Waders and Waterbirds in the Floodplains of the Logone Cameroon and Chad February 2000

WADERS AND WATERBIRDS IN THE FLOODPLAINS OF THE LOGONE CAMEROON AND CHAD

FEBRUARY 2000

Working Group of International Wader and Waterfowl Research (WIWO), The Netherlands Waza-Logone Project, Cameroon Wildlife School Garoua, Cameroon Chadian Ministry of Environment and Water, Chad

Wim Ganzevles, Jeroen Bredenbeek (editors)

WIWO report nr. 82 2005

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WADERS AND WATERBIRDS IN THE FLOODPLAINS OF THE LOGONE IN CAMEROON AND CHAD In FEBRUARY 2000

A cooperation between:

Working Group of International Wader and Waterfowl Research (WIWO), The Netherlands Waza-Logone Project, Cameroon Wildlife School Garoua, Cameroon Chadian Ministry of Environment and Water, Chad

Editors

Wim Ganzevles, Jeroen Bredenbeek

Financial support by Wetlands International under the Programme of International Nature Management of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

Colophon

Participants The organizations and persons involved in the organization and fieldwork were:

Waza Logone Project: Paul Kouamou, Sylvain Tiawoun, Alain Tankeu, Boukar Beladane, Bouba Zigla, Ndjidda Oumarrou, Oumarrou Nouhou and Babeto.

Wildlife School Garoua: Emmanuel Battokok and Rigobert Azombo.

BirdLife International Yaoundé: Serge Bobo Kadiri and team.

Chadian Ministry of Environment and Water: Service Dapsia and Ali Noldet Telly.

WIWO: Wim Ganzevles, Wil Beeren and Jeroen Bredenbeek.

Figures Wim Ganzevles

Photographs © Tom van der Have

Lay-out editors

Cover White Pelicans and White-faced Whistling Ducks

Citation

Ganzevles, W. & J. Bredenbeek (eds) 2005. Waders and waterbirds in the floodplains of the Logone, Cameroon and Chad, February 2000. WIWO report 82, Beek-Ubbergen, The Netherlands.

Contents

Summary 1

1 Introduction 1.1 General 2 1.2 Aims for the project 2 1.3 Acknowledgements 3

2 Study area 2.1 The Lake Chad Basin General 4 2.2 Description of the wetlands 5 2.3 Field conditions in 2000 16

3 Methods 3.1 Counting methods 17 3.2 Ringing 17

4 Results waterbird counts 4.1 Cameroon 19 4.2 Chad 22 4.3 Comparison with previous years 23

5 Results Bird Ringing 5.1 Songbirds 25

6 Ornithological importance of the Waza - Logone area 29

7 Conclusions and recommendations for further research 30

8 Faunistical varia 8.1 Avifauna Chad 32 8.2 Mammals Chad 40

9 References 41

10 Appendices 10.1 Size, weight and moult and fat score of ringed Sedge Warblers 43 10.2 Size, weight and moult and fat score of ringed Reed Warblers 44 10.3 Gazetteer 45 10.4 List of abbreviations 46 10.5 Itinerary 46 10.6 List of WIWO reports 49

Summary

A number of Palearctic waterbird species have their main wintering grounds in the inland wetlands in the Sahelian Region in West and East Africa. In Sahelian West- Africa the three main wetland areas are the floodplains of the Senegal, Niger and Lake Chad. These wetlands are under threat: human populations increase their pressure on these wetlands and a series of droughts in the 1970's and 1980's have diminished their capacity to support wildlife. Since 1991 the Waza-Logone floodplain has recently been the subject of several ornithological surveys and studies. A total number of 346 bird species has been recorded since 1991. The most numerous waterbird species are White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus, Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis, Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus, White-faced Whistling Duck Dencrocygna viduata, Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola, Ruff Philomachus pugnax and Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa. For the resident species Black-crowned Crane Balearica pavonina the Logone floodplain is one of the last strongholds. For Collared Pratincole the area is one of the major wintering areas in Africa. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus and Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scripaceus are very abundant as well as Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica. Annual counts of wintering waterbirds in the Lake Chad Basin Area in Cameroon (The Logone river and its floodplain) started in 1993 and showed the importance of the Logone floodplain for wintering waterbird species. In accordance with the WIWO 1999-2003 Forward Plan WIWO participated in the bird census and ringing project of the Logone floodplain in Cameroon and Chad in February 2000. The February 2000 census presented in this report counted nearly 230.000 waterfowl and waders in the floodplains on both sides of the Logone river in Cameroon and Chad. Waterbird numbers in the Lake Chad Basin Area have been increasing since 1995, indicating that the floodplain restoration of the Waza-Logone Project has a positive effect on waterbird habitat quality.

Plate 1. Pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) foraging.

1 Introduction

1.1 General

A number of Palearctic waterbird species have their main wintering grounds in the inland wetlands in the Sahelian Region in West and East Africa. In Sahelian West- Africa the three main wetland areas are the floodplains of the Senegal, Niger and Lake Chad. These wetlands are under threat: human populations increase their pressure on these wetlands and a series of droughts in the 1970's and 1980's have diminished their capacity to support wildlife. Lake Chad and the Lake Chad Basin Area have been very inadequately censused. They are considered the main staging area for migratory birds following the Mediterranean flyway. Numbers of waders using this flyway are largely unknown, but roughly estimated at 1.5 million (Smit & Piersma 1989). Aerial counts in the period 1983-1987 revealed the presence of almost 750.000 Palearctic Anatidae. Furthermore, nearly 100.000 Afrotropical Anatidae were counted (Rose & Pirot 1990). Research of wintering waterbird species on a yearly basis in the Lake Chad Basin Area in Cameroon (The Logone river and its floodplain) started in 1993 and showed the importance of the Logone floodplain for wintering waterbird species (van Wetten & Spierenburg 1998). In accordance with the WIWO 1999-2003 Forward Plan WIWO participated in the bird census and ringing project of the Logone floodplain in Cameroon in January 1999 and, for the first time, in Chad (Dijkstra et al 2002). WIWO intends to carry out more-year projects in West Africa in order to assist in building capacity of local bird-watchers to maintain field work activities by training in bird counts and bird ringing. The ornithological studies in the Lake Chad Basin Area (Cameroon and Chad) fit within WIWO's research priorities in West Africa. The project is carried out and was funded in 2000 within the Wetlands International Project 'Building the capacity in West-Africa of a regional network for wetland and waterbird management 1997/98-2001'.

1.2 Aims of the project

The expedition in February 2000 consisted two sub-projects:

A: A census of the Logone floodplain (Cameroon and Chad). A census of the Cameroonian side of the Waza-Logone floodplain was carried out according to the annually repeated schedule (since 1995) of the Waza-Logone Project. Counts of the water-courses and water-holding depressions were conducted in the floodplain and the entire Waza National Park according to the scheme introduced in 1995. A valuable data-base is thus constructed on waterfowl numbers in subsequent years in a West African inland wetland area. The results of the censuses are used to assess the success of the floodplain restoration as carried out by the Waza-Logone Project. On the Chadian side of the Waza-Logone area ornithological information was lacking until 1999. During the first WIWO-expedition of January 1999 about 30 water-holding depressions and water-courses (both permanent and temporary) were located and counted. The aim for 2000 was to locate more depressions and water-courses in the study-area and carry out counts of waterfowl and waders here.

B: Ringing of selected species in the Waza-Logone floodplain (Cameroon). This sub-project was carried out in order to gather information of the breeding origins of the birds which make use of the area as wintering site. The Lake Chad Basin area is considered the main staging area for Palearctic birds following the Mediterranean flyway (Smit & Piersma 1989). The quality of wintering areas has a large impact on survival and breeding success of Palearctic birds (Szep 1995, Kanyamibwa et al 1990, Ebbinge et al 1982). It is therefore of great importance and scientific interest to qualify the origins and migration routes of wintering birds in the Logone floodplain by catching and ringing them on an annual basis. Their origin can sometimes be determined by measuring biometric features of the birds. An assessment of their body condition can be made and may serve as an indicator of the quality of the area. Ringing in Africa has as an advantage over ringing in Europe; a chance of recapturing or finding ringed birds is much larger, due to a larger number of birdwatchers and more ornithological research in Europe. These are the main reasons why WIWO carried out ringing activities in Cameroon in 1999 and 2000.

1.3 Acknowledgements

During the planning and the realisation many people supported the project. We would like to thank:

• Wetlands International for financing the project under the Programme of International Nature Management (PIN) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries (LNV) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. • Waza-Logone Project, Wildlife School Garoua, and the Chadian Ministry of Environment and Water for their support in the preparations and the work in the field. • Paul Kouamo for his notes on the water-regime in the Logone floodplain in Chad. • Birdlife International Yaoundé and especially Serge Bobo Kadiri for their participation in the census. • Members of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, for their interest in the project and for providing permissions to conduct research in the Mayo-Kebbi District. • Bertrand Trolliet (Office National de Chasse, France) for information about wintering waders in the Lake Chad Basin gathered by arial surveys. • Frans Schepers, Sjoerd Dirksen and Leo Bruinzeel (WIWO) for their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this report.

2 Study area

2.1 The Lake Chad Basin General

Lake Chad is fed by a number of rivers which have their catchment areas in Cameroon (Logone), Chad (Chari) and Nigeria (Komadougou Yobe). The floodplains of these rivers are inundated following the wet season (May to October), thus forming, together with Lake Chad itself, a conglomeration of inland wetlands of 2.5 million ha. There is a delay between the rainy season in the catchment areas (April- September) and actual flooding (July-January). Flood-water remains in the floodplain when the wet season has finished. Therefore the area is flooded during a large part of the dry season (September-January). When the waters recede, a number of depressions, small lakes and waterholding courses hold water towards the end of the dry season. These small waterbodies attract high numbers of waterbirds and waders and are essential for the survival of these birds during the dry season (de Kort & van Weerd 1995). The arrival of Palearctic migratory birds coincides with the highest water levels in the floodplain in October, but they are dependent on the above described scarce water-resources in early spring before their return to the breeding grounds in Europe and Asia.

In the Far North Province in Cameroon, the Logone river constitutes the border between Cameroon and Chad. Large surfaces of floodplains are located on both sides of the river. In Chad these floodplains are also fed by water of the Chari river. In 1979 the natural hydrological regime of the Logone floodplain on the Cameroonian side (from now on called the Waza-Logone floodplain) was seriously effected by the construction of a storage lake (Lake Maga) and an embankment along the Logone as part of a large rice irrigation project (Semry II) in 1979. This water regime was introduced to reduce the dependency of the local population on the unpredictable floods and unpredictable rain patterns, which occurred throughout the 1970's. This had devastating effects on the local population, which depended on fishing or herding cattle in the floodplain. Consequently the vegetation in the floodplain altered (especially perennial grasses were replaced by annual and less productive plants). Waza National Park, partly situated in the floodplain, also suffered badly from the lack of inundations. In 1992 the Waza-Logone Project was formed (funded by IUCN, WWF and the Cameroon and Dutch government), with as goals to plan and implement interventions in the Waza-Logone floodplain to restore and safeguard the area's biological diversity and to improve sustainable living conditions for its inhabitants, both nomadic and sedentary (IUCN/CML 1994). The first phase of this project was implemented in 1994, with the opening of a part of the embankment along the Logone, which restored the flooding of some 250 km² of the original floodplain. This created the possibility of monitoring the significance of the floodplain for waterbirds by comparing bird densities before and after the re-opening and between degraded and restored floodplain habitats (de Kort & van Weerd 1995, Scholte et al 1996). Unfortunately the execution of the last phase of the project, the controlled release of water from the storage lake (Lake Maga), and the restoration of the large part of the floodplain, is now uncertain, since the Dutch government has withdrawn its financial support). If Waza-Logone Project can find funding, the last phase will be carried out in 2001. Several years of intensive fieldwork have established the Waza-Logone area

as a very important region for both Palearctic and Afrotropical birds, both in numbers (OAG Münster 1992, van Wetten & Spierenburg 1998) and diversity (Scholte et al 1999). However, in order to sustain large populations of birds, the area is depending on the yearly influx of nutritious water from the Logone river. Rehabilitation of the flooding regime has now safeguarded the areas function as stopover and overwintering grounds for many Palearctic migratory species and breeding grounds for many African species (Scholte et al 2000), at least for the near future. The Logone floodplain in Chad has not suffered any major alterations. Inundations of this floodplain are influenced by both the Logone and indirectly the Chari river (through the Loumia river, which connects the Chari with the Logone), with water receding from south-east to north-west. Inundations are not inhibited by man- made dams or dikes. By censusing waterbirds and waders in this 'natural' floodplain a further comparison can be made between degraded, restored and unaltered floodplain habitats.

2.2 Description of the wetlands

Cameroon Bird numbers on the Cameroonian side of the floodplain were for the first time estimated on groundlevel by a team from OAG Münster in 1991 (AG Münster 1991). Two years later, in 1993 a WIWO team carried out a slightly more extensive survey in the same area (van Wetten & Spierenburg 1998). From 1994 till 1998 the Waza- Logone Project conducted a yearly waterbird counting scheme. By this time most waterbodies, both temporary and permanent, were well known by the team, and yearly, roughly the same area was covered in the same period of the year. This provided good comparable results for the subsequent years. The exact itinerary of the 2000 expedition can be found below. For practical reasons we divided the Cameroonian side of the study area in the following geographical and/or ecological distinct areas.

1. Lake Maga is the only large open water surface (approximately 400 km2) in the area. On the northern side it is bordered by 25 km long dam. The other sides of the lake are fringed by dense reed vegetation, which are important breeding sites for several Rallidae and reed warbler species. The lake provides a permanent water supply for the adjacent rice fields of SEMRY II. Visiting scheme 0402: Lake Maga. Count by car and pirogue.

2. There are three major rice cultivation sites in the area. The first is located just north of Yagoua. The second is found adjacent to Lake Maga and covers about 5.000 hectares. Finally there is one further north, close to the village of Zimado. The ricefields have proved to high numbers for several wader species, depending on the water levels and the stage of bi-annual cultivation (especially Ruff, see OAG Munster 1991). Visiting scheme 0402: Yagoua Hetna. Count by car. 0402: Rice-schemes Yagoua. Count by car and foot. 0602: Maga Polder. Count by car. 0702: Maga rice-scheme East. Count by car. 0702: Maga rice-scheme North. Count by car. 0702: Maga rice-scheme Pouss West. Count by car. 0802: Pouss rice-scheme North. Count by car.

3. The southern floodplain was the part of the region most affected by the construction of the Maga dam and the subsequent reduced flooding. However, since the implementation of the Waza- Logone Project the area seems to be recovering rapidly. Nowadays, the area again supports the original perennial grassland vegetation. The area is characterised by monotonous treeless grasslands, interspersed by wooded mounds, usually inhabited by fishing communities. Visiting scheme 0602: Road Guirvidig to Maga. Count by car. 0602: Road Maga to Pouss. Count by car. 0802: Case Mousgoun Maga. Count by car and foot. 0902: Floodplain of Tekele-Zina. Count by car. 0902: Floodplain of Mazra-Zina. Count by car. 1002: Zina-Doulo-Goubeni. Count by car. 1102: Floodplain of Bagdassi-Garle (Zina). Count by car. 1302: Floodplain of Dawaya-Goromo. Count by car. 1302: Floodplain of Goromo (1 and 2). Count by car. 1302: Floodplain of Goromo 2 to Maskalaye. Count by car. 1302: Floodplain of Alaven. Count by car. 1402: Floodplain of Alaven-Malaya. Count by car. 1402: Floodplain of Malaya. 1402: Floodplain of Massa. Count by car. 2502: Floodplain of Mara-Alaven. Count by car.

4. The northern floodplain (north of the confluence of the rivers Logomatya and Logone) was less affected by the desiccation of the area in the eighties. Therefore this part still consists largely of the original perennial vegetation. Visiting scheme 0402: Moukak. Count by car. 0502: Matkeu. Count by car. 0502: Karam West. Count by car. 0502: Transect Karam-Bagaka-Iviye. Count by car. 0602: Zilim. Count by car.

5. The southern ponds in the southern part of the floodplain are temporary shallow waterbodies that may contain water throughout the dry season. The longevity of these ponds depends on the size of the inundation and the measure of evaporation in the subsequent dry season. Furthermore these ponds may be drained by drainage canals constructed by the local fishermen. A very effective practice to catch large amounts of fish that are trapped in the ponds after the floodwater has retreated. Visiting scheme 0902: Depression of Kraska. Count by car. 1002: Depression of Chafa. Count by car. 1102: Depression of Mahoembla-Zina. Count by car. 1102: Depression of Bagdassi-Zina. Count by car. 1102: Depression of Dagun-Zoung. Count by car. 1202: Depression of Kapra (Sarassara). Count by car. 1202: Depression of Koualoum-Zina. Count by car. 1302: Depression of Maskalaye. Count by car. 2402: Depression of Goubga-Gaiwa. Count by car. 2402: Depression of Dieguère. Count by car. 2502: Depression of Tchede. Count by car. 2502: Depression of Raraf. Count by car. 2502: Depression of Sifna-Marda. Count by car.

6. The northern ponds in the northern part of the floodplain. Visiting scheme 0402: Zimado. Count by car. 0502: Depression of Gouasani. Count by car. 0602: Depression of Zilim-Mandabe. Count by car.

7. Waza National Park covers 170.000 ha and consists of several habitat types. The eastern part is situated in the floodplain area and is yearly inundated. The central and northern parts of the park consist of dry Acacia seyal shrubland. The remaining part of the park consists of wooded savannah on sandy soils. Besides birds, the park harbours important numbers of large mammal species like Elephant, Topi, Roan antelope and Lion, species that are declining rapidly in Western Africa. Visiting scheme 10, 11 and 1202: Waza National Park. Point-counts and counts by car.

8. Kalamaloue National Park is a small but very diverse park. It has floodplain habitats that are fed by the inundation of the Chari river, the levees consist of woodland forests while the higher parts away from the floodplain are characterised by more open grass/woodlands. Visiting scheme 07 and 0802: Kalamaloue National Park. Counts by car.

9. The Logone and its tributaries the Logomatya and the Mayo Vrick, are permanent rivers. The Logone constitutes the border between Chad and Cameroon. It has its catchment areas in southern Cameroon and the Central African Republic. The waterlevel rises yearly following the rainy season and then causes the flooding of the surrounding area from August to November. When waterlevels are low, the Logone has large sandbanks where vast numbers of waterfowl and waders can be found. The Logomatya and the Mayo Vrick are side rivers of the Logone that branch off just north of Lake Maga and confluence again with the Logone near Zimado. Visiting scheme 0402: Logone Yagoua-Dourlsa. Count by car (9A).

0502: Logone Yagoua-Pouss. Count by car (9A). 0902: Logone Case Mgoun-Tekele. Count by car (9A). 1002: Logone Holom-Doulo. Count by car (9A). 1002: Logone Carefours-Iviye. Count by car (9A). 0902: Lorome-Mazera. Count by car (9B). 1202: Logomatya Koualoum-Zina. Count by car (9B). 1302: Vrick. Count by car (9B).

10. The plain just south of the Waza camp and west of the paved road just before reaching the village of Waza from Maroua. Depending on waterlevels, this very shallow, marshy area may support impressive numbers of waders and waterfowl. It can conveniently be overlooked from the mountain near the luxurious hotel Campement Waza. Visiting scheme 0902: Road Campement-Maltam-Waza. Count by car. 1302: Waza camp. Count by car.

Chad The study area can roughly be situated between N’Djamena in the North, the town of Bongor in the South, bordered in the west by the Logone river and by the Chari river in the east. The region is called the Mayo-Kebbi or the district of Bongor. Contrary to the Cameroonian side the Chadian side of the Logone floodplain is unaltered by large scale human interventions. Apart from two sites near Bongor there are no large rice- irrigation schemes. The water from the Logone and Chari can flood the plain not obstructed by dams. The study area is inundated by the flood-waters of both the Logone river and indirectly the Chari river. Between both rivers temporary rivers such as the Loumia develop, which drain away the water roughly from east to west. In the study-area the water is drained away from south-east to north-west (in the direction of Lake Chad). Water is retained in small lakes and depressions, a number of which hold water until the start of the rainy season (depending on the amount of rainfall in the previous year).

The yearly water cycle has a strong influence on the lives of the human population and its activities in the area. The main activities are cattle-herding and fishing. From near and far (from as far north as Niger) nomads and their herds arrive in the area, when the water has left the floodplain. These nomads pay admission fees to the local authorities, in a system not very transparent for the outsider. The cattle graze the floodplain bare, after which the remaining vegetation is burnt, to stimulate the sprouting of the grasses in anticipation of the coming rainy season. Fishing is the main activity of the local population, especially along rivers like the Loumia. Locally fishing has direct negative consequences for especially herons. In the water-courses the fishermen build wooden fish-traps, where herons congregate. The herons can get easily caught in these fish-traps. In most lakes and depressions fishing is controlled. These waters are managed by local chiefs and people. They decide when (for a short period) fishing is permitted, which is mostly at the end of the dry season when waterlevels are low. The weeks in which fishing is permitted, is considered by the local populations as a 'party' period: in these lean times of the year the fish constitute food and money.

Around the villages there is some agriculture. North of Bongor and east of Koumi there are rice-irrigation schemes. The dominant vegetation type of the floodplain itself

is a steppe-like vegetation, dominated by perennial grasses. Shrubs, trees and annual grasses are confined to the higher grounds along the rivers and around the villages. The main threat for the environment in the study area is the cutting of trees on the higher grounds. On a large scale and systematically the land is stripped of trees. The wood is processed into charcoal and transported to N'Djamena.

The entire study area lacks large mammals, apparently all shot during the Civil War of 1991-1993.

Counts of waterbirds and waders were carried out in the Chadian province of Mayo- Kebbi, between 10°18′400′′ N. and 11°59′076′′ N. The depressions and river-courses are grouped into 8 areas around a town or larger village. They are classified according to the Ramsar Classification System for 'Wetland Type'. The sites marked '(!)' were also visited during the 1999 census (Dijkstra et al. 2001)

1. Bongor 0802: Depression of Teleme 10°26'698'' N./15°19'577'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater pool (Ts), almost dry.

0802: rice-fields north of Bongor 10°18′675′′ N./15°20′792′′ E. (count by car and foot) * Man-made wetland: irrigated land; in the census-period not irrigated (!). 0902: Depression of Tura 10°22′501′′ N./15°26′905′′ E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: permanent freshwater marsh (Tp)(!).

0902: Depression of Tura 10°22'680'' N./15°25'933'' E. (count by foot and car) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). 0902: Depression of Budjoraye 10°23'788'' N./15°28'837'' E. * Inland wetland: Shrub-dominated wetland (W). 0902: Depression of Mana 10°23′416′′ N./15°24′558′′ E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: permanent freshwater lake (P). Floodplain lake, bordering inaccessible non-forested peatland (!). 2301: Downstream of depression of Mana 10°22′302′′ N./15°24′708′′ E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal stream (N), gradually becoming heavily vegetated peatland. No water (!). 0902: Depression of Lifie 10°30'050'' N./15°22'786'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: Permanent freshwater lake (O). Breeding site of Black Crowned Crane. Not accessible in January 1999.

2. Koumi: 0602: Depression of Marsamaye/Toufgounou 10°36′224′′ N./15°10′691 ′′ E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: permanent freshwater lake (O), 50 ha, bordering inaccessible shrub-dominated wetland (W). No disturbance (!). 0602: Depression of Moo 10°36′739′′ N./15°09′691′′ E. (count by foot of 1 km) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater pool (Ts). Waterlevel low, disturbance by cattle (!). 0802: rice-fields of Guefné 10°33'034'' N./15°15'040'' E. (count by car) * Man-made wetland: irrigated land; in the census-period not irrigated.

0802: Depression of Guefné 10°32'923'' N./15°14'752'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater pool (Ts). Heavily vegetated with grasses, some water in the centre. 1002: Depression of Kidim 10°35'290'' N./15°23'027'' E. (count by foot) *Inland wetland: permanent freshwater pool (Tp), 70 ha. No disturbance.

3. Katoa: 0602: Depression of Koufal 10°50′599′′ N./15°05′232′′ E (point-count) * Inland wetland: permanent freshwater lake (O), 25 ha. No disturbance (!). 0702: Depression of Rah 10°52′953′′ N./15°07′963′′ E. (count by car) * Inland wetland: permanent freshwater lake (O), 15 ha., disturbance by fishermen (!). 0702: Logone floodplain north-east of Katoa 10°52'133'' N./1506'323'' E. (count by car) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). 0702: Floodplain of Arekolo 10°59'273'' N./15°04'321'' E. (count by car) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts).

4. Logone Gana: 1102: Depression of Kole Mara 11°30′532′′ N./15°17′923′′ E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater pool (Tp). Disturbance by cattle and fishermen (!). 1102: Depression of Kole Mara 11°31'657'' N./15°17'535'' E. (count by foot) * Man-made wetland: small lake. No disturbance (!). 1302: Loumia stream from 11°32′001′′ N./15°08′098′′ E. to 11°29'496'' N./15°13'426'' E. (count by car of 13 km) * Inland wetland: seasonal stream (N). Disturbance by fishermen (!). 1302: Logone sidebranch 11°33′626′′ N./15°08′769′′ E. (count by car) * Inland wetland: permanent river (M) (!). 1302: Depression west of Logone Gana 11°32'577'' N./15°08'809'' E. (count by car) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh in the floodplain (Ts). Disturbance by local people.

5. Malfana: 1302: Depression of Manamdjo 11°43'178'' N./15°11'342'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: permanent freshwater marsh (Tp). 1702: Depression in the floodplain east of Malfana 11°44'962'' N./15°10'530'' E. (count by foot) * Seasonal freshwater pool (Ts). 1702: Logone sidebranch from 11°46′340′′ N./15°06′603′′ E. to 11°43'742''N./15°07'568'' (count by car and foot of 15 km) * Inland wetland: seasonal stream (Ts). Disturbance by cattle (!). 1702: Depressions north of Malfana from 11°46′759′′ N./15°07′043′′ E. to 11°46'340'' N./15°06'603'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater pools along the Logone river (Tp) (!).

1702: Depression of Yoyo/Gamal 11°48′405′′ N./15°07′087′′ E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). Stretches for more than 5 km. No disturbance (!). 1802: Depression of Moulmoukou 11°47′747′′ N./15°08′492′′ E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts) (!). 1802: Depression of Metete 11°46′331′′ N./15°09′892′′ E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: permanent freshwater pool (Tp) (!). 1802: Depression of Hadadja north of Mandelia 11°51'657'' N./15°09'957'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater pool (Ts). Dry. 1802: Depression of Riguegué north of Mandelia 11°52'955'' N./15°08'742'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland: seasonal freshwater pool (Ts). 1802: Depression of Boula north of Mandelia 11°52'640'' N./15°07'783'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). 1902: Depression of Dogo north of Mandelia 11°52'557'' N./15°06'625'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). 1902: Depression of Doma north of Mandelia from 11°51'722'' N./15°06'704'' E. to 11°50'737'' N./15°06'765'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: permanent freshwater marsh (Tp). 1902: Depression of Météné north of Mandelia 11°50'680'' N./15°06'940'' E. (count b * Inland wetland: permanent freshwater lake (O). Disturbance by continuous hunting. 1902: Depression of Mallo north of Mandelia 11°52'464'' N./15°05'027'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). 1902: Logone side-branch, Oundouma, north of Mandelia 11°51'778'' N./15°04'834'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal stream (N). 1902: Depression of Gangan north of Mandelia 11°52'663'' N./15°03'351'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). . 6. Mandelia/Darda: 1102: Chari river north of Darda from11°40′839′′ N./15°18′756′′ E. to 11°41'579'' N./15°19'424'' E. (count by foot of 1.3 km) * Inland wetland: permanent river (M). Disturbance by local population (!). 1202: Chari river south of Darda from 11°40′802′′ N./15°18′691′′ E. to 11°38'090'' N./15°17'717'' E. (count by foot of 8 km) * Inland wetland: permanent river (M). Little disturbance (!). 1202: Depressions of Ali Garga from 11°42′624′′ N./15°19′390′′ E. to 11°46'825'' N./15°18'970'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater pools (Ts) in river-forelands of Chari. Disturbance by fishermen and cattle (!). 1202: Depression north of Darda 11°46′825′′ N./15°18′970′′ E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: permanent shrub-dominated marshes (W). No disturbance (!).

1202: Depressions of Outré north of Darda 11°50'044'' N./15°19'313'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: freshwater tree-dominated wetland (Xf) (!). 1202: Depression of Basaga north of Darda 11°50'818'' N./15°18'818'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater pool (Ts) (!). 1202: Depression north of Darda 11°51'183'' N./15°18'113'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: freshwater, tree-dominated wetland (Wf) (!). 1202: Depression of Dombala north of Darda 11°51'969'' N./15°16'655'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater pool (Ts). 1502: Depression of Ambodjo west of Mandelia 11°44'241'' N./15°09'794'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater pool (Ts). 1502: depression of Domo 2 11°42'709'' N./15°11'616'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). 1502: Depression of Domo 1 from 11°43'423'' N./15°11'689'' to 11°44'290'' N./15°10'704'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). 1602: Depression of Arbadji south-west of Mandelia 11°38'364'' N./15°09'713'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). 1602: Loumia sidebranch at Belete south-west of Mandelia from 11°38'083'' N./15°10'857 E. to 11°36'683'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal stream (N). 1602: Depression of Oultou Kotoko south-west of Mandelia 11°40'642'' N./15°10'970'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater pool (Ts). 1602: Depression of Ouloum south-west of Mandelia 11°39'271'' N./15°10'674'' E. * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). 1602: Depression of Bathakewa south-west of Mandelia 11°41'687'' N./15°11'610'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: shrub-dominated freshwater marsh (W). 1602: Depression of Assa Souli Bozzo south-west of Mandelia 11°42'845'' N./15°13'001'' E. (count by car and foot) * Inland wetland: permanent freshwater marsh (Tp). 2002: Depression road north of Mandelia 11°49'700'' N./15°12'462'' E. (point-count) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater pool (Ts).

7. Koundoul: 2002: Zetane river from 11°57′477′′ N./15°08′738′′ E to 11°59'005'' N./15°06'734'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal river (N) (!). 2002: Depression of Marmatodji 11°58′989′′ N./15°07′702′′ E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). Much disturbance by cattle. Little water remaining (!).

8. Holom: 1402: Logone river between Logone Gana and Holom from 11° 28'997'' N./15°06'281'' E. to 11°20'414'' N./15°06'056'' E. (count by pirogue) * Inland wetland: permanent river (M).

1402: Depression of Doufoul 11°28'121'' N./15°05'854'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater marsh (Ts). 1402: Depression in the floodplain east of Holom 11°20'414'' N./15°04'787'' E. (count by foot) * Inland wetland: seasonal freshwater lake (Ts). 1402: Depression of Gouwa east of Holom 11°20'424'' N./15°06'056'' E. (point-count) * Inland wetland: permanent freshwater lake (Tp). No disturbance.

Plate 2. Senegal Thick-knee (Burhinus senegalensis).

2.3 Field conditions in 2000

Cameroon Because of the heavy rains in 1999 the flooding was more extensive and still abundant in January 2000. In January 2000 certain parts of the study area were still more difficult to reach or even inaccessible. For this reason the census period was moved to February. All parts of the study area could be reached. The eastern part of Waza National park was visited although the road conditions in the park were bad. Because of the relative abundance of water in the area the birds were less concentrated around the normally few remaining waterbodies.

Chad The aim of the WIWO expedition in 2000 to Chad was to continue the search for (and map) as many water-holding depressions and water-courses as possible. The team lacked recent topographic maps of the area as in 1999. This meant spending the majority of the available time tracking down sites with the help of local guides. The study area has hardly any developed infrastructure. The road form N'Djamena to Bongor is tarred just until Guelengdeng, to continue for some 30 kilometres to Bongor as a sand-road (financed by the Libyan government a tarred road is under construction). From this main road a number of sandy paths connect westward to the larger villages. The remaining infrastructure consists of foot-paths and serve as the only 'roads of access' to the countryside. The common procedure was to drive to a village or hamlet, question the local population whether there was water nearby and then take a local guide to bring us to these sites. In the census-period the water had dropped to a level, that most parts of the study area could be reached by car. In the floodplain proper, the water had receded to a large number of seasonal or permanent depressions and smaller rivers, where sometimes large concentrations of birds could be observed, especially those where fishing was prohibited. There was a motorised pirogue available in Logone Gana and a first visit to the important central floodplain around Holom could be made. Irrigation of the ricefields near Guefné and Bongor had not yet started and only small numbers of birds were observed here.

3 Methods

3.1 Counting methods

In 1993 members of the Wildlife School, the Waza Logone Project and WIWO conducted counts of birds in large parts of the study area in Cameroon (van Wetten & Spierenburg 1998). Besides total counts at a number of sites in most cases sample counts were made, which could be classified in several categories: A. River bank census; B. Line transect with recording of sighting distance; C. Line transect with a fixed observation band; D. Counts of migration to and from roosts.

The counts were repeated in the years 1995 – 1998 by members of the Wildlife School and the Waza Logone Project at a number of fixed sites, covering most or all (depending on waterlevels and accessibility) depressions and river-courses in the Cameroonian Logone floodplain. In these years total counts of waterbirds and waders were made whenever possible (or estimates were taken as a minimum number), as point-counts, or counts by car, by foot or by pirogue (Lake Maga).

During the preparations of the 2000 census the participants agreed to join in with the field methods used in the previous years and to carry out total counts whenever possible in both Cameroon and Chad. The absolute numbers recorded have been taken as the minimum estimate for the site, even if the site was or could not be fully covered.

The total counts can be divided into:

A. Point-counts. The counts were carried out from a point, which overlooked the site. All the visible birds were counted; B. Counts along river banks and depressions, by car and/or foot. Double counts were ruled out by only taking account birds that passed by (or birds which fled opposite the walking or driving direction). A pirogue was used at Lake Maga and at the Logone river between Logone Gana and Holom by the Chadian census- team; C. Count of roost migration (Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax at Bongor, Chad). D. All the rice-fields were counted by car and whenever irrigation had started point- counts were carried out at regular intervals.

3.2 Ringing

Many rings, applied on birds in Europe and recovered in Africa, are never reported. People finding them are not aware of the function of the rings and do not know where to report them to. It is expected that ringing in Africa will result in a larger amount of rings to be reported back. This is the main reason for starting ringing activities in Cameroon in 1999 and 2000. Since priority was given to the bird census the ringing of birds was restricted to a period of fourteen days.

Waders Special wader nets were placed on flooded ricefields and meadows in the rice scheme near Yagoua. This was the only suitable site to catch waders at that time. The nets were placed in the afternoon to trap birds that were coming in to roost or forage during the night. The mistnets had three horizontal sections. Each net was 12 meters long. The total length of the net-rows varied from 36 to 60 meters. The nets were opened from dusk (19.00 h.) until midnight (24.00 h.).

Songbirds In a small marsh near Maga, along the dike of Lake Maga, mistnets were placed to catch warblers in different aquatic vegetations at six locations. This was the same location as in 1999. The length of the nets at the various locations varied from 9 meters (1 net) to 27 meter (3 nets). At the following locations birds were captured: - along the bank of a irrigation canal in a Ipomea-vegetation (2 x 9 m.); - in shallow water in a Ipomea-vegetation (2 x 18 m.);. - in shallow to moderately deep water in a Typha-vegetation (3 x 27 m.). The nets were opened about half an hour before sunrise and closed again around noon. All the birds were ringed with French rings and the appropriate biometric parameters (e.g. wing-length, weight, tarsus, bill-length, depending upon the species) were measured.

Plate 3. Flock of Ruffs (Philomachus pugnax) in rice fields.

4 Results waterbirds counts

In the years 1995-1998 Lake Maga formed the southern limit of the bird-census area in Cameroon. Since 1999 the rice-schemes just north of Yagoua (approximately 40 km south of Lake Maga) are added to the census-area. The results of the Cameroonian Waza-Logone area are presented in table 1. The results of the rice-scheme near Yagoua are included in category 2 in table 1. The total of the species, observed in the Logone floodplain in Chad are given in table 2. The species order in the tables follows Del Hoyo et al. All results presented in this chapter are numbers of birds observed at the indicated spots at the indicated date (see chapter 2). The presented results should be interpreted as minimum numbers of the species present in the Logone floodplain in Cameroon and Chad in February 2000.

Plate 4. White-faced and Fulvous Whistling Ducks.

4.1 Cameroon

Table 1. Total number of birds observed in the Waza-Logone area Cameroon, February 2000. The number refer to the following areas: 1. Lake Maga, 2. Rice cultivation schemes, 3. Southern floodplain, 4. Northern floodplain, 5. Southern ponds, 6. Northern ponds, 7. Waza NP, 8. Kalamaloué NP, 9. Logone river, 10. Waza camp plain.

Area/Category 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9a 9b 10 Total

Species

Tachybaptus ruficollis 0 0 00000000 5 5 Pelecanus onocrotalus 0 0 4 32 0 2 67 0 0 0 0 105 Pelecanus rufescens 0 0 0 5 3 0 16 0 0 0 0 24 Phalacrocorax africanus 854 17 946 746 374 51 38 104 1427 51 97 4705 Ardea cinerea 22 126 88 82 79 13 80 36 56 30 101 713 Ardea melanocephala 31 1431 555 33 242 88 387 62 196 66 113 3204 Ardea goliath 2 0 00000000 0 2 Ardea purpurea 44 0 80020310 4 62 Egretta alba 1 60 25 226 133 37 47 30 4 5 58 626 Egretta ardesiaca 2 64 104 2352 278 1740 0 0 17 65 113 4735 Egretta intermedia 1 6 2 0 7 0 0 0 1 1 0 18 Egretta garzetta 84 350 1136 739 304 1112 217 69 451 445 1064 5971 Bubulcus ibis 260 4161 2797 1458 3802 674 145 112 574 618 971 15572 Ardeola ralloides 247 231 361 497 946 101 238 41 4 48 373 3087 Butorides striatus 0 0 00000100 0 1 Nycticorax nyticorax 0 0 157 0 3 0 25 209 0 0 0 394 Ixobrychus minutus 0 0 00000000 0 0 Scopus umbretta 0 0 00000000 0 0 Mycteria ibis 0 44 211 132 149 40 216 22 56 19 10 899 Anastomus lamelligerus 8 195 142 22 173 10 36 23 179 123 143 1054 Ciconia episcopus 0 0 1 0 0 0 30 4 0 0 2 37 Ciconia ciconia 0 1 87 2 396 1 2 0 0 0 0 489 Ephippiorhynchus 0 0 1 1 0 1 25 0 1 0 1 30 Leptoptilos crumeniferus 4 26 461 89 32 139 607 8 182 26 28 1582 Threskiornis aethiopicus 4 282 292 146 935 60 293 16 76 73 108 2285 Bostrychia hagedash 1 7 8 0 84 0 32 6 31 3 2 174 Plegadis falcinellus 0 7 33 21 154 7 129 63 7 34 235 690 Platalea alba 0 0 102704004 7 34 Dendrocygna bicolor 0 0 23 0 1 0 11 0 0 0 48 83 Dendrocygna viduata 617 0 274 270 2301 56 6878 1161 110 18 11042 22727 Anser albifrons 0 0 00400000 0 4 Tadorna tadorna 0 0 00100001 5 7 Plectropterus gambensis 8 53 189 187 1012 12 627 10 213 0 29 2340 Sarkidiornis melanota 31 9 1446 8 1257 0 1405 47 2 28 307 4540 Nettapus auritus 126 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 128 Anas acuta 0 0 0 0 0 0 99 0 0 0 13 112 Anas clypeata 0 0 0 0 0 0 123 0 1 0 328 452 Anas hottentota 0 0 00000000 0 0 Anas crecca 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 10 Anas querquedula 28 1 3 0 1065 0 1745 0 0 0 472 3314 Haliaeetus vocifer 0 0 11001300 0 6 Theratopius ecaudatus 0 0 00000000 0 0 Circus aeruginosus 205 62 46 3 44 8 5 15 14 9 13 424 Circus macrourus 0 1 2 1 6 2 3 0 4 1 3 23 Circus pyrargus 2 8 12 0 23 0 0 2 3 0 5 55 Lophaetus occipitalis 0 0 00000000 0 0 Pandion haliaetus 6 0 00000020 0 8 Balearica pavonina 0 0 196 10 204 4 889 0 27 10 21 1361 Amaurornis flavirostris 3 7 100000000 0 20 Porphyrio porphyrio 15 0 00000000 0 15 Gallinula chloropus 10 0 7 0 3 0 5 0 0 0 23 48 Gallinula angulata 3 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 29 Otis arabs 0 0 41301000 0 9 Eupodotis melanogaster 0 2 00001000 0 3 Microparra capensis 97 0 00000000 0 97 Actophilornis africana 417 123 232 19 216 17 58 22 14 25 22 1165

Table 1. Continued. Total number of birds observed in the Waza-Logone area Cameroon, February 2000.

Area/Category 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9a 9b 10 Total

Species

Rostratula benghalensis 0 2 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 Himantopus himantopus 39 277 333 97 174 212 81 62 245 141 667 2328 Burhinus senegalensis 0 3 0 4 4 0 10 0 168 63 0 252 Burhinus capensis 0 0 00000000 0 0 Pluvianus aegyptius 2 0 19 45 0 0 0 73 94 6 0 239 Glareola pratincola 100 1129 551 5 453 86 14 24 5 32 81 2480 Glareola cinerea 0 0 00000000 0 0 Vanellus crassirostris 67 10 13 5 3 6 0 0 4 0 0 108 Vanellus spinosus 37 180 233 90 201 27 172 45 143 81 255 1464 Vanellus tectus 0 5 49 31 77 16 18 0 7 8 33 244 Vanellus senegallus 0 21 48 0 74 0 4 0 14 21 0 182 Vanellus albiceps 0 6 00000200 0 8 Charadrius hiaticula 0 9 5 8 0 0 0 6 9 1 8 46 Charadrius dubius 0 22 22 0 19 1 1 0 73 7 5 150 Charadrius pecuarius 0 0 0 0 32 0 0 0 0 12 0 44 Charadrius alexandrinus 0 0 00010000 0 1 Charadrius asiaticus 0 2 00000000 0 2 Gallinago gallinago 0 16 70502200 0 32 Lymnocryptes minimus 0 0 01000000 0 1 Limosa limosa 0 0 8 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 59 69 Numenius arquata 0 0 00000100 0 1 Tringa erythropus 1 0 61 0 0 0 0 0 29 59 0 150 Tringa totanus 0 0 0 0 48 0 0 0 0 0 0 48 Tringa stagnatilis 0 0 10 4 2 0 2 0 10 3 83 114 Tringa nebularia 3 11 36 27 3 6 13 54 119 177 26 475 Tringa ochropus 1 11 19 5 24 26 6 26 19 6 35 178 Tringa glareola 13 329 98 9 84 22 31 17 12 3 53 671 Actitis hypoleucos 0 4 15 0 17 0 2 54 29 15 72 208 Calidris alpina 0 3 00000000 0 3 Calidris minuta 0 29 48 10 89 0 7 26 135 194 269 807 Calidris temminckii 0 6 3 3 12 0 0 5 10 0 1 40 Philomachus pugnax 306 5836 6335 3952 3514 3762 30 43 9651 217 603 34249 Larus fuscus 5 0 20000000 0 7 Larus cirrocephalus 213 0 205 84 0 0 0 33 285 56 0 876 Larus ridibundus 2 0 319 0 0 0 0 0 24 0 0 345 Gelochelidon nilotica 0 0 53 8 2 1 0 6 31 0 0 101 Sterna albifrons 0 0 00000000 0 0 Chlidonias leucopterus 8 0 0 495 0 47 1 0 51 0 0 602 Chlidonias hybridus 0 0 0 248 6 56 0 24 0 0 0 334 Chlidonias niger 0 0 17 0 11 0 0 0 148 0 0 176 Chlidonias spec. 0 0 00000080 0 8 Ceyx pictus 0 0 00000000 0 0 Alcedo cristata 0 2 7 1 0 0 5 5 0 2 3 25 Ceryle rudis 67 5 52 26 20 4 0 74 71 38 7 365 Megaceryle maxima 0 0 00000100 0 1

Totals 3997 15194 18457 12243 19117 8450 14895 2652 15047 2825 18046 130923

4.2 Chad

Table 2. Total number of birds observed in the Logone floodplain Chad, February 2000. The numbers refer to the following areas: 1. Bongor, 2. Koumi, 3. Katoa, 4. Logone Gana, 5, Malfana, 6. Mandelia/Darda, 7. Koundoul, 8. Holom.

Area 1234567 8 Total

Species

Tachybaptus ruficollis 31003170 0 24 Phalacrocorax africanus 82 52 575 128 250 142 2 368 1599 Ardea cinerea 0 1 4 9 14 15 2 32 77 Ardea melanocephala 157 24 67 34 98 337 2 33 752 Ardea purpurea 4 0 4 0 52 37 0 2 99 Egretta alba 0 1 59 67 28 16 2 9 182 Egretta ardesiaca 0 4 300 1098 240 285 0 702 2629 Egretta intermedia 0 0 0 10 92 18 2 0 122 Egretta garzetta 81 7 186 704 813 148 66 667 2672 Egretta spec. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 200 200 Bubulcus ibis 536 173 943 282 1651 1221 145 372 5323 Ardeola ralloides 1253 358 776 175 979 278 73 359 4251 Butorides striatus 0000140 0 5 Nycticorax nycticorax 341 0 0 1 283 301 0 0 926 Scopus umbretta 0000120 0 3 Mycteria ibis 0 0 0 162 0 0 0 16 178 Anastomus lamelligerus 139 78 2 6 45 113 0 29 412 Ciconia ciconia 0 0 309 0 0 66 0 160 535 Leptoptilos cruminiferus 22 0 35 2 27 0 0 116 202 Threskiornis aethiopicus 18 16 269 216 234 52 0 36 841 Plegadis falcinellus 0 0 4 9 475 472 2 31 993 Platalea alba 0007000 2 9 Dendrocygna bicolor 2 0 16 0 30 0 0 1 49 Dendrocygna viduata 35 1900 1250 152 9414 3204 0 3260 19215 Plectropterus gambensis 215 150 82 13 2 42 0 63 567 Sarkidiornis melanota 54 18 21 62 576 577 1 90 1399 Nettapus auritus 0 0 0 0 21 26 0 0 47 Anas querquedula 2 400 350 0 4351 635 3 360 6101 Circus aeruginosus 23 13 46 8 51 57 7 23 228 Circus macrourus 0000010 0 1 Circus pyrargus 5 0 4 1 12 15 1 1 39 Pandion haliaetus 0000040 0 4 Lophaetus occipitalis 0100000 0 1 Balearica pavonina 34 3 73 0 3 0 0 4 117 Gallinula angulata 0 0 0 0 167 286 0 0 453 Microparra capensis 11 5 0 0 4 34 0 0 54 Actophilornis africana 104 105 36 8 460 634 0 48 1395 Eupodotis melanogaster 0300000 0 3 Himantopus himantopus 91 3 0 19 201 444 298 105 1161 Burhinus senegalensis 0 0 0 0 9 13 0 58 80 Pluvianus aegyptius 0 0 0 0 4 75 0 60 139 Glareola pratincola 0 0 63 0 0 0 0 1150 1213 Glareola cinerea 0000080 0 8 Vanellus crassirostris 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 4 26 Vanellus spinosus 13 4 37 37 220 343 41 285 980 Vanellus tectus 0 0 0 10 4 36 5 3 58 Vanellus senegallus 11 0 14 2 0 0 0 2 29 Charadrius hiaticula 0000340 0 7 Charadrius pecuarius 0000020 0 2 Charadrius dubius 00005821 3 91 Charadrius alexandrinus 00000150 0 15 Lymnocryptus minimus 0000200 0 2 Gallinago gallinago 0 2 4 0 31 2 8 1 48 Gallinago media 2000000 0 2 Limosa limosa 0 0 0 0 8 875 0 0 883 Tringa erythropus 0000040 1 5 Tringa totanus 0100000 0 1 Tringa stagnatilis 00011300 0 32 Tringa nebularia 3 0 1 2 41 54 3 70 174 Tringa ochropus 1 0 0 3 12 2 0 1 19 Tringa glareola 75 8 9 14 214 187 33 1 541 Actitis hypoleucos 0 0 0 1 10 28 0 6 45 Calidris minuta 4 0 0 3 54 324 161 0 546 Calidris temminckii 1000030 0 4 Philomachus pugnax 521 531 3009 126 10747 15334 2323 5704 38295

Table 2. Continued. Total number of birds observed in the Logone floodplain, Chad, February 2000.

Area 1234567 8 Total

Species

Larus cirrocephalus 0000100 29 30 Gelochelidon nilotica 0 0 0 2 2 24 0 2 30 Sterna bengalensis 0000410 0 5 Sterna caspia 0000040 0 4 Chlidonias niger 0003000 0 3 Chlidonias leucopterus 0 0 0 4 28 1 0 756 789 Chlidonias hybridus 26 0 520 16 60 0 0 0 622 Alcedo cristata 010011120 0 24 Ceryle rudis 7 0 0 9 39 32 3 113 203

Total 3876 3863 9090 3406 32088 26978 3184 15338 97823

4.3. Comparison with previous years

The presence of waterholding depressions in the census period is the determining factor for the occurrence of waterbirds and waders in the Waza Logone region. Since 1993 six censuses have been carried out. The various census sites can be regrouped in:

A. Lake Maga and the rice schemes of Semry II (with the rice schemes at Yagoua included in 1999); B. The floodplain (including the Logomatya); C. Waza National Park and Waza Camp; D. Kalamaloue National Park; E. The Logone river (including the Lorome-Wazra sidebranch).

Table 3 and Figure 3 present the numbers of waterfowl and waders, observed in the Waza Logone area in 1993 and 1995 to 1999.

Table 3. Comparison of counting results for five distinct areas over several years in the Waza Logone area in Cameroon. Sources: (van Wetten & Spierenburg 1998; WLP, internal reports Waza Logone Project; Dijkstra et al 2002).

Area A B C D E Total

Year

1993 12,564 39,419 2,394 2,176 2,124 58,672 1995 11,113 11,565 4,616 12,617 687 40,598 1996 10,196 35,076 25,654 14,438 1,869 87,233 1997 27,513 29,350 26,022 5,690 1,669 90,244 1998 19,865 43,576 19,759 10,872 2,833 96,905 1999 30,203 35,397 8,259 8,104 11,683 93,646 2000 19,191 58,267 17,872 2,652 32,941 130,923

The total number of birds increased considerably since 1995, which coincides with the first opening of the embankment along the Logone. The increase in numbers in 2000 in the floodplain and in the Waza National Park indicates that the reopening of the dam in phases over the last years (together with the high rainfall in 1999) has the intended result.

140.000

120.000

100.000

80.000

60.000

40.000

20.000

0 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Figure 3. Total numbers of waterbirds in the Waza – Logone area in the period 1993 - 2000.

Plate 5. Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus).

5 Results bird ringing

We caught and ringed wintering wetland birds (waders and reedbirds originating from Palearctic breeding grounds) in order to increase our knowledge about these birds. There is still little known about the origin of marshbirds in the Lake Chad Basin. There are only some scattered recoveries all over the Western Palearctic. It is not clear whether recoveries originate from local breeding birds or migrants at the places where the were recovered. The majority of the recoveries consist of birds that were ringed in Europe and were reported from the Lake Chad Basin (Dijkstra et al 2002).

A total of 133 birds were ringed (see table 4). The following data were collected: wing length, P8, tarsus, weight, fat and moult-score. From the waders the bill length and head/bill length were also measured.

In total we spent four days catching and ringing warblers. In the marshes along the dike, north of Lake Maga, warblers were caught with nets placed in vegetation of Typha. Since Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus and Sedge Warbler Arundinaceus schoenobaenus are the most numerous species observed (de Kort & van Weerd 1995) these species were also caught most. Most of the marshes along the dike (nearly 20 km long) and perhaps the southern border of Lake Maga will be most successful catching sites and can be chosen as a Constant Effort Site (CES). At such a site warblers can be captured annually at the same moment and with the same methods. The number of captured birds can then be seen as an indicator of population changes. Recapturing ringed birds also provides information on survival rates.

Because of the low recovery rate, further research is necessary in order to discover the breeding grounds of wintering Palearctic birds in Cameroon and Chad. The Cameroonian participants are closely involved in the ringing activities. For them this was a novel experience. Due to a lack of knowledge, many rings, applied in Europe and found in Africa, are not reported back. People who find them are not aware of the function of the rings and do not know where to report them. It is expected that local ringing schemes in West Africa will result in a larger amount of rings to be reported to European ringers in the near future.

Plate 6. Painted Snipe (Rostratula bengalensis).

Table 4. Number and species of birds ringed at Lake Maga, North-Cameroon in February 2000. Species number Little Bittern 3 Baillon’s Crake 1 Painted Snipe 1 Wood Sandpiper 6 Common Sandpiper 1 Ruff 2 Little Bee-eater 1 Wryneck 1 Yellow Wagtail 5 Sedge Warbler 39 African Reed Warbler 1 Eurasian Reed Warbler 4 Great Reed Warbler 24 Cisticola spec. 1 Tawny-flanked Prinia 19 Beautiful Sunbird 1 Grey-headed Sparrow 1 Red-billed Firefinch 10 Village Indigobird 1 Red-cheeked Gordon-bleu 8 African Silverbill 1 White-rumped Serin 2 total 133

Some African species were not ringed. The team lacked the appropriate rings to ring the four captured Malachite Kingfishers. A few hundred Quelea's were captured, which were not ringed either. The capturing of waders was not very successful, because it was adversely influenced by the presence of the full moon, which made nets visible at a large distance.

5.1 Songbirds

Six birds were recaptured which had been ringed in 1999 at the same site: - Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus : 3 - Sedge Warbler Arundinaceus schoenobaenus: 1 - Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava: 1 - Cisticola spec.: 1

From all the captured birds the weight was taken and the fat-score determined. These features are indicators for the condition of the birds.

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus rundinaceus Only two Great Reed Warbler showed marks of migratory fat. One bird with score 2 (on the scale of Busse) and one with score 3. Because of the short ringing period it was not possible to look at changes in fat scores. The fact that the Great Reed

Warbler leaves its wintering grounds in April explains why only two birds showed marks of fat. They still have enough time to build up fat.

Of the 24 captured birds 12 could be sexed on the basis of their biometry (wing > 99 mm. = male; wing <93mm. = female): 4 females and 8 males. Biometric data of the captured Great Reed Warblers are given in tables 5 and 6).

Table 5. Wing length of 24 Great Reed Warblers captured in North Cameroon in February 2000.

Wing length (mm) Number 80 1 92 3 93 1 94 1 95 1 96 3 97 2 98 1 99 4 100 3 101 2 102 1 103 1

Table 6. Measurements (mm) and weight (g) of Great Reed Warblers captured in North Cameroon in February 2000. Males Great Reed Warbler

Wing (mm) Tarsus (mm) Fat Weight (g) 102 29 2 36.0 101 30.6 0 30.0 103 29.5 0 32.1 100 29.8 0 32.2 100 30.1 0 32.5 100 28.0 0 31.5 101 29.4 0 30.1 Average 101 29.5 0.3 32.1

Females Great Reed Warbler

Wing Tarsus Fat Weight (mm) (mm) (g) 92 34.2 0 31.4 80 26.3 0 27.9 92 28.2 0 27.5 92 30.5 0 25.4 Average 89.0 29.8 0 28.0

The deviation in the data is to big to tell something about the origin of the birds, but they all fit in the European population of the Great Reed Warbler.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Of 37 captured Sedge Warbler the average wing length was 67,8 mm. (see Table 7). On the basis of the wing-length it is possible to speculate on the origin of the birds. Wing-length in Britain is mainly 60-68, in the Netherlands 62-71 and in the eastern Mediterranean region and East and South-east Europe 63-72 mm. The majority of

the captured birds have wing-lengths which fit in the eastern and south-eastern population. It is a known fact that populations from northern Europe have their wintering grounds south of birds of southern and south-eastern populations.

Table 7. Wing length of 37 Sedge Warblers captured in North Cameroon in February 2000.

Wing length (mm) Number 64 1 65 3 66 6 67 5 68 4 69 9 70 7 71 1

The average weight of the Sedge Warbler was 11.37 mm. Only one captured bird had a fat score (5). Since Sedge Warbler leave their wintering grounds in April, it was probably to early in the year to find many birds with fat. Due the variation the weights it was not possible to confirm the possible origin of the birds. The mean for the tarsus of the caught birds was 21.46 mm.

Plate 7. Tawny-flanked Prinia (Prina subflava).

6 Ornithological importance of the Waza-Logone floodplain

The Waza-Logone floodplain has recently been the subject of several ornithological surveys and studies (OAG Münster 1991; de Kort & van Weerd 1995; Scholte et al 1995; Scholte et al 1996a; Scholte et al 1996b; van Wetten & Spierenburg 1998). A number of 346 bird species has been recorded since 1991. The most numerous waterbird species are White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus, Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis, Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus, White-faced Whistling Duck Dencrocygna viduata, Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola, Ruff Philomachus pugnax (this report) and Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa (OAG Münster 1991). For the resident species Black-crowned Crane Balearica pavonina the Logone floodplain is one of the last strongholds (2,500 individuals, Scholte et al 1996a). White Stork Ciconia ciconia occur irregular with flocks of up to 2,700 birds. For Collared Pratincole the area is one of the major wintering areas in Africa. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus and Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scripaceus are very abundant as well as Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica (de Kort & van Weerd 1995). Waterbird numbers have been increasing since 1995 (and especially in 2000), indicating that the floodplain restoration of the Waza-Logone Project has a positive effect on waterbird habitat quality.

Several studies have highlighted the importance of the Logone floodplain as a major site for wintering and resident waders and waterbirds in the Lake Chad Basin Area. Many waterfowl species surpass in number the 1% Ramsar criterion (see table 8) (de Kort & van Weerd 1995, Scott & Rose 1996, this study).This criterion states that a wetland is considered to be of international importance if it regularly supports 1% or more of the population of a species. Regularly can be defined as the mean of the seasonal maxima, taken over at least five years. We used Urban et al 1986 for calculating the 1% level for Collared Pratincole.

Table 8. Waders and waterbirds in the Logone area occurring in numbers surpassing the 1% Ramsar criterion (after de Kort et al 1995, Scott et al 1996, Dijkstra et al 2002 and this study).

Species 1 – 2% 2 –10% > 10% Occasional Regular Numbers 1% level 2000 Pelecanus onocrotalus X X 100 300 Ardea melanocephala 4,000 ? Ardeola ralloides X X 7,600 120 Egretta garzetta X X 8,600 600 Plegadis falcinellus X X 1,700 300 Dendrocygne bicolor X X 130 1,000 Dendrocygne viduata X X 42,000 2,500 Alopochen aegyptiacus X X 0 175 Plectropterus gambensis X X 2,900 500 Sarkidiornis melanotos X X 5,500 500 Anas acuta X X 100 12,000 Anas querquedula X X 9,400 20,000 Balearica pavonina X X 1,500 50 Philomachus pugnax X X 72,500 10,000 Glareola pratincola X X 3,700 1,000

7 Conclusions and recommendations for further research

The number of observed waterfowl and waders has grown since 1995, the year of the first controlled reflooding of the Waza-Logone area, and has even increased considerably in 2000. It appears that the goals set at the start of the Waza-Logone Project are bearing fruit.

- The February 2000 bird-census revealed that the floodplains of the Logone are even more important for wintering Palearctic and Afrotropical waterfowl as stated in 1993-1999. For the first time since the census started, the number of waterfowl and waders counted in the Cameroonian floodplains exceeded 100,000 birds! The numbers on the Chadian side of the Logone nearly quadrupled. Expeditions in the future should be aiming at making further contacts with organisations and people in Chad and at recounting the areas of 2000 and carrying out counts at not yet discovered depressions and water-courses.

- A continuation of the mid-winter counts will provide valuable data on traditionally ignored wintering grounds of many vulnerable Palearctic species. A yearly repetition of counting the same area in a standard way will give insights fluctuations of numbers of migratory birds in Europe. Furthermore, the forthcoming data from these yearly mid-winter counts allow evaluation of the reflooding of the area as conducted by the Waza Logone Project.

- Reflooding of the Waza Logone floodplain as started in 1994, has shown to have a positive effect on numbers of birds in the area. Since numbers and diversity of birds are regarded as good indicators for the ecological situation in general, we recommend continuation of reflooding as scheduled for the coming years.

- It is vital to establish an adequate network of protected areas to ensure the survival of migratory birds. All wetlands of international importance should be safe guarded. According to the international importance of the Logone floodplain for wintering and resident waders and waterbirds, we recommend the Cameroonian government to sign the Ramsar Convention (Chad signed the convention in 1990). Designation of (parts of) the Logone floodplain under operation of the Ramsar Convention is desirable.

- Ringing of selected bird species in the Waza-Logone floodplain could give information on the origin of species and the flyways these species use. Provided that a number of participants in the expeditions can devote themselves entirely to the ringing of birds over a period of three to four weeks. Ringing activities should be continued in the winter periods in order to investigate possibilities at different levels: suitability of the area, expected scientific yield, interest of local organisations with the establishment of a future partnership in mind, and expansion of training capacity on a local scale.

- The co-operation between WLP, WIWO, WSG and CMEW proved to be very successful in 2000. The board of the Waza-Logone Project will continue further co-operation in the period 2001-2004.

- The Chadian Ministry of Environment and Water, and the Lake Chad Basin Committee have expressed their desire to strengthen the co-operation between these organisations and WIWO. Chad has an enormous surface of temporarily inundated wetlands, south and east of Bongor, which have never been censused. A comparison between the results of bird censuses (carried out in regions with scattered lakes and depressions) from ground surveys and surveys by plane (as carried out in the Lake Chad Basin by B. Trolliet of the Office National de la Chasse in Chanteloup, France) reveals that ground surveys for most species give higher totals. With enough volunteers the censused area can be extended to these never visited floodplains south and east of Bongor or to the plains between the capital N'Djamena and Lake Chad proper.

Plate 8. White Pelicans and White-faced Whistling Ducks.

8 Lists of observed fauna

8.1 List of bird observations Chad

During the bird-census of waterfowl and waders in the Logone area in Chad observations of other bird-species were made. These data were not systematically collected. Since recent data on the birds of Chad are lacking, the observations made in 1999 and 2000 in Chad are given below.

Little Egret - Egretta garzetta 2000. 1802: Colony of 1630 nests depression of Metete, Malfana; no activity; probably Long- tailed Cormorant - Phalacrocorax africanus and Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis also nesting there

Black-headed Heron - Ardea melanocephala 2000. 0402: Breeding colony with at least 50 nests (large young) centre of N'Djamena; at least 40 adults present

Marabou Stork - Leptoptilos crumeniferus 2000. 0402: Breeding colony (large young) centre of N'Djamena; at least 60 adults present; 1402: Breeding colony (at least 10 nests) Douvoul, Holom

Osprey - Pandion haliaetus 2000. 0802: 1 captured Gouaye 10°43'786" N./15°06'819'' E.; ringnumber: M-40093 Museum Zool Helsinki Finland

Western Honey-Buzzard - Pernis apivorus 2000. 1802: 1 Metete, Malfana

African Swallow-tailed Kite - Chelictinia riocourii 1999. 2701: 9 Bongor 2000. 0502: 2 N'Djamena - Mandelia; 2002: 2 Zetane river, Koundoul

Black-shouldered Kite - Elanus caeruleus 2000. 0502: 1 Bongor-Koumi; 0602: 8 Koumi; 0702: 2 Katoa; 0802:3 Rice-fields Bongor; 0902: 1 Mana, Bongor; 1 Bariam, Bongor; 1002: 5 Lifie n. of Bongor; 4 Kidim n. of Bongor; 1102: 1 Bongor-Guelendeng; 1202: 3 n. of Darda; 1802: 1 Riguegué, Malfana; 1902: 3 Mallo n. of Mandelia

Black Kite - Milvus migrans 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Hooded Vulture - Necrosyrtes monachus 1999. Comon throughout study-area 2000. 0502: 12 N'Djamena-Mandelia; 9 Mandelia-Guelendeng; 0602: 12 Koumi; 1102: 40 Bongor-Guelendeng; 20 Mandelia; 1402: 86 Douvoul and Holom

African White-backed Vulture - Gyps africanus 1999. 2601: 1 Katoa; 3001: 1 Logone Gana; 0202: 1 Malfana; 0302: 1 Mandelia 2000. 0602: 1 Katoa; 0702: 10 Katoa; 1402: 25 Douvoul, Holom; 1502: 4 w. of Mandelia; 1602: 1 w. of Mandelia; 1802: 1 Metete, Malfana; 1902: 1 Dogo n. of Mandelia; 26 Mallo n. of Mandelia

Rüppell's Vulture - Gyps rüppellii 1999. 0302: 1 Mandelia 2000. 1402: 4 Douvoul, Holom; 1902: 5 Mallo n. of Mandelia

Lappet-faced Vulture - Aegypius tracheliotus 2000. 0702: 1 Katoa; 1802: 1 Metete, Malfana

Bateleur - Terathopius ecaudatus 1999. 2801: 3 Mandelia; 0302: 1 Mandelia 2000. 1102: 2 imm. Guelendeng-Mandelia; 1502: 3 w. of Mandelia; 1602: 1 w. of Mandelia

Short-toed Snake-Eagle - Circaetus gallicus 2000. 1202: 1 n. of Darda; 1502: 2 w. of Mandelia

African Harrier Hawk - Polyboroides typus 1999. Regularly observed in study-area 2000. 1602: Adult w. of Darda; 1702: 1 Magadji, Malfana

Gabar Goshawk - Micronisus gabar 2000. 0702: 2 Katoa; 1002: 1 Lifie n. of Bongor; 1502: 1 Darda; 1602: 1 w. of Darda

Dark Chanting Goshawk - Melierax metabates 1999. 2101: 1 Bongor; 2301: 1 Bongor; 1 Koumi; 2601: 2 Katoa; 2801: 2 Mandelia; 3101: 2 Logone Gana; 0202: 3 Malfana; 0302: 5 Mandelia 2000. 0602: 3 Koumi; 0702: 2 Katoa; 0902: 1 Mana, Bongor; 1102: 4 Guelendeng-Mandelia; 1202: 1 n. of Darda; 1902: 2 n. of Mandelia

African Goshawk - Accipiter tachiro 2000. 1902: 1 Dogo n. of Mandelia

Shikra - Accipiter badius 2000. 1002: 3 Lifie n. of Bongor; 1902: Male Dogo n. of Mandelia; male Mallo n. of Mandelia

Grashopper Buzzard - Butastur rufipennis 2000. 0502: 14 Guelendeng-Bongor; 0802: 1 Guefné n. of Bongor; 0902: 1 Bariam, Bongor; 1002: 4 Lifie n. of Bongor; 5 Kidim n. of Bongor; 1102: 13 Bongor-Guelendeng; 1202: 4 Darda; 1502: 2 w. of Mandelia; 1602: 2 Arbadji w. of Mandelia; 2002: 3 Zetane river, Koundoul

Lesser Spotted Eagle - Aquila pomarina 2000. 0502: 1 N'Djamena-Mandelia

Tawny Eagle - Aquila rapax 2000. 0502: 1 Mandelia-Guelendeng; 1602: 1 Arbadji w. of Mandelia

Steppe Eagle - Aquila nipalensis 2000. 1202: 2 n. of Darda

Wahlberg's Eagle - Aquila wahlbergi 2000. 0802: 1 Teleme n. of Bongor; 0902: 1 Mana, Bongor; 1202: 1 n. of Darda

Booted Eagle - Hieraaetus pennatus 2000. 1202: 1 n. of Darda; 1502: 1 w. of Mandelia; 1602: 1 w. of Mandelia

Montagu's Harrier - Circus pyrargus 2000. 0502: 2 N'Djamena-Mandelia; 1002: Female Lifie n. of Bongor; 1102: Male Bongor- Guelendeng; 1402: 3 Logone Gana; 1902: male and 4 female n. of Mandelia; 2002: male Zetane river, Koundoul

Red-necked Falcon - Falco chicqera 2000. 0802: 1 Bongor; 1402: 1 Douvoul, Holom; 1502: 2 w. of Mandelia

Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus 2000. 1002: 1 Lifie n. of Bongor; 1 Kidim n. of Bongor

Fox Kestrel - Falco alopex 2000. 1202: 1 n. of Darda

Grey Kestrel - Falco ardosiaceus 2000. 1902: 1 Dogo n. of Mandelia

Lanner - Falco biarmicus 2000. 1402: 1 Holom; 1502: 1 w. of Mandelia

Common Button-Quail - Turnix sylvatica 2000. 0702: 12 Katoa; 0802: 4 Koumi; 1002: 8 Lifie, Bongor

Common Quail - Coturnix coturnix 2000. 0702: 2 Katoa

Helmeted Guineafowl - Numida meleagris 2000. 0902: 40 Mana, Bongor

Black Crowned Crane - Balearica pavonina 2000. 0702: 2 in stubble-field along Logone, Katoa (10°52'133'' N./15°10'323'' E.); 0802: 3 in fields Katoa; 5 on sand-bank in Logone south of Katoa (10°46'648'' N./15°05'213'' E.); 3 near Gouaye

Clapperton's Francolin - Francolinus clappertoni 2000. 0602: 1 Koumi; 3 Katoa; 1002: 2 Kidim, Bongor; 1802: 1 with pulli Malfana

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse - Pterocles exustus 2000. 0502: 15 N'Djamena-Mandelia; 0902: 2 Mana, Bongor

Bruce's Green Pigeon - Treron waalia 2000. 0902: 10 Mana, Bongor; 4 Lifie, Bongor

Black-billed Wood Dove - Turtur abyssinicus 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Namaqua Dove - Oena capensis 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Speckled Pigeon - Columba guinea 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Mourning Dove - Streptopelia decipiens 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Vinaceous Dove - Streptopelia vinacea 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

African Collared Dove - Streptopelia roseogrisea 1999 and 2000. Locally common throughout study-area

European Turtle Dove - Streptopelia turtur 1999. 2201: 2 Bongor; 2701: 1 Bongor 2000. 0602: 780 Koumi; 1202: 600 n. of Darda; 1802: 800 Metete, Malfana

Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Rose-ringed Parrakeet - Psittacula krameri 2000. 0502: 5 N'Djamena-Mandelia; 0902: 2 Bariam, Bongor

Western Grey Plantain-eater - Crinifer piscator. 1999. 2201: 2 Bongor; 2901: 2 Mandelia 2000. 1102: 2 Mandelia; 1502: 1 Darda; 1602: 2 Arbadji w. of Mandelia

Great Spotted Cuckoo - Clamator glandarius 1999. 2401: 1 Katoa 2000. 1402: 1 Logone Gana

Senegal Coucal - Centropus senegalensis 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Barn Owl - Tyto alba 1999. 22 and 2301: Present in Bongor 2000. Present in Bongor, Katoa and Darda

Long-tailed Nightjar - Caprimulgus climacurus 2000. 0902: 3 males and 1 female Lifie, Bongor

African Palm Swift - Cypsiurus parvus 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Little Swift - Apus affinis 1999. Common throughout study-area 2000. 0502: 80 N'Djamena-Guelendeng; 50 Guelendeng; 120 Bongor-Koumi; 0602: 75 Katoa; 1102: 400 Mandelia

Little Bee-eater - Merops pusillus 1999. 2201: 6 Bongor; 2901: 4 Mandelia 2000. 0702: 2 Katoa; 1202: 2 n. of Darda; 1302: 2 w. of Mandelia; 1902: 1 Mallo, Mandelia

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - Merops persicus 1999. 2801: 2 Mandelia 2000. 1202: 5 n. of Darda

Carmine Bee-eater - Merops nubicus 1999. 2301: 7 Bongor; 2701: 5 Bongor; 2901: 2 Mandelia; 0402: 12 Koundoul

2000. 0502: 3 Guelendeng-Bongor; 0902: 18 Mana, Bongor; 6 Bariam, Bongor; 40 Lifie, Bongor; 1002: 66 Kidim, Bongor; 2002: 3 Koundoul

Abbysinian Roller - Coracias abyssinica 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Blue-naped Mousebird - Urocolius macrourus 2000. 0902: 4 Bariam, Bongor; 1602: 9 w. of Mandelia; 2002: 4 Zetane river, Koundoul

Green Wood-Hoopoe - Phoeniculus purpureus 1999. 3001: 2 Logone Gana; 0202: 2 Malfana 2000. 0602: 1 Koumi; 0902: 1 Bariam, Bongor; 1002: 2 Kidim, Bongor; 1302: 4 w. of Mandelia; 1502: 4 w. of Mandelia; 1602: 22 w. of Mandelia; 1802: 3 Riguegué, Malfana; 2002: 2 Darda

Black Wood-Hoopoe - Phoeniculus aterrimus 2000. 1602: 4 w. of Mandelia

Hoopoe - Upupa epops 1999. 2301: 1 Koumi; 0202: 1 Malfana; 0302: 1 Mandelia 2000. 0602: 1 Koumi; 0902: 1 Bariam, Bongor; 1202: 3 n. of Darda; 1302: 3 w. of Mandelia; 1502: 6 w. of Mandelia; 1602: 5 Arbadji w. of Mandelia; 1702: 1 Malfana; 1902: 2 Gangang, Mandelia; 2002: 1 Zetane river, Koundoul

Abyssinian Ground Hornbill - Bucorvus abyssinicus 1999. 2401: Male, female and imm. Koumi; 2501: 2 adult Katoa 2000. 0602: 4 Katoa; 0802: Male, female and imm. Koumi; 1002: Male, female and imm. Lifie, Bongor; male, female and imm. Kidim, Bongor

Red-billed Hornbill - Tockus erythrorhynchus 1999. Common throughout study-area 2000. 0602: 1 Koumi; 0702: 4 Katoa; 0802: 5 Katoa; 1002: 30 Lifie, Bongor; 1102: 1 Guelendeng-Mandelia; 3 Kole Mara, Mandelia; 1202: 1 Darda; 1402: 20 Logone Gana; 1502: 4 w. of Mandelia; 1602: 8 Darda; 1702: 12 Malfana; 1902: 10 Dogo, Mandelia

African Grey Hornbill - Tockus nasutus 1999. 2401: 3 Koumi; 2701: 1 Katoa; 3001: 2 Logone Gana 2000. 0602: 5 Koumi; 0702: 2 Koumi; 1002: 1 Lifie, Bongor; 1902: 1 Dogo, Mandelia

Vieillot's Barbet - Lybius vieilloti 2000. 1202: 1 Darda

Grey Woodpecker - Dendropicos goertae 2000. 0902: 1 Lifie, Bongor

Chestnut-backed Finch-Lark - Eremopterix leucotis 1999. 0302: 20 Mandelia; 0402: 8 Koundoul 2000. 1602: 3 w. of Mandelia; 1802: 1 Riguegué, Malfana

Crested Lark - Galerida cristata 2000. 0702: 1 Katoa

Rufous-breasted Swallow - Hirundo semirufa 2000. 0902: 1 Mana, Bongor

Ethiopian Swallow - Hirundo aethiopica 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 1999 and 2000. Locally common throughout study-area

Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava 1999. Locally common throughout study-area 2000. 0402: 1 N'Djamena; 0602: 10 Katoa; 0902: 10 Mana, Bongor; 1102: 30 Kole Mara, Mandelia; 1202: 100 n. of Darda

White Wagtail - Motacilla alba 2000. 0402: 1 N'Djamena

Red-throated Pipit - Anthus cervinus 1999. 2301: 15 Bongor; 2601: 2 Katoa 2000. 0902: 1 Mana, Bongor; 1202: 50 n. of Darda; 2002: 6 Koundoul

Yellow-throated Longclaw - Macronyx croceus 1999. 0102: 2 Malfana

Common Bulbul - Pycnonotus barbatus 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Rufous Scrub-Robin - Cercotrichas galactotes 1999. 0202: 1 Malfana 2000. 0902: 1 Lifie, Bongor; 1202: 1 n. of Darda; 1602: 2 w. of Mandelia; 1702: 1 Malfana

Black Scrub-Robin - Cercotrichas podobe 1999. 0202: 2 Malfana 2000. 0802: 1 Guefné north of Bongor; 2002: 3 Zetane river, Koundoul

Spanish Wheatear - Oenanthe hispanica 2000. 1202: 4 n. of Darda; 1802: 2 Riguegué, Malfana

Northern Anteater Chat - Myrmecocichla aethiops 2000. 1502: 2 w. of Mandelia; 1902: 2 n. of Mandelia; 2002: 3 Zetane river, Koundoul Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 2000. 1702: Male singing Malfana

Olivaceous Warbler - Hippolais pallida 1999. 0502: 1 N'Djamena 2000. 0402: 1 N'Djamena

Tawny-flanked Prinia - Prinia subflava 2000. 0402: 4 N'Djamena

Green-backed Camaroptera - Camaroptera brachyura 2000. 0902: 11 Lifie, Bongor; 1102: 3 Kole Mara, Mandelia; 1202: 2 Darda

Willow Warbler - Pylloscopus trochilus 2000. 1502: 1 w. of Mandelia

Black-crowned Tchagra - Tchagra senegala 2000. 0902: 1 Bariam, Bongor; 1 Lifie, Bongor; 1502: 2 w. of Mandelia; 1602: 1 Arbadji, Mandelia

Yellow-crowned Gonolek - Laniarius barbatus 1999. 2901: 2 Mandelia 2000. 1002: 1 Lifie, Bongor; 1202: 2 Darda; 1502: 1 w. of Mandelia; 1902: 1 Dogo, Mandelia; 1 Mallo, Mandelia; 2102: 1 Darda

Yellow-billed Shrike - Corvinella corvina 2000. 0902: 1 Bariam, Bongor; 2 Lifie, Bongor

Great Grey Shrike - Lanius excubitor 1999. 2101: 2 Bongor; 2201: 1 Bongor; 2701: 6 Katoa 2000. 0602: 4 Koumi; 2 Katoa; 0702: 4 Katoa; 0902: 6 Mana, Bongor

Grey-backed Fiscal - Lanius excubitoroides 2000. 1402: 2 Holom

Common Fiscal - Lanius collaris 2000. 0502: 1 Bongor-Koumi; 0602: 6 Koumi

Brown Babbler - Turdoides plebejus 2000. 0902: 4 Bariam, Bongor; 20 Lifie, Bongor

White-shouldered Black Tit - Parus leucomelas 2000. 0902: 1 Lifie, Bongor

Fork-tailed Drongo - Dicrurus adsimilis 2000. 0902: 6 Bariam, Bongor; 4 Lifie, Bongor; 1702: 1 Malfana; 1802: 1 Riguegué, Malfana

Piapiac - Ptilostomus afer 1999. Locally common throughout study-area 2000. 0602: 31 Koumi; 0702: 80 Katoa; 0802: 20 n. of Koumi; 1002: 30 Lifie, Bongor; 1602: 20 Darda; 1702: 100 Malfana

Pied crow - Corvus albus 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling - Lamprotornis chalybeus 2000. 1002: 30 Lifie, Bongor

Chestnut-bellied Starling - Lamprotornis pulcher 2000. 1502: 20 Darda; 2002: 3 Zetane river, Koundoul

Long-tailed Glossy Starling - Lamprotornis caudatus 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Yellow-billed Oxpecker - Buphagus africanus 1999. 2301: 2 Bongor 2000. 0502: 1 Bongor-Koumi; 0602: 3 Koumi; 0902: 4 Bariam, Bongor

Pygmy Long-tailed Sunbird - Anthreptes platura 1999. 0102: Male and female Malfana

2000. 1502: 2 w. of Mandelia

Beautiful Sunbird - Nectarinia pulchella 2000. 0402: Male N'Djamena; 1502: 3 w. of Mandelia

Cut-throat Weaver - Amadina fasciata 1999. 2901: 5 Mandelia 2000. 0402: 2 N'Djamena; 0502: 1 Bongor-Koumi; 0902: 2 Bariam, Bongor

Black-rumped Waxbill - Estrilda troglodytes 1999. 2801: 2 Mandelia Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu - Estrilda bengala 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Red-billed Firefinch - Lagonosticta senegala 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Bar-breasted Firefinch - Lagonosticta rufopicta 1999 and 2000. Locally common in study-area

Sudan Golden Sparrow - Passer luteus 2000. 0902: 1 Lifie, Bongor

Village Weaver - Ploceus cucullatus 1999 and 2000. Common throughout study-area

Speckle-fronted Weaver - Sporopipes frontalis 2000. 0902: 2 Bariam, Bongor; 2 Lifie, Bongor

Buffalo Weaver - Bubalornis albirostris 1999. Locally common throughout study-area 2000. 0502: 50 N'Djamena-Mandelia; 4 Mandelia-Guelendeng; large colony Bongor-Koumi; 0602: 430 Koumi; 0802: 30 n. of Koumi; 1002: 300 Lifie, Bongor

Grey-headed Sparrow - Passer griseus 2000. 0902: 30 Bariam, Bongor; 1102: 10 Kole Mara, Mandelia; 1902: 1 Mallo, Malfana

Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah - Vidua orientalis 1999. 2701: 1 Katoa; 0302: 3 Mandelia; 0402: 2 Koundoul 2000. 0502: Male N'Djamena-Mandelia; male Mandelia-Guelendeng; 1102: Male Guelendeng-Mandelia;1202: 4 n. of Darda; 1502: 5 w. of Mandelia; 1802: 2 Riguegué, Malfana; 1902: Male n. of Mandelia; 2002: 1 Zetane river, Koundoul

Wilson's Indigobird - Vidua wilsoni 2000. 0602: 1 Koumi; 1 Katoa; 1602: 2 n. of Mandelia

Village Indigobird - Vidua chalybeata 2000. 1602: 1 n. of Mandelia; 2002: 1 Zetane river, Koundoul

Red-billed Quelea - Quelea quelea 1999 and 2000. Locally very common throughout study-area

Plate 9. Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus).

8.2 List of mammal observations Chad

Besides the observations of birds in the Logone area in Chad, there were some observations of mammals. These data were not systematically collected. For the identification we used Dorst and Dandelot (1993).

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) Four adults and two immatures were seen in the Chari river north of Darda on 12 February.

Striped Ground Squirrel (Euxerus erythropus) This species was seen on a number of days.

Green Vervet Monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) On 18 February 20 Vervet Monkey were observed in a small patch of woodland east of Malfana.

Patas (Cercopithecus patas) In the above mentioned patch of woodland east of Malfana 15 Patas were seen on 17 February.

Common Jackal (Canis aureus) On 13 February one Jackal was observed near Darda; on 14 February one near Malfana.

9 References

Barlow, C., T. Wacher & T. Disley 1997. A field guide to the Birds of The Gambia and Senegal. Pica Press, Sussex.

Bobo Kadiri, S. & B. Beladane 1998. Rapport sur le dénombrement d'oiseaux dans la zone de Waza-Logone. Waza-Logone Project and Ecole de Faune, Garoua, Cameroun.

Davis, T.J. (ed.) 1994. The Ramsar Convention Manual: a guide to the convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat. Ramsar Convention Bureau, Gland, Switzerland.

Del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott & J. Sargatal (eds.) 1992 - 2001. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1-6. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Dodman, T. (ed.) 1997. A preliminary waterbird monitoring strategy for Africa: incorporating the proceedings of the African Waterfowl Census Review and Development Workshop, Djoudj, Senegal, 6-10 February 1996. Wetlands International Publ. 43, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Dodman, T., C. de Vaan, E. Hubert & C. Nivet 1997. African Waterfowl Census 1997. Les Dénombrements Internationaux d’oiseaux d’eau en Afrique, 1997. Wetlands International. Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Dorst, J. & P. Dandelot 1993. Larger Mammals of Africa. HarperCollins, London.

Drijver, C. & J.C.J. van Wetten 1992. Sahel wetlands 2020; changing developmental policies on Sahel’s best resources. International Council for Bird Preservation.

Dijkstra, A.J., W. Ganzevles, G. Gerritsen & S. de Kort 2002. Waders and waterbirds in the floodplains of the Logone, Cameroon and Chad, January - February 1999. WIWO-report nr. 75, WIWO, Zeist, The Netherlands.

Ebbinge, B., A. St. Joseph, P. Prokosh & B. Spaans 1982. The importance of spring staging areas for the arctic breeding geese , wintering in Western Europe. Aquila 89:249-258.

Haltenorth,T., H. Diller & C. Smeenk. 1979. Elseviersgids van de Afrikaanse Zoogdieren. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

IUCN/CML 1994. Annual report Waza-Logone Project.

Kanyamibwa, S., A. Schierer, R. Pradel & J.D. Lebreton 1990. Changesin adult survival rates in a western European population of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia. Ibis 132:27-35.

Kort, S. de & M. van Weerd 1995. Birds of the Logone floodplain; impact assessment of periodical flooding on bird populations in the Waza Logone floodplain, Cameroon. Student report for the Waza-Logone project and the Centre of Environmental Science Leiden, Holland.

OAG Münster 1991. Report of the ornithological expedition to northern Cameroon. Biologische Station Münster, Germany.

Perlo, B. van 1995. Birds of Eastern Africa. Harper Collins, London.

Rose, P.M. & J-Y. Pirot 1990. The international waterfowl census in Africa, 1957-1985. IWRB special publication No 12. Slimbridge, UK.

Scholte, P.T., R. Azombo, E. Battokok, S. de Kort & M. van Weerd 1995. Waterfowl census Waza-Logone area, Far North Cameroon, February 1995. Waza Logone Project and Ecole de Faune Garoua.

Scholte, P.T., S. de Kort & M. van Weerd 1996. Birds of the Waza-Logone area, North Cameroon.

Scholte, P.T., S. de Kort & M. van Weerd 1999. The Birds of the Waza-Logone Area, Far North Province, Cameroon. Malimbus 21:16-50.

Scholte, P.S. 2000. Floodplain rehabilitation in Far North Cameroon, expected impact on birdlife. Ostrich (in press).

Scott, D.A. & P.M. Rose 1996. Atlas of Anatidae Populations in Africa and Western Eurasia. Wetlands International Publication No. 41. Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Smit, C.J. & T. Piersma 1989. Numbers, mid-winter distribution and migration of Wader populations using the Eastern Atlantic Flyway. In: H. Boyd & J-Y. Pirot (eds.) Flyways and reserve networks for waterbirds: 24-63. IWRB special publication 9. Slimbridge, UK.

Szep, T. 1995. Relationship between West-African rainfall and the survival of central European Sand Martins Riparia riparia. Ibis 137:162-168.

Urban, E.K., C. Hilary & S. Keith 1986. The Birds of Africa, Volume 2. Academic Press.

Wetten, J.C.J. van & P. Spierenburg (eds.) 1998. Waders and waterfowl in the floodplains of the Logone, Cameroon, January, 1993. WIWO-report nr. 67. WIWO, Zeist, The Netherlands.

WIWO 1999. Between Taymir and Table Mountain. Forward Plan 1999-2003. Foundation Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research (WIWO). WIWO, Zeist, The Netherlands.

Wolff, W.J. & C.J. Smit 1990. The Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania, as an environment for coastal birds. Ardea 78:17-38.

10 Appendices

10.1 Size, weight , moult score and fat score of the ringed Sedge Warblers.

Species Date moult score primaries wing tarsu fat weight 10 9 87654321tot. mm s mm scor g e Reed warbler 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 66 20.6 0 10.6 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 70 21.0 0 12.2 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 69 21.0 0 10.5 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 69 21.5 1 11.2 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 70 21.3 0 10.3 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 67 21.3 5 14.0 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 66 22.6 1 11.2 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 69 21.7 0 10.5 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 66 21.0 0 10.3 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 70 21.9 0 10.9 19-02-01 5 5 5555555550 65 21.3 0 10.0 19-02-01 5 5 5555555550 67 20.8 0 10.0 19-02-01 5 5 5555555550 70 23.0 0 9.5 19-02-01 5 5 5555555550 68 20.4 0 10.0 19-02-01 5 5 5555555550 65 20.4 0 10.0 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 69 21.4 0 11.8 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 66 22.6 0 11.2 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 69 20.6 5 12.5 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 65 20.8 0 10.6 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 69 22.3 0 11.3 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 71 25.5 0 12.1 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 64 20.4 0 10.7 20-02-01 0 4 4455555542 67 21.9 0 11.9 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 70 20.9 0 11.6 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 69 21.3 0 11.4 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 66 21.4 0 10.5 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 69 21.8 0 11.4 21-02-01 5 5 5555555550 68 22.1 0 10.4 21-02-01 5 5 5555555550 68 22.9 0 10.3 21-02-01 5 5 5555555550 67 21.9 0 12.5 21-02-01 5 5 5555555550 69 20.0 0 21-02-01 5 5 5555555550 70 21 0 10.5 22-02-01 5 5 5555555550 70 22.0 0 22-02-01 5 5 5555555550 70 21.1 0 14.9 22-02-01 5 5 5555555550 66 21.2 0 12.4 22-02-01 5 5 5555555550 68 21.7 0 14.2 22-02-01 5 5 5555555550 66 21.6 0 11.5

10.2 Size, weight , moult score and fat score of Reed Warblers.

Species Date moult score primaries wing tarsus fat weight 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 tot Reed Warbler 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 102 29.0 2 36.0 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 99 30.7 0 32.5 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 99 29.1 0 31.5 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 101 30.6 0 30.0 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 92 31.4 0 34.2 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 97 27.5 0 27.8 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 96 29.2 0 30.5 18-02-01 5 5 5555555550 103 29.5 0 32.5 19-02-01 5 5 5555555550 100 29.8 0 32.2 19-02-01 5 5 5555555550 99 30.2 0 32.0 19-02-01 5 5 5555555550 96 29.4 0 28.5 19-02-01 5 5 5555555550 80 27.9 0 26.3 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 97 29.0 3 32 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 96 28.9 0 27.0 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 100 30.1 0 32.5 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 98 29.4 0 33.5 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 100 28 0 31.5 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 98 29.6 0 31.0 20-02-01 5 5 5555555550 94 26.6 0 27.5 21-02-01 5 5 5555555550 92 28.2 0 27.5 21-02-01 5 5 5555555550 95 31.3 0 29.8 21-02-01 5 5 5555555550 92 30.5 0 25.4 21-02-01 5 5 5555555550 101 29.4 0 30.1 21-02-01 5 5 5555555550 99 29.8 0 27.4

10.3 Gazetteer

This gazetteer contains all the localities mentioned in the text. A geographical division is made by distinguishing two sub-areas: 1. The Logone floodplain in Cameroon between Yagoua in the south and Kalamaloue National Park in the north; 2. The Logone floodplain in Chad between Bongor in the south and N'Djamena in the north.

Cameroon Alaven Kalamaloue National Park Mazera

Bagaka Kapra Mazra Bagdassi Karam Mgoun Benoué Koualoum Moukak Chafa Kraska Mousgoun Dagun Lake Maga Ngaoundere Dawaya Logomatya Pouss Douala Logone river Raraf Doulo Lorome Sarassara Dourlsa Maga Sifna Gaiwa Mahoembla Tchede

Garle Malaya Tekele Garoua Maltam Waza Campement Gorome Mandabe Waza National Park Gouasani Mara Yagoua

Goubeni Marda Yaoundé Goubga Maroua Zimado

Guirvidig Maskalaye Zina Hetna Massa Zoung Holom Matkeu Iviye Mayo Vrick

Chad Ali Garga Gouaye Mandelia Ambodjo Gouwa Marmatodji Arbadji Guefné Marsamaye Arekolo Guelendeng Mayo-Kebbi Assa Souli Bozzo Hadadja Météné Bariam Holom Metete Basaga Katoa Moo Bathakewa Kidim Moulmoukou Belete Kole Mara N'Djamena Bongor Koufal Ouloum Boula Koumi Oundouma Budjoraye Koundoul Outoukotoko Chari river Lifie Outré Darda Logone Gana Riguegué Doga Logone river Teleme Doma Loumia river Toufgounou Dombala Magadji Tura Domo Malfana Yoyo Douvoul Mallo Zetane river

Gamal Mana Gangang Manamdjo

Other localities

Komadougou Yobe (Nigeria) Niger river Senegal river

10.4 List of abbreviations

CMEW Chadian Ministry of Environment and Water CML Centre for Environmental Studies Leiden IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature LCBC Lake Chad Basin Commission LNV Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries (Netherlands) PIN Programme of International Nature Management WIWO Foundation Working Group of International Wader and Waterfowl Research WLP Waza-Logone Project WWF World Wildlife Fund

10.5 Itinerary 2000

A. General, all (Dutch) members of the team

3101 Flight Amsterdam-Paris-Douala 0102 Flight Douala-Yaoundé-Ngaoundere-Maroua; meeting with WLP-co-ordinator Peter van der Jagt; preparations at Maroua 0202 Meeting with Cameroonian bird-census participants; preparations at Maroua

2302 Maroua; writing of tentative paper 2402 Maroua; writing of tentative paper 2502 Campement des Eléfants, Benoué 2602 Campement des Eléfants, Benoué 2702 Campement des Eléfants, Benoué; travel to Maroua 2802 Maroua; Flight to Douala-Paris-Amsterdam

B. Ringing team Cameroon

1502 Travel to Maga; preparation at ringing sites 16/1702 Catching and ringing of waders in rice-fields near Pouss 18/19/20/2102 Catching and ringing of passerines at a small marsh near Maga 2202 Travel to Maroua

C. Bird-census team Cameroon (Lake Maga and southern floodplain)

0302 Travel to Yagoua 0402 Bird-counts at Yagoua-Hetna, ricefields Yagoua and the Logone from Yagoua to Dourlsa; Lake Maga by pirogue 0502 Bird-count along the Logone from Yagoua to Pouss 0602 Bird-counts at Maga (polder) and along the road from Guirvidig to Pouss 0702 Bird-counts in rice-fields Maga (north and east) and Pouss (west) 0802 Bird-counts at rice-fields of Pouss (north) and Mousgoun Maga 0902 Bird-counts at rice-field of Mgoun-Tekele, at Lorome, Mazera, the floodplain of Tekele-Zina, Kraska and Mazra-Zina

1002 Bird-counts at Chafa, along the Logone to Iviye, along the logone form Holom - Doulo and Zina-Doulo-Goubeni 1102 Bird-counts at Bagdassi-Zina, Bagdassi-Garle, Dagun-Zoung and Mahoembla Zina 1202 Bird-counts at Kapra (Sarrassara) Zina, along the Logomatya from Koualoum tot Zina and at the depression of Koualoum 1302 Bird-count along the Vrick river, in the floodplain of Dawaya-Goromo, the floodplain of Goromo and the floodplain of Goromo to Maskalaye, at the deperession of Maskalaye and in the floodplain at Alaven 1402 Bird-counts in the floodplain from Alaven to Malaya, in the floodplains at Malaya and Massa 1502 Travel to Maroua 2402 Bird-counts at Goubga/Gaiwa and Diegueré 2502 Bird-counts at Tchede, Raraf, Sifna/Marda and Marda-Alaven 2602 Travel to Maroua

D. Bird census team Cameroon (Waza National Park and Northern floodplain)

0302 Travel to Kousseri 0402 Travel to Zimado; bird-counts at Zimado and Matkeu 0502 Bird-counts at Matkeu, at the depression of Gouasani, at Karam-west, and the transect of Karam-Bagaka-Iviye 0602 Bird-counts at Zilim-Mandabe and the surroundings of Zilim 0702 Bird-counts at Kalamaloue National Park 0802 Bird-counts at Kalamaloue National Park 0902 Bird-counts along the road Campement-Maltam-Waza 1002 Bird-counts at Waza National Park 1102 Bird-counts at Waza National Park 1202 Bird-counts at Waza national Park 1302 Bird-counts at Waza-Campement 1402 Travel to Maroua

E. Bird-census team Chad

0302 Travel by car to Kousseri 0402 Travel to N'Djamena. Visits to Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Ministry of Environment and Water. Preparations at N'Djamena (permits and papers). 0502 Preparations at N'Djamena. Travel to Bongor and Koumi 0602 Bird-counts at depressions near Koumi. Travel to Katoa. Bird-count at depression near Katoa 0702 Bird-counts at two depressions and the floodplain north and east of Katoa 0802 Travel to Bongor. Bird-counts at depressions and rice-fields north and north- east of Bongor 0902 Bird-counts at depressions north-east and east of Bongor 1002 Bird-counts at depressions north-east of Bongor 1102 Travel to Mandelia and Darda. Bird-counts at depressions of Kole Mara and along Chari river north of Darda 1202 Bird-counts along Chari river south of Darda and at depressions north of Darda 1302 Bird-counts at Logone-sidebranch, at depressions and along Loumia river, Logone Gana 1402 Bird-count by pirogue along Logone river between Logone Gana and Holom. Bird-counts at depressions near Doufoul and Holom 1502 Bird-counts at depressions west of Mandelia 1602 Bird-counts at depressions south-west of Mandelia

1702 Bird-counts at depressions and along Loumia river, Malfana 1802 Bird-counts at depressions north-west of Mandelia 1902 Bird-counts at depressions north-west of Mandelia 2002 Bird-counts along Zetane river and at depressions near Koundoul; preparation of preliminary results 2102 Travel to N'Djamena. Presentation of results at the Sector of National Parks and Nature Reserves and meeting with the Director-general of Lake Chad Basin Commission 2202 Travel to Maroua

10.6 List of WIWO-reports.

The WIWO-report series intends to be a regular medium by which occasional reports of ornithological expeditions or journeys can be published. In this way regular distribution and availability are guaranteed. Quality differences are accepted, since the authors remain responsible.

WIWO-reports published:

1. Altenburg W., M. Engelmoer, R. Mes & T. Piersma 1982. Wintering waders at the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania. Comm. 6 Wadden Sea Working Group. Leiden, The Netherlands. Sold out. 2. Kersten M., T. Piersma, C. Smit & P. Zegers 1983. Wader migration along the Atlantic coast of Morocco, March 1981. Texel, The Netherlands. € 12,- 3. Philippona J. 1985. Waterbirds at some wetlands in Turkey and Greece. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 1,75 4. Bijlsma R.G. & F.E. de Roder 1985. Waders along the coast of Thailand during November and December 1984. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 5. De Roder F.E. 1985. Waterbirds on some Turkish wetlands, October/November 1983. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 3,75 6. Van den Berk V., N. van den Berk, R.G. Bijlsma & F.E. de Roder 1985. The importance of some wetlands in Turkey for transient and wintering birds in Turkey. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 7. Piersma T. 1985. Wader studies and waterbirds in the Nakdong Estuary, South Korea, in September 1984. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 5,75 8. Chalabi B., J. Harrison & G. van Dijk 1985. Les zones humides du Nord-Est Algerien en 1984. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out 9. Ens B. 1985. Tussen Sahara en Siberië. Ewijk, The Netherlands. € 2,25 9. Ens B. 1985. Entre Sahara et Siberie. Ewijk, The Netherlands. Sold out. 10. Van den Berk V., D. van Dorp, O. van Hoorn & R. Vos 1986. Cranes and waterfowl counts of some Turkish wetlands. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 3,50 11. Van Dijk A.J., K. van Dijk, L. Dijksen, T. van Spanje & E. Wymenga 1986. Wintering waders and waterfowl in the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia, January-March 1984. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,- 12. Bijlsma R.G. & F.E. de Roder 1986. Notes on the birds of some wetlands in Turkey. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 13. Dijksen L.J. & F.J. Koning 1986. Mid-winter waterfowl census, Turkey 1986. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 14. Schilperoord L. & M. Schilperoord-Huisman 1986. Observations of waterbirds in some wetlands in Turkey, July/August 1986. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 3,50 15. Altenburg W. 1987. Waterfowl in West African coastal wetlands: a summary of current knowledge. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 16. Bennet C.A., R.G. Bijlsma & R. Stouthamer 1982. Survey of waterbirds on Egyptian wetlands, autumn 1981. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 17. Schekkerman H. & J.C.J. van Wetten 1987. An ornithological winter survey of Lake Turkana, Kenya. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 3,50 18. Dijksen L.J. & P. van der Wolf 1987. Mid-winter waterfowl census Turkey January 1987. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 3,50 19. Lensink R. 1987. Notes on the birds of some wetlands in North-East Greece and Turkey. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 3,50 20. Meininger P.L. (ed.) 1990. Birds of the wetlands in North-East Greece, spring 1987. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,- 21. Dijksen L.J. & A-M.C. Blomert 1988. Mid-winter waterfowl census Turkey, January 1988. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 22. Van der Have T., V.M. van den Berk, J.P. Cronau & M.J. Langeveld (eds.) 1988. South Turkey Project. A survey of waders and waterfowl in the Çukurova deltas, spring 1987. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 23. Altenburg W. & J. van der Kamp 1989. Etude ornithologique préliminaire de la zone côtière du nord-ouest de la Guinée. Joint report of WIWO and ICBP. WIWO-report 23, ICBP study report 30, Zeist, The Netherlands and Cambridge, England. Sold out. 24. Chalabi B. & G. van Dijk 1988. Les zones humides dans la region de Anaba et El Kala en Mai 1987. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 3,50 25. Ens B.J., T. Piersma, W.J. Wolff, L. Zwarts (eds.) 1989. Report of the Dutch-Mauritanian project Banc d'Arguin 85/86. WIWO-report 25, RIN-report 25, Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 26. Altenburg W., E. Wymenga & L. Zwarts 1992. Ornithological importance of the coastal wetlands of Guinea- Bissau. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 27. Ens B.J., T. Piersma, W.J. Wolff & L. Zwarts 1990. Homeward bound: Problems waders face when migrating from the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, to their northern breeding grounds in spring. WIWO-report 27, RIN-report 27, Zeist & Texel. € 25,- 28. Van Winden A., K. Mostert, P. Ruiters, M. Sıkı & H. de Waard 1989. Waders and waterfowl in spring 1988 at Eber Gölü. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 29. Van den Berg A.B. 1988. Moroccan Slender-billed Curlew survey, winter 1987-88. WIWO-report 29, ICBP-report

29, Zeist, The Netherlands and Cambridge, England. Sold out. 30. Keijl G.O., M.W.J. van Roomen, P.S. Ruiters & A. Wijker 1992. Migration of waders and other waterbirds along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, spring 1989. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 31. Dijksen L.J. & A-M. Blomert 1989. Mid-winter waterfowl census Turkey January 1989. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 32. Schekkerman H. & M.W.J. van Roomen (eds.) 1993. Migration of waterbirds through wetlands in Central Anatolia, spring 1988. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,- 33. Spiekman H. & N. Groen 1993. Survey of breeding waders and relations between breeding performance and lemming densities, North-East Taimyr, Siberia, 1992. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 34. Van den Berk V.M., J.P. Cronau & T.M. van der Have 1993. Waterbirds in the Van Province, eastern Turkey, May 1989. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,- 35. Altenburg W. & J. van der Kamp 1991. Ornithological importance of coastal wetlands in Guinea. Joint report of WIWO and ICBP. WIWO-report 35, ICBP study report 47, Zeist, The Netherlands & Cambridge, England. Sold out. 36. Van der Have T.M., S. van der Sant, Y. Verkuil & J. van der Winden (eds.) 1994. Waterbirds in the Sivash, Ukraine, spring 1992. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 37. Dijksen L.J. & A-M. Blomert 1993. Mid-winter waterfowl census Turkey January 1990. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,- 38. Spiekman H.W., G.O. Keijl & P.S. Ruiters (eds.) 1993. Waterbirds in the Kneiss area and other wetlands, Tunisia. Eastern Mediterranean Wader Project, spring 1990. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 39. Wolff W.J. (ed.) 1998. Waders in Guinea-Bissau, October 1992-May 1993. The end of the East Atlantic Flyway. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 40. Meininger P.L. & G.A.M. Atta (eds.) 1994. Ornithological studies in Egyptian wetlands 1989/90. WIWO-report 40, FORE-report 94.01, Zeist, The Netherlands. € 16,- 41. Schepers F.J. & E.C.L. Marteijn (eds.) 1993. Coastal waterbirds in Gabon. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,- 42. Hirschfeld E., S.A. Mohamed & T. Stawarczyk 1992. Bahrain wader study 1991. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 43. Brehme S., T. Müller & J. Redlich 1992. Bird observations in the Danube delta and in the Dobrodgea (Romania). Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 44. Spiekman H. 1992. Wader ringing in Tunisia 1962-1986. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 45. Hustings F. (ed.) 1994. Bird census in the Kızılırmak delta, Turkey, in 1992. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 46. Meininger P.L., P.A. Wolf, D.A. Hadoud & M.F.A. Essghaier 1994. Ornithological survey of the coast of Libya, July 1993. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,- 47. Groen N.M. & P.J. Zomerdijk (eds.) 1994. Waders and waterbirds along part of the Atlantic coast of Morocco, autumn 1991 - spring 1992. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 48. Kivit H.A., H. Nijmeijer & A. Ovaa (eds.) 1994. Wader and waterfowl migration in the Çukurova deltas, South Turkey, spring 1990. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 49. Hagemeijer W.J.M. (ed.) 1994. Wintering waterbirds in the coastal wetlands of Albania, 1993. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 50. Dijksen L.J. & M.C.M. Klemann 1994. Wintering geese in Turkey, January 1992. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,- 51. Gerritsen G.J. & N.M. Groen 1995. Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit project 1993. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 52. Vonk, H. 2003 Breeding Waders of Cape Wastochnia, Pyassina Delta, Taimyr, Russia, in 1994. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 53. De Nobel W.T. (ed.) 1995. Birds of the Messolonghi wetlands. Eastern Mediterranean Wader Project, spring 1990. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 54. Van der Have T.M., N. Baccetti, G.O. Keijl & M. Zenatello 1997. Waterbirds in Kneiss, Tunisia, February-March 1994. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 55. Schekkerman H. & M. van Roomen 1995. Breeding waders at Pronchishcheva Lake, Northeastern Taimyr, Siberia, in 1991. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 56. Van den Brink B., R.G. Bijlsma & T.M. van der Have (eds.) 1998. European Swallows Hirundo rustica in Botswana. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 57. Tulp I., L.W. Bruinzeel, J. Jukema & O. Stepanova 1997. Breeding waders at Medusa Bay, western Taimyr, in 1996. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 58. Van den Brink B., R.G. Bijlsma & T.M. van der Have (eds.) 1998. European songbirds and Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica in Ghana: a quest for Constant Effort Sites and swallow roosts in December/January 1996/97. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,- 59. Veerman T. & H. Wessels 1998. Cranes Grus grus in NW-Russia, autumn 1996. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 60. Willems F.J. & E. de Vries 1998. Ecological aspects of Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmeus in Prespa, Greece, May-August 1996. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 61. Tulp I., H. Schekkerman, T. Piersma, J. Jukema, P. de Goeij & J. van de Kam 1998. Breeding waders at Cape Sterlegova, northern Taimyr, in 1994. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 62. Keijl G.O., P.S. Ruiters, T.M. van der Have, A. bij de Vaate, E.C.L. Marteijn & R. Noordhuis 1998. Waders

and other waterbirds in the United Arab Emirates, autumn 1994 and spring 1995. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 63. Schepers F.J., G.O. Keijl, P.L. Meininger & J.B. Rigoulot 1998. Oiseaux d'eau dans le Delta du Sine-Saloum et la Petite Côte, Sénégal, janvier 1997. WIWO, Zeist, The Netherlands & Direction Parcs Nationaux du Sénégal, Dakar, Sénégal. Sold out. 64. Zekhuis M.J. & D. Tempelman (eds.) 1998. Breeding birds of the Albanian wetlands, spring 1996. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 65. Wieland A. 2000. Surveys of flora and fauna in the Senné fishponds area, Slovakia, spring 1997. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 66. Khomenko S., S. Rosenfeld & S. Dyluk 2000. Birds of Medusa Bay, NW Taimyr, in 1997. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 67. Van Wetten, J.C.J. & P. Spierenburg 1998. Waders and waterfowl in the floodplains of the Logone, Cameroun, January 1993. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 68. Keijl G.O., A. Brenninkmeijer, F.J. Schepers, R.E. Brasseur, A. Ndiaye, E.W.M. Stienen & J. Veen 2000. Oiseaux nicheurs sur les côtes du Parc National du Sine-Saloum et du Parc National Langue de Barbarie, Sénégal, 1998. WIWO-report 68, IBN-DLO-report 99/6. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 69. Exo, K.-M. & O. Stepanova 2000. Ecology of Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola breeding in the Lena Delta, The Sakha Republic/Yakutia, in 1997. Report on a pilot study. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,- 70. Overdijk O, C. de le Court & A. Gueye 2001. Spoonbill count on the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, January 2000. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 71. Van der Winden J., E.A. Diadecheva, W.T. de Nobel & M.W.J. van Roomen (eds.) 2001. Counts and ecology of waterbirds in the Sivash, Ukraine, August 1998. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,- 72. Van der Have T.M., G.O. Keijl, J. Mansoori & V.V. Morozov 2001. Searching for Slender-billed Curlews in Iran, January-February 2000. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 73. Geene R. (ed.) 2001. Waterbird count of Zanzibar and Pemba Islands, Tanzania, January 1998. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,- 74. Bos J.F.F.P., G.M. van der Geest, N.L.M. Gilissen, R.A.J. Pahlplatz, I. Essetti & F. Ayache 2001. Waterbirds in the Gulf of Gabès and other wetlands in Tunisia, autumn 1999. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 75. Dijkstra A.J., W. Ganzevles, G.J. Gerritsen & S. de Kort 2002. Waders and waterbirds in the floodplains of the Logone, Cameroon and Chad, January - February 1999. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 76. Heunks C. & E. Heunks 2002. Distribution and status of Great Bustards Otis tarda in the Konya Basin, Turkey, spring 2000. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,- 77. Willems F., C. van Turnhout, H. van Kleef & R. Felix (eds.) 2002. Breeding birds of Medusa Bay, Taimyr, Russia. Methods for biological monitoring in the Arctic, with results of 1998 and 1999. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 16,- 78. Klaassen R.H.G., H. Schekkerman, I. Tulp, M. Berezin, A.G. Bublichenko, J.N. Bublichenko, S.P. Kharinotov, S. Rosenfeld & S. Khomenko 2003. Monitoring and breeding ecology of arctic birds at Medusa bay, Taimyr, Russia, in 2000. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,- 79. Jalving, R.J.G. & R.T. Vos. 2003. Waterbirds in Lake Orumieh, Iran. September 2000. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 80. Deuzeman S.B.,T.M. van der Have T.M., W.T. de Nobel & B. van den Brink 2004. European swallows Hirundo rustica and other songbirds of wetlands in Ghana, December 1997. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 8,- 81. Hagemeijer E.J.M., C.J. Smit, P. de Boer, A.J. van Dijk, N. Ravenscroft, M.W.J. van Roomen & M. Wright 2004. Wader and waterbird census at the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, January 2000. Beek-Ubbergen, The Netherlands. € 12,- 82. Ganzevles W. & J. Bredenbeek (eds.) 2005. Waders and waterbirds in the floodplains of the Logone, Cameroon and Chad, February 2000. Beek-Ubbergen, The Netherlands. € 8,-

These reports can be ordered by paying the mentioned amounts for each required copy, plus € 7,- administration costs for each separate order of WIWO-reports, to postal giro account 2.666.009 or to ABN-Amro bank account 57.02.16.613 of Stichting WIWO, Utrecht, The Netherlands. It is important to mention the numbers of the required reports. Postage for surface mail is included in the prices. The administration costs are required to cover the bank costs for payments from abroad. They are not due for payments from Dutch accounts.

WIWO Foundation Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research

WIWO, a foundation under Dutch law, was established in 1983 to form a unifying centre for Dutch ornithologists participating in ornithological expeditions to West- Africa. The aims of WIWO are to initiate, stimulate and organise scientific research on waterbirds and wetlands worldwide and to transfer the gathered knowledge for the protection of the habitats and bird populations involved. WIWO is an organisation exclusively working with unpaid volunteers with a miscellaneous scientific background. The data collected in the field during WIWO-projects often require laborious efforts at home to evaluate, analyse and report them. Up to 2004 over 80 projects have been carried out in more than 20 countries.

During the expeditions much information has been collected on waterbirds in a large number of wetlands along the entire East Atlantic Flyway, the Mediterranean Flyway, the East-African Flyway, and in the Eurasian Arctic. Furthermore, information has been collected on function, importance and extent of protection and threats to the wetlands visited. WIWO's main role is to gather information that will provide a sound basis for the protection of the populations and areas concerned. The results are made available to all organisations and individuals active in nature conservation through a series of reports, as well as through scientific and popular papers. Up to 2004, over 80 reports have been published. WIWO does not act as co-ordinating organisation such as Birdlife International or IUCN. The main strength of WIWO is its capability to mobilize volunteers with a professional attitude for ornithological research expeditions.

All correspondence should be sent to

WIWO, Rijksstraatweg 178, 6573 DG Beek-Ubbergen, The Netherlands.

For more information, visit us at www.wiwo.org

Since 1991 several ornithological surveys and studies have been carried out in the Waza-Logone floodplain. A total of 346 bird species has been recorded since 1991. The most numerous waterbird species are White Pelican, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, White-faced Whistling Duck, Collared Pratincole, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit. For the resident species Black-crowned Crane the Logone floodplain is one of the last strongholds. For Collared Pratincole the area is one of the major wintering areas in Africa. Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler are very abundant as well as Barn Swallow. Annual counts of wintering waterbirds in the Lake Chad Basin Area in Cameroon (The Logone river and its floodplain) started in 1993 and showed the importance of the Logone floodplain for wintering waterbird species. The February 2000 census presented in this report counted nearly 230.000 waterbirds and waders in the floodplains on both sides of the Logone river in Cameroon and Chad. Waterbird numbers in the Lake Chad Basin Area have been increasing since 1995, indicating that the floodplain restoration of the Waza-Logone Project has a positive effect on waterbird habitat quality.

WIWO-report nr. 82 2005