Using information technology in the monitoring and conservation of Grey Crowned Cranes in Uganda

Jimmy Muhoozi Muheebwa Uganda Project Coordinator African Crane Conservation Project (ACCP)

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Implementing Partnership

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda There are 15 species of cranes in the world

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda 11 species are listed as Threatened or Endangered: 4 are in Africa (1st four)!

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Project name: Conserving cranes and wetlands in South Western Uganda Project Vision: Grey Crowned Cranes conserved and protected and contributing to cultural heritage and economic development of Uganda

Project Goal: To curb the decline of Grey Crowned Cranes in the species’ strongholds in Uganda (Kabale Wetlands, Bushenyi- Mitooma Wetlands, Kaku- Kiyanja Wetland and Kampala Wetlands

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda About the Grey Crowned Crane

The GCC is the national bird for Uganda

GCCs are wildlife on mostly outside protected areas; live with people

Therefore the Vision rymes well with our WWD theme – Harmonious living between Wildlife and people

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Background: The (Uganda) National Species Action Plan for the Grey Crowned Crane is in place In 2013, our crane monitoring data (plus that of other regional states) contributed to the up-listing of the GCC from Vulnerable to ENDANGERED. In 2018 Uganda had its National Species Action Plan approved and its objectives are: • To reduce adult and juvenile mortality of Grey Crowned Cranes • To reduce loss, fragmentation and/or degradation of habitats • To improve knowledge about Grey Crowned Cranes ecology • To enhance community livelihoods and support for Grey Crowned Crane conservation (our WWD 2019 theme)

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Background: GCC population Estimates (Regional)

Country 1985 1994 2006

Uganda 35,000 35,000 13,000– 20,000

Kenya 35,000 35,000 20,000– 25,000 Tanzania Low 1000s Several 1000s Low 1000s DRC 5000 5000 5000?? Rwanda 500 - 1000 100? 100? Now at about 400 Mozambique 100s – 1000s 100s – 1000s < 200

Burundi 400 - 600 100s 100s?

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda National population estimates District Total area (km2) Land area (km2) Crane density Total (per km2) Kalangala 9340 432 0.053 22.9 Kampala 181 169 0.053 8.96 Kiboga 4004 3872 0.053 205.2 Luwero 9198 8539 0.053 452.6 Masaka 6986 5531 0.269 1637.2 Mpigi 6278 4514 0.053 239.2 Mubende 6308 5949 0.053 315.3 Wakiso 14241 4594 0.053 243.5 Rakai 4973 3889 0.053 1045.1 Iganga 13114 4823 0.053 255.6 Jinja 734 677 0.053 35.9 Kamuli 4348 3332 0.053 176.6 Kapchorwa 1738 1738 - - Kumi 2861 2457 0.053 130.3 2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda GCC population estimates cont’d Mbale 2546 2504 0.053 132.7 Pallisa 1956 1564 0.053 83.0 Soroti 10060 8526 0.053 451.9 Tororo 2597 2336 0.053 123.8 Apac 6488 5887 0.053 312.0 Arua 7830 7595 - - Gulu 11735 11560 - - Kitgum 16136 16136 - - Kotido 13208 13208 - - Lira 7251 6151 0.053 326.0 Moroto 14113 14113 - - Moyo 5006 4668 - - Nebbi 2891 2781 - - 2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Background cont’d GCC pp’n estimates

Bundibugyo 2338 2097 0.035 123.9 Bushenyi (including 5396 4906 0.269 1319.7 Mitooma, Sheema , Rubirizi and Buhweju) Hoima 5908 3563 0.053 188.8 Kabale 1827 1695 0.269 450.0 Kabarole 8361 8109 0.053 429.8 Kasese 3205 2724 0.053 144.4 Kibale 4302 4208 0.053 223.0 Kisoro 662 620 0.269 166.8 Masindi 9326 8458 0.053 448.3 Mbarara (and Isingiro & 10839 10587 0.269 2841.9 Ibanda) Rukungiri (and 2753 2584 0.269 695.1 Kanungu) 2019/03/06Total 241,038Conserving Grey Crowned 197,096Cranes in South-western Uganda 13272.7 Identified threats to Grey Crowned Cranes in Uganda • Wetland degradation / shrinking • Crane deaths resulting from breeding habitats collision with communication and • Human presence and proximity power lines, Poisoning, hitting at crane sites cranes with objects • Hunting and trapping/ Crane • Egg collection capture for traditional use and • Trampling and egg crushing on trade nests and killing of young • Flooding wetlands • Climate Change • Reduced crane roosting sites • Diseases • Fires

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda How do we achieve the goal? Project Goal: To curb the decline of Grey Crowned Cranes in the species’ strongholds in Uganda

1. Developing effective methods of protecting breeding pairs, chicks and flocks - crane monitoring

2. Maintaining and improving the ecological integrity of wetlands

3. Improving the livelihoods of local communities.

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Developing effective methods of protecting breeding pairs, chicks and flocks: monitoring If we are to conserve Grey Crowned Cranes we must know: - How many are they currently? Any deviation from the baseline? - Where are they found? - Where do they prefer to be found and why? – case for GCCs - feeding, breeding and roosting habitats - What is the problem and where/ how and when is it affecting most? - What is the correct intervention?

- If an intervention doesn’t work do we have some adaptive management plan in place? 2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Monitoring has helped to determine crane distribution in Uganda – at least some baseline Geo-referencing points where cranes are seen as pairs, families, small and big flocks.

Crane locations against habitat

More concentration in the south and south western parts

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Focusing monitoring efforts on Kabale

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Crane monitoring

Crane monitoring means looking out for, counting and recording cranes and their attributes. We monitor to understand the following: • Crane numbers - population (numbers) and population trends • Crane distribution - where and when? • Crane breeding and breeding success • Crane sites and site status • Threats to cranes • Where possible trying to address the threats

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Monitoring cont’d

• In crane monitoring we must understand and/or be able to identify cranes; sometimes they are confused with other birds especially storks • We take note of the habitat where they are found and what they are doing - feeding, preening, resting, roosting • Time of the day – e.g. flocks are small in the morning and big in the evenings or at certain times of the month • Distance from you – estimate distance in metres • Weather conditions – GCCs are not easy to identify when it is raining or hazy • Count and record numbers – accurate counting is very essential; not estimating • Take GPS coordinates 2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Crane monitoring – cont’d

• Grey Crowned Cranes are non migratory – they engage in local movements within a few kilometres radius and normally return to their base = • Crane counting would best be achieved by conducting a National Crane Census but – EXPENSES are enormous especially if one is to fly and count from an aircraft. However, it reduces cases of double counting. Rwanda has done theirs • In South Africa they use other methods like Occupancy Modelling and quadrats; this needs extensive travelling to cover all the quadrats • In Kenya they are now physically counting – involving communities, NGOs and school children

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda The Fixed Route Survey (Survey 123) Developed in S. Africa after a long term monitoring protocol for large birds. It is a proven method to determine population trends • We select a representative route (preferably three different routes) that represents the broader area • Travel by vehicle maximum at 50km/hr • Stop every 2 km (set the car/ motorcycle speedometer at 0 reading at the start of the Fixed Route) • Scan both sides of the road to check for cranes and record what you see – zero or something (Fixed record) • If you see cranes between the 2 km interval , stop and record (intermediate record)

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Crane monitoring – the Survey 123 routes in Kabale

Our three Fixed Routes are: Route1. Kabale – Kisoro road (20 km) – this goes through the crane rich North Kiruruma valley Route 2. Kabale – Katuna road (19km) – goes through the South Kiruruma Valley Route 3. Kabale - Mbarara road (20 km) – goes through the crane rich spot at Kyanamira

The three routes were chosen on their basis of the being representative of the wider Kabale.

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Results 2018 - Fixed Route Survey on Route 1 (Kabale - Kisoro road)

Vehicle meter Site Name reading Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average Mutebile road 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0.727273 Majugo 2 48 24 36 44 54 67 58 60 50 42 39 47.45455 Bubare 1 4 2 10 2 12 2 2 4 11 2 4 7 5.272727 Bubare 2 6 4 0 4 6 2 0 4 4 4 0 0 2.545455 Ihanga 8 0 2 0 0 8 8 6 8 0 0 2 3.090909 Mukirwa 10 12 8 12 4 16 22 8 32 34 4 10 14.72727 Kebitakuri/ Kakore 12 46 52 46 40 48 50 46 52 48 40 41 46.27273 Karukaara 14 4 4 4 2 4 4 12 0 0 2 4 3.636364 Hamurwa 16 2 2 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 1.454545 Murutenga 1 18 6 8 6 2 2 4 6 3 2 4 8 4.636364 Murutenga 2 20 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 6 4 0 0 2.363636 Total 2019/03/06 128Conserving116 Grey114 Crowned112 Cranes in140 South-western161 Uganda150 178 146 96 113 132.1818 Survey 123 Results (2018) Kabale – Kisoro road

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Results – Fixed Route monitoring on Kabale – Katuna road

Vehicle Site Name meter Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average Chello Fuel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.181818 Kiniogo 2 35 38 31 33 40 54 51 39 36 29 27 37.54545 Hakitagata 4 2 4 2 2 2 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 Corner 6 2 3 3 3 0 3 2 0 2 1 1 1.818182 Hakashenyi 8 5 5 5 2 2 2 7 12 5 6 14 5.909091 Rwakihiirwa 10 8 8 16 14 12 8 6 4 4 4 6 8.181818 Hamabare 12 4 0 2 2 4 4 2 0 2 0 1 1.909091 Kyonyo 14 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 2 2 0.909091 Play ground 16 6 5 7 7 5 4 4 6 4 4 2 4.909091 Katuna 18 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.545455 Total 64 65 66 63 68 80 72 63 55 48 59 63.90909 2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Survey 123 Results 2018 (Kabale – Katuna road)

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Results – Fixed Route Monitoring on Kabale – Mbarara road

Vehicle meter Site Name reading Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average Butobere junction 0 4 4 0 2 12 4 5 8 5 4 6 4.909091 Kyanamira 1 2 168 135 152 68 148 188 197 203 168 125 195 158.8182 Kyanamira 2 4 22 10 2 71 4 8 10 25 55 55 4 24.18182 Rubbish site 6 6 11 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 0 2.181818 Mid hill 1 8 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.363636 Mid hill 2 10 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.363636 Kabalaga summit 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kaharo view 14 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0.909091 Kaharo 16 4 4 0 4 0 2 2 6 4 0 2 2.545455 Nyakigugwe 18 4 4 0 4 0 0 4 4 6 2 2 2.727273 Nkumbura 20 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 1.454545 Total 212 172 160 153 168 208 225 246 238 190 211 198.4545 2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Survey 123 (2018) results – Kabale – Mbarara road

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Breeding survey records Breeding monitoring in Kabale 2017/18

• A total of 34 Grey Crowned Crane were identified • Of the 34 pairs, 10 breeding pairs engaged in breeding in the 2017/18 breeding season • The 10 breeding pairs successfully fledged 18 juveniles. • The breeding success was 18/10 = 1.8

However, in the current surveys, breeding success takes into account all the pairs counted (breeding or not) hence making the success smaller than previously determined.

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Survey 123 Crane monitoring:

• Many pairs seen in October and November than in any other months = onset of breeding season • August – September is when we see numerous and largest flocks = attributable to period when juveniles have joined flocks, mate choice and getting ready for breeding • Fewer cranes seen December – March = Crane breeding season

• We have noted some pairs that have only been at sites (holding territory) but not engaged in breeding for a while now. We are looking for the possible causes of this – perhaps no adequate site, a lot of human disturbance, may be of same sex etc etc.

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Conclusions

• With Survey 123 we get more consistent and refined data - globally accepted • The survey is more scientific • The survey is software based and easy to analyse • Data is readily shared across the users • Monitoring effort is devoted on a specific area • Conservation interventions better suited for the area are designed • It is easy to conduct – we have a team of tem crane custodians who monitor with us. • However, it is quite expensive – need for a vehicle for meter reading • It also needs compliant gadgets – phone

• However, Grey Crowned Cranes numbers remain scientifically worrying • We need a bigger and dedicated team to monitor them

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda Cranes are important; join in to monitor them

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda