Taita Falcon

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256 Falconidae: falcons and kestrels Taita Falcon 14˚ Taitavalk TAITA FALCON Falco fasciinucha 1 5 First described 100 years ago in 1895, this falcon 18˚ has managed to keep itself to itself almost ever since. Considered rare and secretive, it is sporadi- cally distributed in mountainous Africa from Zimbabwe to Ethiopia; a single breeding pair was 22˚ discovered in 1990 in the Transvaal Drakensberg 6 (Jenkins et al. 1991). This Transvaal site is not 2 shown on the distribution map to protect it from potential disturbance. Hitherto, its most southerly 26˚ record had been at Mount Rudd (2032AB) in Zimbabwe. Further north it occurs along the east- ern Zimbabwe Highlands and westwards along the Zambezi escarpment to Victoria Falls (1725DD). 3 7 Very close to the falls, in the fifth gorge, is the 30˚ most famous pair. The Batoka Gorge system, ex- tending 60 km downstream from the falls, supports an estimated 8–10 pairs, thought to be the highest 4 8 density in Africa (Hartley 1993). In Zimbabwe it 34˚ is surveyed annually, and 20–50 pairs are esti- 18˚ 22˚ 26˚ mated (Del Hoyo et al. 1994). 10˚ 14˚ 30˚ 34˚ Adults are sighted at nesting places which are on high cliffs of gorges or mesas, usually situated in areas of Mopane woodland or miombo. Immatures are occasionally found some kilometres from nesting sites. The adults are thought to be resident, though outside the breeding season they are quiet and difficult to find. Egglaying occurs August– October (Irwin 1981) and the atlas breeding data span Sep- tember–December. Recorded in 11 grid cells, 0.2% It often shares its breeding areas with the Peregrine Falcon Total number of records: 52 F. peregrinus and is often forced to nest in less favourable Mean reporting rate for range: 14.1% sites by its larger congener (Hartley et al. 1993). The Taita Falcon is a naturally rare bird and is considered to be globally threatened (Collar et al. 1994). It is presently vulnerable to residual DDT contamination from tsetse-fly campaigns, and to habitat loss through dam-building schemes. It is in need of continual monitoring. P.J. Mundy 1.0 1 5 30 20 10 1.0 2 6 30 20 10 1.0 3 7 30 20 10 1.0 30 Occurrence reporting rate (%) 4 8 Breeding reporting rate (%) 20 10 J ASONDJ FMAMJ J ASONDJ FMAMJ Models of seasonality for Zones. Number of records (top to bottom, left to right): Occurrence: 0, 0, 0, 0, 48, 4, 0, 0; Breeding: 0, 0, 0, 0, 8, 0, 0, 0. Falconidae: falcons and kestrels 257 Sooty Falcon Taita Falcon.

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