DOCSLIB.ORG

Cisticola Juncidis -- (Rafinesque, 1810)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Cisticola Juncidis -- (Rafinesque, 1810) Cisticola juncidis -- (Rafinesque, 1810) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PASSERIFORMES -- CISTICOLIDAE Common names: Zitting Cisticola; Cisticole des joncs; Fan-tailed Cisticola; Fan-tailed Warbler European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) At both European and EU27 scales this species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Belgium; Croatia; Cyprus; France; Greece; Italy; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Montenegro; Netherlands; Portugal; Serbia; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Turkey; Gibraltar (to UK) Vagrant: Austria; Bulgaria; Denmark; Ireland, Rep. of; Liechtenstein; Sweden; United Kingdom Population The European population is estimated at 922,000-2,140,000 pairs, which equates to 1,840,000-4,280,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 919,000-2,130,000 pairs, which equates to 1,840,000-4,260,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be stable. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology The species occupies open grasslands, including seasonally flooded and grassy wetlands, meadows, fallow lands and cultivated croplands and is occasionally found in urban areas. It prefers to forage in areas where there is Typha and Phragmites reedbeds and Salicornia saltmarsh as well as some bare ground, but breeding pairs require live, narrow-bladed grasses, sedges or plants with similar structure for nest-sites. It is usually found where vegetation is less than 1 m tall. It mostly breeds from March to September in Europe. The male builds the nest (Ryan 2006) low down in marshy vegetation and it is an elongated pear or bottle shaped structure with an entrance at or near the top. It is made of grasses bound together with cobwebs and lined with more cobwebs, flowers, hair and down. Usually four to six eggs are laid (Snow and Perrins 1998). It feeds mainly on insects and small invertebrates as well as some grass seeds. The species is largely resident throughout most of its range, but is subject to local movements often linked to seasonal changes in habitat suitability (Ryan 2006). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Aquatic - Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land suitable breeding Artificial/Aquatic - Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land suitable non-breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable non-breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable non-breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable non-breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable non-breeding Marine Intertidal - Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable breeding Marine Intertidal - Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable non-breeding Altitude max. 1000 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats The main threat to this species is habitat loss through drainage, irrigation, land reclamation and conversion of meadows to plantations. Winter conditions restrict its range and it is very sensitive to periods of cold weather (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997), however populations recover quickly after cold winters (Martí and del Moral 2004). The species is also likely to be affected by climate change (BirdLife International and Durham University 2015). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Agriculture & Agro-industry Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture plantations Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact Stresses Ecosystem conversion Climate change & Habitat shifting & Timing Scope Severity Impact severe weather alteration Future Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown Stresses Ecosystem degradation; Indirect ecosystem effects Climate change & Temperature Timing Scope Severity Impact severe weather extremes Past, Likely to Majority (50-90%) Causing/Could Past Impact Return cause fluctuations Stresses Species mortality Natural system Abstraction of Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications surface water Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact (agricultural use) Stresses Ecosystem conversion Natural system Abstraction of Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications surface water Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact (unknown use) Stresses Ecosystem conversion Natural system Other ecosystem Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications modifications Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact Stresses Ecosystem conversion Conservation Conservation Actions Underway There are currently no known conservation measures for this species. Conservation Actions Proposed Although this species is not threatened, populations should be monitored to ensure habitat loss does not become a major threat. Bibliography BirdLife International and Durham University. 2015. Species climate change impacts factsheet: Cisticola juncidis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19th March 2015. Martí, R. and del Moral, J.C. 2004. Atlas de las aves reproductoras de España. Parques Nacionales. Ryan, P. 2006. Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.). 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/58640 on 19 March 2015). Snow, D.W. and Perrins, C.M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Map (see overleaf) .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Impacts of Sheep Versus Cattle Livestock Systems on Birds of Mediterranean Grasslands Rita F
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Impacts of sheep versus cattle livestock systems on birds of Mediterranean grasslands Rita F. Ramos1,2*, João A. Diogo1,2, Joana Santana1,2, João P. Silva1, Luís Reino1,2, Stefan Schindler2,3,4, Pedro Beja1,2,5, Angela Lomba1 & Francisco Moreira1,6 Mediterranean pastures are experiencing strong changes in management, involving shifts from sheep to cattle-based livestock systems. The impacts of such shifts on biodiversity are still poorly understood. Here, we sought to contrast the grazing regime, vegetation structure, bird species richness and abundance, between sheep and cattle grazed parcels, to understand the mechanisms through which management decisions impact farmland birds. During spring 2019, we characterized livestock management, bird populations and sward structure in 23 cattle and 27 sheep grazed parcels. We used a Structural Equation Model to infer the direct and indirect efects of sheep and cattle grazing on birds. Although no efects were found on overall species richness, there were species-specifc responses to sheep and cattle grazed systems. Grazing pressure (variable integrating stocking rate and the number of days in the parcel) had negative impacts on the prevalence/abundance of Zitting Cisticola, Corn Bunting and Little Bustard, either directly or indirectly, through the efects of grazing pressure on vegetation height. Animal density and vegetation cover had direct positive efects in Galerida spp. and Common Quail, respectively. Zitting Cisticola and Little Bustard also showed a direct response to livestock type. Our study emphasizes the importance of grazing pressure as a driver of negative impacts for bird populations in Mediterranean grasslands. Since the ongoing transition from sheep to cattle-based systems involves increases in stocking rate, and therefore potentially higher grazing pressure, we propose a policy change to cap the maximum allowed grazing pressure.
    [Show full text]
  • Malawi Trip Report 12Th to 28Th September 2014
    Malawi Trip Report 12th to 28th September 2014 Bohm’s Bee-eater by Keith Valentine Trip Report compiled by Tour Leader: Keith Valentine RBT Malawi Trip Report September 2014 2 Top 10 Birds: 1. Scarlet-tufted Sunbird 2. Pel’s Fishing Owl 3. Lesser Seedcracker 4. Thyolo Alethe 5. White-winged Apalis 6. Racket-tailed Roller 7. Blue Swallow 8. Bohm’s Flycatcher 9. Babbling Starling 10. Bohm’s Bee-eater/Yellow-throated Apalis Top 5 Mammals: 1. African Civet 2. Four-toed Elephant Shrew 3. Sable Antelope 4. Bush Pig 5. Side-striped Jackal/Greater Galago/Roan Antelope/Blotched Genet Trip Summary This was our first ever fully comprehensive tour to Malawi and was quite simply a fantastic experience in all respects. For starters, many of the accommodations are of excellent quality and are also situated in prime birding locations with a large number of the area’s major birding targets found in close proximity. The food is generally very good and the stores and lodges are for the most part stocked with decent beer and a fair selection of South African wine. However, it is the habitat diversity that is largely what makes Malawi so good from a birding point of view. Even though it is a small country, this good variety of habitat, and infrastructure that allows access to these key zones, insures that the list of specials is long and attractive. Our tour was extremely successful in locating the vast majority of the region’s most wanted birds and highlights included Red-winged Francolin, White-backed Night Heron, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Western Banded Snake
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on the Ecology and Breeding Biology of the Golden-Headed Cisticola Cisticola Exilis
    VOL. 11 (1 ) MARCH 1985 AUSTRALIAN BIRD WATCHER 1985, 11 , 1-6 Notes on the Ecology and Breeding Biology of the Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis By DAVID C. McFARLAND, Department of Zoology, University of New England, Armidale, N .S.W. 2351 Summary Golden-headed Cisticolas Cistico/a exilis were obsetved in a mixed scrub and grassland habitat near Sydney, N.S.W. over two years. Tall grass made up most of the habitat used by the birds, with the scattered shrubs being important as nest sites. Densities ranged from 3.5 birds/ha in the non-breeding season to 6.5 birds/ha in the breeding season. Breeding occurred between October and February, with the overall reproductive success of the population being 32.1% (eggs to fledgelings). · Introduction Over a two-year period, observations were made of a number of bird species inhabiting the open forest and scrub-grassland habitats in Beverly Hills, Sydney (McFarland 1984 a,b). One of the most conspicuous species present in the scrub-grassland was the Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis. The following paper presents the results concerning the ecology (bird densities and habitat composition) and breeding biology (timetable of breeding activities and breeding success) of this species. The timing and duration ofbr~eding seasons of the Golden-headed Cisticola in Australasia is also examined and discussed. Study area and methods Cisticolas were studied in a three-hectare plot in Beverly Hills, New South Wales. The plot was bordered by a golf course, playing fields and Wolli Creek. Tall grass (10 - 60 em high) dominated the vegetation, with some scattered clumps of tea-tree Leptospermum juniperinum and Blackberry Bramble Rubus vulgaris.
    [Show full text]
  • (Orthotomus Sutorius) Parasitism by Plaintive Cuckoo
    Nahid et al. Avian Res (2016) 7:14 DOI 10.1186/s40657-016-0049-y Avian Research SHORT REPORT Open Access First record of Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) parasitism by Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) in Bangladesh Mominul Islam Nahid1,2, Frode Fossøy1, Sajeda Begum2, Eivin Røskaft1 and Bård G. Stokke1* Abstract The Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) is a widespread brood parasite in Asia, but no data on host species utili- zation in Bangladesh exist. By searching for nests of all possible host species of the Plaintive Cuckoo at Jahangirnagar university campus, north of Dhaka, we were able to determine which hosts were used in this area. We found that the Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) was the only potential host used by Plaintive Cuckoos, and parasitism rate was rather high (31.3 %, n 16). However, both host and cuckoo breeding success was poor (0 %, n 16) due to fre- quent nest predation. Details= on host and cuckoo egg appearance are provided. Our findings indicate= that Common Tailorbirds are common hosts of the Plaintive Cuckoo in Central Bangladesh. Keywords: Brood parasitism, Plaintive Cuckoo, Cacomantis merulinus, Common Tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius, Bangladesh Background brood parasites, the first key information is to provide Several avian brood parasites appear to be generalists at background data on host use in various parts of their the species level, utilizing a range of host species. Such range. parasites, however, may consist of several host specific The Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) is an races (also called gentes), each utilizing one or a few interspecific obligatory brood-parasitic bird, with a host species (de Brooke and Davies 1988; Moksnes and wide range in south and south-east Asia (Becking 1981; Røskaft 1995; Davies 2000; Gibbs et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Bontebok Birds
    Birds recorded in the Bontebok National Park 8 Little Grebe 446 European Roller 55 White-breasted Cormorant 451 African Hoopoe 58 Reed Cormorant 465 Acacia Pied Barbet 60 African Darter 469 Red-fronted Tinkerbird * 62 Grey Heron 474 Greater Honeyguide 63 Black-headed Heron 476 Lesser Honeyguide 65 Purple Heron 480 Ground Woodpecker 66 Great Egret 486 Cardinal Woodpecker 68 Yellow-billed Egret 488 Olive Woodpecker 71 Cattle Egret 494 Rufous-naped Lark * 81 Hamerkop 495 Cape Clapper Lark 83 White Stork n/a Agulhas Longbilled Lark 84 Black Stork 502 Karoo Lark 91 African Sacred Ibis 504 Red Lark * 94 Hadeda Ibis 506 Spike-heeled Lark 95 African Spoonbill 507 Red-capped Lark 102 Egyptian Goose 512 Thick-billed Lark 103 South African Shelduck 518 Barn Swallow 104 Yellow-billed Duck 520 White-throated Swallow 105 African Black Duck 523 Pearl-breasted Swallow 106 Cape Teal 526 Greater Striped Swallow 108 Red-billed Teal 529 Rock Martin 112 Cape Shoveler 530 Common House-Martin 113 Southern Pochard 533 Brown-throated Martin 116 Spur-winged Goose 534 Banded Martin 118 Secretarybird 536 Black Sawwing 122 Cape Vulture 541 Fork-tailed Drongo 126 Black (Yellow-billed) Kite 547 Cape Crow 127 Black-shouldered Kite 548 Pied Crow 131 Verreauxs' Eagle 550 White-necked Raven 136 Booted Eagle 551 Grey Tit 140 Martial Eagle 557 Cape Penduline-Tit 148 African Fish-Eagle 566 Cape Bulbul 149 Steppe Buzzard 572 Sombre Greenbul 152 Jackal Buzzard 577 Olive Thrush 155 Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk 582 Sentinel Rock-Thrush 158 Black Sparrowhawk 587 Capped Wheatear
    [Show full text]
  • Hotel Spoonbill's Bird Checklist at Keoladeo Ghana National Park
    Hotel Spoonbill’s Bird Checklist at Keoladeo Ghana National Park Common Name Zoological Name Phasianidae: Francolins, Quails, Partridges and Pheasants Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Rain Quail Coturnix coromandelica Jungle Bush Quail Perdicula asiatica Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Dendrocygnidae: Whistling-ducks Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendocygna javanica White headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris Anatidae: Geese and Ducks Greater white-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus Greylag Goose Anser anser Bar-headed Goose Anser Indicus Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus Gadwall Anas strepera Falcated Teal Anas falcata Eurasian Wigeon Anas Penelope Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Northern Pintail Anas acuta Garganey Anas querquedula Baikal Teal Anas formosa Common Teal Anas crecca Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina Common Pochard Aythya ferina Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca Baer's Pochard Aythya baeri Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Greater Scaup Aythya marila Smew Mergellus albellus Common Merganser Mergus merganser Turnicidae: Buttonquails Yellow-legged Buttonquail Turnix tanki Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator Picidae: Woodpeckers Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos nanus Yellow-crowned
    [Show full text]
  • Jun2013 Newsletter.Pub
    June 2013 Understanding Avian Diversity At the June 17 meeting, Oklahoma City Audubon Society president Bill Diffin will present a program titled, The Phylogeny of Birds — Understanding Avian Diversity . There are about 10,000 bird species in the world more than half of which are contained in only one of the 29 bird Orders, the Passeriformes. The entire class, Aves, contains more species than any other class of land vertebrates. Therefore a good subtitle for the program is: Where did all those species come from and how are they related? The word "phylogeny" has a very similar meaning to the word "genealogy." A phylogeny represents the ancestral relations among a set of species the same way that a genealogy represents the ancestral relations among a set of people. For many years scientific efforts to create a phylogeny for birds were beset by some vexing problems. The similarities in birds frustrated attempts to formally compare groups in such a way as to reveal their same or different ancestries. The problems in determining the detailed relationships of birds from physical comparisons proved to be so intractable that scientists turned to comparisons of DNA sequences as their primary approach, a method known as molecular phylogenetics. The initial effort, the Sibley-Ahlquist DNA-DNA hybridization studies, produced results that were both revolutionary and controversial. The technology of DNA sequencing and of transforming the sequences into reasonable phylogenetic trees have steadily advanced over the past 20 years aided considerably by advances in computing capability. The result has been a series of ever more precise phylogenetic studies.
    [Show full text]
  • EUROPEAN BIRDS of CONSERVATION CONCERN Populations, Trends and National Responsibilities
    EUROPEAN BIRDS OF CONSERVATION CONCERN Populations, trends and national responsibilities COMPILED BY ANNA STANEVA AND IAN BURFIELD WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM CONTENTS Introduction 4 86 ITALY References 9 89 KOSOVO ALBANIA 10 92 LATVIA ANDORRA 14 95 LIECHTENSTEIN ARMENIA 16 97 LITHUANIA AUSTRIA 19 100 LUXEMBOURG AZERBAIJAN 22 102 MACEDONIA BELARUS 26 105 MALTA BELGIUM 29 107 MOLDOVA BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 32 110 MONTENEGRO BULGARIA 35 113 NETHERLANDS CROATIA 39 116 NORWAY CYPRUS 42 119 POLAND CZECH REPUBLIC 45 122 PORTUGAL DENMARK 48 125 ROMANIA ESTONIA 51 128 RUSSIA BirdLife Europe and Central Asia is a partnership of 48 national conservation organisations and a leader in bird conservation. Our unique local to global FAROE ISLANDS DENMARK 54 132 SERBIA approach enables us to deliver high impact and long term conservation for the beneit of nature and people. BirdLife Europe and Central Asia is one of FINLAND 56 135 SLOVAKIA the six regional secretariats that compose BirdLife International. Based in Brus- sels, it supports the European and Central Asian Partnership and is present FRANCE 60 138 SLOVENIA in 47 countries including all EU Member States. With more than 4,100 staf in Europe, two million members and tens of thousands of skilled volunteers, GEORGIA 64 141 SPAIN BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, together with its national partners, owns or manages more than 6,000 nature sites totaling 320,000 hectares. GERMANY 67 145 SWEDEN GIBRALTAR UNITED KINGDOM 71 148 SWITZERLAND GREECE 72 151 TURKEY GREENLAND DENMARK 76 155 UKRAINE HUNGARY 78 159 UNITED KINGDOM ICELAND 81 162 European population sizes and trends STICHTING BIRDLIFE EUROPE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION.
    [Show full text]
  • Okinawa Custom Tour 14Th – 17Th April, 2016
    Okinawa Custom tour 14th – 17th April, 2016 Tour leader: Charley Hesse Report and photos by Charley Hesse. (All photos were taken on this tour) The endangered endemic Okinawa Rail is a ‘must see’ on the island (Charley Hesse) This short custom extension was run prior to the Taiwan set departure tour. We just visited the main island of Okinawa where we concentrated on the forested north of the island with the local name ‘Yambaru’. Our main targets were the endemic Okinawa Woodpecker & Okinawa Rail, the latter only described as recently as 1981. We saw both easily, but we were also happy to see the endemic Ryukyu Robin & Ryukyu Minivet and several Ryukyu endemic subspecies, including Japanese & Ryukyu Scops-Owls, Whistling Green-Pigeon and Japanese Wood-Pigeon. We enjoyed fantastic birding and some great night excursions on which we saw several owl species, woodcock, the rare Ryukyu long-furred rat and beautiful Akamata snake. Our lodge was perfectly located in the native forests with all the targets on our doorstep. We were lucky to have the lodge to ourselves and the very friendly and helpful staff cooked us some wonderful Japanese food. After cleaning up in the north, we birded our way back to the capital Naha, hitting several areas of rice paddies and mudflats on the way back. We saw several interesting species such as Ruddy-breasted Crake, Yellow Bittern plus the endangered East Asian endemic Black-faced Spoonbill. Tropical Birding www.tropicalbirding.com 1 14th April – Naha to Yambaru On arrival in Okinawa, we began our drive north. We left the concrete sprawl of Naha and drove along beautiful coasts towards the forested hills near Kunigami village, or its local name ‘Yambaru’.
    [Show full text]
  • Emergency Plan
    Environmental Impact Assessment Project Number: 43253-026 November 2019 India: Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Program – Project 2 Vijayanagara Channels Annexure 5–9 Prepared by Project Management Unit, Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Program Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd. for the Asian Development Bank. This is an updated version of the draft originally posted in June 2019 available on https://www.adb.org/projects/documents/ind-43253-026-eia-0 This environmental impact assessment is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section on ADB’s website. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Annexure 5 Implementation Plan PROGRAMME CHART FOR CANAL LINING, STRUCTURES & BUILDING WORKS Name Of the project:Modernization of Vijaya Nagara channel and distributaries Nov-18 Dec-18 Jan-19 Feb-19 Mar-19 Apr-19 May-19 Jun-19 Jul-19 Aug-19 Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19 Dec-19 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Jul-20 Aug-20 Sep-20 Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 S. No Name of the Channel 121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121 2 PACKAGE
    [Show full text]
  • SOUTH AFRICA: LAND of the ZULU 26Th October – 5Th November 2015
    Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: October/November 2015 A Tropical Birding CUSTOM tour SOUTH AFRICA: LAND OF THE ZULU th th 26 October – 5 November 2015 Drakensberg Siskin is a small, attractive, saffron-dusted endemic that is quite common on our day trip up the Sani Pass Tour Leader: Lisle Gwynn All photos in this report were taken by Lisle Gwynn. Species pictured are highlighted RED. 1 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected] Page Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: October/November 2015 INTRODUCTION The beauty of Tropical Birding custom tours is that people with limited time but who still want to experience somewhere as mind-blowing and birdy as South Africa can explore the parts of the country that interest them most, in a short time frame. South Africa is, without doubt, one of the most diverse countries on the planet. Nowhere else can you go from seeing Wandering Albatross and penguins to seeing Leopards and Elephants in a matter of hours, and with countless world-class national parks and reserves the options were endless when it came to planning an itinerary. Winding its way through the lush, leafy, dry, dusty, wet and swampy oxymoronic province of KwaZulu-Natal (herein known as KZN), this short tour followed much the same route as the extension of our South Africa set departure tour, albeit in reverse, with an additional focus on seeing birds at the very edge of their range in semi-Karoo and dry semi-Kalahari habitats to add maximum diversity. KwaZulu-Natal is an oft-underrated birding route within South Africa, featuring a wide range of habitats and an astonishing diversity of birds.
    [Show full text]
  • Predictions of the Effects of Global Climate Change on Britain's Birds Stephen Moss
    British Birds Established 1907; incorporating 'The Zoologist', established 1843 Predictions of the effects of global climate change on Britain's birds Stephen Moss ABSTRACT Global climate change is no longer speculation, but reality. It will have unprecedented effects on Britain's weather and climate, and on habitats, ecosystems and the flora and fauna which comprise them, including birds. As a result, during the next century there are likely to be major changes in our avifauna: range extensions and contractions, rises and declines in populations, new colonists and extinctions as British breeding birds. Global warming will also affect patterns of migration, wintering and vagrancy, with long-distance migrants particularly at risk. In order to deal with the new challenges posed by climate change, our current conservation strategy will have to shift rapidly and radically. Whole ecosystems may have to be relocated or in some cases created from scratch, in order to deal with loss of habitat and changes in range. Whether or not this will ultimately prove successful it is still too early to say. [Brit. Birds 91: 307-325, August 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 307 308 Moss: The effects of global climate change Global climate change, as a result of mankind's profligate misuse of natural resources, is no longer mere speculation, but an objective, proven reality. In the carefully chosen words of the 1995 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 1996): 'The balance of evidence now suggests that there is a discernible human influence on global climate.' The evidence for this is as follows: • Since the late nineteenth century, global surface temperatures have increased by 0.3°-0.6°C.
    [Show full text]