DOCSLIB.ORG

Land Cover Change and Threatened Bird Life in Kinangop Afromontane Grasslands, Kenya on One Or Two Lines Subtitle If Needed on One to Three Lines

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Land Cover Change and Threatened Bird Life in Kinangop Afromontane Grasslands, Kenya on One Or Two Lines Subtitle If Needed on One to Three Lines Land cover change and threatened bird life in Kinangop afromontane grasslands, Kenya on one or two lines Subtitle if needed on one to three lines Jesper Östlund Degree project for Master of Science in Biology Animal Ecology, 30 hec, 2014 Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Supervisor: Staffan Andersson Examiner: Charlotta Kvarnemo Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 4 Study area ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Farm size and the human population ............................................................................................. 6 Biological diversity .................................................................................................................... 7 Study species ............................................................................................................................... 8 Sharpe´s longclaw (Macronyx sharpei) .......................................................................................... 8 Jackson´s widowbird (Euplectes jacksoni) .................................................................................... 8 Long-tailed widowbird (Euplectes progne) ................................................................................ 9 Materials and methods ......................................................................................................... 10 Selection of images .............................................................................................................................. 11 ArcGIS ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 Image Analysis ......................................................................................................................... 14 Identified key habitat of Kinangop ................................................................................... 15 Location 0 “Mugumo-ini” .................................................................................................................. 16 Location 1 “Daraja mbili” .................................................................................................................. 16 Location 2 “Muthurafa” ..................................................................................................................... 17 Results ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 19 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ 28 References ................................................................................................................................. 29 2 Land cover change and threatened bird life in Kinangop afromontane grasslands, Kenya Abstract Afromontane grasslands, in particular those at the Kinangop plateau in Kenya, is a threatened and disappearing habitat, classified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Birdlife International. The unique birdlife largely depends on the remaining fragile grassland areas. The most affected species is the Kenyan endemic Sharpe´s longclaw (Macronyx sharpei), which is highly dependent upon tussocky grasslands for breeding and foraging. Since the beginning of the 1960´s, the grasslands started to be converted into farmlands. This had devastating effect on specialized grassland birds and caused a decline in several of the resident species. This project investigates the impact that environmental change has had upon the Kinangop plateau since the 1960´s. The use of remote sensing with ArcGIS and Multispec provided a possibility to assess Landsat satellite images from the year 1987 to 2000 of the rapidly altering habitat of the Kinangop. The unsupervised classification indicates an increase of fragmentation in the central parts of Kinangop. The true and false colour composites show a soil alteration and heavy loss of forested areas in the surrounding areas. The additional assessment of the remaining natural areas also showed small fragmented locations surrounded by farmlands. This strongly indicates the importance of an increased conservation effort to protect the remaining grasslands of the Kinangop plateau. 3 Introduction The Kinangop grasslands in Kenya are disappearing at an alarming rate due to conversion of the natural habitat into croplands. The highland areas are very suitable for growing different crops, which also collides with the preservation of natural habitat. This is a very unique, biodiverse and unprotected area with a lot of the wildlife dependent upon the grasslands, which consist of medium height tussocky grass arranged in hummocks. Spatially the tussocks are spread out in areas within short height grass species. This habitat creates good feeding, breeding and nesting habitats for several of the bird species living there. The historical switch from a few large farms to a numerous increase of small-scale farms has led to an increased fragmentation of the natural areas of the Kinangop highlands. The impact created by the expansion of small farms in Kinangop has reduced the size of the natural tussocky grassland areas. The willingness to keep tussocky grassland areas is mainly caused by economic factors and many of those areas have been converted into agricultural plots. The growing population and the problems created by the small-scale farming has been a great setback for the Kinangop plateau, which causes a serious threat for the remaining important key areas. In this project, I describe the ecology and habitat requirements of three bird species present in the Kinangop grasslands: Sharpe´s longclaw (Macronyx sharpei), Long- tailed widowbird (Euplectes progne) and Jackson´s widowbird (E. jacksoni). I also use satellite image analysis techniques combined with landsat images to assess the changes in land cover between 1987 and 2000. The fieldwork conducted in the region acts as additional information to understand and monitor the grasslands of Kinangop. 4 Study area The montane grasslands of Kinangop are situated in the central and rift valley province of Kenya. The altitude ranges from 2400 meters to 3000 meters and the area is around 77,000 hectars large. The Kinangop is bordered by the Aberdare mountains to the east and the Rift Valley to the west. The yearly rainfall is usually around 1000 mm and the northern part is considered drier due to the rain-shadow provided by the Aberdares mountain range (Republic of Kenya, 1997; Bennun and Njoroge, 1999). The Kinangop plateau is considered as an attractive site for farmers because of its suitability for the cultivation of crops. Figure 1 Map of Kenya. Kinangop is found north of Nairobi. Human settlement started in 1964 (Muchai M et al. 2002), predominately by people of the Kikuyu tribe. The farming is dedicated to small-scale crop farming, focused upon wheat, barley, pyrethrum, maize, beans and potatoes. Rearing of cattle, sheep, goats and donkeys can also be found on the plateau. Since the 1960s, the human population has increased steadily: A census in 1969 showed a population density of 93 people/km2, which in 1979 had increased to 101, in 1989 to 110, and in the latest census in 1999 to 184 (Republic of Kenya 1970, 1981,1994 and 1999)(Fig. 2), translating to a yearly increase of 5% in the last intercensus interval. The estimated population density in 2010 was between 223 to 281 people/km2 (P.K. Ndang’ang’a et al, 2002). 5 Figure 2: Human population density (people per km2) in Kinangop between 1969 and 2000 (Republic of Kenya) Farm size and the human population The traditional ways of farming back in the 1960s consisted of large-scale farming and a small-populated area. The farmlands have over time changed into a highly populated area and the traditional rules of land inheritance have persisted over time. In general the inheritance of land is done by subdivision amongst the family members. As the human population has grown bigger the average family size has also grown. When the families are forced to split larger pieces of land amongst more family members, it leads to an increase in small land plots. This adds more pressure on the natural areas, because it is mainly converted into farmland as it´s the largest income bringer in the Kinangop. In the earlier days the farmers left a lot of the natural areas unconverted because of less farms and people. Figures show that the number of farms have almost doubled from 6470 in 1984 to 12550 in 1994 (P.K. Ndang’ang’a et al, 2002) 6 Biological diversity The natural grassland areas of Kinangop are covered with several species of perennial, tussocky grass species, primarily Andropogon amethystinus, Cymbopogon nardus, Digitaria diagonalis, Eleusine jaegeri, Hyparrhenia hirta, H. tamba and Pennisetum hohenackeri (Muchai et al. 2002) All of the grass species are non-usable as a food source for cattle, because of their high silica content. This is one of the factors that
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The 55 Species of Larger Mammal Known to Be
    Birds of Lolldaiga Hills Ranch¹ Order and scientific name² Common name² Threat3 Comments Struthionidae Ostrich Struthio camelus Common ostrich LC Two subspecies present. Numididae Guineafowl Numida meleagris Helmeted guineafowl LC Acryllium vulturinum Vulturine guineafowl LC Phasianidae Stone partridge, francolins, spurfowl, quails Ptilopachus petrosus Stone partridge LC Francolinus shelleyi Shelley’s francolin LC Francolinus sephaena Crested francolin LC Francolinus hildebrandti Hildebrandt’s francolin LC Francolinus leucoscepus Yellow-necked spurfowl LC Coturnix coturnix Common quail LC Anatidae Ducks, geese Alopochen aegyptiaca Egyptian goose LC Anas sparsa African black duck LC Anas undulata Yellow-billed duck LC Anas clypeata Northern shoveler LC Anas erythrorhyncha Red-billed teal LC Anas acuta Northern pintail LC Anas querquedula Garganey LC Anas hottentota Hottentot teal LC Netta erythrophthalma Southern pochard LC Oxyura maccoa Maccoa duck NT 1 Order and scientific name² Common name² Threat3 Comments Podicipedidae Grebes Tachybaptus ruficollis20 Little grebe LC Ciconiidae Storks Mycteria ibis Yellow-billed stork LC Anastomus lamelligerus African open-billed stork LC Ciconia nigra Black stork LC Ciconia abdimii Abdim’s stork LC Ciconia ciconia White stork LC Leptoptilos crumeniferus Marabou stork LC Threskiornithidae Ibises, spoonbills Threskiornis aethiopicus Sacred ibis LC Bostrychia hagedash Hadada ibis LC Platalea alba African spoonbill LC Ardeidae Herons, egrets, bitterns Ixobrychus sturmii Dwarf bittern LC Butorides striata
    [Show full text]
  • Species List (Note, There Was a Pre-Tour to Kenya in 2018 As in 2017, but These Species Were Not Recorded
    Tanzania Species List (Note, there was a pre-tour to Kenya in 2018 as in 2017, but these species were not recorded. You can find a Kenya list with the fully annotated 2017 Species List for reference) February 6-18, 2018 Guides: Preston Mutinda and Peg Abbott, Driver/guides William Laiser and John Shoo, and 6 participants: Rob & Anita, Susan and Jan, and Bob and Joan KEYS FOR THIS LIST The # in (#) is the number of days the species was seen on the tour (E) – endemic BIRDS STRUTHIONIDAE: OSTRICHES OSTRICH Struthio camelus massaicus – (8) ANATIDAE: DUCKS & GEESE WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK Dendrocygna viduata – (2) FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK Dendrocygna bicolor – (1) COMB DUCK Sarkidiornis melanotos – (1) EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiaca – (12) SPUR-WINGED GOOSE Plectropterus gambensis – (2) RED-BILLED DUCK Anas erythrorhyncha – (4) HOTTENTOT TEAL Anas hottentota – (2) CAPE TEAL Anas capensis – (2) NUMIDIDAE: GUINEAFOWL HELMETED GUINEAFOWL Numida meleagris – (12) PHASIANIDAE: PHEASANTS, GROUSE, AND ALLIES COQUI FRANCOLIN Francolinus coqui – (2) CRESTED FRANCOLIN Francolinus sephaena – (2) HILDEBRANDT'S FRANCOLIN Francolinus hildebrandti – (3) Naturalist Journeys [email protected] 866.900.1146 / Caligo Ventures [email protected] 800.426.7781 naturalistjourneys.com / caligo.com P.O. Box 16545 Portal AZ 85632 FAX: 650.471.7667 YELLOW-NECKED FRANCOLIN Francolinus leucoscepus – (4) [E] GRAY-BREASTED FRANCOLIN Francolinus rufopictus – (4) RED-NECKED FRANCOLIN Francolinus afer – (2) LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis – (1) PHOENICOPTERIDAE:FLAMINGOS
    [Show full text]
  • Kenya Soe Ch4 A
    PART 2 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT 61 CHAPTER BIODIVERSITY4 Introduction The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defi nes biodiversity as Kenya’s rich biodiversity Lead Authors ‘the variability among living organisms from all sources including, can be attributed to a number Ali A. Ali and Monday S. Businge among others, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and of factors, including a long Contributing Authors S. M. Mutune, Jane Kibwage, Ivy Achieng, the ecological complexes of which they are part [and] includes diversity evolutionary history, variable Godfrey Mwangi, David Ongare, Fred Baraza, within species, between species and of ecosystems.’ Biodiversity climatic conditions, and diverse Teresa Muthui, Lawrence M. Ndiga, Nick Mugi therefore comprises genetic and species diversity of animals and plants habitat types and ecosystems. Reviewer as well as ecosystem diversity. Kenya is endowed with an enormous The major biodiversity Nathan Gichuki diversity of ecosystems and wildlife species which live in the terrestrial, concentration sites fall within aquatic and aerial environment. These biological resources are the existing protected areas fundamental to national prosperity as a source of food, medicines, network (national parks, reserves and sanctuaries) which are mostly energy, shelter, employment and foreign exchange. For instance, managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). However, over 70 percent agricultural productivity and development are dependent on the of the national biodiversity occurs outside the protected areas. availability of a wide variety of plant and animal genetic resources and In spite of its immense biotic capital, Kenya experiences severe on the existence of functional ecological systems, especially those that ecological and socio-economic problems.
    [Show full text]
  • Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii
    Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 2nd Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC2) Bonn, Germany, 10 – 14 July 2017 UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II (Prepared by the Appointed Councillors for Birds) Summary: The first meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council identified the adoption of a new standard reference for avian taxonomy as an opportunity to disaggregate the higher-level taxa listed on Appendix II and to identify those that are considered to be migratory species and that have an unfavourable conservation status. The current paper presents an initial analysis of the higher-level disaggregation using the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volumes 1 and 2 taxonomy, and identifies the challenges in completing the analysis to identify all of the migratory species and the corresponding Range States. The document has been prepared by the COP Appointed Scientific Councilors for Birds. This is a supplementary paper to COP document UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.25.3 on Taxonomy and Nomenclature UNEP/CMS/ScC-Sc2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II 1. Through Resolution 11.19, the Conference of Parties adopted as the standard reference for bird taxonomy and nomenclature for Non-Passerine species the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Non-Passerines, by Josep del Hoyo and Nigel J. Collar (2014); 2.
    [Show full text]
  • The Birds (Aves) of Oromia, Ethiopia – an Annotated Checklist
    European Journal of Taxonomy 306: 1–69 ISSN 2118-9773 https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2017.306 www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu 2017 · Gedeon K. et al. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Monograph urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A32EAE51-9051-458A-81DD-8EA921901CDC The birds (Aves) of Oromia, Ethiopia – an annotated checklist Kai GEDEON 1,*, Chemere ZEWDIE 2 & Till TÖPFER 3 1 Saxon Ornithologists’ Society, P.O. Box 1129, 09331 Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany. 2 Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise, P.O. Box 1075, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. 3 Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Centre for Taxonomy and Evolutionary Research, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany. * Corresponding author: [email protected] 2 Email: [email protected] 3 Email: [email protected] 1 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:F46B3F50-41E2-4629-9951-778F69A5BBA2 2 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:F59FEDB3-627A-4D52-A6CB-4F26846C0FC5 3 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:A87BE9B4-8FC6-4E11-8DB4-BDBB3CFBBEAA Abstract. Oromia is the largest National Regional State of Ethiopia. Here we present the first comprehensive checklist of its birds. A total of 804 bird species has been recorded, 601 of them confirmed (443) or assumed (158) to be breeding birds. At least 561 are all-year residents (and 31 more potentially so), at least 73 are Afrotropical migrants and visitors (and 44 more potentially so), and 184 are Palaearctic migrants and visitors (and eight more potentially so). Three species are endemic to Oromia, 18 to Ethiopia and 43 to the Horn of Africa. 170 Oromia bird species are biome restricted: 57 to the Afrotropical Highlands biome, 95 to the Somali-Masai biome, and 18 to the Sudan-Guinea Savanna biome.
    [Show full text]
  • Uganda Birds & Gorillas Trip Report
    Uganda Birds & Gorillas Trip Report 18th July to 5th August 2011 Green-breasted Pitta by Chris Goodie Trip Report Compiled by Tour Leader: David Hoddinott Tour Summary Uganda is not called the “pearl of Africa” for nothing. This country has a remarkable diversity of fauna and flora including a wonderful array of habitats, butterflies, primates and, most importantly, birds. In fact it vies with Ecuador and Columbia as being one of the birdiest countries in the World – this tiny Trip Report - RBT Uganda 2011 2 nation (approximately the size of Great Britain) has over 1000 species of birds! Uganda’s habitats vary incredibly from the vast Lake Victoria, the Nile, wetlands, mixed bushveld, grassland, broad-leaved woodland, mid-altitude and highland forest to the endemic rich forests around the Albertine Rift. With an average elevation over 1000m, it generally does not get too hot and therefore birds are active throughout the day. As a result, it seems that around every corner and in every habitat birds abound. A typical scenario whilst driving and conversing in the vehicle is being constantly interrupted because the guide shouts “Stop! There’s an interesting bird on the left”; and whilst stopped, “Oh, there’s another great bird on the right!” This happens repeatedly and if one had to stop for every species seen each day, one would arrive well after dark at one’s intended destination. Fortunately, however, most species are reasonably common here, unlike those tricky South American destinations, and this is great as it allows multiple opportunities to see them and also get to enjoy many species on several occasions.
    [Show full text]
  • East Africa Highlights: Kenya & Tanzania II 2016
    Field Guides Tour Report East Africa Highlights: Kenya & Tanzania II 2016 Jul 2, 2016 to Jul 22, 2016 Terry Stevenson For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. The Lilac-breasted Roller is one of East Africa's quintessential birds -- and one even the nonbirders love to see! Photo by participant Eugenia Caldwell. Our July 2016 East Africa Highlights tour took us on our well-tried route from Gibb's Farm, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, and Tarangire in Tanzania to Nairobi, Lake Nakuru, Kakamega Forest, Baringo, and Mount Kenya in Kenya. Beginning our first day in Nairobi National Park, we drove across the grasslands, seeing our first Common Ostrich, Saddle-billed Stork, Gray Crowned- Crane, Blacksmith Lapwing, Rufous-naped Lark, Stout Cisticola, and Superb Starling, while the bush country held Dusky Turtle-Dove, Speckled and Blue-naped mousebirds, Long-tailed Fiscal and gorgeous male Variable Sunbirds. However, it was around the small lakes where we found the most species, with just a few of our highlights being Sacred and Hadada ibises, African Spoonbill, African Fish-Eagle, Black Crake, and Malachite Kingfisher. The mammal spectacle included Burchell's Zebra, Warthog, Hippo, Common Giraffe, African Buffalo, Hartebeest, Impala, and two distant Black Rhinos. We then flew to Tanzania and drove to Gibb's Farm, on the slopes of the Crater Highlands. A walk in the forest the following morning brought such varied species as a fabulously close Schalow's Turaco, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Tropical Boubou, White-tailed Blue- Flycatcher, Brown-headed Apalis, Gray-capped Warbler, Collared Sunbird, and Thick-billed Seed-eater.
    [Show full text]
  • The Gambia: a Taste of Africa, November 2017
    Tropical Birding - Trip Report The Gambia: A Taste of Africa, November 2017 A Tropical Birding “Chilled” SET DEPARTURE tour The Gambia A Taste of Africa Just Six Hours Away From The UK November 2017 TOUR LEADERS: Alan Davies and Iain Campbell Report by Alan Davies Photos by Iain Campbell Egyptian Plover. The main target for most people on the tour www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.1 Tropical Birding - Trip Report The Gambia: A Taste of Africa, November 2017 Red-throated Bee-eaters We arrived in the capital of The Gambia, Banjul, early evening just as the light was fading. Our flight in from the UK was delayed so no time for any real birding on this first day of our “Chilled Birding Tour”. Our local guide Tijan and our ground crew met us at the airport. We piled into Tijan’s well used minibus as Little Swifts and Yellow-billed Kites flew above us. A short drive took us to our lovely small boutique hotel complete with pool and lovely private gardens, we were going to enjoy staying here. Having settled in we all met up for a pre-dinner drink in the warmth of an African evening. The food was delicious, and we chatted excitedly about the birds that lay ahead on this nine- day trip to The Gambia, the first time in West Africa for all our guests. At first light we were exploring the gardens of the hotel and enjoying the warmth after leaving the chilly UK behind. Both Red-eyed and Laughing Doves were easy to see and a flash of colour announced the arrival of our first Beautiful Sunbird, this tiny gem certainly lived up to its name! A bird flew in landing in a fig tree and again our jaws dropped, a Yellow-crowned Gonolek what a beauty! Shocking red below, black above with a daffodil yellow crown, we were loving Gambian birds already.
    [Show full text]
  • A Contribution to the Ornithology of Northern Gobir (Central Niger)
    A Contribution to the Ornithology of Northern Gobir (Central Niger) 1st Edition, June 2010 Adam Manvell In Memory of Salihou Aboubacar a.k.a Buda c.1943 to September 2005 Buda was a much respected hunter from Bagarinnaye and it was thanks to his interest in my field guides and his skill (and evident delight) in identifying the birds on my Chappuis discs in the early days of my stay that motivated me to explore local ethno-ornithology. Whilst for practical reasons most of my enquiries were made with one of his sons (Mai Daji), his knowledge and continual interest was a source of inspiration and he will be sorely missed. Buda is shown here with a traditional Hausa hunting decoy made from a head of a burtu, the Abyssinian ground hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus). With incredible fieldcraft, cloaked and crouched, with the head slowly rocking, game was stalked to within shooting distance….but the best hunters Buda told me could get so close, they plucked their prey with their hands. Acknowledgements Several people have played vital roles in this report for which I would like to extend my warmest thanks. In Niger, Mai Daji and his late father Buda for sharing their bird knowledge with me and Oumar Tiousso Sanda for translating our discussions. Jack Tocco for transcribing Mai Daji’s bird names into standard Hausa and helping with their etymology and Ludovic Pommier for getting my records into a workable database. Above all I would like to thank Joost Brouwer for his wise council and unwavering encouragement for this report which I have been promising him to finish for far too long.
    [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]
  • Kenyan Birding & Animal Safari Organized by Detroit Audubon and Silent Fliers of Kenya July 8Th to July 23Rd, 2019
    Kenyan Birding & Animal Safari Organized by Detroit Audubon and Silent Fliers of Kenya July 8th to July 23rd, 2019 Kenya is a global biodiversity “hotspot”; however, it is not only famous for extraordinary viewing of charismatic megafauna (like elephants, lions, rhinos, hippos, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, etc.), but it is also world-renowned as a bird watcher’s paradise. Located in the Rift Valley of East Africa, Kenya hosts 1054 species of birds--60% of the entire African birdlife--which are distributed in the most varied of habitats, ranging from tropical savannah and dry volcanic- shaped valleys to freshwater and brackish lakes to montane and rain forests. When added to the amazing bird life, the beauty of the volcanic and lava- sculpted landscapes in combination with the incredible concentration of iconic megafauna, the experience is truly breathtaking--that the Africa of movies (“Out of Africa”), books (“Born Free”) and documentaries (“For the Love of Elephants”) is right here in East Africa’s Great Rift Valley with its unparalleled diversity of iconic wildlife and equatorially-located ecosystems. Kenya is truly the destination of choice for the birdwatcher and naturalist. Karibu (“Welcome to”) Kenya! 1 Itinerary: Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi. Our guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Overnight stay in Nairobi. Day 2: After an early breakfast, we will embark on a full day exploration of Nairobi National Park--Kenya’s first National Park. This “urban park,” located adjacent to one of Africa’s most populous cities, allows for the possibility of seeing the following species of birds; Olivaceous and Willow Warbler, African Water Rail, Wood Sandpiper, Great Egret, Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrike, Rosy-breasted and Pangani Longclaw, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Jackson’s Widowbird, Saddle-billed Stork, Cardinal Quelea, Black-crowned Night- heron, Martial Eagle and several species of Cisticolas, in addition to many other unique species.
    [Show full text]
  • Interspecific Social Dominance Mimicry in Birds
    bs_bs_banner Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014. With 6 figures Interspecific social dominance mimicry in birds RICHARD OWEN PRUM1,2* 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8150, USA 2Peabody Natural History Museum, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8150, USA Received 3 May 2014; revised 17 June 2014; accepted for publication 21 July 2014 Interspecific social dominance mimicry (ISDM) is a proposed form of social parasitism in which a subordinate species evolves to mimic and deceive a dominant ecological competitor in order to avoid attack by the dominant, model species. The evolutionary plausibility of ISDM has been established previously by the Hairy-Downy game (Prum & Samuelson). Psychophysical models of avian visual acuity support the plausibility of visual ISDM at distances ∼>2–3 m for non-raptorial birds, and ∼>20 m for raptors. Fifty phylogenetically independent examples of avian ISDM involving 60 model and 93 mimic species, subspecies, and morphs from 30 families are proposed and reviewed. Patterns of size differences, phylogeny, and coevolutionary radiation generally support the predic- tions of ISDM. Mimics average 56–58% of the body mass of the proposed model species. Mimics may achieve a large potential deceptive social advantage with <20% reduction in linear body size, which is well within the range of plausible, visual size confusion. Several, multispecies mimicry complexes are proposed (e.g. kiskadee- type flycatchers) which may coevolve through hierarchical variation in the deceptive benefits, similar to Müllerian mimicry. ISDM in birds should be tested further with phylogenetic, ecological, and experimental investigations of convergent similarity in appearance, ecological competition, and aggressive social interactions between sympatric species.
    [Show full text]