Raptor Road Survey of Northern Kenya: Photo Supplement

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Raptor Road Survey of Northern Kenya: Photo Supplement Raptor Road Survey of northern Kenya: Photo supplement The team (L to R): Martin Odino, Safo Ogom, Peter Wairasho, George Karumbo, Darcy Ogada and Ben Mugambi. Photo M. Odino. Far left: the team counting vultures at Ololokwe. Photo B. Mugambi. Left: Ben and Peter in route. L to R: Blue Diederik’s Cuckoo, Kori Bustard with red neck, Chestnut-backed Sparrow Lark with club foot. All between Huri Hills to Forolle. L to R: Egyptian Vulture in Forolle, Fox Kestrel near Darate, Greater Kestrel race fieldi? in Chalbi desert. 1 L to R: Grasshopper Buzzard near Turbi, Lappet-faced Vulture at Forolle, Swallow-tailed Kite in Sibiloi L to R: Masked Lark in Forolle, Northern Carmine Bee-eater at Illeret, Rüppell’s Robin Chat Marsabit L to R: Pale Chanting Goshawk at Ololokwe, Pearl-spotted Owlet in Moyale, Juvenile Egyptian Vulture in Chalbi desert. L to R: Greater Kestrel near Sibiloi, Red-necked Falcon near Lake Turkana, Rüppell’s Vulture at Ololokwe. 2 Helmeted Guineafowl race meleagris, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, all from Huri Hills. Red-winged Lark and Spotted Thick-knees in Huri Hills. Thekla Lark near Forolle. White-crowned Starling in Chalbi desert, Donaldson-Smith’s Sparrow Weaver in Sibiloi NP, Abyssinian Roller at Illeret. 3 Rüppell’s agama, Kenya red-headed rock agama both on way to Forolle. Red-spotted beaked snake near Turbi. Magpie Starling in Illeret, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse southern Turkana, Red-headed Weaver in Ololokwe. Heughlin’s Bustard near Sibiloi and Dwarf Raven at Ndotos Common jackal in Sibiloi NP and Desert warthog near Moyale. 4 Top row: photographing at Ngurunit (photo M. Odino), Dassinach boys, Turkana woman Second row: Turkana women, local transport at Laisamis Third row: playing football at Loyangalani, children at Ngurunit Bottom row: children at Ngurunit, local transport at Illeret, Samburu moran 5 Top row: manyatta roofed with cartons, houses Loyangalani Second row: Gabbra houses Third row: house at Turbi, Darate AP camp, house Loyangalani Fourth row: our camp Gaas, on the road at Forolle Bottom row: sunset Huri Hills 6 .
Recommended publications
  • Rock Kestrel
    264 Falconidae: falcons and kestrels brooding young. Therefore the small increase in reporting rates in six of the eight Zones during winter is probably related to seasonal changes in conspicuousness, rather than to any large- scale influx of migrants from outside the region. Reporting rates for the Tarkastad district, for example, increased during winter, while direct observation showed that over half of the population actually left the area (Van Zyl 1994b). Although the models do not suggest movements within southern Africa, a more detailed analysis of Rock Kestrel movements in South Africa, largely based on a more refined examination of atlas reporting rates, suggested a northerly and easterly movement away from south- western breeding areas during winter (Van Zyl et al. 1994). Breeding: Breeding was recorded in all Zones, mainly September–January, peaking October–December. There are no obvious seasonal differences between the Zones, although in the eastern Cape Province (Zone 8) it bred slightly later than in the rest of the region. Interspecific relationships: It overlaps widely with Greater and Lesser Kestrels in southern Africa. It moves into the eastern grassland habitats most exploited by the Lesser Kestrel during the winter when that species is absent (Van Zyl et al. 1994). Historical distribution and conservation: Boshoff et al. (1983) found no difference in distribution in the Cape Prov- ince, comparing the periods 1700–1969 and 1970–79. The distrib- ution map similarly shows no change in distribution, the species being largely absent from the central Kalahari regions and the far northeast during all three time periods, although the map shows Rock Kestrel many more records from the western Karoo, presumably due to Rooivalk better coverage.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Systematics and Evolution of Kestrels
    Cambridge University Press 978-1-108-47062-9 — The Kestrel David Costantini , Giacomo Dell'Omo Excerpt More Information 1 Systematics and Evolution of Kestrels 1.1 Chapter Summary The family Falconidae constitutes a group of small to medium-sized diurnal raptors whose monophyly is strongly supported. Kestrels are included in the subfamily Falconinae. There are at least 13 species that belong to the kestrel group, but recent genetic studies suggest that the number of kestrel species might be larger, possibly 16. The paleontological and molecular evidence is congruent in suggesting an evolutionary radiation of kestrels from the Late Miocene (4.0–9.8 million years ago) through the Early Pleistocene. However, the geographic area where kestrels originated and dispersed from is unclear. 1.2 Diversification of Falcons The Falconidae is a monophyletic family of diurnal birds of prey that occupy a wide variety of ecological niches and geographic regions (White et al., 1994). Three subfamilies are currently recognised and their validity is supported by both molecular and morphological data (Griffiths, 1999; Griffiths et al., 2004; Fuchs et al., 2012, 2015): (i) Falconinae (falcons, falconets and kestrels), (ii) Herpetotherinae (forest falcons Micrastur sp. and laughing falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans) and (iii) Polyborinae (caracaras) (Figure 1.1). Dickinson (2003) has recognised 11 genera and 64 species of Falconidae, but figures can vary slightly across authors. Both the Herpetotherinae and the Polyborinae occur only in the New World, while the Falconinae (the subfamily to which kestrels belong) are widespread across both the New and Old World with 46 species, 40 of which belong to the genus Falco (Fuchs et al., 2015).
    [Show full text]
  • NESTING of the GREATER KESTREL <I>FALCO RUPICOLOIDES</I> in ZAMBIA
    NESTING OF THE GREATER KESTREL FALCO R UPICOLOIDES IN ZAMBIA by TimothyO. Osborne AlaskaDepartment of Fish and Game Box 155 Galena, Alaska 99741 and ]. F. R. Colebrook-Robjent Musumanene Box 303 Choma Zambia Abstract Breedingdata were obtainedfrom 10 pairs of Greater Kestrelsat Minyanya Plain, Zambia,during September 1975. Black Crow nestswere the only nestingplatforms uti- lized,and we concludedthat they were acquiredaggressively by the kestrel.Sixty % of the nestskestrels used had beenbuilt by crowsduring the 1975 seasonindicating a fre- quentoccurrence of nestpiracy. Incubationwas undertakenby the female which was very shyon the nest.The distancebetween nests averaged 2.3 km, slightlymore than the distancebetween all crownests. The breedingdistribution and nestingdensity of the GreaterKestrel in Zambiais directly influencedby the distributionand densityof the Black Crow. Introduction Bensonet al. (1971)summarized the distributionof the GreaterKestrel (Falco rupico- loides)in Zambiaand notedthat there were no breedingrecords. Aspinwall (1979) re- cordedthe firstnest of the speciesin Zambiawhich contained 4 fresheggs on 30 August 1974 at Mitashi Plain (13ø35'S.,22ø50'E.), western Zambezi (formerly Balovale)Dis- trict. The eggswere laid in an old nestof a BlackCrow (Corvuscapensis). The statusof the GreaterKestrel in Zambiahas been discussedbriefly in a previouspaper (Osborne and Colebrook-Robjent1980). This paperpresents breeding data on an undisturbedpop- ulationof GreaterKestrels at MinyanyaPlain, Zambia. StudyArea and Methods MinyanyaPlain (13ø09'S.,22ø23'E.) is a watershedLoudetia grassland lying between the North and South KashijiRivers in ZambeziDistrict, North-Western Province, Zambia. The plain,approximately 1150 m above sealevel, is borderedon the northby the North Kashijifloodplain; to the southand westby brokenstands of Diplorhynchuswoodland and to the eastby degradedKalahari (Baikiaea) woodland.
    [Show full text]
  • The Fox Kestrel &Lpar;<I>Falco Alopex</I>&Rpar; Hovers
    LETTERS j RaptorRes. 36(3):236-237 ¸ 2002 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc. TH• Fox KESTREL(FALCO ALOPEX) Hovgp, s Althoughtypically considered related and similarto other kestrels(Falco spp.), the little-known,Sahel-endemic Fox Kestrel(Falco alopex) seems to exhibitsome unusual morphological traits and behaviors.Reports have been particu- larly contradictoryconcerning the hoveringability of this species.For example,"Is misnamed'kestrel' as has few kestrel-likehabits. Normally, in opencountry perches on trees,and catches prey by short swoop from perchto ground; doesnot hover.In generalbehaviour more a long-winged,long-tailed falcon than kestrel." (Brownet al. 1982,The b•rdsof Africa,Vol. 1, AcademicPress, London, U.K.), or "... long narrowpointed wings and, tbr falcon,excep- tionallylong graduatedtail givingatypical kestrel shape, more like long-tailedhobby" and "Rarely,if ever,hovers" (Ferguson-Leesand Christie2001, Raptors of the world,A&C Black,London, U.K.). Anotherdescription is "Long, broadwings and graduatedtail suggestbuoyant flight and good hoveringability" (del Hoyo,J., A. Elliott, andJ. Sargatal[EDs.]. 1994, Handbook of the birdsof the world.Vol. 2. LynxEdicions, Barcelona, Spain). A buoyant,slow fl•ght mode was previouslyhypothesized by Cade (1982, The falcons of the world, Cornell Univ. Press,Ithaca, NY, U.S.A.),who addedthat "certainlymore observationsare neededbefore one can be sureabout all of its hunting and flying characteristics." Hovering occursin distantly-relatedraptors, including in someFalconidae and someAccipitridae, certainly as a resultof convergentevolution. However, hovering has been usedas a behavioraltrait indicatingphylogeny (Boyce and White 1987,Pages 1-21 in D.M. Bird and R. Bowman[EDs.], The ancestralkestrel, J. RaptorRes. Rep. No. 6). Specifically,hovering is thought to be a derivedtrait.
    [Show full text]
  • Namibia Birding and Nature Tour September 13-25, 2014 Tour Species List
    P.O. Box 16545 Portal, AZ. 85632 PH: (866) 900-1146 www.caligo.com [email protected] [email protected] www.naturalistjourneys.com Naturalist Journeys: Namibia Birding and Nature Tour September 13-25, 2014 Tour Species List Dalton Gibbs of Birding Africa and Peg Abbott of Naturalist Journeys, with five participants: Andrea, Alex, Ty, Mimi, and Penny BIRDS Common Ostrich – Seen regularly in the first days of the trip in open terrain, strutting through just amazing landscapes with colorful escarpments amid seas of arid grassland. Numerous at Etosha, we could view their dominance behaviors and also some courting display, some of the males were starting to get very red necks and legs as they came into prime condition. Helmeted Guineafowl – Widespread and regularly seen throughout the journeys. The most tame were at Weltevrede where they posed on the gate, strutted about the farm and serenaded us at the end of each day. They came into the waterholes of Etosha in large groups, 20-50 at a time, vocal and jumpy, always alert. One by the roadside on the last day made this an everyday species for the trip. Red-billed Spurfowl – first seen in a wash as we approached Remhoogte Pass, coming off the escarpment onto the coastal plain on the first day from Windhoek. Widespread – seen on seven days of the trip, in all but our most arid locations. Saw some on the Dik Dik Drive of Etosha. And at the Waterberg they were abundant, at dawn their calls were deafening! Swainson’s Spurfowl – recognized by different calling, Peg spotted a family group as we entered the fort area of Namutoni in Etosha, active at the road margin.
    [Show full text]
  • Namibia Birding Essentials – Tour Itinerary 13 Days (With Caprivi Strip Extension Option)
    Itinerary, Namibia Birding Essentials - Fangs and Feathers Namibia Birding Essentials – Tour Itinerary 13 days (with Caprivi Strip extension option) Compiled by: Matt Prophet Fangs and Feathers Wildlife Adventures; Web: www.fangsandfeathers.co.za; email: [email protected] Itinerary, Namibia Birding Essentials - Fangs and Feathers Tour Background This 13-day tour consists of 11 full days of birding, with the 1st day being an arrival day with an afternoon’s birding and the morning of the 13th day when you will fly home form Windhoek. The tour is recommended for the individual who loves wide- open spaces and arid zone birding, mixed with the opportunity to see some amazing African big game in Etosha National Park towards the end of the trip. The trip offers the majority of Namibia’s special birds. A four-day tour extension into the Caprivi Strip will offer one the opportunity to see a greater number of species, which are synonymous with the sub-tropical savannahs of Southern Africa. The tour starts and finishes in the capital of Windhoek. Some of the days will involve long drives, the travelling is enjoyable with amazing landscapes and we bird as we go. These stops can be anything from 5 to 30 minutes long, depending on what birds are about. The trip is moderately paced, and the bird activity usually slows down between 12:00 to 15:00. The coast has a very pleasant climate throughout the year, with the cold Atlantic having a moderating effect. Winters are cold at night with temperatures dropping below 10°C and midday temperatures reaching around 30°C.
    [Show full text]
  • Successful Citizen Or Voracious Vermin? What We Know, What We Don’T Know, and What We Need to Know to Address the Pied Crow Conundrum in South Africa
    Sponsored by Successful Citizen or Voracious Vermin? What we know, what we don’t know, and what we need to know to address the Pied Crow conundrum in South Africa August 2020 Review compiled for BirdLife South Africa by: Andrew Jenkins & Anthony van Zyl, AVISENSE Consulting 1 • PIED CROWS AND BIODIVERSITY Contents Summary 3 Introduction 4 Methods 4 Results & Discussion 5 Anthropogenic-related habitat transformation 5 Pied Crow biology 8 Changes in Pied Crow numbers and distribution in South Africa 9 Biodiversity impacts of Pied Crows in South Africa 10 Knowledge gaps & research questions 10 Way forward 10 Conclusion 11 Acknowledgements 11 References 12 Appendix 1 14 Appendix 2 15 Reviewed and edited by Melissa Howes-Whitecross, Kyle Walker, Hanneline Smit-Robinson and Mark Anderson. 2 • PIED CROWS AND BIODIVERSITY Cover image: Andrew Jenkins Summary irdLife South Africa receives regular enquiries from its Bmembership and the broader general public about the in- creasing spread of Pied Crows Corvus albus into new habitats in South Africa. A common perception is that this phenome- non may be both ecologically damaging and financially cost- ly and should be actively managed to mitigate these impacts. For BirdLife South Africa to develop a properly informed policy on this issue, AVISENSE Consulting was contracted to (i) compile an objective review of what is known from other areas about the expansion of corvid populations into new en- vironments, including the direct and indirect effects of such expansions on local biodiversity and the efficacy of various measures used to control or eradicate invasive crows around the world, (ii) assess what is known about Pied Crow biology, about changes in the species’ distribution in South Africa, and about the biodiversity impacts of such changes, and (iii) identify important gaps in the knowledge required to formu- late a rational, defensible, ethical and effective approach to addressing this problem (if, indeed, one is required).
    [Show full text]
  • Namibia & Botswana
    Namibia & Botswana Custom tour 31st July – 16th August, 2010 Tour leaders: Josh Engel & Charley Hesse Report by Charley Hesse. Photos by Josh Engel & Charley Hesse. This trip produced highlights too numerous to list. We saw virtually all of the specialties we sought, including escarpment specialties like Rockrunner, White-tailed Shrike, Hartlaub‟s Francolin, Herero Chat and Violet Wood-hoopoe and desert specialties like Dune and Gray‟s Larks and Rueppell‟s Korhaan. We cleaned up on Kalahari specialties, and added bonuses like Bare-cheeked and Black-faced Babblers, while also virtually cleaning up on swamp specialties, like Pel‟s Fishing-Owl and Rufous-bellied Heron and Slaty Egret. Of course, with over 40 species seen, mammals provided many memorable experiences as well, including a lioness catching a warthog at one of Etosha‟s waterholes, only to have it stolen away by a male. Elsewhere, we saw a herd of Hartmann‟s Mountain Zebras in the rocky highlands Bat-eared Foxes in the flat Namib desert on the way to the coast; otters feeding in front of our lodge in Botswana; a herd of Sable Antelope racing in front of the car in Mahango Game Reserve. This trip is also among the best for non- animal highlights, and we stayed at varied and wonderful lodges, eating delicious local food and meeting many interesting people along the way. Tropical Birding www.tropicalbirding.com 1 The rarely seen arboreal Acacia Rat (Thallomys) gnaws on the bark of Acacia trees (Charley Hesse). 31st July After meeting our group at the airport, we drove into Nambia‟s capital, Windhoek, seeing several interesting birds and mammals along the way.
    [Show full text]
  • Kuzikus Species List
    Nature – experience and explore, understand and conserve TOURISM ● EDUCATION ● RESEARCH ● CONSERVATION Visible Biodiversity of Kuzikus (Fauna & Flora) From Birds, reptiles, invertebrates and mammals to trees, shrubs, bulbs, creepers and grasses Kuzikus Wildlife Reserve, Gobabis Region, Namibia www.kuzikus-namibia.de Copyright by Kuzikus Wildlife Reserve not to be reprinted or published without permission - A humble foundation to develop a deeper understanding of the marvellous and spectacular ecological processes that can be admired on Kuzikus throughout day and night- © Kuzikus Wildlife Resreve, www.kuzikus-namibia.de 1 Nature – experience and explore, understand and conserve BIRDS (Bird Sightings by BRinK Conservationists: 2008 - 2010) Grey Heron Ardea cinerea (Bloureier) Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (Bosluisvoel) Little Egret Egretta garzetta (Kleinwitreier) Spur-Winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis (Wildermakou) Lappet-Faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus (Swartaasvoel) Cape Vulture Gyps coprtheres (Kransaasvoel) African White-Backed Vulture Gyps africanus (Witrugaasvoel) Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus (Berghaan) Brown-Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus (Bruinslangarend) Black-Breasted Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus (Swartborsslangarend) Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis (Steppe-arend) Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax (Roofarend) Wahlberg’s Eagle Aquila wahlbergi (Bruinarend) Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus (Breekoparend) Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus (Wergarend) Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo (Bruinjakkalsvoel) Pale-Chanting Goshawk
    [Show full text]
  • APPENDIX 6 Eskom Nesting Guideline
    Guideline Document Classification : [TYPE CLASS] Title: BIRD NESTING GUIDELINES Reference: [TRMNUMBER] Revision: 0 Effective date: November 2006 Total pages: 1 Of 4 Revision date: November 2009 COMPILED BY FUNCTIONAL RESP. AUTHORIZED BY …................................. …........................... …................................. H.F.VOSLOO ERIC SHUNMAGUM GAVIN BRUCE CORPORATE PPS MANAGER TRANSMISSION CONSULTANT TECHNOLOGY MANAGER SERVITUDES C. V ROOYEN EWT DATE:…....................... DATE:…....................... DATE:…....................... Content Page 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................2 2. Requirements for the management of nests on power lines. ....................................................2 3. Description of species known to breed on powerlines...............................................................3 6. Problems associated with birds nesting on transmission structures........................................11 7. Distinguishing between active and deserted nests..................................................................12 8. Legal implications.....................................................................................................................12 9. Management of nests on power lines ......................................................................................13 10. Flow diagram for suggested procedures for dealing with nests on transmission structures ...16 11. Supporting
    [Show full text]
  • Falconidae Species Tree
    Falconidae: Falcons, Caracaras Laughing Falcon, Herpetotheres cachinnans Buckley’s Forest-Falcon, Micrastur buckleyi Herpetotherinae Collared Forest-Falcon, Micrastur semitorquatus Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon, Micrastur mirandollei Barred Forest-Falcon, Micrastur ruficollis Cryptic Forest-Falcon, Micrastur mintoni Plumbeous Forest-Falcon, Micrastur plumbeus Lined Forest-Falcon, Micrastur gilvicollis Spot-winged Falconet, Spiziapteryx circumcincta Southern Caracara / Southern Crested Caracara, Caracara plancus Crested Caracara / Northern Crested Caracara, Caracara cheriway Caracarinae ?Guadalupe Caracara, Caracara lutosa Red-throated Caracara, Ibycter americanus Black Caracara, Daptrius ater Yellow-headed Caracara, Milvago chimachima Chimango Caracara, Phalcoboenus chimango Striated Caracara, Phalcoboenus australis Carunculated Caracara, Phalcoboenus carunculatus Mountain Caracara, Phalcoboenus megalopterus White-throated Caracara, Phalcoboenus albogularis Pygmy Falcon, Polihierax semitorquatus Philippine Falconet, Microhierax erythrogenys Polihieracini Collared Falconet, Microhierax caerulescens Pied Falconet, Microhierax melanoleucos Black-thighed Falconet, Microhierax fringillarius White-fronted Falconet, Microhierax latifrons White-rumped Falcon, Neohierax insignis Falconinae Banded Kestrel, Falco zoniventris Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni Fox Kestrel, Falco alopex Greater Kestrel, Falco rupicoloides Falconini Seychelles Kestrel, Falco araeus Malagasy Kestrel, Falco newtoni ?Reunion Kestrel, Falco duboisi Mauritius Kestrel, Falco punctatus
    [Show full text]
  • Cycle Molts in North American Falconiformes
    J RaptorRes. 39 (4) :378-385 ¸ 2005 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc. FIRST-CYCLE MOLTS IN NORTH AMERICAN FALCONIFORMES PETER PYLE1 The Institutefor Bird Populations,P O. Box 1436, Point ReyesStation, CA 94956 U.S.A. ABSTRACT.--Iexamined 1849 specimensof 20 North American Falconiform speciesto elucidate the occurrenceand nomenclatureof partial first-cyclemolts. As reported in the literature,American Kestrel (Falcosparverius) and White-tailedKite (Elanusleucurus) have relatively complete body-feather molts that occur during the first fall; in the kite, this molt can alsoinclude up to all rectricesand 2-6 secondaries, but no primaries--anunusual pattern for suchpartial moltsin first-yearbirds. Evidence of partialfirst- cyclemolts was found in 16 of 18 other species(among Pandion,Haliaeetus, Circus, Accipiteg, Asturina, Buteo,Aquila, and Falco)for whichsuch molts have not beenpreviously elucidated. Maximum extent of body-featherreplacement among individualsof these16 speciesvaried from 5-50%. On the other hand, most speciesshowed evidence that this molt could be absent(11-100% of birds remainingin juvenile plumage until commencementof the completeor near-completeprebasic molt that occursduring the first summer). I argue that thesepartial molts are best consideredpreformative molts (following Howell et al. 2003) rather than "first prebasic"molts, as defined by Humphrey and Parkes (1959). Variation in the extent and timing of preformativemolts may reflect variousconstraints according to species- specificbreeding, migrating, and foragingstrategies. The apparentlack of functionfor thismolt suggests that ancestralFalconiformes exhibited a more extensivepreformative molt, as found in related orders of birds,but that this molt has sincebecome vestigial, at leastin the larger species. KEYWO•tDS: AmericanKestrel; Falco sparverius; White-tailed Kite,, Elanus leucurus; preformative molt;, hawks; falcons.
    [Show full text]