Birds of Ambondrolava Mangrove Complex, Southwest Madagascar

Home , African black swift, Barn swallow, Dimorphic egret, Mascarene martin, Sakalava weaver

of Birds of Ambondrolava mangrove complex, southwest 3 3 4 ists L Madagascar 1, 2* Charlie J. Gardner , Carola De Ridder , Benjamin De Ridder and Louise D. Jasper

1 University of Kent, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology. Canterbury CT2 7NS, UK. 2 WWF Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean Programme Office. B.P. 738, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar. 3 Honko Mangrove [email protected] & Education vzw, Kastanjedreef 1, 2900 Schoten, Belgium. 4 B.P. 639, Toliara 601, Madagascar. * Corresponding author. E-mail:

Abstract:

Here we present the first bird species list for Ambondrolava (23°15’41” S, 43°37’42” E), a mangrove and freshwaterCharadrius wetland complex thoracicus in dry southwest Madagascar.Circus macrosceles Sixty-nine species from 36 families were recorded, of which 14 species are endemic to Madagascar and 13 are endemic to the Madagascar region. Two globally threatened species were recorded: (Vulnerable) and (Vulnerable). With 36 species, Ambondrolava has the highest known wetland bird species diversity of any site in south and southwest Madagascar.

Introduction aureum L.,;

With 284 species Madagascar has a relatively species- 3) open mudflats and former commercial salt pans poor avifauna, but 109 species are endemic and a further that are now abandoned and flooded, both converted from 26 are restricted to the Madagascar region (including the mangroves; Comoros, Mascarene and Seychelles island groups), giving 4) areas of highly-degraded scrub that have replaced the it the highest percentage endemism of any comparable original spiny thicket vegetation surrounding the wetland. landmass in the world (Goodman and Hawkins 2008). A distance of several hundredDidierea metres madagascariensis now separates etAlthough al recognized as an Endemic Bird Area (EBA) on the complex from the nearest forest cover, itself highly the basis of ten locally-endemic species (Stattersfield degraded and dominated by . 1998), few published bird inventories exist for the Baill. south and southwest of the country. This sub-arid region is dominated by xerophytic spiny forests and thickets and receives a mean annual rainfall of 386 mm at Toliara (Dewar and Richard 2007); it consequently possesses few wetland areas (Figure 1), and many of the wetland bird species characteristic of western Madagascar are thought to be rare or absent south of the major Lac Ihotry/Mangoky delta wetland complex (Langrand 1990). Further, little is known about the utilization of mangroves by Madagascar’s birds. Here we present the first bird inventory of Ambondrolava, a mangrove, freshwater wetland and salt pan complex in southwest Madagascar, Materialsand discuss andthe conservation Methods importance of its avifauna. Study site

Ambondrolava (23°15’41” S, 43°37’42” E) lies between the Route Nationale 9 (to the east) and dunes bordering the Mozambique Channel (to the west), 10 km north of the regional capital of Toliara. With a totalAvicennia area of marinaapproximately 660 ha, itBruguiera comprises gymnorrhiza four main habitats: Ceriops1) secondary tagal mangrove forestRhizophora composed mucronata of Sonneratia (Forssk.) alba Vierh., Xylocarpus granatum (L.) Lamk., (Perr.) C.B. Rob., Lam., Sm., and J. Koenig. Typha angustifolia Figure 1. L.,(Figure Phragmites 2); mauritianus Acrostichum 2) freshwater marshes dominated by Map of southwest Madagascar showing location of Kunth, and the fern Ambondrolava and other wetlands mentioned in text. 001 Gardner et al. | Birds of Ambondrolava, southwest Madagascar

The site is managed by the local communityet association al but may be present all year; breeding is suspected Mamelo Honko under the terms of a management transfer basedCircus on the macrosceles presence of two juveniles on 26 December contract with the state (GELOSE, see Antona . 2004), 2010. with technical support from the mangrove conservation A. Newton, 1863 – This globally NGO Honko. Vulnerable (IUCN 2011) endemic to the Madagascar region has an estimated global population size of 250-500 pairs,et al. restricted in Madagascar to marshes and grassland in the centre and north-west of the island (Renéet al de Roland 2009). We observed a pair in courtship - pair-formation flights as described by René de Roland . (2004) - during August 2010 and September 2011, but breeding was not confirmed. We are not aware of other reports of possible breedinget activityal in southern Madagascar, although little is knownPorphyrula of the alleni breeding biology of this species (René de Roland . 2004; 2009) et al (Thomson, 1842) – This species has not previously been recorded at Ranobe or Belalanda Figure 2. (Gardner . 2009), and we are aware of only one Avicennia marina additional record from southern Madagascar – at Typical habitat at Ambondrolava, with reed beds in the foreground and mangroves, dominated by , in the Lac Hera near Sakaraha (Rakotonomenjanahary and Databackground. collection RabenandrasanaCharadrius thoracicus 1999). Calls were infrequently recorded from the reed beds during October and November 2009. (Richmond, 1896) – A Vulnerable No formal methods were used to inventory birds at (IUCN 2011) endemic toet western al Madagascar, the global the site; the list is instead based on casual observations population of this species is estimated at approximately made by the authors in all habitats between 2008 and 3000 individualset al (Long . 2008) and is thought to be 2011. During this period CDR and BDR were resident rapidly declining as a result of poor reproductive success on site, while CJG and LDJ visited the complex on an (Zefania . 2008). We recorded a single bird in short approximately monthly basis. Data cited here on species grassHirundo at the rustica edge of the Ambondrolava reed beds on 5 etdistributions al within southernet al Madagascar are based on a December 2008. literature review of modernet records,al including Goodman Linnaeus, 1758 – A regular migrant . (1997), Goodman . (2002), Raherilalao and to southwest Madagascar known to roost in reed beds at Wilmé (2008) and Gardner . (2009), as well as records Ranobe, 26 km to the north of Ambondrolava (Gardner contained within the field guides Langrand (1990) and and Jasper 2011). This species was infrequently observed ResultsMorris and and Hawkins Discussion (1998). foraging over the reed beds between January and April in all years. Classifying Ambondrolava’s avifauna in terms of We recorded 69 bird species of which 14 are endemic primary habitat use (based on Wilmé 1996; Goodman to Madagascar and a further 13 are endemicNesillas tolantzii the and Hawkins 2008), we recorded 36 wetland species, 18 Madagascar region (Table 1); a selection of these species is predominantly forest species, and 15 species characteristic illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. Oneet species, al of open or degraded areas. This represents the highest (Grandidier 1867) is endemic to the SouthCharadrius Malagasy known diversity of wetland birds of any site in southern thoracicusspiny forest EBA (Stattersfield . 1998), andCircus two Madagascar south of the Lac Ihotry/Mangokyet al deltaet speciesmacrosceles are globally threatened (IUCN 2011): alcomplex, compared to Ranobe (32), Belalanda (28), and (Richmond 1896) (Vulnerable) and Tsimanampetsotsa (15) (Goodman . 2002; Gardner Newton 1863 (Vulnerable). The 69 species . 2009). This high wetland bird diversity is not simply the were distributed within 36 families, the best represented result of the coastal location of the site and the existence of families being Ardeidae (nine species), Charadriidae mudflats and saltpans which attract wadersArenaria (Charadriidae interpres (sevenAnhinga species), melanogaster and Scolopacidae (five species). and Scolopacidae), Charadriussince only three leschenaultii of these species were Particularly noteworthy records are presented below: not recordedNumenius at phaeopus any of the inland sites: Pennant, 1769A. melanogaster – We recorded (Linnaeus, 1758), Lesson, 1826, this species once, flying north over the main channel of and (Linnaeus, 1758). The mangrove the mangroveset al on 21 January 2011. has forest itself harboured relatively low bird diversity, with not been previously recorded at Ranobe or Belalanda only 31 species (including 11 wetland species) observed (Gardner . 2009), and we are aware of records from to use this habitat. only two other sites in southern Madagascar; Lac Ihotry Our observations demonstrate that the mangroves (RandIxobrychus 1936), and minutus Tuléar (no precise locality given) (Bangs of southwest Madagascar are of less importance for bird 1918). conservation than the extensive mangrove forests of the (Linnaeus, 1766) – Rare in southernet al. Anaswest andbernieri northwest of the island, which provideThreskiornis important Madagascar and previously recorded only from Lac Ihotry bernieristrongholds for four Red List (IUCN 2011) endemicHaliaeetus species: (Rand 1936), Ranobe, and Belalanda (Gardner (Hartlaub, 1860) (Endangered); 2009). Regularly observed during the austral summer, (Bonaparte, 1855) (Endangered); 002 Gardner et al. | Birds of Ambondrolava, southwest Madagascar vociferoides Ardea humbloti Des Murs, 1845A. humbloti (Critically Endangered), and have never observed it at the site. Despite the lack of such Milne-Edwards and Grandidier, 1885 nationally important species, the bird diversity that we (Endangered). Although is regularly observed observed at the site demonstrates its regional importance on the coast to the north and south of Ambondrolava, we for wetland bird conservation. A B

C D

E F

G H

Figure 3. Butorides striatus Ardea alba Scopus umbretta Circus macrosceles Turnix nigricollis Dryolimnas cuvieri Representative birdPorphyrio species from porphyrio Ambondrolava. A – striated heron, ; B – great egret, Rostratula; benghalensisC – hamerkop, ; D – Madagascar harrier, ; E – Madagascar buttonquail, (female); F – white-throated rail, ; G – purple swamphen, (individual trapped for food by villagers); H – greater painted snipe, (female). 003 Gardner et al. | Birds of Ambondrolava, southwest Madagascar

A B

C D

E F

G H

Figure 4. Himantopus himantopus Charadrius thoracicus Tringa nebularia Numenius phaeopus Agapornis cana Representative bird speciesAlcedo vintsioides from Ambondrolava. A – black-wingedUpupa stilt, marginata ; B – MadagascarAcrocephalus plover, newtoni. ; C – common greenshank, ; D – whimbrel, ; E – grey-headed lovebird, (male); F – Madagascar malachite kingfisher, ; G – Madagascar hoopoe, ; H – Madagascar swamp-warbler,

004 Gardner et al. | Birds of Ambondrolava, southwest Madagascar

Table 1.

List of bird species recorded at Ambondrolava from 2008-2011. Status: RE – endemic to Madagascar region; ME – Madagascar endemic; SE – endemic to southern Madagascar; I – introduced. Habitat use: M – mangrove; R – reed bed and freshwater wetland; MS – mudflat and salt pan; S – scrub; O – open areas; F – Species observed only in flight, and thus not using any habitat. Number of species in each family is given in brackets. English names follow Hawkins and GoodmanFAMILY/SCIENTIFIC (2003). NAME ENGLISH NAME STATUS HABITAT USE Podicipedidae (1) Tachybaptus ruficollis Anhigidae (1) (Pallas,1764) little grebe R Anhinga melanogaster Ardeidae (9) Pennant, 1769 darter F Ixobrychus minutus Nycticorax nycticorax (Linnaeus, 1766) little bittern R Ardeola ralloides (Linnaeus, 1758) black-crowned night heron M Bubulcus ibis (Scopoli, 1769) squacco heron R Butorides striatus (Linnaeus, 1758) cattle egret O, MS, M Egretta ardesiaca (Linnaeus, 1758) striated heron M, R, MS Egretta dimorpha (Wagler, 1827) black egret MS Ardea alba Hartert, 1924 dimorphic egret MS, M Ardea cinerea (Linnaeus, 1758) great egret M, R, MS Scopidae (1) Linnaeus, 1758 grey heron M, R, MS Scopus umbretta Phoenicopteridae (1) Gmelin, 1789 hamerkop R Phoenicopterus ruber Anatidae (3) Linnaeus, 1758 greater flamingo F Dendrocygna viduata Anas erythrorhynca (Linnaeus, 1766) white-faced whistling duck F Anas hottentota Gmelin, 1789 red-billed teal M Accipitridae (3) (Eyton, 1838) Hottentot teal R, MS Milvus aegyptius Polyboroides radiatus (Gmelin 1788) yellow-billed kite F, R, M Circus macrosceles (Scopoli 1786) Madagascar harrier-hawk ME F, M Falconidae (2) A. Newton 1863 Madagascar harrier RE R Falco newtoni Falco concolor (Gurney, 1863) Madagascar kestrel RE S, M Turnicidae (1) Temminck, 1825 sooty falcon F Turnix nigricollis Rallidae (3) (Gmelin, 1789) Madagascar buttonquail ME S Dryolimnas cuvieri Porphyrula alleni (Pucheran, 1845) white-throated rail M, R Porphyrio porphyrio (Thomson, 1842) Allen’s gallinule R Rostratulidae (1) (Linnaeus, 1758) purple swamphen R Rostratula benghalensis Recuvirostridae (1) (Linnaeus, 1758) greater painted snipe R Himantopus himantopus Charadriidae (7) (Linnaeus, 1758) black-winged stilt MS Pluvialis squatarola Charadrius hiaticula (Linnaeus, 1758) grey plover MS Charadrius thoracicus Linnaeus, 1758 ringed plover MS Charadrius pecuarius (Richmond, 1896) Madagascar plover ME O Charadrius marginatus Temminck, 1823 Kittlitz’s plover MS, O Charadrius tricollaris Vieillot, 1818 white-fronted plover MS Charadrius leschenaultii Vieillot, 1818 three-banded plover MS Scolopacidae (5) Lesson, 1826 greater sandplover MS Arenaria interpres Tringa nebularia (Linnaeus, 1758) ruddy turnstone MS Actitis hypoleucos (Gunnerus, 1767) common greenshank R, MS Calidris ferruginea (Linnaeus, 1758) common sandpiper MS Numenius phaeopus (Pontoppidan, 1763) curlew sandpiper R, MS Columbidae (2) (Linnaeus, 1758) whimbrel R, M, MS Streptopelia picturata Oena capensis (Temminck, 1813) Madagascar turtle dove RE M, R Psittacidae (1) (Linnaeus, 1766) Namaqua dove S, O Agapornis cana

(Gmelin, 1788) grey-headed lovebird ME M, R, S 005 Gardner et al. | Birds of Ambondrolava, southwest Madagascar

Table 1. Continued.

FAMILY/SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH NAME STATUS HABITAT USE Cuculidae (2) Cuculus rochii Centropus toulou Hartlaub, 1862 Madagascar lesser cuckoo M Caprimulgidae (1) (Müller, 1776) Madagascar coucal RE M, R, S Caprimulgus madagascariensis Apodidae (2) Sganzin, 1840 Madagascar nightjar RE S Apus melba Apus barbatus (Linnaeus, 1758) alpine swift F Alcedinidae (1) (Sclater, 1865) African black swift F Alcedo vintsioides Meropidae (1) Eydoux and Gervais, 1836 Madagascar malachite kingfisher RE M, R Merops superciliosus Upupidae (1) Linnaeus, 1766 Madagascar bee-eater M, R, S Upupa marginata Alaudidae (1) (Cabanis and Heine, 1860) Madagascar hoopoe ME S, R Mirafra hova Hirundinidae (2) Hartlaub, 1860 Madagascar lark ME S, O Phedina borbonica Hirundo rustica (Gmelin 1789) Mascarene martin RE R, F Pycnonotidae (1) Linnaeus, 1758 barn swallow R, F Hypsipetes madagascariensis Muscicapidae (1) (Müller, 1776) Madagascar bulbul RE M Copsychus albospecularis Sylviidae (3) (Eydoux and Gervais, 1836) Madagascar magpie-robin ME M, S Acrocephalus newtoni Nesillas lantzii (Hartlaub, 1863) Madagascar swamp-warbler ME M, R Neomixis tenella (Grandidier, 1867) subdesert brush warbler SE S Cisticolidae (1) (Hartlaub, 1866) common jery ME S, M Cisticola cherina Monarchidae (1) (Smith, 1843) Madagascar cisticola RE R, S, M Terpsiphone mutata Nectariniidae (2) (Linnaeus, 1766) Madagascar paradise flycatcher RE M Nectarinia notata Nectarinia souimanga (Müller 1766) Madagascar green sunbird RE M Vangidae (1) (Gmelin, 1788) souimanga sunbird RE S, M Leptopterus chabert Cicruridae (1) (Müller, 1776) Chabert’s vanga ME M Dicrurus forficatus Corvidae (1) (Linnaeus, 1766) crested drongo RE M, R, S Corvus albus Sturnidae (1) Müller, 1776 pied crow M, S, O Acridotheres tristis I Ploceidae (2) (Linnaeus, 1766) common myna M, S, O Ploceus sakalava Foudia madagascariensis Hartlaub, 1861 Sakalava weaver ME S Estrildidae (1) (Linnaeus, 1766) Madagascar red fody ME S, R, M Lonchura nana

Acknowledgments: (Pucheran, 1845) Madagascar mannikin ME R, S

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