching  off 
Puerto  de  Santiago,  Tenerife,  produced 
over  40  Little  Shearwaters  P.  assimilis 
per  hour  moving  north  most  evenings 
betw^een  18  and  23  July.  At  least  nine 
Bulwer’s  Petrels  Bulweria  biilwerii  and 
four  European  Storm-petrels 
Hydrobates  pelagiciis  also  flew  north 
there  on  23  July  (per  Birding  World  14: 
282).  A White-faced  Storm-petrel 
Pelagordroma  marina  was  seen 
between  Tenerife  and  El  Hierri  on  23 
September  iLB).  Ten  Ruddy  Shelducks 
Tadorna  ferruginea  were  at  Embalse  de 
Molinas,  Euerteventura,  on  26  May  (per 
Birding  World  14:  246).  The  two  female 
Lesser  Scaup  Aythya  affinis  at  Roquito 
del  Eraile,  Tenerife,  stayed  from 
December  2000  until  at  least  5 March 
{TC).  Two  Booted  Eagles  Hieraaetiis 
pennatus  on  Lanzarote  were  the  first  ever 
for  July  in  the  Canaries  (per  Dutch 
Birding  23:  298).  A Black-winged  Stilt 
Himantopiis  himantopiis  was  at  Los 
Canarios  saltpans.  La  Palma,  on  18-21 
September  (LB).  Six  Red  Knot  Calidris 
canutus  were  at  Caleta  de  Euste, 
Euerteventura,  on  30  May  (per  Birding 
World  14:  246).  A first-winter  Lesser 
Yellowlegs  Tringa  flavipes  stayed  at 
Roquito  del  Eraile,  Tenerife,  on  5-26 
October  at  least.  A Grey  (Red) 
Phalarope  Phalaropiis  fulicarius  was 
spotted  from  the  Tenerife-Gomera  ferry 
on  2 August  and  a juvenile  Sooty  Tern 
Sterna  fuscata  on  3 October  {TO.  A 
juvenile  White-winged  Black  Tern 
Chlidonias  leucopterus  was  at  La 
Restinga,  El  Hierro,  on  23  September 
(LB). 

Two  Richard’s  Pipits  Anthus 
novaeseelandiae  were  found  at  Amarilla 
golf  course,  Tenerife,  on  5-6  November, 
with  one  still  present  on  8th;  the  fourth 
record  for  the  archipelago.  A Black- 
eared Wheatear  Oenanthe  hispanica 
stayed  at  Barranco  de  la  Torre, 
Euerteventura,  on  19-30  July  at  least.  On 
the  same  island,  a Melodious  Warbler 
Hippolais  polyglotta  was  seen  at  Presa 
de  las  Penitas  on  20  July  {TQ.  A Purple 
Glossy  Starling  Lamprotornis 
purpureas,  presumably  escaped,  was 
discovered  in  a garden  in  Los  Gigantes, 
Tenerife,  on  2-5  August  (77/;  see  Pig  1, 
see  p.68);  the  species  has  been  seen  on 
Tenerife  before,  at  Ten  Bel,  and  was  then 
also  treated  as  an  escape.  The  third 
Jackdaw  Corvus  monedula  for  the 
Canaries  was  at  Alcala,  Tenerife,  on  7-8 
November  at  least  {TO. 


Cote  d’Ivoire 

In  October  2001,  Blue-headed  Bee-eater 

Merops  muelleri  was  added  to  the  Mt 
Peko  National  Park  list,  and  Cameroon 
Indigobird  Vidua  camerurensis  was 
found  in  Mt  Sangbe  National  Park;  the 
latter  is  new  to  the  country  (777?). 

Egypt 

Records  in  March-August  2001  include 
the  following.  At  Abu  Simbel,  30  Pink- 
backed  Pelicans  Pelecanus  rufescens 
were  present  on  6 April  (per  Dutch 
Birding  23:  156).  Breeding  of  Little 
Bittern  Ixobrychus  minutus,  Black- 
crowned  Night  Heron  Nycticorax 
nycticorax  and  Little  Egret  Egretta 
garzetta  was  confirmed  at  Luxor  in  May. 
Small  numbers  of  Green-backed 
Herons  Butorides  striatus  were  noted 
in  the  Nile  Valley  from  Edfu  to  north  of 
Nag  Hamadi,  with  breeding  presumed, 
on  6-10  May  (MBD  & SBD).  Twenty 
Yellow-bUled  Storks  Mycteria  ibis  were 
seen  at  Abu  Simbel  on  6 April  and  at 
least  64  Glossy  Ibis  Plegadis  falcinellus 
were  at  Oued  Massa  on  1 March  (per 
Dutch  Birding  23:  156-160).  An 
Egyptian  Goose  Alopochen  aegyptiaciis 
was  at  Wadi  El  Rayan  on  26  May  (per 
Birding  World  14:  246).  A Tawny  Eagle 
Aquila  rapax  was  sighted  at  Wadi  Hagul 
on  27  March.  At  Abu  Simbel,  c30 
Kittlitz’s  Plovers  Charadrius pecuarius 
with  young  were  found  on  6 April  ( per 
Dutch  Birding  23:  I6O-I6I).  Two  Terek 
Sandpipers  Xeniis  cinereus  were  at 
Lake  Qarun  on  27  May  (per  Birding 
World  14:  246).  In  June,  a Sooty  Gull 
Larus  bemprichii  and  four  Saunders’ 
Terns  Sterna  saundersi  were  at  Ras 
Mohamed  on  2nd  {per  Birding  World  14: 
246).  At  least  four  Namaqua  Doves 
Oena  capensis  were  at  Safaga  on  5 May 
{MBD  & SBD)  and  an  African  Collared 
Dove  Streptopelia  roseogrisea  was  at  Abu 
Simbel  on  6 April  (per  Dutch  Birding 
23:  164).  At  least  five  pairs  of  Blue- 
cheeked Bee-eater  Merops  persicus 
were  nesting  north  of  Edfu,  well  south 
of  their  previously  known  range,  on  7 
May  {MBD  & SBD). 

Eour  African  Pied  Wagtails 
Motacilla  aguimp  were  also  at  Abu 
Simbel  on  6 April  (per  Dutch  Birding 
23:  164).  A Richard’s  Pipit  Anthus 
novaeseelandiae  was  at  the  resthouse  on 
the  Luxor-Qena  Road  on  5 May  {MBD  & 
SBD).  A Streaked  Scrub-Warbler 
Scotocerca  inquieta  apparently  showing 
characters  of  the  race  saliacae  was 
obseived  at  Santa  Catarina  on  29  May; 
the  usual  race  in  Egypt  is  nominate 
inquieta  (per  Birding  World  14:  246).  An 
immature  Rose-colored  Starling 
Stiirniis  roseiis  was  at  Safaga  on  28 


August.  At  least  three  colonies  of  Red 
Avadavat  Amandava  amandava  were 
found  in  reedbeds  between  Luxor  and 
Qena,  where  the  species  was  also 
presumed  to  be  breeding,  on  5-6  May 
{MBD  & SBD). 

Equatorial  Guinea 

On  Bioko,  three  Scarce  Swifts 
Schoiitedenapiis  myoptiliis  were  flying 
close  to  the  coast  on  10  Eebruary  2001 
beside  the  River  Ope,  c4  km  north  of 
Basacato  del  Oeste,  on  the  west  side  of 
the  island  towards  Luba  {PAO.  The  only 
previous  records  from  Bioko  include  a 
possible  sighting  in  December  1996- 
lanuary  1997  and  eight  specimens  in 

'1902-1933. 

Ethiopia 

The  following  records  are  from  the 
second  half  of  October  2001.  Two  adults 
and  a juvenile  Lesser  Moorhen 
Gallinula  angulata  were  seen,  and 
others  heard,  in  a swamp  south  of  Bahar 
Dar,  on  I4th,  and  another  adult  was  at 
Lake  Awassa  on  20th;  the  species  is 
apparently  rarely  recorded  in  Ethiopia. 
A female  Plain  Nightjar  Caprimulgus 
inornatiis  was  picked  up  from  the  road 
near  Robe,  in  the  Bali  Mountains,  on 
24th;  the  location  and  altitude  appear 
somewhat  unusual  for  the  species.  Two 
pairs  of  White-tailed  Swallows 
Hirundo  megaensis  appeared  to  be 
nesting  in  a large  hole  under  a ‘chimney- 
stack’  termitarium  south  of  Yabello,  on 
22nd;  they  frequently  entered  the  hole 
and  one  was  seen  carrying  food. 
According  to  the  literature,  the  species 
is  presumed  to  breed  in  January- 
Eebruary  and  April-May,  but  the  present 
records  and  those  from  October  2000, 
when  four  apparently  fresh  nests  were 
found  in  culverts  under  the  main  road, 
suggest  that  its  breeding  season  is  more 
prolonged.  Three  Golden  Pipit 
Tmetothylacus  tenellus  were  found  near 
Yabello,  on  23rd,  and  three  Bush  Pipit 
Anthus  caffer  on  22nd;  the  status  of  the 
latter  in  Ethiopia  is  uncertain  (A77). 

Gabon 

Records  from  August  2001  include  the 
following.  A Black  Heron  Egretta 
ardesiaca.  a rare  species  in  Gabon,  was 
seen  on  the  Moka  Ri\  er  mudflats  on  31st. 
A presumably  second-calendar  year  Eu- 
ropean Honey  Buzzard  Pern  is 
apivorus  was  found  at  Lekoni  on  29th. 
A Lesser  (Mongolian)  Sand  Plover 
Charadrius  mongolus  was  at  the  Moka 
Rh'er  mouth  on  31st;  the  species  appears 
to  ha^■e  been  encountered  se\  eral  times 
in  the  last  two  years  and  these  sightings 
would  constitute  the  first  records  for 


Recent  Reports 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1-67 


Western  Africa.  Also  lliere  were  nine 
Terek  Sandpipers  Xe)iiis  cincrcits.  A 
single  Bohm’s  Spinetail  Xccifrcipiis 
hoehmi  was  seen  at  the  edge  of  Ipassa 
Reserve  just  before  dusk  on  25  August; 
there  are  only  a few  records  this  spe- 
cies in  Gabon,  all  from  the  Makokou  area 
in  the  north-east,  and  its  status  remains 
unclear.  At  the  same  locality,  a Black 
Dwarf  Hornbill  Tuckits  hcirtlcmhi  had 
white  tips  to  the  wing-coverts  typical  of 
the  race  gmuti,  whereas  it  is  the  nomi- 
nate form,  which  lacks  white,  that  sup- 
posedly occurs  here.  A pair  of  Black- 
backed  Barbets  Lyhiiis  minor  wiis  seen 
at  Lekoni  on  27th;  they  resembled  the 
supposedly  extralimital  race  mciccloiinii. 
with  white  head-sides  and  a white  V on 
the  blackish  upperparts,  though  only 
nominate  mi)ior,  with  head  and  mantle 
typically  grey-brown,  or  hybrids  suppos- 
edly occur  in  Gabon. 

A flock  of  c50  South  African  Cliff 
Swallows  Him  nth  spilodem  was  seen 


Figure  1.  Purple  Glossy  Starling 
Lamprotoruis  piupiireiis,  Los  Gigantes, 
Tenerife,  August  2001  (Tommy 
Holmgren) 


at  Lekoni  on  26  August;  this  is  a rare 
intra-African  migrant  to  Gabon.  A pair 
of  Red-chested  Swallows  //.  litcida  w as 
found  breeding  in  a cuK  ert  at  Ndjole  on 
IS  August  and  a single  was  .seen  in  the 
Lope  area;  the  species  has  only  recently 
been  di.scovered  in  the  countr\'.  .\  party 
of  four  Fiery-breasted  Bush-shrikes 
Makiconotiis  crncntns.  presumalily  two 
pairs,  ob.ser\  ed  in  the  Reser\  e de  la  Lope 
on  18th,  was  apparently  involved  in  ter- 
ritorial di.splay.  w ith  much  hooting,  bill- 
snapping and  upward  head-pointing. 
Two  pairs  of  the  little-known  Loango 
Weaver  Plocciis  suhpcrsomitus  were 
seen  at  the  Moka  River.  pair  of  Yel- 
low-capped Weavers  P.dorsomaciiUiliis 
was  ob.serv  ed  at  a nest  in  Ipassa  reserv  e. 
Makokou,  on  2Lst;  the  nest,  which  has 
not  been  previously  described,  consisted 
of  a ball-shaped  structure  with  a short, 
loo.sely  woven  entrance  tunnel  below  the 
sphere  and  was  constructed  arouiul  the 
fork  of  a hanging  branch  of  an  isolated 
tree  at  a height  of  c3.5  m (all  .\7i). 

Ghana 

A single  Common  Myna  Acridothmvs 
tristis  was  di.scov  ered  at  .\ccra  on  21  lulv 
2001;  this  constitutes  the  first  record  in 
Western  .\frica  of  the  species,  vv  hich  is 
included  in  ll’C.Vs  list  of  the  hundred 
worst  alien  invaders  iAf). 

Guinea 

Grey-winged  Robin  Chat  Cossypha 
polioptcm  was  found  in  the  Fouta  Djalon. 
near  Daralabe.  on  13  December  2000; 
this  is  the  vve.sternmo.st  record  of  this 
species  to  date  (Z17). 

Kenya 

During  a boat  trip  on  Lake  Naivasha  on 
8 October  2001.  a dark-morph  Arctic 
Skua  Stercorcirius  parasiticus  w as 
watched  for  c5  minutes  in  excellent 
conditions;  there  are  very  few  certain 


Kenyan  reiord^  of  this  s|X  - i<  ' </'A 

Muv.  h-brlati-d  nrws  c oiv  >-riv  ma  c 
Black-eared  \X  heatear  'h  ucuAl'i 
hispauu  ii  nii'lauulcii,  a oh-'t  rv«cl  m 
Tsavo  Fast  on  a Dts  ember  I v'G  c'^U  i 
this  was  on  the  >ame  dat*'  a^  the  ’'t  - on  I 
for  Kenva.  seen  at  Like  Haringo  Th«-  first 
was  caught  and  phot(»graplu  J at  At::: 
River  near  Nairol)i.  where  it  staved  op 
23  .March-5  .April  l')8i  ‘Zimmerman  ct 
al  lOG'c  Birds  ‘P  Kenya  and  S nlheni 
Tanzania  r 

Madeira 

The  follow  ing  records  are  from  April  to 
September  JuoF  Twelve  Fea's  Petrels 
Pterndninia  * m<)His)  f>ae  were  seen  from 
the  Desenas  ferrv  on  1 1 lulv  In  \ugiist. 
three  prob-able  Zino's  Petrels 
Ptemdrnnun  nmllis)  madi’ira  > as  well  as 
22  Fea's  Petrels'  were  observed,  two 
off  Porto,  :do:  .Moni/  and  one  oft  la.nia 
tla  t'.ru/.  \oB  fewer  than  i.2"  • Bulwer's 
Petrels  Bulneria  hnlirerii  were  seen  off 
Ponta  da  Cru/  in  tw!>  hours  on  It  lulv 
On  1 .Mav.  .'O  ) Little  .Shearwaters 
PnJjinns  assimilis  were  noted  off  Ponta 
da  Cru/  and  at  least  125  off  Porto  do 
.Moni/  in  August.  ,\n  adult  Red-billed 
Tropiebird  Phaethnn  aetherens  was 
seen  between  .Madeira  and  the  Desenas 
Islands  on  3 September. 

Fiv  e Little  Egrets  T.gretta  garzelta 
;md  six  I^urple  Herons  Ardea pnipnrea 
were  at  Viarajau  in  mii.l-.\pril;  a single 
Purple  Heron  was  also  seen  off  Ponta 
da  Cm/  on  20  .May.  Two  Black  Kites 
Milriis  migrans  were  at  Ponto  de  Mio 
Lourenco  and  lo  Black-winged  Stilts 
Himantopns  himantopns  at  C.anical  in 
mid-.April.  .A  Bar-tailed  Godwit  Liniusa 
lapponica  flew  past  Ponta  da  Cru/  on  1 
.May  and  another  w as  seen  at  Canical  on 
5 .May.  Four  Ring-billed  Gulls  Laras 
delaaarcnsis  were  at  Funchal  harbour 
in  .April,  and  singles  in  .May  and  July- 
September.  Nine  Roseate  Terns  Stenia 
doiigallii  flew  past  Ponta  da  Cru/  on  ~ 
.May  and  one  was  in  Canical  harbour  in 
Augu.st  (pev  Bird ing  World  1-t:  191.  282. 
322  and  369). 

Malawi 

In  June  2001.  a Malagasy  Pond-heron 
Ardeola  idae.  a Gull-billed  Tern 
Gelochelidon  nilotica  and  a Baillon’s 
Crake  Porzana  pnsilla  were  seen  in 
Liwonde  National  Park,  on  3rd.  Two 
Spur-winged  Lapwing  Vanellus 
spi)iosiis,  seen  the  next  day.  may  indicate 
a southern  range  extension  of  this 
species  iSC). 

Morocco 

Records  in  February-September  2001 
include  the  following.  At  the  main  colony 
at  Tifnit,  65  pairs  of  Bald  Ibis  Geronticus 


Figures  2-3.  Barbary  VaIcoyis  Falco pelegrinoides,  Morocco,  3 May  2001;  first-summer 
(left),  Cap  Rhir  (Al  & Nancy  Boggess)  and  adult  (right),  Tamri  (Pete  Morris  videograb) 


68 -Bull  ABC  VolQNo  1 


Recent  Reports 


Cream-coloured  Courser  Cursorius 
cursor  by  Mark  Andrews 

eremita  bred  (per  Birding  World  14: 
282).  Relatively  large  gatherings  of 
Garganey  Anas  querqiiedula  were 
observ'ed  on  the  Oualidia  and  Khemis 
Zemamra  lagoons,  with  110  individuals 
on  21  March  and  185  on  12  April.  On 
the  same  dates,  280  and  c60  Marbled 
Teal  Marmaronetta  angiistirostris  were 
at  Oualidia.  A female  Blue-winged  Teal 
Anas  discors  was  at  Lac  Sidi  Bourhaba 
on  15  September  (VS).  Two  immature 
Eurasian  Griffon  Gyps fulviis  were  seen 
high  over  Foum  Kheneg  Gorge,  near 
Timahdite,  south  of  Ifrane,  on  26  April 
(PM).  A Tawny  Eagle  Aqiiila  rapax  was 
obseiv^ed  34  km  east  of  Taroudannt  in 
mid-February.  An  unseasonal  pale- 
morph  Booted  Eagle  Hieraaetiis 
pennatus  was  at  Midelt,  on  24  February 
(per  Dutch  Birding  23:  l60).  An 
immature  Barbary  Falcon  Falco 
(peregrinus)  pelegrinoides  was  seen  at 
Cap  Rhir  and  an  adult  at  Tamri,  on  3 
May;  there  are  few  certain  records  of  this 
species  and  its  distribution  in  Morocco 
is  poorly  known  (PM;  Figs  2-3). 

A Cream-coloured  Courser 
Cursorius  cursor  'AS  unusually  far  north 
at  Ben  Ahmed,  just  south  of  Sidi 
Bettache,  on  20  March.  Two  Marsh 
Sandpipers  Tringa  stagnatilis  were  at 
Oualidia  on  21  March,  with  three  there 
on  12  April,  and  one  at  the  Souss  estuary, 
Agadir,  on  10  April.  Also  at  Oualidia,  an 
adult  Lesser  Yellowlegs  Tringa 
flavipes  in  breeding  plumage  on  12  April 
would  be  the  sixth  for  the  country  if 
accepted  (VS).  An  adult  Sabine’s  Gull 
Larus  sabini  was  at  the  Souss  estuary 
on  2 May  and  25+  passed  north  in  a one- 
hour  seawatch  at  Cap  Rhir  next  day  (PM). 
Common  GuUs  Larus  canus  were  also 
seen  at  Oued  Souss,  with  a first-winter 
there  on  2 March  and  an  adult  on  23 
March  and  8-10  April  (per  Dutch  Birding 
23:  l6l;  VS);  A first-SLimmer  was  at 
Mehdiya  Plage,  at  the  north  edge  of  Lac 
Sidi  Bourhaba,  on  24  April  (PM).  An  adult 
‘Baltic’  Lesser  Black-backed  GuU.  Larus 
f.  fuscus  in  breeding  plumage  was  in  the 
same  place  on  8 April;  this  would 


apparently  constitute  the  first  record  of 
this  form  in  the  country,  if  accepted  ( VS). 
A Laughing  Dove  Streptopelia 
senegalensis  was  seen  just  south  of  Rabat 
on  25  April;  this  species  is  further 
expanding  its  range  in  Morocco  (PM). 

Iberian  Chiffchaffs  Phylloscopus 
collybita  brehmii  were  seen  in  the  south 
of  the  country,  with  one  at  Oukaimeden 
on  31  March,  tw'o  at  Ouarzazate  on  2 
April  and  one  at  Oualidia  on  12  April. 
Brown-necked  Raven  Corvus  riificoliis 
is  expanding  north,  its  range 
approaching  that  of  Common  Raven 
Corvus  corax;  two  were  seen  15  km 
north  of  Erfoud  on  5 April,  while 
Common  Raven  was  frequent  in  the  Ziz 
Valley,  20-22  km  north  of  Erfoud  (VS). 

Mozambique 

A Greater  Frigatebird  Fregata  minor 
and  a Great  Bittern  Botauriis  stellaris 
were  at  Rio  Savanne,  just  north  of  Beira, 
on  7 September  2001.  An  out-of-range 
African  Hobby  Faico  cuvierii  was 
reported  from  coastal  Vilanculos  on  20 
October.  Three  Sooty  Terns  Sterna 
fuscata  were  observed  on  nearby 
Bazaruto  Island  on  21  October; 
presumably  the  same  birds  were  on 
Margereque  Island  next  day,  when  there 
were  also  five  Crab  Plovers  Dromas 
ardeola  at  that  locality  (ZfB). 

Some  15  Mascarene  Martins 
Phedina  horhonica  flew  south-east  over 
miombo  woodland  west  of  Panda, 
southern  Mozambique,  on  12  July.  This 
is  the  first  record  for  the  country  south 
of  the  Save.  Both  Moreau’s  Tailorbird 
Artisornis  moreaui  and  African 
Tailorbird  A.  metopias  were  still  present 
in  montane  forest  patches  on  Serra  Jeci 
(Njesi  Plateau),  Niassa  Province,  northern 
Mozambique,  on  4-5  July.  A pair  of 
Moreau’s  Tailorbirds  was  observed  in  the 
forest  canopy.  Several  African  Tailorbirds 
were  seen  and  three  were  mist-netted. 
Serra  Jeci  is  the  only  known  locality 
outside  Tanzania  for  both  species,  and 


African  Tailorbird  Artisornis  metopias 
by  Mark  Andrews 


these  are  the  first  records  from  the  site 
since  Jali  Makawa,  Con  Benson's 
collector,  discovered  them  there  in  1945 
(PR&CS). 

Namibia 

The  following  records  relate  to  April- 
October  2001.  A female  Garganey  A nc/s 
querqiiedula  was  located  at  Namib 
Greens  Rest  Camp,  west  of  Windhoek, 
on  30  April.  Single  Eurasian 
Oystercatchers  Haematopiis  ostralegus 
were  reported  from  Sandwich  harbour 
on  2 and  8 May  and  25  July,  Dolphin 
Beach,  between  Walvis  Bay  and 
Swakopmund,  on  18  May,  and  Walvis 
Bay  Salt  Works,  on  8 July-30  October  at 
least,  with  two  there  on  17-19  August. 
A Lesser  Sand  (Mongolian)  Plover 
Charadriiis  mongoliis  was  at  Walvis  Bay 
on  2 September,  with  a specifically 
unidentified  ‘Lesser’  Golden  Plover 
Pliiviaiis  doininica/fulua  also  there  on  1 
October.  A Baird’s  Sandpiper  Calidris 
hairdii  was  discovered  at  Walvis  Bay  Salt 
Works  on  26  July;  this  would  constitute 
the  fourth  record  for  the  Afrotropics  if 
accepted.  The  season’s  first  Pectoral 
Sandpiper  C.  melanotos  was  observed 
at  Sandwich  harbour  on  26  September, 
with  another  sighting  there  on  10 
October.  Walvis  Bay  lagoon  and  Salt 
Works  produced  a Broad-billed 
Sandpiper  Limicola  falcinelliis  on  1 
October,  a Black-tailed  Godwit  Limosa 
limosa  on  24  September  and  17  October, 
a Common  Redshank  Tringa  totanus 
on  22-24  September  and  1-2  October, 
and  single  Red-necked  Phalaropes 
Phalaropiis  lohatiis  on  26  July,  3 and  31 
August,  18  September  and  25  October, 
with  four  there  in  the  first  half  of  August 
and  six  on  1 October.  An  out-of-range 
Arctic  Skua  Stercorarius parasiticus  was 
reported  near  Kalizo  Lodge,  in  the 
eastern  Caprivi  Strip,  on  20  October.  A 
Lesser  Black-backed  Gull  Larusfusciis 
was  found  at  Walvis  Bay  harbour  on  2 
July  and  a Black-headed  Gull  L. 
ridibundus  at  Pelican  Point,  Walvis  Bay, 
on  25  September.  Three  Black  Terns 
Chlidonias  niger  were  at  Bird  Paradise. 
Walvis  Bay,  on  4-5  June  (all  ZfB). 

Nigeria 

Records  for  the  period  July-November 
2001  include  the  following.  In  July,  a pair 
of  Sabine’s  Puffback  Dryoscopus  sabini 
was  displaying  at  IITA,  Ibadan,  with  a 
White-breasted  Negrofinch  Xigrita 
fusconota  also  there;  the  latter  was  a new 
record  for  the  area.  In  September- 
October,  up  to  20  sites  were  located  for 
Ibadan  Maiimhe  Malimbus  ibadensis  in 
the  Ibadan  area.  In  early  September,  a 
Rufous-cheeked  Nightjar  Caprimuigus 
riifigena  was  at  the  Bulatura  Oases:  this 


Recent  Reports 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 - 69 


is  only  the  fifth  record  for  Nigeria.  In 
October,  a single  Western  Reef  Heron 
Egretta  gularis  reappeared  for  the  third 
consecutive  year  (PH).  Singing  Dorst’s 
Cisticolas  Cisticola  dorsti  were  found  at 
Shen  Hill,  a few  km  east  of  Bukuru,  on 
27  September;  this  constitutes  the  first 
record  on  the  Jos  Plateau.  A cisticola 
observed  at  Taboru  was  probably  also 
this  species.  In  view  of  these  sightings  it 
appears  probable  that  records  of  Red- 
pate  Cisticola  C.  ruficeps  on  the  Jos 
Plateau  mentioned  by  Elgood  et  al  ( 1994, 
The  Birds  of  Nigeria)  actually  refer  to 
Dorst’s.  Also  there  was  a juvenile  Lesser 
Black-backed  Gull  Larus  fiisciis-,  this 
species  is  widespread  and  locally 
common  in  the  country,  but  rare  on  the 
Jos  Plateau  (MH).  With  the  establishment 
of  the  A P Leventis  Ornithological 
Institute  at  the  University  of  Jos,  there 
have  been  several  interesting  sightings 
on  the  Jos  Plateau,  among  which 
an  immature  Striped  Crake 
Aenigmatolimnas  marginalis  at  Vom  in 
October  was  a new  record  for  the 
Plateau.  Other  October  records  included 
a Brown-backed  Woodpecker  Picoides 
ohsoletus,  a Booted  Eagle  Hieraaetiis 
pennatus  and  three  Emin’s  Shrikes 
Lanins  giibernator  and,  especially 
noteworthy,  a Black  Kite  Milviis 
migrans  of  the  nominate  race  migrans 
flying  over  the  Institute.  At  Yankari 
National  Park,  an  adult  male  Red- 
backed  Shrike  Zen t /As  colliirio  was  seen 
on  two  consecutive  days  in  late  October 
and  an  immature  was  recorded  south  of 
Malamfatori  at  Lake  Chad  earlier  in  the 
month.  The  Lake  Chad  shore  area  north 
of  Baga  has  been  the  focus  of 
considerable  attention  and  would  appear 
to  be  an  important  area  for  migrant 
raptors.  In  November  the  max.  counts 
on  a single  day  included  80  Steppe 
Eagles  Aquila  nipalensis,  12  Booted 
Eagles  Hieraaetiis  pennatus,  four 
Montagu’s  Harriers  Circus  pygargiis, 
two  Pallid  Harriers  C.  macrouriis  and 
25  Lesser  Kestrels  Falco  naiimanni. 
Also  there  were  White-headed  Vultures 
Trigonoceps  (Aegypius)  occipitalis  and 
Riippell’s  Griffon  Gyps  rueppellii  and, 
on  a previous  day,  a Lappet-faced 
Vulture  Torgos  (Aegypius)  tracheliotos; 
large  vultures  are  now  extremely  scarce 
throughout  Nigeria  outside  national 
parks.  Three  Long-legged  Buzzards 
Buteo  rufinus  were  seen  on  another  day 
in  the  same  area.  An  out-of-range 
Eorhes’s  Plover  Charadrius  forbesi  was 
also  noteworthy.  A nest  of  a Cricket 
Warbler  Spiloptila  damans  was  found 
north  of  Maiduguri  on  the  road  to  the 
lake,  in  late  October,  and  one  of  a River 
Prinia  Prinia  fluuiatilis  at  Malamfatori 
in  early  November;  these  constitute  new 


breeding  records  in  Nigeria  for  these 
species.  On  1 November,  an  amazing 
total  of  41  Golden  Nightjars 
Caprimiilgiisexiniius  w'ds  found  dead  on 
the  road  between  Maiduguri  and  Cro.ss 
Kauwa,  over  a distance  of  160  km.  One 
was  seen  alive  north  of  Cross  Kauwa  on 
3rd.  Also  in  early  November,  in  Sambisa 
National  Park,  five  Black  Storks  Ciconia 
nigra  were  seen  and  appear  to  occur 
now  on  a regular  basis.  Fifty  pairs  of 
Horus  Swifts  Apus  horns  were  found 
breeding  in  the  park  and  100  Alpine 
Swifts  Tacbyniaiptis  melba  were  seen 
overhead.  Just  south  of  Maiduguri,  a 
Southern  Grey  Shrike  Lanins 
meridionalis  wds  di.scovered  at  Gombole 
Forest  Re.ser\  e,  a considerable  .southward 
range  extension  for  the  species  (PH). 

Rwanda 

In  Nyungwe  Forest  Reser\e.  the 
endangered  Grauer’s  Swamp  Warbler 
Bradypteriis  graiieri  and  Kungwe 
Apalis  Apalis  ( riifogiilaris)  argentea  ( the 
latter  often  treated  as  a race  of  the 
widespread  Buff-throated  Apalis)  were 
still  common  and  easily  found  along  the 
tarred  road  around  the  campsite,  during 
a short  and  quite  safe  \'isit  in  June  2001 
(GAL). 

Sao  Tome  & Principe 

A Madeiran  Storm-petrel 

Oceanodroma  castro  was  seen  off 
Principe  on  3 September  2001;  the  Gulf 
of  Guinea  population  of  this  species, 
which  presumably  breeds  in  September- 
December,  may  belong  to  an 
undescribed  race  (NB). 

Senegal 

Waterbird  counts  undertaken  in  Saloum 
Delta  National  Park  and  Niumi  during 
the  second  half  of  Januaiy  2001  recorded 
468  Great  White  Pehcans  Pelecaniis 
onocrotaliis,  1,960  Pink-backed 
Pelicans  A.  riifescens,  10  Yellow-billed 
Storks  Mycteria  ibis,  13  Black  Storks 
Ciconia  nigra,  150  White  Storks  C. 
ciconia,  5 Saddle-billed  Storks 
Ephippiorbynchiis  senegalensis,  53 
Sacred  Ibis  Tbreskiornis  aethiopiciis, 
231  European  Spoonbills  Platalea 
leucorodia,  26  African  Spoonbills  P. 
alba,  3,283  Greater  Elamingos 
Phoenicopterus  ruber,  9,491  Slender- 
billed  Gulls  Larus genei,  972  Audouin’s 
Gulls  L.  audouinii  and  228  White- 
fronted  Plovers  Charadrius 
marginatus  (Direction  des  Parcs 
Nationaux  Senegalais  per  BP). 

A putative  female  Eurasian 
SparrowhawkMcc/jpAcr  ;?/M/s  flew  past 
the  lie  de  Leba,  Sine-Saloum,  on  18 
January  2001;  unfortunately,  no 
description  was  made  of  this  potential 


first  for  the  countrx . Two  adult  Barbaiy 
Falcons  Ealco  < peregrinus ) pelegrmuidcs 
were  seen  at  Poutac.  Sine-Saloum.  on 
23  January-;  this  species  is  a vagrant  to 
the  country.  A Little  Buttonquail 
Tiirnix  sylratica  was  observ  ed  at 
Bakadadji.  Sine-Saloum.  on  2"  Januarv 
(BP).  What  may  have  been  the  first 
Swamp  Nightjar  Caprimulgus 
natalensis  for  Senegal,  was  seen  north- 
east of  Saint-Louis  on  10  December  1900 
(KC&MF):  unfortunately,  the  description 
does  not  definitely  eliminate  other 
po.ssible  nightjar  species  ( KC). 

.\  male  Black  Redstart  Pboenicurus 
ocbriiros.  seen  at  the  Senegal  River  near 
Saint-Louis  on  1-t  Januarv  2000.  appears 
to  be  the  fourth  record  for  the  countrv’ 
(RC).  A Grasshopper  AXarbler 
Locustella  naeria  was  at  Poutac,  Sine- 
Saloum.  on  2-t  Januarv  2001  (BP). 

Seychelles 

A Black-crowned  Night  Heron 

Nycticorax  nycticorax  at  Bras  Cinq 
Ca.ses.  .\ldabra.  on  21  September  2001 
is  the  first  Seychelles  record  west  of 
.Mahe.  where  the  species  was  first 
recorded  in  the  archipelago  in  1992  and 
has  become  established  as  a breeding 
species  since  1995.  The  second 
Ferruginous  Duck  Aytbya  nyroca  for 
Sevchelles,  reported  on  5 .•\pril  from 
Police  Bay.  Mahe  (Bull.  ABC  A.  152).  was 
still  pre.sent  in  October.  A Common 
House  Martin  Delicbon  itrbica  at  Bird 
Island  on  12  June  is  the  fifth  record  for 
Seychelles.  .M.so  of  interest  is  the  recent 
acceptance  by  Seychelles  Bird  Records 
Committee  of  the  first  Seychelles  record 
of  White-cheeked  Tern  Sterna  repressa, 
photographed  at  Aldabra,  on  12 
December  19^6  (A5). 

South  Africa 

The  following  records  are  from  late  April 
to  early  November  2001.  During  pelagic 
trips  out  of  Cape  Town  a putative 
Salvin’s  Albatross  Tbalassarche 
(caiita)  salvini  was  spotted  on  28  April, 
and  other  singles  on  1 and  8 September. 
Wandering  Albatrosses  Diomedea 
exiilans  were  regularly  seen  in  June- 
September  (usually  1-3  per  trip), 
whereas  one  or  tw'o  Northern  Royal 
Albatrosses  D.  (epomophora)  sanfordi 
were  occasionally  observed  in  May  and 
late  July-November.  A Southern  Royal 
Albatross  D.  epomophora,  a very  rarely 
recorded  species  in  southern  African 
waters,  with  probably  fewer  than  ten 
definite  records,  was  sighted  on  28  July, 
and  a Sooty  Albatross  Phoebetria  fusca 
on  8 June.  A pelagic  cruise  to  180  nautical 
miles  south  of  Cape  Point  on  9-11  August 
produced  ten  Wandering  Albatrosses, 
four  Northern  Royal  Albatrosses,  four 


70  - Bull  ABC  Vot  9 No  1 


Recent  Reports 


Wandering  Albatross  Diomedea 
exulans  by  Mark  Andrews 

Southern  Royal  Albatrosses,  two 
Sooty  Albatrosses,  a Slender-billed 
Prion  Pachyptila  belcheri  and  21  Little 
Shearwaters  Piiffinus  assimilis  (most  of 
the  dark-faced  race  elegans,  with  at  least 
three  pale-faced  tunneyi).  The  first 
Southern  Fulmar  Fiilmarus 
glacialoides  of  the  season  was  seen  off 
the  Cape  on  25  September.  Single  Grey 
Petrels  Procellaria  cinerea,  rare  north 
of  40°S,  were  sighted  on  7 June  and  23 
September,  and  single  Spectacled 
Petrels  P.  iaequinoctialis)  conspicillata 
on  25  August  and  8 September. 

Two  subantarctic  vagrants  were 
discovered  exhausted  and  subsequently 
died:  a White-headed  Petrel 
lessonii,  a very  rare  species  in  this  region, 
at  Noordhoek  beach,  Cape  Peninsula,  on 
7 September,  and  a Kerguelen  Petrel  P. 
brevirostris  at  Paternoster,  on  26 
September.  The  region’s  third  sight  record 
of  Balearic  Shearwater  Puffinus 
{puffinus)  mauretanicus  was  made  off 
the  Cape  on  28  October;  the  first  was 
claimed  on  30  December  2000.  The 
species  was  previously  known  from  two 
specimens  collected  off  the  Cape  in  1979, 
these  being  the  first  records  south  of  the 
equator.  The  year’s  first  Little 
Shearwater  of  the  race  tunneyi  was  seen 
just  off  Cape  Point  on  24  May;  single  Little 
Shearwaters  were  subsequently  seen  on 
different  dates  in  June  and  on  7 August. 
A White-faced  Storm-petrel 
Pelagodroma  marina  was  mist-netted  on 
Dyer  Island  on  22  October;  this  constitutes 
only  the  fifth  southern  African  record.  An 
unseasonal  Black-beUied  Storm-petrel 
Fregetta  tropica  and  a Leach’s  Storm- 
petrel  Oceanodroma  leucorhoa  were 
seen  on  9 June.  An  Australian  Gannet 
Sula  (Moms')  serrator  appeared  at  Malgas 
Island,  Western  Cape,  on  12  June  and 
again  on  20  September;  this  species  has 
been  a regular  visitor  to  the  island  in 
recent  years  and  has  even  successfully 
bred  there.  A Greater  Frigatebird 


Fregata  minor w2ls  reported  from  Nahoon 
beach.  East  London,  Eastern  Cape,  on  28 
October. 

A Little  Blue  Heron  Egretta 
caeriilea,  found  in  early  Eebruary  2001 
at  Onrus  Lagoon  near  Hermanns, 
Western  Cape,  was  still  present  in 
September;  the  first  individual  of  this 
American  vagrant  was  discovered  as  an 
immature  at  the  Berg  River  estuary. 
Western  Cape,  in  April  1992,  and  was 
subsequently  seen  regularly  at  the  same 
site  until  mid-1996.  Another  (or  the 
same?)  was  found  at  Olifants  River 
mouth,  more  than  300  km  to  the  north, 
on  10  November.  A male  Tufted  Duck 
Aythya  fulignla  in  full  breeding  plumage 
was  found  at  Strandfontein  Sewage 
Works;  this  is  the  third  consecutive  year 
that  such  a bird  has  appeared  In  the 
Western  Cape  in  September;  it  would  be 
the  first  for  the  region  if  accepted  as  a 
genuine  vagrant.  A European  Honey 
Buzzard  Pern  is  apivorus  was  at 
Hluhluwe  Game  Reserve,  KwaZulu- 
Natal,  on  12  April  and  in  the  Knysna  area. 
Western  Cape,  on  9 September;  the 
species  has  been  more  regularly  sighted 
in  recent  years.  An  adult  Egyptian 
Vulture  Neophron  percnopterus  was 
reported  to  have  been  present  around 
Vanzylsrus,  Northern  Cape,  for  at  least 
two  months  in  April-June.  The  male 
Riippeirs  Griffon  Gyps  rueppellii 
present  in  the  Blouberg  Nature  Reserve, 
Northern  Province,  for  a few  years  bred 
with  a female  Cape  Vulture  G. 
coprotheres  at  the  colony  there  in  2001. 
A Eurasian  Marsh  Harrier  Circus 
aeruginosus  was  seen  in  the  Swartvlei 
area,  near  Wilderness  in  the  southern 
Cape,  on  8 September. 

A Crab  Plover  Dromas  ardeola  was 
still  present  at  Richard’s  Bay,  KwaZulu- 
Natal,  in  early  April,  and  one  was  seen 
at  Blythedale  Beach  on  5 October.  A 
Eurasian  Oystercatcher  Haematopus 
ostralegus  was  also  still  at  Richard’s  Bay 
on  20  May,  with  other  singles  reported 
from  De  Hoop  Nature  Reserve,  Western 
Cape,  on  14  July,  the  mouth  of  the 
Gamtoos  River,  Eastern  Cape,  from  mid- 
July  to  at  least  mid-September,  and  Blue 
Horizon  Bay,  Eastern  Cape,  on  25 
October.  Two  Lesser  Sand  (Mongolian) 
Plovers  Charadrius  mongolus  were  at 
Kromme  River  estuaiy  near  St  Erancis 
Bay,  Eastern  Cape,  from  11  April  to  at 
least  September,  and  two  more  at 
Geelbek  salt  marsh.  West  Coast  National 
Park,  Western  Cape,  on  30  September.  A 
group  of  up  to  12  Caspian  Plovers 
Charadrius  asiaticiis  remained  at  Kgomo 
Kgomo,  west  of  Pienaarsrivier, 
throughout  September-October.  A 
putative  American  Golden  Plover 
Pluvialis  (dominica)  dominica  was  at 


Kromme  River  estuary  near  St  Erancis 
Bay,  Eastern  Cape,  in  April  and  a Pacific 
Golden  Plover  P.  i dominica)  fulva  was 
photographed  at  Velddrif,  Western  Cape, 
on  10  November.  A juvenile  White- 
rumped  Sandpiper  Calidris  fuscicollis 
was  seen  at  Geelbek,  West  Coast  National 
Park,  on  26-28  October  and  a Pectoral 
Sandpiper  C.  melanotos  at  Rietvlei, 
Western  Cape,  on  13  October.  A Broad- 
bUled  Sandpiper  Limicola  falcinellus, 
located  at  Geelbek,  West  Coast  National 
Park,  in  March,  was  still  there  in  early 
April;  another  was  at  Richard’s  Bay, 
KwaZulu-Natal,  on  24  September.  One 
of  the  two  Black-tailed  Godwits  Limosa 
limosa  first  located  at  Marievale  Bird 
Sanctuary  near  Johannesburg  on  21 
January  was  last  seen  on  12  April.  A 
Common  Redshank  Tringa  totanus 
that  had  been  present  for  sometime  on 
the  Great  Pish  River  estuary,  Eastern 
Cape,  was  still  present  on  1 May;  another 
was  at  Geelbek,  West  Coast  National 
Park,  on  30  October.  Two  Red-necked 
Phalaropes  Phalaropus  lobatus  were 
found  near  Port  Elisabeth,  Eastern  Cape, 
on  28  October. 

A Greater  SheathbiU  Chionis  alba 
was  discovered  at  Oudekraal,  Cape 
Peninsula,  on  6 September,  but  could  not 
be  relocated  thereafter.  Pelagic  trips  out 
of  Cape  Town  produced  five  single 
South  Polar  Skuas  Catharacta 
maccormicki  from  mid-April  to  early 
June.  A Franklin’s  GuU  Lams pipixcan 
in  full  breeding  plumage  was  at  Bird 
Island  in  Lambert’s  Bay,  Western  Cape, 
on  15-18  October.  In  Eastern  Cape, 
Heuglin’s  Gulls  L.  (argentatiis)  heiiglini 
were  reported  from  Port  Alfred  on  11 
May  and  from  Cape  Recife  near  Port 
Elisabeth  on  26  May,  with  a possible 
there  on  26  August.  A ‘Baltic’  Lesser 
Black-backed  Gull  L.  f.  fiiscus  was 
located  at  the  Umgeni  River  mouth  near 
Durban,  KwaZulu-Natal,  on  28 
September  and  remained  throughout 
October;  another  was  found  at  Bloemhof 
Dam,  on  the  Eree  State/North-west 
Province  border,  on  3 October.  Single 
adult  Black-headed  Gulls  L.  ridibiiudus 
in  full  breeding  plumage  were  reported 
from  the  Berg  River  near  3 eldrif.  Western 
Cape,  on  7 July,  King's  Beach  car  park. 
Port  Elisabeth,  on  2-1-28  September,  and 
Umgeni  River  mouth,  KwaZulu-Natal,  on 
11-21  October.  A Bridled  Tern  Sterna 
anaethetiis  was  found  at  a tern  roost  at 
Cape  Recife  near  Port  Elisabeth.  Eastern 
Cape,  on  ^ April  and  (the  same?! 
throughout  August.  An  African 
Skimmer  Ryncbops  flarirostris  was  still 
at  Roodekoppies  Dam  near  Brits.  North- 
west Pro\  ince,  in  July;  this  bird  has  now 
been  present  in  the  area  for  o\  er  a year. 
A Black  Coucal  Centropiis  grillii  was 


Recent  Reports 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -71 


found  at  a marsh  near  Gantslii  in 
Hluhluwe  Game  Reserve,  KwaZulu- 
Natal,  on  6 April.  A White-headed  Saw- 
wing Fscilidoprooie  alhiceps,  claimed 
from  Letaba,  Kruger  National  Park,  on 
23  August,  would  constitute  the  first  for 
South  Africa  if  accepted  (all  per  ZfB). 

Tanzania 

Two  additions  to  the  national  list  are  an 
adult  Kelp  Gull  Lams  dominicauus, 
observed  in  the  Rufi  Delta  in  December 
2000  but  only  reported  recently  iOH), 
and  at  least  two  small  populations  of 
Chestnut-mantled  Sparrow  Weaver 
Plocepasser  rufoscapiilatiis,  discovered 
east  of  Mpanda  along  the  road  to 
Inyonga  in  July  2001  (SN)  and  found 
again  in  September. 

The  following  records  are  all  from 
2001,  if  not  otherwise  indicated.  An 
unusually  large  concentration  of  10,000- 
30,000  White  Storks  Ciconia  ciconia 
was  seen  resting  at  Lake  Ndutu,  Serengeti 
National  Park,  on  14-15  January;  this 
constitutes  c9%  of  the  world  population 
(TG).  The  pair  of  Taita  Falcon  Falco 
fasciimicha  at  Naberera  was  at  their  nest 
site  from  early  February  to  at  least  mid- 
July,  but  absent  in  mid-September 
(N&LB).  An  adult  Baillon’s  Crake 
Porzana  piisilla  at  Mungushi, 
Kilimanjaro,  on  20  October,  was  the 
second  record  from  this  locality  (N&IJi). 
A pair  of  Wattled  Cranes  Bupornnis 
canuiciilatiis  was  south-west  of 
Sumbawanga,  where  the  species  has  not 
been  reported  for  many  years,  on  25  June 
iSN).  Sightings  of  Stierling’s 
Woodpecker  Deudrupicos  stierlingi 
from  south-west  Tanzania  in  September 
iSN)  confirm  those  from  November  1999 
(DP);  these  represent  a hitherto 
unknown  population  of  this  globally 
threatened  species. 

The  first  Thrush  Nightingale 
Liiscinia  liiscinia  of  the  season  was 
ringed  on  15  October,  two  weeks  earlier 
than  usual  (NM).  A Common  Redstart 
Phoenicurus  phoenicums  was  seen  at 
Ndutu  Lodge,  Ngorongoro  Conservation 
Area,  in  December  2000;  this  is  a rare 
species  in  Tanzania  (L&PW).  A pair  of 
Little  Rock  Thrushes  Mouticola 
rufocinereus  near  the  top  of  the 
escarpment  south  of  Lake  Manyara  in 
July  2000  is  well  south  of  other  known 
records  (AM  & JOLA.  A loose  group  of 
15-20  Banded  Green  Sunbirds 
Anthreptes  rubritorques  was  observed 
frequenting  fruiting  trees  at  570  m in 
Udzungwa  Mountains  National  Park  on 
25-28  July;  this  may  be  the  first 
observation  outside  the  Usambaras  since 
1991,  and  is  probably  the  largest 
assemblage  on  record  ( TR).  The  species. 


which  is  listed  as  Wilnerable.  is  know  n 
from  fi\e  areas  of  forest  in  eastern 
'Lanzania,  but  it  is  only  camsidered 
common  in  parts  of  the  I sambaras.  A 
female  Pringle’s  Puffback  Diyoscoptis 
priiiglii  at  0 t°20'S  on  1 i July  is  the 
.southernmost  record  to  date  F\&I.Bi  \ 
small  flock  of  Sharp-tailed  Starlings 
Lamprotoniis  aciiticaiidus  in  .MIele 
Game  Re.serxe  in  July  (5A')  and  several 
indi\iduals  in  L'galla  Game  Re.ser\e  in 
August  (IB)  are  the  first  for  Tanzania  for 
many  years.  The  race  mclauorhyuchns 
of  White-browed  Sparrow  Weaver 
Plocepasser  mahali  continues  its 
southward  expansion  into  northern 
Tanzania,  with  new  colonies  being 
established  as  far  south  as  Tarangire 
National  Park  and  along  the  Pangani 
Valley  (i\&LB). 

Togo 

A male  Red- footed  Falcon  Pairo 
respertiniis  was  perched  on  roadside 
powerlines,  about  midway  between 
Lome  and  Atakpame.  on  19  June  2001 
(6’,V);  this  is  a rarely  obserxed  \ agrant  in 
Togo,  w ith  only  two  prev  iously  reports, 
the  first  of  which  concerned  300  birtls 
migrating  oxer  Kara  in  30  minutes,  on  3 
June  198^  (Cheke,  R.A.  N Walsh.  J.F. 
1996,  The  Birds  of  Togo).  Two  putativ  e 
adult  Kelp  Gulls  Lams  domiiiicaiiiis 
were  seen  off  .\necho  on  30-31 
December  2000;  in  West  .\frica.  this 
species  is  only  known  from  Mauritania, 
-Senegal  and  The  Gambia.  .\n  Arctic 
Skua  Stercorarius  parasiticus  w as  also 
observed  there  on  30th  and  two  the  next 
day;  there  are  verx'  few  records  of  this 
species  from  Togo  (BP). 

An  Ashy  Flycatcher  Miiscicapa 
caeridesceus  was  seen  at  Pagala.  central 
Togo,  on  21  June  2001;  this  species  is 
rare  in  the  countiy  and  only  known  from 
a few  specimens  collected  further  south. 
Also  there  was  a pair  of  Shrike 
Flycatchers  Megabyas  flammulatiis 
(GS). 

Tunisia 

Five  Ruddy  Shelducks  Tadorua 
ferriigiuea,  one  Blue-cheeked  Bee- 
eater  Merops  persiciis  and  at  least  ten 
singing  (African)  Desert  Warblers  Sylvia 
( nana)  )uina  were  seen  in  the  Douz  area 
on  19  April  2001  (per  Birding  World  14: 
191).  An  Isabelline  Wheatear 
Oenauthe  isabelliua  was  found  at  Zarzis, 
on  the  south-east  coast,  on  9 April  2001 
(DR). 

Uganda 

In  October  2001,  an  immature  male 

Madagascar  Lesser  Cuckoo  Ciiculus 
rochii  was  mist-netted  on  the  Entebbe 


V‘‘ll<  >w  -h  K )ted  Fix  v atrher  Mn.scicapa 
sethsniilhi  h\  .Mark  .\ndrews 

peniiiMda  <m  2uh;  the  --pcLi-s  \s 
normally  recordi*d  in  April-sepiemIxT  in 
Fast  .\frica  OUUT  The  preseme  >f 
Ansorge's  Greenbul  Audrnpadus 
aiisorgei  in  Uxxindi  ImpenetrabJe 
National  Park,  suspeiietl  since  P^*>2.  was 
finally  confirmed  iHi  2 .\uguM.  when  a 
bird  was  well  seen  and  heard:  this 
addition  to  the  I gandan  avifauna  will 
l>e  documented  in  the  next  Bull  .\B< 

( \B)  In  July  a (irauer’s  Swamp 
Warbler  Bradypterus graueri  was  touiul 
in  a patch  of  rushes  just  Diitside  Bw  indi 
National  Park:  there  are  probatdy  only 
six  sites  h»r  this  .Mbertine  Rift  endemii 
in  I gaiula.  of  whiOi  only  twe  are 
proteited  (.l/UO.  Tw<.  Gambaga 
Flycatchers  Muscicapa gambagac.  seen 
in  .Murchisnii  Falls  National  Park  on  3 
July,  constitute  the  first  record  for  the 
park.  What  appears  to  be  the  first 
Yellow-footed  Flycatcher  .Muscicapa 
setbsniitbi  for  .Semliki  National  Park  was 
observed  on  'July  (GM). 

Zambia 

Records  from  the  first  half  of  2001  include 
the  following.  In  Januarx . at  least  two 
White  Storks  Ciconia  ciconia  were 
tracked  through  the  countrx’  by  .satellite, 
fitted  while  they  were  still  in  nest  in  the 
Cape.  South  Africa.  A female  Eurasian 
Marsh  Harrier  Circus  aernginosns  was 
in  the  Luangwa  \’alley  on  several  dates, 
and  an  Osprey  Pandiou  baliaetns  was 
regular  at  Kasisi  Dam  near  Lusaka.  In 
Chisamba,  both  Corn  Crake  Crex  crex 
and  Striped  Crake  Aenigmatolinwas 
marginalis  were  found.  Red-footed 
Falco  vespertiuus  and  Amur  (Eastern 
Red-footed)  Falcons  F.  amnrensiswexe 
reported  in  large  numbers  at  several 
localities  and  numbers  of  Pallid  Circus 
macroiiriis  and  Montagu’s  Harriers  C. 
pygargns  w'ere  near  Mazabuka  on  20th. 
Nearby,  12  Common  Cuckoos  Cncnlns 
canorns  w'ere  found  feeding  in  a 
caterpillar-infested  tree  and  over  100 
Woolly-necked  Storks  Ciconia 


72 -Bull  ABC  Vol9No  1 


Requests 


episcoplis  were  loafing  around  li\  estock 
pens.  In  Lochinvar  National  Park, 
waterbird  counts  undertaken  on  10-1 2th 
found  1,"'07  Black  Herons  Egretta 
ardesiaca,  3.930  Hottentot  Teal  Anas 
hottentotta,  4,900  Red-knobbed  Coots 
Fiilica  cristata,  3,465  Black-tailed 
Godwits  Limosa  limosa  and  71,285  Ruff 
Philomachiis  piignax.  Smaller  numbers 
of  interesting  species  included  a Black- 
rumped  Buttonquail  Tit  mix 
hottentotta,  87  African  Crakes  Crex 
egregia,  three  Corn  Crakes,  12  Black- 
winged Pratincoles  Glareola 
nordmanni  and  three  Whimbrel 
Niimeniiis  pbaeopiis.  In  Choma  were 
eight  Dwarf  Bitterns  Ixobiycbiis  stiirmii 
and  m o Corn  Crakes  Fawn-coloured 
Larks  Mirafra  africanoides  and  Sousa’s 
Shrikes  Lanins  soiizae  near  Mulobezi 
were  both  on  the  edge  of  their  ranges. 
Near  Kaoma  was  a calling  European 
Honey  Buzzard  Pern  is  apivoriis  and 
several  Streaky-breasted  Flufftails 
Sarothriira  boehmi,  whereas  in 
Livingstone  a Spotted  Crake  Porzana 
porzana  was  found. 

In  Februar>^  two  Baillon’s  Crakes 
Porzana piisilla  and  at  least  rv'o  Spotted 
Crakes  were  seen  in  Livingstone;  a Corn 
Crake  was  in  Kitwe  on  11th.  In  Choma, 
a family  of  Sousa’s  Shrikes  was  the  first 
to  be  recorded  for  some  time;  a vagrant 
Yellow-crowned  Bishop  Eiiplectes  afer 
was  also  found. 

In  March,  a White-backed  Night 
Heron  Gorsachiiis  leiiconotus  was 
flushed  from  trees  beside  a seasonal 
stream  in  Choma,  and  nearby  an  active 
African  Cuckoo  Hawk  Aviceda 
cuculoides  nest  was  found.  The  breeding 
cycle  of  a pair  of  African  Finfoot  Podica 
senegalensis  was  monitored  in 
Livingstone.  European  Rollers  Coracias 
garruliis  were  reported  from  a few 
localities.  At  least  one  European  Reed 
Warbler  Acrocephalus  scirpaceus  was 
near  Lusaka  on  25th,  along  with  several 
Tambourine  Doves  Turtur 
tympanistria,  an  Olive  Woodpecker 
Mesopicos  griseocephalus,  Eastern  Olive 
Sunbirds  Cyanomitra  olivacea  and 
Blue-billed  Firefinches  Lagonosticta 
rubricata.  A Collared  Flycatcher 
Ficedula  albicollis  w2lS  in  Choma  on  4th. 
A pair  of  wandering  White-necked 
Ravens  Corvus  albicollis  flew  over 
Lusaka. 

In  April,  a fledged  juvenile  Brown- 
backed  Honeyguide  Prodotiscus 
regains  was  watched  being  fed  by  a pair 
of  Tawny-flanked  Prinia  Prinia 
subflava  in  Sesheke  District  on  6th.  The 
latter  is  unknown  as  a host  species  and 
although  the  sighting  is  not  absolute 
proof  of  such,  it  is  strongly  suggestive. 
A ‘Brown  Firefinch  Indigobird’  Vidua 


incognita/wilsoni  was  found  at 
Katombora  on  7th  and  a few  late 
Palearctic  migrants  in  Choma  included  a 
Great  Snipe  Gallinago  media  and 
regular  Lesser  Grey  Shrikes  Lanins 
minor.  In  the  Luangwa  Valley,  two  Great 
(White-breasted)  Cormorants 
Phalacrocorax  carbo  Incidns  on  the  9th 
were  the  first  valley  records  and  a Great 
Spotted  Cuckoo  Clamator  glandarins 
was  seen  on  l6th.  An  adult  male 
European  Honey  Buzzard  was  near 
Mazabuka  on  I4th.  Mid-month  a number 
of  interesting  species  was  found  near 
Mpika,  including  Chestnut-headed 
(Long-toed)  Flufftail  Sarothriira  liigens, 
Anchieta’s  Stactolaema  anchietae  and 
Whyte’s  Barbets  5^.  whytii,  Bar-winged 
Weaver  Plocens  angolensis  and  many 
Stripe-breasted  Seed-eaters  Serinns 
reichardi.  On  22nd  some  Madagascar 
Bee-eaters  Merops  snperciliosns  flew 
over  Kitwe  and  on  30th  an  albino 
Openbill  SXork  Anastomns  lamelligerns 
was  seen  on  the  Lipper  Zambezi. 

In  May,  three  late  Black  Coucal 
Centropns  grillii  were  in  the  Luangwa 
Valley  on  5th  and  an  African  Crake  was 
there  on  12th.  A trip  to  Luapula  Province 
produced  some  White-headed  Saw- 
wings  Psalidoprocne  albiceps,  regular 
Angola  Swallows  LLirnndo  angolensis, 
several  White-winged  Warblers 
Bradypterns  carpalis  and  some  Red- 
headed Quelea  Qnelea  erythrops  still  in 
breeding  plumage.  Near  Livingstone,  an 
Acacia  Pied  Barbet  Tricholaema 
lencomelas  was  found  paired  with  a 
Miombo  Pied  Barbet  T.  frontata  and  in 
Lochinvar  National  Park  on  18th  were  a 
Pacific  Golden  Plover  Plnvialis 
idominica)  fnlva,  several  Black-tailed 
Godwits  and  White-throated 
Swallows  LLirnndo  albignlaris. 

In  June,  off-season  White  Storks 
were  reported  from  several  localities  and 
five  Shoebill  Balaeniceps  rex  were 
found  in  Bangweulu  Swamps  on  17th. 
A very  late  Dwarf  Bittern  Lxobrychns 
sturmii  was  in  Choma  on  7th  and  other 
late  migrants  in  the  Luangwa  Valley 
included  a juvenile  Levaillant’s  Cuckoo 
Oxylophus  levaillantii  begging  from 
Arrow-marked  Babblers  Tnrdoides 
jardineii  on  2nd,  a Narina’s  Trogon 
Apaloderma  narina  on  l6th  and  a 
Chestnut-beUied  Kingfisher  LLalcyon 
leucocephala  on  26th.  Other  interesting 
records  here  included  Palm-nut  Vulture 
Gypohierax  angolensis  on  at  least  two 
occasions,  a Ereckled  Nightjar 
Caprimnlgns  tristigma  on  3rd,  and  a 
Scaly-fronted  Honeyguide  Lndicator 
variegatus  on  12th  and  22nd.  Near 
Zambezi,  a very  unseasonal  Common 
House  Martin Dc/icbon  nrbica  was  v.ith 
Mosque  Swallows  LLirnndo 


Marsh  Sandpiper  Tringa  stagnatilis 
by  Mark  Andrews 

senegalensis  on  23rd.  A single  Gorgeous 
Bush-shrike  Telophorns  viridisxid^s  seen 
near  Mayau  on  24th  (all  PL). 

Also  in  June,  five  Marsh  Sandpipers 
Tringa  stagnatilis  seen  in  South  Luangwa 
National  Park  on  9th  and  a single  Curlew 
Sandpiper  Calidris  ferruginea  on  13th 
were  8all  rather  out  of  season.  A Thick- 
billed Cuckoo  Pachycoccyx  audeberti 
was  there  on  10th.  A bird  party  north- 
east of  Kafue  National  Park  on  23rd 
included  Bush  Pipit  Anthns  caffer, 
several  White-winged  Black  Tits  Parns 
lencomelas  and  a Sousa’s  Shrike  iSQ. 

Records  were  collated  by  Ron  Demey 
from  contributions  supplied  by  Neil  & 
Liz  Baker  (N&LB),  Lan  Batchelor  (LBJ, 
Zest  for  Birds  (ZfB),  Leo  Boo  n (LBJ,  Nik 
Borrow/Birdquest  (NBJ,  Stephen 
Cameron  (SC),  Robert  A.  Cheke  (RAC), 
Tony  Clarke  (TC),  Richard  Cruse  (RC), 
Mark  Finn  (ME),  Thomas  Gottschalk 
(TG),  Ph  il  Hall  (PH),  Olivier  Harnerly  nck 
(OH),  Tommy  Holmgren  (TH),  Mark 
Hopkins  (MH),  Alan  Johnston  (AJ),  Marc 
Langiiy  (ML),  Peter  Leonard  (PL),  C. 
Lombard  (CL),  R.  Lombard  (RL),  Njano 
Mbilinyi  (NM),  Alison  Morgan  (AM),  Pete 
Morris/Birdquest  (PM),  Giles Mulholland 
(CM),  Stuart  Norman  (SN),  Jenny 
O'Keefe  (JOK),  Dave  Peterson  (DP), 
Bruno  Portier  (BP),  Hugo  Rainey  (HR). 
L.F.  Rautenbach  (LFR),  Tom  S.  Romdal 
(TR),  Detlef  Robel  (DR),  Peter  Roberts 
(PRo),  Pete  Ryan  (PR),  Valery  Schollaeii 
(VS),  Gavin  Selfe  (GS),  Adrian  Skerrett 
(AS),  Claire  Spottiswoode  (CS).  Bertrand 
Trolliet  (BT),  Stephanie  Tyler  (ST).  Louise 
& Paul  White  (L&PW),  Malcolm  Wilson 
(MW),  Simon  Warry  (SW)  and  from 
Africa — Birds  & Birding,  Birding  World 
and  Dutch  Birding. 

Contributions  for  Recent  Reports  can  be 
sent  to  Ron  Demey.  \ an  der  Heimstraat 
52,  2582  SB  Den  Haag,  The  Netherlands 
and  also  by  e-mail; 
106706.603@compuseiTe.com 


Requests 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1-73 


Reviews 


African  Bird  Sounds:  Birds  of 
North,  West  and  Central  Africa 

Claude  Chappuis,  with  the  collaboration  of 
the  British  Library  National  Sound  Archive 
(London).  2000.  Societe  d’Etudes 
Ornitholologiques  de  France  (SEOF), 
Paris.  Available  from  The  British  Library, 
National  Sound  Archive,  96  Euston  Road, 
London  NW1  2DB.  E-mail:  nsa- 
wildsound@bl.uk. 

Volume  1:  North  Africa  and  Atlantic 
Islands.  Four  CDs  in  a boxed  set  with  a 
68-page  French/English  booklet.  UK£36. 

Volume  2:  West  & Central  Africa.  Eleven 
CDs  in  a boxed  set  with  a 196-page  Eng- 
lish booklet.  UK£75. 

Volumes  1 and  2 (complete  publication). 
Fifteen  CDs  in  a boxed  set  with  a 1 96-page 
English  booklet.  UK£98. 

Claude  Chappuis’  name  has  long  been 
firmly  associated  with  West  African 
ornithology,  and  his  set  of  1 1 vinyl  IPs 
covering  around  450  species,  published 
more  than  20  years  ago,  was  a true 
milestone.  With  the  publication  of  this 
attractively  packaged  15-CD  boxed  set, 
he  will  be  immortalised  in  the  world  of 
bioacoustics.  This  is  a major  publishing 
event  in  ornithological  discography, 
and  an  achievement  that  matches  the 
multi-volume  Birds  of  Africa  in  its  scale 
and  depth. 

The  set  is  divided  geographically 
into  two  volumes,  which  are  available 
separately  or  together.  Volume  1 
comprises  four  CDs  and  covers  North 
Africa  and  the  Atlantic  Islands  of  the 
Canaries,  Madeira  and  Cape  Verde.  It  is 
largely  concerned  with  the  Sahara  and 
Mahgreb,  up  to  the  eastern  border  of 
Tunisia.  A total  of  423  species  is 
represented  on  these  discs,  including 
both  residents  and  migrants.  Volume  2 
comprises  11  CDs  and  covers  1,043 
mainly  resident  species  from  West  and 
Central  Africa,  including  the  Gulf  of 
Guinea  islands  of  Bioko,  Sao  Tome  and 
Principe.  The  region  treated  extends  to 
the  borders  of  Sudan  in  the  east  and 
Angola  in  the  south.  Thus  a total  of 
1,466  species  is  included  in  the 
complete  set,  which,  according  to  the 
author,  represents  some  95%  of  the 
‘regular  species’  in  the  region.  Together 
with  the  wonderful  set  of  recordings  for 
southern  Africa  from  Guy  Gibbon,  we 


now  have  comprehensi\  e coverage  of 
the  entire  western  half  of  Africa,  from 
the  Mediterranean  to  tlie  Cape. 
Hopefully,  eastern  Africa  won  t be  too 
far  behind. 

Many  species'  voices  are  published 
here  for  the  first  time,  and  the.se  are 
listed  in  the  accompanying  booklet — 
about  2^0  species  in  total.  No  fewer 
than  136  recordists  contributed  to  the 
project,  although  the  majority  of 
recordings  are  from  Chappuis  himself. 
Inevitably  perhaps,  some  of  the 
recordings  were  made  outside  the 
region,  but  this  is  noted  in  the  booklet 
where  relevant.  Not  surprisingly,  the 
North  African  .set  has  a larger  propor- 
tion of  extralimitally  recorded  species 
than  the  West  and  Central  volume. 

The  chunky  booklet  includes  an 
introduction  to  the  project  as  well  as 
various  lists  of  species  illustrating 
acoustic  and  taxonomic  points  of 
interest  (such  as  first-ever  published 
recordings,  new  species  disccn  ered  by 
their  voices,  possible  taxonomic  splits 
lumps,  parallelism  and  divergence  in 
acoustic  e\'olution.  acoustic  con\  er- 
gences  and  coincidences,  and  island 
species  etc).  The  bulk  of  the  text  is 
devoted  to  the  list  of  species,  which  are 
in  taxonomic  order  (rather  than  the 
order  they  appear  on  the  CDs).  Basic 
details  are  given  for  all  featured  species 
(date,  locality,  recordist  etc),  but  in 
many  instances  further  information  is 
given;  sometimes  this  is  quite  extensive 
and  helpful.  For  the  sake  of  complete- 
ness, all  1550  'regular  species'  of  the 
region  are  listed  in  the  booklet,  with 
brackets  around  those  for  which  no 
recordings  were  available. 

So,  what  of  the  recordings  them- 
selves? Most  species  are  represented  by 
a single  recording  of  the  song  or  call 
(sometimes  both),  or  by  a short  series 
of  vocalisations.  The  recordings  are 
generally  of  a high  standard  and  are 
unannounced.  I did  not  find  any 
misidentified  species,  although  the 
author  himself  acknowledges  that  a few 
errors  may  remain;  this  would  hardly 
be  surprising  when  so  much  of  the 
region  is  relatively  poorly  known,  with 
many  species  whose  voices  have  not 
been  published  before.  Listening  to  the 
recordings  in  conjunction  with  the 
booklet  is  usually  straightforward,  but 


a.s  the  North  .\fric  an  species  ' (.Ds  1-j* 
are  interspersed  throughout,  they  are 
not  al\\a\  s in  sequence.  In  addition,  a 
few  species  are  out  of  taxonomii  order, 
but  these  are  only  minor  irritations. 

It  is  impossible  to  lx*  anything  other 
than  complimentan,  about  this  set  of 
CDs.  It  is  a truly  magnificent  achiex  e- 
ment.  and  birders  and  ornithologists 
w ill  Ik*  fore\er  be  indebted  to 
Chappuis  and  his  collalvirators. 

\\  hether  these  recordings  are  used  in 
the  field  or  for  reference  at  home.  the\ 
w ill  be  of  immense  \ alue  for  years  t<  > 
come,  .\nyone  with  a serious  interest 
in  .\frican  birds  will  need  the  whole 
.set. 

.\/X’c/  Redman 


Oiseaux  d’Afrique  (African  bird 
sounds),  2.  West  and  Central  Africa 

C.  Chappuis.  2000.  Eleven  CDs  (1,043 
species)  with  companion  booklet  of  192 
pages.  Paris:  Societe  d'Etudes 

Ornithologiques  de  France,  with  the  col- 
laboration of  the  British  Library. 

This  is  the  .second  and  more  important 
instalment  of  a series  of  15  CDs  on  the 
xocalisations  of  .\frican  birds;  the  first 
x'olume  (four  CDs  covering  a23 
species)  dealt  with  North-West  .Mrica. 
Canary-  and  Cape  N'erde  islands  and  is 
reviewed,  within  a general  introduction 
to  the  overall  work,  above.  The 
geographical  coverage  of  the  second 
volume  includes  the  islands  of  the  Gulf 
of  Guinea  and  continental  Africa  from 
Senegal  to  Congo-Kinshasa,  east  to  the 
mountains  of  the  Albertine  Rift,  and 
south  to  northern  Angola  and  the 
Zambian  border.  It  thus  omits  most  of 
the  Zambezian  region  (largely,  though 
not  entirely,  covered  by  R 
Stjernstedt^*^  and  eastern  Africa  (soon 
to  be  treated  by  a major  new  publica- 
tion), whereas  the  southern  third  of 
Africa  is  covered  by  G Gibbon^. 

'Virtually  all  the  species  presented  here 
are  African  residents  or  intra-African 
migrants,  most  Palaearctic  species 
visiting  the  region  having  already  been 
covered  in  the  first  volume,  w4th  the 
exception  of  a few  of  more  eastern 
distribution  (eg  Thrush  Nightingale 
Liisciuia  luscinia).  This  is  without 


74  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Reviews 


doubt  the  single  most  important  source 
of  Afrotropical  bird  vocalisations,  and 
it  will  have  an  enormous  effect  on  the 
efficiency  of  future  field  investigations 
and  on  our  understanding  of  avian 
relationships. 

C Chappuis  started  recording  birds 
in  West  Africa  in  1968,  and  although 
this  collection  has  involved  the 
collaboration  of  more  than  130  record- 
ists, the  great  majority  of  recordings 
were  obtained  by  the  author  and 
compiler,  a remarkable  achievement. 
Covering  1,043  species,  these  11  CDs 
supersede  completely  the  earlier 
collection  of  1 1 discs  (33-rpm,  with  450 
species)  that  was  published  in  collabo- 
ration with  Alauda  beween  1974  and 
1985k  More  than  200  species  appear 
commercially  for  the  first  time,  and  the 
families  that  had  already  received  much 
space  in  the  Alauda  series  (eg 
Pycnonotidae)  have  been  thoroughly 
revised,  updated  and  augmented  with 
many  new  recordings. 

Individual  species  are  not  an- 
nounced by  voice  but  are  given  a 
specific  track  number:  this  both 
facilitates  the  rapid  location  of  any 
desired  recording  and  makes  confusion 
impossible.  In  a few  cases,  however, 
two  species  or  subspecies,  are  pre- 
sented on  the  same  track  but  are 
separated  by  a long  silence  (as  long  as 
that  between  tracks),  whereas  separate 
recordings  of  the  same  species  or  form 
follow  each  other  more  rapidly. 
Correctly  locating  cuts  in  this  way 
requires  a little  practice,  but  generally 
should  not  lead  to  confusion.  (I  must 
add  that  some  of  my  British  (male) 
colleagues  (pers  comm,  unnamed)  tell 
me  they  regret  the  disappearance  of  the 
human  voice  to  identify  species, 
especially  that  of  the  French  lady  on 
the  Alauda  series,  whose  pronuncia- 
tion of  Latin  names  they  found 
remarkably  sexy...).  One  species, 
Grauer’s  Cuckoo-shrike  Coracina 
graueri,  appears  out  of  sequence  at  the 
beginning  of  CDll  (among  the 
Sylviidae);  while  this  is  mentioned  in 
the  text  under  CD9  (Campephagidae), 
a cross-reference  under  CDll  would 
have  been  useful. 

The  sound  quality  is  generally  good 
to  excellent,  when  less  so  it  is  for 
obvious  reasons  and  it  is  always 
preferable  to  have  a poor  recording  of 
a species  than  none  at  all.  Species 
appearing  in  the  background  are 
mentioned  occasionally  but  not 
consistently  (no  doubt  due  partly  to 
lack  of  space).  In  a very  few  cases  a 
secondary  species  is  actually  more 


prominent  than  the  main  one,  and  this 
could  be  misleading.  Thus  the  final  cut 
of  Cameroon  Olive  Greenbul 
Pbyllastrepbus poensis  (CD9,  track  72) 
is  somewhat  marred  by  the  loud 
interference  of  a Pink-footed  Puffback 
Dryoscopiis  angolensis  (a  double 
chukking  noise,  repeated  then  fol- 
lowed by  a churr),  whereas  the  usual 
song  of  the  bulbul  can  be  heard  in  the 
distance  (also  with  that  of  Black-faced 
Rufous  Warbler  Batbmocerciis  nifus  at 
the  beginning).  The  second  cut  of 
Yellow-mantled  Whydah  Euplectes 
macrounis  (CD14,  track  92)  is,  to  my 
ears,  largely  taken  up  by  a song  of 
Northern  Double-collared  Sunbird 
Nectarinia preiissi.  But  these  problems 
are  exceptional.  * 

The  recordings  presented  and  the 
informative  booklet  generally  succeed 
well  in  the  two  main  aims  of  the  work, 
to  provide  the  means  of  correctly 
identifying  bird  sounds,  and  to  suggest 
ways  in  which  these  have  a bearing  on 
avian  taxonomy.  Most  species’ 
vocalisations  occupy  between  30 
seconds  and  one  minute,  and  although 
not  large  this  often  includes  several 
cuts  of  different  origins  illustrating 
song,  calls  and  dialectal  variations;  for 
example  in  just  one  minute  we  get  an 
excellent  presentation  of  the  range  of 
dialectal  variation  in  the  songs  of 
Sulphur-breasted  Bush-shrike 
Malaconotiis  siilfureopectus  (CD13, 
track  65)  from  West  to  East  Africa.  All 
relevant  information  concerning 
location,  time,  recordist  and  much  else 
is  given  in  the  accompanying  booklet  (I 
have  the  French  version,  but  have  not 
seen  the  English).  Indeed  this  work  is 
much  more  than  a gigantic  compilation 
of  field  recordings  (3,200  cuts  have 
been  retained  here  from  a selection  of 
some  5,500),  as  the  text  includes  a great 
deal  of  information  on  means  of 
separating  difficult  species,  and  in 
some  cases  proposes  identification 
keys  for  whole  series  of  species.  One 
example  of  this,  which  I find  works 
particularly  well,  is  the  key  to  the 
vocalisations  of  the  green  turacos 
Tauraco  spp.;  shame  on  anyone  who 
still  manages  to  misidentify  a calling 
turaco  after  this.  Attention  is  drawn  to 
the  vocal  distinctiveness  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  superspecies  Guinea  Turaco 
T.  persa  (with  Schalow’s  T.  scbalowi 
standing  apart  from  all  others,  cf. 
Dowsett-Lemaire  & Dowsett  19880, 
whereas  one  needs  to  listen  with  care 
to  separate  the  song  of  White-crested 
Turaco  T.  leucolopbus  from  those  of 
the  superspecies  Bannerman’s  T. 


hannermani/Red-cresied  T. 
erytbrolopus.  Although  in  the  past  T. 
leucolopbus  was  not  considered  to  be 
particularly  closely  related  to  the  last, 
recent  DNA  investigation  by  Veron  & 
Winney-^  has  placed  T.  leucolopbus 
immediately  next  to  T.  erytbrolopbus 
on  the  ‘neighbour-joining  tree’;  this  is 
certainly  supported  by  bioacoustic 
evidence.  To  take  an  example  of 
Chappuis’  didactic  approach  among 
the  passerines,  the  text  accompanying 
the  extensive  choice  of  motifs  of  the 
two  forest  orioles  Western  Black- 
headed Oriolus  bracbyrbynchus  and 
Black-winged  O.  nigripennis  is  very 
helpful,  as  distinction  between  these  is 
not  always  straightforward,  not  least 
because  of  their  extensive  repertoires. 
Thus  two  minutes  and  30  seconds  are 
devoted  to  O.  bracbyrbynchus  and  two 
minutes  and  50  seconds  to  0. 
nigripennis,  probably  the  two  longest 
individual  presentations  in  this  volume. 

Overall,  the  taxonomic  treatment 
follows  that  of  Birds  of  Africa  volumes 
1-6,  although  there  are  a number  of 
divergences,  for  example  among 
SLinbirds,  monarchine  and  platysteirine 
flycatchers.  Thus  Bates’s  Paradise 
Flycatcher  Teipsiphone  batesi,  sepa- 
rated by  C Erard  (in  Urban  et  al  1997'°) 
from  Rufous-vented  T.  rufocinerea,  is 
still  presented  as  a race  of  the  latter.  In 
my  experience  and  that  of  C Erard  (op. 
cit.),  the  song  of  T.  rufocinerea  sensii 
stricto  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the 
African  Paradise  Flycatcher  T.  viridis 
and  unlike  that  of  T.  batesi;  for  this 
reason  and  others  (including  geo- 
graphical contact),  C Erard's  treatment 
was  probably  the  wiser.  Unfortunately 
no-one  has  yet  managed  to  get  a tape- 
recording of  the  song  of  T.  rufocinerea. 

The  importance  of  bioacoustics  in 
the  field  of  systematics  has  been 
increasingly  evident  in  recent  decades, 
as  exemplified  by  the  discoveiy  and 
description  of  new  species  prompted 
by  the  study  of  vocal  characters. 
Examples  of  relevance  here  include 
Eastern  Green-tailed  Bristlebill  Bleda 
notata,  Dorst’s  Cisticola  Cisticola 
dorsti,  Pale-crowned  Cisticola  C. 
cinnamomeiis  and  several  indigobirds 
Vidua  spp.  Many  problems  remain 
unresoh'ed  and  Chappuis  offers 
pointers  to  more  potential  splits.  There 
is  a great  deal  of  interest  here,  but 
some  of  this  is  going  to  be  difficult  to 
unra\'el.  The  most  striking  example 
among  non-passerines  is  that  of  Dusky 
Long-tailed  Cuckoo  Cercococcyx 
mechou'i:  recordings  of  the  eastern  and 
vs'estern  song-wpes  v,  ere  first  pub- 


Reviews 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -75 


lishecl  separately  (from  Uganda  by  S 
Keith  in  1971'^  and  from  the  Nigeria/ 
Cameroon  border  by  C Chappuis  in 
1974^)  but  are  now  presented  together, 
and  a sonogram  demonstrating  that 
these  songs  differ  not  only  in  their 
tempi  but  in  their  stmctural  form  was 
published  in  19977  The  eastern  song- 
type  is  consistent  throughout  a wide 
range  from  Uganda  to  Congo,  Gabon 
and  southern  Cameroon  (published 
recordings  and  pers  obs);  the  geo- 
graphical separation  between  the  two 
cuckoo  populations  is  probably  around 
the  Sanaga  River,  as  the  eastern  form  is 
very  common  in  south  and  south- 
eastern Cameroon,  whereas  the 
western  form  appears  somewhere 
north  of  the  Sanaga  River  (from  the 
Bakossi  Mountains  north,  pers.  obs.). 
However,  C.  mechowi  from  West  to 
East  Africa  has  always  been  considered 
a monotypic  species;  the  three  pres- 
ently recognised  species  of 
Cercococcyx  cuckoos  (Barred  Long- 
tailed C.  montaniis,  Olive  Long-tailed 
C.  olivimis  and  C.  mechowi)  are 
difficult  to  separate  on  morphological 
characters,  even  for  museum  special- 
ists, and  the  paucity  of  specimen 
material  is  not  going  to  help  resolve  the 
problem  of  C.  mechowi  for  some  time. 

A similar  difficulty  arises  with  Little 
Rush  Warbler  Bmdyptenis  bahoecala, 
whose  high-pitched  and  low-pitched 
songs  are  strikingly  different,  but 
cannot  easily  be  attributed  to  particular 
morphological  races.  Even  though 
Chappuis  proposes  to  separate  the 
form  with  the  high-pitched  song-type 
under  the  name  of  5.  elgouensis  (from 
Kenya/Uganda),  part  of  another  race, 
centralis  (but  only  part  of  it)  also 
possesses  this  distinctive  song,  reminis- 
cent of  insect-like  stridulations.  Thus 
centralis  birds  from  northern  Tanzania 
(cf.  Zimmerman  et  all9%^~),  Rwanda 
(pers  obs  and  tape-recordings)  and 
eastern  Congo-Kinshasa  (birds  in  song 
collected  and  well  described  by 
Chapinb  all  sing  like  elgouensis,  but 
somewhere  between  eastern  Congo 
and  Cameroon  birds  of  (apparently) 
the  same  race  suddenly  change,  since 
in  Cameroon  all  centralis  I have  heard 
from  the  Haut  Nyong  to  coastal 
locations  (as  is  illustrated  by  a tape  of  it 
by  C Chappuis)  produce  the  low- 
pitched  song. 

Still  among  the  Bradypterus,  Grimes 
in  Urban  et  aP  treated  the  form 
hangwaensis  (of  the  mountains  of 
Cameroon  and  eastern  Nigeria)  as  a 
race  of  the  more  widespread  Evergreen 
Forest  Warbler  B.  lopezi,  even  though 


both  forms  coexist  at  Mt  Manenguba; 
in  19S9  Bob  Dow.sett  and  my.self 
presented  a case  for  the  specific 
distinctiveness  of  Bangwa  Forest 
Warbler  B.  hangwaensis.  ba.sed  on 
morphological  characters 
(hangwaensis  rich  coloration  is  clo.ser 
to  that  of  Cinnamon  Bracken  Warbler 
B.  cinnamomeus  than  lopezi).  partial 
sympatry  with  B.  lopezi,  and  \'Ocal 
characters  (in  respect  only  of  call 
notes).  C Chappuis  presents  here  some 
of  my  recordings  of  songs  from  eastern 
Nigeria,  but  unfortunately  not  the  call 
notes.  As  sho\\  n by  sonograms'  .song 
motifs  of  lopezi  and  hangwaensis  are 
similar  in  all  their  main  characters,  but 
the  call  notes  are  ver\-  different.  Tho.se 
of  lopezi  are  presented  on  Cl)  10  (tracks 
49-50),  so  it  is  a pity  tho.se  of  B. 
hangwaensis  have  been  omitted  (just 
one  low  churr  can  be  heard  in  the 
background  of  the  .second  cut  on  track 
51),  although  they  ha\  e been  tape- 
recorded.  Further  field  work  in  western 
Cameroon  has  demonstrated  that  these 
vocal  characters  are  consistent  through- 
out the  range  of  hatigwaensis:  where 
the  two  species  meet  (.Mt  .Manenguba) 
they  occupy  different  niches,  with 
hangwae)isis  at  forest  edges  and  lopezi 
within  primar\-  forest/ 

In  many  cases  much  more  field 
work  will  be  necessary  to  inx  estigate. 
prove  or  disprox  e some  of  the  ideas  of 
species  separation  proposed  here.  One 
example  is  that  of  Rufous-naped  Lark 
Mirafra  africana:  some  unusual  song- 
types  recorded  on  the  Teke  Plateau  in 
Gabon  (CDS,  track  91)  ha\  e induced 
the  compiler  to  suggest  that  the  local 
race  ( malhranti)  may  represent  an 
entirely  new  species.  But,  we  are 
dealing  with  a lark  of  \’er\-  wide 
distribution  in  Africa  and  presenting  a 
large  range  of  dialectal  forms  across  the 
continent.  lndi\'idual  birds  already 
show  quite  an  array  of  different  motifs: 
in  the  one  individual  recorded  by  P 
Christy  at  Leconi,  the  first  motif  is 
certainly  very  unusual  for  a M. 
africana,  but  by  the  time  we  get  to  the 
third  motif  (by  the  same  individual), 
we  already  have  something  more 
typical  of  the  species  elsewhere. 
Another  suggestion  to  treat  with  care 
concerns  the  race  leoniniis  of 
Cameroon  Sombre  Bulbul  Andropadus 
curvirostris,  1 agree  that  the  vocal 
dialect  of  this  form  (CD9,  track  53)  is 
distinctive  (from  that  of  nominate 
curvirostris  recorded  in  south-west 
Cameroon,  track  52),  but  dialectal 
variation  in  the  songs  of  this  bulbul  is 
extensive,  with  different  populations  in 


\arious  fore^l  bloc  ks  in  Cameroon  and 
Congo  ha\  ing  their  ow  n panic  ular 
motifs  (and  the.se  all  belong  to  the 
.same  race). 

Con\ersely.  suggestions  for 
reconsidering  some  geographical  forms 
(treated  as  different  species  in  recent 
\{)lumes  of  Birds  of  .Africa)  within  the 
.same  species  are  made  for  a number  of 
superspecies;  examples  include  White- 
bearded  Greenbul  Critiiger  olii  aceits 
nditssiimeusis.  Black-collared  Apalis 
.Apalis  piilchra  ruweuzorii  and  Y ellow  - 
bellied  Eremomela  Hremomela 
icteropygialis  salradorii.  Bic  )ac(  )ustic 
e\  idence  is  clearly  in  fa\our  of  lumping 
here;  this  is  also  supported  by  playback 
experiments.  i.e.positi\e  reactions  from 
one  race  to  the  songs  of  the  other. 
Indeed,  before  a good  tape-recording 
of  Criniger  o.  oliraceus  became 
ax  ailable.  the  be.st  w ay  of  locating  this 
discreet  species  in  the  forests  of  Cc/te 
d'h'oire  w as  by  playing  a tape  of  C.  <>. 
ndussitmensis  (C  Carter  pers  comm). 
The  apali.ses  .1.  p.  pulchra  and  .1.  p. 
riiwenzorii  possess  a variety  of  song- 
types.  of  \ ar\  ing  tempi,  but  the  timbre 
of  \’oice  is  identical  in  both  geographi- 
cal forms  and  fast  or  slow  motifs  in  one 
form  can  be  matched  to  fast  or  slow 
motifs  in  the  other;  thus  the  la.st  (fa.st) 
.song  of  Apalis p.  pulchra  (CI)l  1.  track 
2U)  is  identical  to  the  first  .song-type  of 
A.  p.  ruweuzorii  (CI)l  1.  track  21 ).  and 
their  direct  juxtaposition  through  a.stute 
editing  makes  this  more  com  incing 
than  any  amount  of  text. 

In  a work  of  this  magnitude, 
inevitably  a few  errors  of  tran.scription 
have  crept  in.  Thus  the  song  of  Papyrus 
Y’ellow  Warbler  Chloropeta 
gracilirostris  (CD  10.  track  56)  is 
correctly  identified  but  cannot  come 
from  the  Nyika  Plateau  in  north-east 
Zambia  (a  high  montane  area  without 
swamps  where  the  species  is  quite 
unknown);  the  same  recording  was 
pre\-ioLisly  published  by  R Stjernstedt’'^ 
and  was  taped  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Luapula  River.  If  the  call  note  of  Apalis 
pulchra  riiwenzorii  (CDll,  track  21) 
w'as  indeed  taped  in  Kenya,  then  it 
must  be  referred  to  that  of  nominate 
pulchra  (riiwenzorii  hcmg  endemic  to 
the  Albertine  Rift).  The  second  cut  of 
Yellow  Longbill  Macrosphenus 
flavicans  (CDW,  track  55)  from  eastern 
Nigeria  sounds  like  a song  of  Kemp's 
Longbill  M.  kempi  to  me;  the  recordist 
(R  Demey  pers  comm)  confirms  that  he 
did  not  see  the  bird  and  his  tape  comes 
from  an  area  of  overlap  between  the 
two  Macrosphenus.  Of  the  many  M. 
flavicans  I have  heard  in  Cameroon, 


76  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Reviews 


Equatorial  Guinea  and  Congo,  I have 
never  found  one  that  produced 
anything  similar  to  a song  of  M.  kempi, 
and  obser\titions  in  the  Korup  area  of 
western  Cameroon  (alsa  an  area  of 
sympatry)  confirm  that  each  species 
retains  its  own  individual,  characteristic 
song  (Rodewald  et  aM.  This  contra- 
dicts the  suggestion  made  here  that 
vocal  barriers  may  break  down  in  areas 
of  sympatry.  If  Many-coloured  Bush- 
shrike  Malaconotus  multicolor  must  be 
split  from  Black-fronted  Bush-shrike  M. 
nigrifrons,  then  the  fourth  cut  of 
Malaconotus  multicolor  i.CD15,  track 
66),  from  Misaka  Forest  in  Zambia, 
cannot  be  attributed  to  multicolor  but 
only  to  nigrifrons.  Birds  from  the 
Zambian  plateau  all  belong  to  one  race 
(manningi)  and  their  main  song-type 
consists  of  two  whistles  (the  second 
longer  and  higher  pitched,  as  on  track 
66),  reproduced  again  under  M. 
nigrifrons  (CD13,  track  67,  second  cut, 
from  Mayau,  Zambia). 

A similar  confusion  has  arisen  with 
Long-billed  Pipit  Anthus  similis 
(including  nyassae).  C Chappuis 
proposes  to  split  the  Zambezian  race 
nyassae  from  similis  (without  specify- 
ing how  many  of  the  other  15  races  on 
the  continent  should  be  included  in 
one  or  the  other),  on  the  basis  mainly 
of  the  number  of  notes  (3-4)  per  song, 
even  though  this  character  is  recog- 
nised as  being  highly  variable  within 
individuals  and  populations.  A cut  from 
north  of  Lilongwe  (Malawi)  appears 
correctly  under  nyassae  (CD9,  cut  2 of 
track  29),  but  the  first  cut  presented 
under  similis  (from  west  of  Lilongwe, 
track  28)  also  refers  to  the  race 
nyassae,  which  occurs  throughout 
miombo  woodland  in  Malawi  and 
neighbouring  countries  (cf.  D J Pearson 
in  Keith  et  al^\  p.  224).  In  fact,  all 
populations  of  similis  sensu  lato  give 
songs  of  3-4  notes,  and  it  is  unrealistic 
to  try  and  separate  forms  based  on  the 
number  of  notes  per  song.  We  continue 
to  believe  (cf.  Dowsett  & Dowsett- 
Lemaire^)  that  the  best  treatment  of  this 
complicated  species  to  date  is  that  of 
D J Pearson  (op.  cit.). 

The  recording  of  Eurasian  Lesser 
Cuckoo  Cuculus poliocephalus  (CD7, 
track  7)  from  the  Transvaal  first 
appeared  on  Gibbon^  under  that  name, 
but  it  is  the  typical  four-note  song  of 
Madagascar  Lesser  Cuckoo  C.  rochii, 
and  the  error  was  corrected  in  1992 
(Hockey  et  al^^;  see  also  Becking  1988\ 
who  did  much  to  clarify  the  status  of 
the  two  small  cuckoos  C.  poliocephalus 
and  C.  rochii  in  Africa).  This  bird  (one 


assumes  it  was  perhaps  the  same 
individual)  advertised  a territory  in  the 
Transvaal  for  two  successive  seasons 
from  November  to  February.  The 
omission  of  this  and  other  records 
(including  a specimen)  of  C.  rochii  in 
southern  Africa  from  the  Atlas  of 
Southern  African  Birds^^  was  due  to  a 
printers  error  (C  Spottiswoode  in  litt, 
Spottiswoode  & Allan^B.  There  have 
been  other  reports  of  C.  rochii  singing 
in  Africa  during  the  local  summer 
(including  Zambia  and  Zimbabwe), 
thus  it  appears  a few  Malagasy  birds  do 
not  return  to  Madagascar  for  the 
breeding  season.  Thus  far  no  genuine 
C.  poliocephalus  (whose  song  is  very 
different^  has  ever  been  heard  to  sing 
in  Africa. 

The  song  and  calls  of  Forest 
Swallow  Hirundo  fuliginosa  are  quite 
different  from  those  of  any  saw-wings 
Psalidoprocne  sp.,  and  it  appears  that 
the  recording  from  Mt  Cameroon  (CD9, 
track  12)  is  none  other  than  Mount 
Cameroon  Saw-wing  P.  fuliginosa 
(listen  to  track  5,  P.  fuliginosa,  and 
track  12  in  succession).  H.  fuliginosa 
can  be  very  difficult  to  separate  visually 
from  some  Psalidoprocne,  but  its  voice 
completely  lacks  the  whining  quality  of 
saw-wing  calls:  its  most  common  call  is 
a light  vit,  vit  (reminiscent  of  Barn 
Swallow  Hirundo  rustica),  excited  or 
alarmed  birds  also  give  a double 
pritchi,  and  the  song  (given  very  rarely) 
is  a fast,  musical  warble  of  Hirundo 
style  (pers  obs).  Among  the  bulbuls,  I 
was  puzzled  by  the  recording  of  Toro 
Olive  Greenbul  Phyllastrephus 
hypochloris  (CD9,  track  70)  from 
western  Kenya.  I have  no  experience  of 
the  species,  but  to  my  ears  this  sounds 
like  one  of  the  motifs  of  Little  Greenbul 
Andropadus  virens-.  extraordinary 
convergence  or  confusion?  Zimmerman 
et  ap-  have  had  similar  doubts  and 
conclude  that  the  voice  is  ‘not  known 
with  certainty’;  L D C Fishpool  (pers 
comm)  who  recently  saw  and  heard  the 
species  in  Uganda  confirms  that  the 
voice  is  unlike  that  of  A.  virens.  This 
problem  appears  worthy  of  further 
investigation.  Among  the  sunbirds,  the 
last  cut  under  Collared  Sunbird 
Anthreptes  (Hedydipna)  collaris  (CD12, 
track  77)  is  not  that  species  but  Yellow- 
chinned  A.  rectirostris,  an  editorial  slip 
I believe.  This  recording  first  appeared 
in  the  Alauda  series  under  Lemon- 
bellied  Crombec  Sylvietta  denti  (third 
cut),  but  was  later  re-identified  as 
Anthreptes  rectirostris  (pers  obs).  These 
loud,  down-slurred  whistles,  often 
alternating  ipee-peeiiw),  are  veiy 


characteristic  of  this  sunbird  and 
facilitate  identification  of  the  species 
when  it  is  calling  (unseen)  from  the 
canopy.  Loud  call  notes  in  sunbirds  are 
often  more  useful  in  species  identifica- 
tion than  their  more  subdued  songs. 
The  loud,  descending  series  of  4-7 
whistles  in  Blue-throated  Brown 
Sunbird  Nectarinia  (Cyanomitra) 
cyanolaema  (well  presented  here, 
CD12,  track  81)  are  equally  diagnostic, 
just  as  the  pit,  pit  flight  calls  of 
Johanna’s  Nectarinia  (Cinnyris) 
johannae  (CD13,  track  14)  betray  the 
species.  To  finish  with  the  sunbirds,  it 
seems  also  that  the  advertising  calls  of 
Cameroon  Blue-headed  Nectarinia 
oritis  (loud,  descending  tjee-tjee-tjee- 
tjee,  very  similar  to  those  of  N. 
cyanolaema,  but  usually  mixed  with 
series  of  double  notes  te-tjee-te-tjee-te- 
tjee-te-tjee,  which  excludes  possible 
confusion  with  the  latter)  have  been 
presented  under  Ursula’s  Mouse- 
coloured  Sunbird  N.  ursulae  instead 
(CD13,  track  18,  first  cut). 

Of  seedeaters,  the  song  of  Broad- 
tailed Whydah  Vidua  obtusa  from 
Francistown  in  Botswana  (CD  15,  track 
64)  contains  imitations  of  Melba  Finch 
Pytilia  melba  (whereas  V.  obtusa 
normally  imitates  Orange-winged 
Pytilia  P.  afra)  and  should  be  referred 
instead  to  Long-tailed  Paradise  Whydah 
V.  paradisaea  (as  confirmed  by  R B 
Payne  in  litt,  who  also  points  out  that 
only  V.  paradisaea  has  a flight  display, 
which  the  recorded  bird  was  observed 
to  have).  Moreover,  V.  obtusa  is  not 
known  from  this  far  south  in  Botswana 
(cf.  Penry’’).  The  song  of  Pin-tailed 
Widow  Vidua  macroura  is  normally 
non-imitative,  and  I cannot  identify  the 
‘imitations’  at  the  end  of  the  track  (as 
mentioned  in  the  text)  nor  can  R B 
Payne  (in  litt)-,  perhaps  the  author 
meant  ‘motifs’  rather  than  imitations. 
Finally,  the  second  cut  (song)  of  Stripe- 
breasted Seed-eater  Serinus  reichardi 
from  Harare  (CD15,  track  75)  is 
unlikely  to  be  that  species,  as  it  remains 
completely  unknown  from  Zimba- 
bwe^y  il  compares  well  to  the  song  of 
Streaky-headed  Seed-eater  Y gularis 
recorded  in  South  Africa  by  G GibboiY. 

These  few  misidentifications  or 
editing  errors  in  no  way  detract  from 
the  enormous  value  of  this  work:  on 
the  contrar)’,  because  this  important 
collection  represents  a landmark  in 
African  bioacoustic  publications,  one 
that  will  (and  must)  be  widely  used  in 
the  field  and  which  Vi  ill  remain 
unsurpassed  for  many  years  to  come,  it 
is  important  that  obsen  ers  be  aware  of 


Reviews 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1-77 


any  slips.  What,  indeed,  remains  to  be 
done  after  this?  Species  for  which  no 
tape-recordings  appear  to  exist  are 
listed  under  I)  in  the  accompanying 
booklet  and  number  c70  for  this 
volume.  A few,  however,  have  been 
published  elsewhere  (for  example 
Oberlaender’s  Ground  Thrush  Zoothera 
oherlaenderi  was  published  by  Keith  Sl 
Gunn‘S  Miombo  Double-collared 
Sunbird  Nectarinia  manoensis  appears 
in  both  Stjernstedt'®  and  Gibbon‘s  and 
Scarlet-tufted  Malachite  Sunbird  N. 
johnstoni  in  Stjernstedt'‘T.  Prigogine’s 
Nightjar  Caprimulgiis prigoginei  has 
apparently  been  forgotten  from  the  list 
of  undocumented  species.  There  is  a 
very  possible  recording  of  its  song 
made  at  the  type-locality  (Itombwe)  by 
T Butynski,  matched  by  others  from 
Congo  and  Cameroon  by  myself,  and  it 
is  a pity  that  this  has  been  omitted, 
although  confirmation  of  its  identity  is 
still  required;  a wider  distribution  of 
this  tape  could  help  solve  the  problem. 
Among  the  1,040  or  so  species  of 
volume  2,  the  tape  material  can  be 
improved  for  a number  of  species  or 
forms:  when  will  the  songs  of  Black- 
eared Ground  Thrush  Zoothera 
camaronensis  and  Grey  Ground 
Thrush  Z.  princei  be  unravelled  at  last? 
The  display  noise  of  Green-breasted 
Pitta  Pitta  angoleusis  reicheuowi 
(described  in  the  literature  as  identical 
to  that  of  African  Pitta  P.  a.  angolensis) 
is  not  yet  available  for  direct  compari- 
son with  that  of  the  nominate  form. 

One  would  welcome  a longer  selection 
of  motifs  for  some  noisy  species  with  a 
varied  repertoire  (eg  some  of  the 
puffbacks  Dryoscopus  The  quiet 
turaco-type  song  of  Violet  Turaco 
Musophaga  violacea  and  Lady  Ross’s 
M.  rossae  are  not  presented  (though 
they  are  less  frequent  than  the  charac- 
teristic chorus  calls  illustrated  here). 
These  remarks  are  no  criticism,  but 
suggestions  of  where  gaps  remain  and 
further  research  can  be  directed.  Some 
of  this  probably  exists  already  in  other 
ornithologists’  unpublished  recordings. 
New  material  also  continues  to  appear: 
in  the  months  preceding  and  following 
the  publication  of  this  series,  several 
field  workers  obtained  ‘first’  recordings 
of  some  rare  or  local  species,  including 
Yellow- footed  Honeyguide 
Melignomon  eisentrauti,  Baumann’s 
Greenbul  Phyllastrephus  baimanni, 
Emerald  Starling  Coccycolius  iris  and 
Black-chinned  Weaver  Ploceus 
nigrimentiim.  However,  for  the  time 
being  and  many  years  to  come  this 
magnificent  publication  will  be 


unequalled  and  C Chappuis  mu.st  be 
warmly  congratulated  on  his  own 
tremendous  contribution,  as  well  as 
the  successful  and  arduous  compila- 
tion of  the  work  of  others. 

Acknowledgements 

I am  grateful  to  R J Do^sett  and  R B 
Payne  for  comments  on  a draft  of  this 
review. 

References 

1.  Becking,  j.H.  19HS.  The  taxonomic- 
status  of  the  Madagascar  Cuckoo 
Ciiculiis  ipoliocephaliis)  rochii  and 
its  occurrence  on  the  African  main- 
land, including  southern  Africa.  Bull. 
Br.  Oniithol.  Club  108:  195-206. 

2.  Chapin,  J.P.  1953.  The  birds  of  the 
Belgian  Congo.  Part  3-  Bull.  Amer. 
Mas.  Nat.  Hist.  1=)N.  1-821. 

3.  Chappuis,  C.  19'^4-1985.  lllu.stration 
.sonore  de  problemes  bioacoustiques 
poses  par  les  oiseaux  de  la  zone 
ethiopienne.  Alaiicla  -t2:  19~-222. 
467-500;  ^3:  42“'-u'''t;  t6:  32~-355; 
47:  195-212;  -t9:  35-58;  53:  115-136. 
With  1 1 di.scs. 

4.  Dowsett,  R.J.  and  Dowsett-Lemaire, 
F.  1993.  Comments  on  the  ta.xonomy 
of  some  Afrotropical  bird  species. 
TauracoRes.  Rep.  5:  323-389. 

5.  Dowsett-Lemaire.  F.  199“'.  The 
avifauna  of  Odzala  National  Park, 
northern  Congo  TauracoRes.  Rep.  6: 
15-48. 

6.  Dowsett-Lemaire.  F.  and  Dowsett. 
R.J.  1988.  Vocalisations  of  the  green 
turacos  (Taiiraco  species)  and  their 
systematic  status.  Tauraco  1:  6+-"’l. 

7.  Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  and  Dowsett. 
R.J.  1989.  Zoogeograph)'  and  taxo- 
nomic relationships  of  the  forest  birds 
of  the  Cameroon  Afromontane  re- 
gion. Tauraco  Res.  Rep.  1:  -48-56. 

8.  Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  and  Dow.sett. 
R.J.  1999.  Survey  of  birds  and  am- 
phibians on  Mt  Manenguba,  Mt 
Nlonako,  north  Bakossi  and  around 
Kupe  in  1998-99.  Yaounde:  unpubl. 
report  for  WWF-Cameroon. 

9.  Gibbon,  G.  1991.  Soutbern  African 
Bird  Sounds.  Six  cassettes.  Hillary: 
Southern  African  Birding. 

10.  Harrison, J.A.,  Allan,  D.G.,  Underhill, 
L.G.,  Herremans,  M.,  Tree,  A.J., 
Parker,  V.  and  Brown,  C.J.  1997.  The 
Atlas  of  Soutbern  African  Birds.  Vol 
1.  Johannesburg:  BirdLife  South  Af- 
rica. 

1 1 . Hockey,  P.A.R.  (ed)  1992.  Rare  birds 
in  South  Africa,  1989-1990.  Seventh 
report  of  the  SAGS  Rarities  Commit- 
tee. Birding  in  S.  Afr.  44:  38-44. 


12.  lr\\  in.  .M  ILS.  1081.  The Bird.s  (fZnn- 
bahue.  Salisburs:  (Juesl  lTiblu..i- 
lions. 

13.  Keith.  G.S.  and  (.unn.W  W IL  pri. 
Birds  (f  the  African  Rain  Purest 
Two  di.scs.  Ontario  N New  York 
Fed.  Ontario  Naturalists  and  .\mer. 
Mus.  Nat.  Hi.st. 

14.  Keith.  S..  Urban.  F.K.  and  Fr\  . C.H. 
(eds)  1992.  The  Birds  (f  Africa.  \ ol 

4.  London.  UK:  .-\cademic  Press, 

15.  Penr)'.  H.  199 1.  Bird  Atlas  (f  But- 
sicatta.  Pietermaritzburg:  I niversit) 
of  Natal  Press. 

16.  Rodewald.  ILG..  Dejaibe.  IL-.\.  and 
Green.  .\..\.  109  i.  The  birds  of  Korup 
National  Park  and  Korup  project  area. 
.Southw  est  Pro\  ince.  Cameroon.  Bird 
ConseiT.  Intern.  4:  l-(i8, 

P.  Spottiswoode.  C.N.  and  .-Mian.  D.Ci. 
2000.  Atlas  updates.  .Madaga.scar 
Cuckoo.  Bird  Numbers  0(2):  25, 

18.  Stjernstedt.  R.  108(>-1089.  Birdsong 
of  Zambia.  Three  cas.settes.  Pri\ateh 
published:  I.i\  ingstone.  Zambia. 

19.  Stjernstedt.  R.  1900.  Rare  Birds  (f 
Zambia.  One  cassette.  l’ri\  atel\  pub- 
lished: Li\  ingstone.  Zambia. 

20.  Urban.  F.K..  Fry.  C.H.  and  Keith.  S. 
(eds)  199~.  The  Birds  of  Africa.  \ ol 

5.  London.  UK:  .\cademic  Press. 

21.  \eron.  G.  and  Winney.  B.J.  2000. 
Phx  logenetic  relationships  w ithin  the 
turacos  (.Musophagidae).  Ibis  Lt2: 
•t  t6-456. 

22.  Zimmerman.  D..\..  Turner.  D..\.  and 
Pear.son.  D.J.  1996.  Birds  of  Kenya 
and  Northern  Tanzania.  London. 
UK:  A.  cN  C.  Black. 

Pran^'oise  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Bird  Recordings  from  Ethiopia 

Steve  Smith.  1996.  Single  cassette.  Pri- 
vately produced,  but  available  from 
WildSounds,  Cross  Street,  Salthouse, 
Norfolk  NR25  7XH.  UK£7.50. 

This  tape  comprises  71  separate 
recordings  covering  66  different  species 
(including  those  in  the  background) 
and  in  some  cases  a range  of 
vocalisations  such  as  songs,  calls  etc. 
Each  is  verbally  identified  on  the  tape, 
using  English  names,  at  the  end  of  the 
recording.  A reasonable  gap  exists 
between  recordings,  making  it  easy  to 
identify  the  tracks.  The  liner  notes 
present  a list  of  all  the  recordings,  with 
English  name,  scientific  name,  date  and 
location  of  the  recording.  In  some 
instances  additional  species  that  are 
obviously  audible  are  also  listed — 


78  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Reviews 


though  others  that  appear  equally 
obvious  are  not  mentioned.  Names 
follow  the  Collins  Illustrated  Checklist 
to  the  Birds  of  Eastern  Africa  by  Ber 
van  Perlo;  however,  that  listed  as 
'Common  Scops  Owl’  is  obviously  an 
African  Scops  Owl  Otiis  senegalensis 
and  should  have  been  listed  as  such. 
The  tape  ains  for  45-46  minutes  in 
total  and  is  therefore  reasonable  value 
for  money.  Obviously,  it  is  the 
endemics  that  are  of  particular  interest 
to  any  visiting  birder  and  this  tape 
includes  ten  of  these,  so  scores  fairly 
highly  in  terms  of  usefulness. 

Nine  of  the  recordings  are  very 
brief  and  the  quality  varies  from  poor 
to  very  good.  I assessed  seven  record- 
ing as  being  ‘poor’ — these  possessed  a 
lot  of  background  noise  and  it  was 
sometimes  quite  difficult  to  establish 
the  sounds  made  by  the  subject  and 
what  was  extraneous  noise.  Of  the  31 
‘reasonable’  recordings,  it  was  always 
possible  to  establish  the  noise  of  the 
subject  from  extraneous  noise.  I rated 
only  one  recording  as  ‘very  good’  but 
others  came  very  close  to  that  rating. 
The  remaining  32  were  of  ‘good’ 
quality  with  little  or  no  interference, 
but  some  had  low  recording  levels 
preventing  them  from  being  rated  as 
‘very  good’. 

On  the  whole  the  tape  is  useful 
and  definitely  worth  listening  to  in 
advance  of  a trip  to  Ethiopia.  The 
recordings  of  the  endemics  are  of 
particular  value  and  it  is  a pity  that  the 
quality  of  some  of  these  is  not  better. 
Personally,  I was  really  pleased  at  the 
quality  of  the  Degodi  Lark  Mirafra 
degodiensis  call  and  songs,  and  would 
have  bought  it  for  these  alone,  but 
that’s  another  story. 

Roy  Hargreaves 


The  Adventures  of  Peter  the 
Penguin 

Phil  Whittington,  illustrated  by  Fred  Mouton. 
2001.  The  Avian  Demography  Unit,  Uni- 
versity of  Cape  Town,  and  available  from 
there  at  R49. 95 plus  postage  and  packing. 

Orders  can  be  placed  at:  http:// 
WWW. uct.ac.za/depts/ stats /adu/ 
bkorder.htm 

Anyone  interested  in  African  birding 


issues  will  have  heard  of  the  Treasure 
oil  spill  in  June  2000,  which  caused 
the  oiling  of  19,000  African  Penguins 
Spheniscus  demersus.  This  resulted  in 
an  incredible  effort  to  not  only  prevent 
the  oiling  of  further  birds,  by  trans- 
porting and  subsequently  releasing 
almost  20,000  birds  at  Port  Elizabeth 
several  thousand  km  away,  but  also  a 
massive  clean-up  operation  of  those 
already  oiled.  Three  of  the  translocated 
birds,  named  Peter,  Percy  and  Pamela, 
were  satellite  tagged  and  their  journey 
back  to  the  Cape  was  avidly  followed 
by  the  world  press  who  turned  them 
into  international  celebrities. 

Phil  Whittington,  a PhD  student 
from  the  Avian  Demography  Unit  at  the 
University  of  Cape  Town,  has  written  a 
fantastic  book  of  the  incident  through 
the  eyes  of  Peter,  one  of  the  tagged 
penguins.  The  story  starts  from  the  egg 
and  covers  all  of  the  principal  parts  of  a 
penguin’s  life  cycle,  from  coping  with 
being  abandoned  by  the  parents  as  a 
chick  to  finding  a mate!  The  main  part 
of  the  story  deals  with  the  oil  spill  and 
its  consequences.  Though  aimed  at  the 
younger  reader,  the  book  is  hugely 
enjoyable  for  an  adult  audience  and  is 
a mine  of  information  concerning 
penguin  biology.  Closing  the  book  is  a 
section,  entitled  ‘The  Serious  Bit’, 
which  details  the  Treasure  disaster  in 
photos  and  words,  and  discusses  the 
wider  issue  of  marine  pollution — 
SANCCOB  (the  Southern  African 
Eoundation  for  the  Conservation  of 
Coastal  Birds)  receives  a donation  for 
each  book  sold.  It  is  an  easy  read  and 
the  cartoon  illustrations  by  Ered 


Mouton,  of  Die  Burger,  one  of  Cape 
Town’s  morning  newspapers,  are 
hugely  enjoyable.  Definitely  recom- 
mended for  the  bookshelves  of  any 
age  group. 

Phil  Atkinson 


Rusty  Flies  South 

Graham  Appleton,  illustrated  by  Sally  Bell. 
2001.  Available  from  the  British  Trust  for 
Ornithology,  The  Nunnery,  Thetford,  Nor- 
folk, IP24  2PU.  UKE5.00. 

This  delightful  book  written  for  3-8 
year  olds  relates  the  story  of  the  first 
year  in  the  life  of  Rusty,  a Barn  Swallow 
Hirundo  rustica.  Rusty  is  born  on  a 
farm  in  England  and  after  several 
escapades  successfully  completes  a first 
migration  through  Europe  and  Africa  to 
wintering  areas  in  South  Africa.  The 
book,  featuring  illustrations  by  Sally 
Bell,  has  been  published  by  the  British 
Trust  for  Ornithology  in  aid  of  their 
‘Swallow  Appeal’,  which  aims  to  fund 
migration  research  and  help  under- 
stand changes  in  Barn  Swallow 
numbers  over  the  past  ten  years, 

Phil  Atkinson 


Reviews 


Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 -79 


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Notes  for  Contributors 


The  ABC  welcomes  original  contributions 
on  all  aspects  of  the  birds  of  Africa,  here 
defined  as  the  area  covered  by  Collar,  N.J. 
and  Stuart,  S.N.  1985.  Threatened  birds  of 
Africa  and  related  islands:  the  ICBP/IUCN 
Red  Data  Book.  Cambridge:  International 
Council  for  Bird  Preservation,  namely 
continental  Africa,  Indian  Ocean  islands 
west  of  80°E,  eg  Madagascar,  the  Mascarene 
Islands  and  Socotra;  Atlantic  Ocean  islands 
on  or  east  of  the  mid-Atlantic  ridge,  eg  the 
Tristan  da  Cunha  group,  the  Azores  and  the 
Canaries. 

Contributions  will  be  accepted  subject 
to  editing  and  refereeing  by  independent 
reviewers,  where  appropriate.  The  material 
published  is  divided  into  Papers,  Short 
Notes,  News  & Comment,  Discoveries, 
Reviews,  Literature  Gleanings,  Recent 
Reports  and  Letters.  The  Editorial  Team  will 
be  happy  to  advise  authors  on  the 
acceptability  of  material  at  draft  stage  if 
desired. 

Submissions 

Two  copies  should  be  submitted. 
Typewritten  manuscripts  should  be  double- 
spaced, on  one  side  of  the  paper  only,  with 


wide  margins  all  round.  .\11  submi.ssions  are 
acknowledged, 

Contributions  are  accepted  in  English 
or  Erench:  Erench  summaries  are  required 
for  all  papers  published  in  English,  and  \ ice 
versa.  Those  submitting  papers  should 
supply  a summary  for  translation  into 
English,  or  Erench,  as  appropriate. 

If  possible,  please  submit  your 
contribution  on  floppy  disk  and  state 
computer  (eg  IBM  compatible  PC, 
Macintosh)  and  word-processing  package 
(eg  Word,  WordPerfect)  used. 

When  sending  your  contribution  on 
disk,  please  do  not  key  anything  in  ALL 
CAPS  (ie  with  the  CAPS  LOCK  key 
depressed ) unless  the  combination  always 
occurs  in  that  form  (eg  ‘USA’).  Do  not  use 
the  carriage  return  key  at  the  end  of  lines, 
and  do  not  right  justify  the  margins.  When 
formatting  tables  use  one  tab,  and  not 
spaces,  between  each  column.  Please 
always  send  two  hard  (printed)  copies. 

Preferred  names 

With  the  current  instability  over  worldwide 
lists  of  bird  names,  authors  are  requested 
to  follow  those  used  in  Birds  of  Africa  Vols 


1-6.  For  species  not  yet  covered,  plea.se 
u.se  appropriate  regional  handbooks  and 
checklists  eg  Roberts  for  southern  .Africa. 
Zimmerman  et  al  for  East  .Africa  and 
Dow.sett  <S:  Forbes-Wat.son  for  all  oon-Birds 
of  Africa  species,  eg  from  the  .Malagasy 
region.  De\  iation  from  such  works  should 
be  noted  and  the  reasons  gi\en.  The 
Editorial  Team  will  keep  abrea.st  of  changes 
in  nomenclature  and  when  an  agreed  list 
of  African  names  is  a\  ailable,  will  consider 
switching  to  follow  it.  Unless  a sketch  map 
is  prox  ided  as  part  of  the  article,  the  names 
of  places  should,  if  possible,  follow  those 
on  standard  or  readily  ax  ailable  maps. 

Style 

Authors  are  requested  to  follow 
conventions  used  in  The  Bulletin  of  the 
African  Bird  Club  and  to  refer  to  a recent 
issue  for  guidance.  A detailed  style  guide 
can  be  obtained,  either  electronically  or  as 
a hard  copy,  on  request  from  the  Managing 
Editor. 


80  - Bull  ABC  Vol  9 No  1 


Advertisement 


Australia:  K.  David  Bishop,  P O Box  6068, 
Kinciimber.  NSW  2251.  E-mail: 
kdbishop@ozemail.au.com. 

Austria:  Remo  Probst,  Radetzystr.  21/11,  A- 
1030,  Vienna.  E-mail: 
a8960178@unet.univie.ac. at. 

Belgium:  Jan  Goosens,  Vruntebaan  18, 

2520  Emblem.  Tel/fax:  +32  3 +88  13  71. 
E-mail:  azv@glo.be. 

Botswana:  Chris  Brewster,  Mataschekge 
Hill  School.  Private  Bag  24,  Bobonong. 
Tel:  819272.  Fax:  819544. 

Cameroon:  O'Kah  Ebwekoh  Monya, 

Mount  Cameroon  Project,  P O Box  437, 
Limbe. 

Canada:  Antonio  Salvadori,  17  Colbom 
Street,  Guelph,  Ontario.  NIG  2M4.  E- 
mail:  rosella@snowhite.cis.uoguelph.ca. 

Canary  Islands/Spain:  Tony  Clarke  c/o 
Republica  Dominicana,  No  6l,  Barrio  de 
Fatima,  38500  Guimar,  Tenerife.  E-mail: 
clark@arrakis.es. 

Cote  d’Ivoire:  Olivier  Lachenaud,  CIRAD, 
01  BP  6483.  Abidjan  01.  E-mail: 
lachenaud@cirad.fr. 

Denmark:  Lars  Dinesen,  Sjallandsgade,  37, 
3 tv,  2200  Copenhagen  N.  Tel/Fax: 
35367164.  E-mail:  regulus@inet.uni2.dk. 

Egypt:  Sherif  and  Mindy  Baha  El  Din,  2 
Abdalla  El  Katib  St.  Apt.  3,  Dokki,  Cairo. 
Tel/Fax:  36O8I6O.  E-mail: 
baha@internetegypt.com. 

Ethiopia:  Ato  Mengistu  Wondafrash, 
Ethiopian  IBA  Program,  Ethiopian 
Wildlife  and  Natural  History  Society, 

P O Box  60074  Addis  Ababa. 

France:  Bob  & Frangoise  Dowsett,  12  rue 
des  Lavandes,  Ganges,  F-34190.  E-mail: 
Dowsett@aol.com. 


Supported  and  Affiliated 
Membership 

The  Supporting  Members  scheme  is  a key  part 
of  the  Club's  strategy  of  encouraging  the  spread 
of  knowledge  and  understanding  of  birds  as 
widely  as  possible  throughout  Africa.  The 
scheme  enables  Africans  who  would  not  other- 
wise have  the  resources  to  join,  to  become 
members  of  the  Club.  The  scheme  is  funded  by 
Supporting  Members  who  pay  a minimum  of 
UK±25  to  cover  their  own  membership  and  the 
subscription  of  at  least  one  African  member. 
The  money  they  contribute  over  and  above 
their  own  subscription  is  placed  in  a special 
fund  that  is  used  to  cover  the  membership 
expenses  of  African  members  whom  they  may 
have  nominated,  or  who  have  been  nominated 
by  other  Club  members. 

Although  we  have  suggested  a minimum 
of  UK£25  to  become  a Supporting  Member,  any 
contribution  is  welcome.  All  members  of  the 
Club,  even  if  they  do  not  feel  able  to  become 
Supporting  Members  themselves,  are  invited  to 
nominate  candidates  for  supported  member- 
ships. Candidates  should  be  nationals  of  an 
African  country,  with  a genuine  interest  in  wild 
birds  but  without  the  resources  to  become 
members  in  their  own  right.  Africans  who  think 
they  may  qualify  are  very  welcome  to  put  their 


ABC  Representatives 

Finland:  Annika  Forsten,  Messenniusgatan 
1 1 B 54,  00250  Helsingfors,  Finland.  E- 
mail:  annika.forsten@intrum.com. 

Gabon:  Patrice  Christy,  BP  2240,  Libreville. 
Fax:  c/o  ECOFAC,  775534. 

Ghana:  Samuel  Kofi  Nyame,  Ghana  Wildlife 
Society,  PO  Box  13252  Accra,  Ghana.  E- 
mail:  sknyame@wildlifesociety.org. gh. 

Hungary:  Akos  Hivekovics,  10  Zrinyi  Street, 
H-8756  Nagerecse.  E-mail: 
ahivekovics@conservation.hu. 

Italy:  Giuseppe  Micali,  Via  Volterra  3, 

Milano,  MI  1-20146.  E-mail:  xeaym@tin.it. 

Kenya:  Colin  Jackson,  PO  Box  383,  Watamu. 
E-mail:  colin.jackson@bigfoot.com. 

Madagascar:  Lily-Arison  Rene  de  Roland, 

The  Peregrine  Fund,  BP  4113, 
Antananarivo  101.  Tel:  +26l  20  22  21546. 
E-mail:  Pfundmad@dts.mg. 

Morocco:  Jacques  Franchimont,  Dept 
Biologie  Faculte  des  Sciences  de  Meknes, 
B P 4010,  Beni  M’Hamed  50003,  Meknes. 
E-mail:  j.franchimont@extra.net.ma. 

Namibia:  Chris  Hines,  PO  Box  22527, 
Windhoek.  E-mail:  pririt@yahoo.com. 

The  Netherlands:  Ron  Demey,  Van  der 
Heimstraat  52,  2582  SB  Den  Haag.  E-mail: 
lO67O6.603@compuserve.com 

Seychelles:  Adrian  Skerrett,  Shipping  House, 
PO  Box  336,  Victoria,  Mahe.  Fax:  380538. 
E-mail:  maheship@seychelles.net  or 
adrian@skerrett.fsnet.co.uk 

Tanzania:  Maurus  Musha,  PO  Box  70919, 

Dar  es  Salaam. 

The  Gambia:  Clive  Barlow,  The  Atlantic 
Hotel,  PO  Box  269,  Banjul.  Fax:  227861. 

Uganda:  Prof.  Derek  Pomeroy,  Makerere 
University  Institute  of  the  Environment 


own  names  forward,  supported  by  a letter  of 
recommendation  from  someone  such  as  their 
employer,  teacher  or  an  officeholder  in  a local 
wildlife  organisation. 

The  scheme  now  also  includes  Clubs  who 
wish  to  be  affiliated  with  the  African  Bird  Club 
in  African  countries  where  it  is  difficult  for  local 
individuals  to  become  members  in  their  own 
right.  Clubs  accepted  for  membership  under 
the  scheme  receive  up  to  six  copies  of  each 
issue  of  the  bulletin  for  circulation  among  their 
members.  Instead  of  paying  a membership  fee. 
Clubs  are  asked  to  provide  a short  annual  re- 
port on  their  activities  that  may  be  published  in 
the  bulletin.  Clubs  interested  in  becoming  Af- 
filiated Member  Clubs  are  invited  to  apply  to 
the  ABC  Secretary  giving  details  of  their  mem- 
bership, their  constitution  or  a statement  of 
their  objectives  and  conditions  of  their  mem- 
bership, and  their  activities  to  date. 

ABC  Information  Service 

ABC  offers  a service  to  help  members  with 
information  requests.  Perhaps  you  are  plan- 
ning a trip  to  Africa  and  need  local  advice,  or 
maybe  you  are  in  search  of  an  obscure  fact 
about  an  African  species.  The  Club  does  not 
guarantee  to  find  all  the  answers  but  will  try  to 


and  Natural  Resources,  PO  Box  7298, 
Kampala.  E-mail:  derek@imul.com. 

USA  (West  coast):  Joe  Thompson,  222 
South  Figueroa  St,  Apt.  1922,  Los 
Angeles,  CA90012,  USA.  E-mail: 
Joseph.C.Thomp.son@kp.org. 

Zambia:  Pete  Leonard,  PO  Box  630025, 
Choma.  FAX:  032  20621.  E-mail: 
pleonard@zamnet.zm. 

Zimbabwe:  Executive  Officer,  Birdlife 
Zimbabwe,  PO  Box  CY  I6I,  Causeway. 
E-mail:  bird.s@zol.co.zw. 

The  ABC  Representatives  scheme  aims  to 
support  existing  members  by  providing  a 
local  point  of  contact  in  their  region,  for 
example,  to  aaswer  queries  to  the  Club,  to 
solicit  SLibmis.sions  for  the  bulletin,  and  po.s- 
sibly  to  arrange  local  meetings  for  members. 
Existing  ABC  members  can  contact  their  local 
Representative  in  the  first  instance  with  que- 
ries relating  to  the  Club.  ABC  Representatives 
help  to  recruit  new  members  in  their  region, 
for  example,  by  distributing  posters  and  ar- 
ranging local  advertising.  In  Africa,  ABC 
Representatives  help  to  identify  opportuni- 
ties to  invest  the  ABC  Conservation  Fund  and 
candidates  for  the  Supported  Membership 
scheme. 

The  Club  aims  to  appoint  many  further 
ABC  Representatives.  If  you  are  interested  in 
supporting  and  promoting  the  Club  in  your 
region,  have  any  queries,  or  require  further 
information  relating  to  the  ABC  Representa- 
tives scheme  please  do  not  hesitate  to  contact 
Paul  Lascelles,  the  Country  Representatives 
Coordinator,  at  the  club  address  or  email: 
reps@africanbirdclub.org. 


help.  The  service  is  free  to  ABC  members. 
Contact:  Keith  Betton,  who  is  also  custodian  of 
ABC’s  journal  library,  at  8 Dukes  Close,  Folly 
Hill,  Farnham,  Surrey,  GU9  ODR,  UK.  Tel:  +44 
1252  724068.  Fax:  +44  171  637  5626.  E-mail: 
kbetton@abta.co.uk. 

AfricanBirding 
e-mail  discussion  list 

Launched,  in  October  2000,  by  the  ABC  and  the 
Pan-African  Ornithological  Congress. 
AfricanBirding  or  AB,  as  it  is  known,  has  be- 
come a useful  forum  for  those  interested  in 
African  birds.  To  join  the  discussion,  which 
averages  1-2  messages  a day.  send  a blank  e- 
mail  to  AfricanBirding-subscribe@egroups.com. 
You  will  then  receive  an  email  instructing  you 
how  to  join 

The  Club  also  maintains  a list  of 
members  e-mail  addresses  that  are  useful  for 
informing  members  of  upcoming  e\'ents  and 
news  concerning  the  Club.  We  ha\  e 
addresses  for  approximately  33^1  of 
members.  Please  send  additions  or 
corrections  to  the  secretan'.  at 
secretary@africanbirdclub.org.  .\11  addresses 
will  be  kept  confidential  and  not  used  for 
commercial  ach  ertising  etc. 


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Shoebill  Balaeniceps  rex  Murchison  Falls,  Uganda,  Februaiy  1999  (G.  Ouweneel)