Exploration and Photography of Wetlands and Waterbirds in Lakes State, Southern Sudan, March 2008

Niels Gilissen

MIRATIO Nature Photography & Consultancy

WIWO Working Group International Waterbird & Wetland Research

Exploration and Photography of Wetlands and Waterbirds in Lakes State, Southern Sudan, March 2008

Niels Gilissen MIRATIO- Nature Photography & Consultancy ( [email protected] www.miratio.nl ) Working Group International Waterbird & Wetland Research ( www.wiwo.org )

In cooperation with:

The Ministry of Environment, Wildlife Conservation & Tourism Government of Southern Sudan

Wetlands International, The Netherlands www.wetlands.org

Copyright of images: Niels Gilissen - MIRATIO

March 2008 Wageningen, The Netherlands

Cover Photo: Shoebill at Lake Yirol - Niels Gilissen - MIRATIO

Introduction

During the period of 14 February to 9 March 2008, I was in Southern Sudan. My visit had three main objectives. I participated as a trainer in a Waterbird and Wetland course for wildlife personnel from the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife Conservation & Tourism (MEWT). I was also a representatvie for the Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research (WIWO) in talks about long term cooperation on wetland inventory and waterbird monitoring initiatives. These activities were organised and funded by Wetlands International (WI). In addition I conducted a privately funded exploration of several wetlands in Lakes State with the following objectives: - to search for and photograph Shoebill Stork Balaeniceps rex - to photograph other waterbirds and wetlands - to assess the numbers of waterbirds in some of the wetlands - to explore the possibilities for waterbird monitoring - to look for potential sites for field sampling of Avian Influenza in wild

This report will cover the exploration.

Acknowledgements This exploration was carried out with the authorisation and cooperation of the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, Government of Southern Sudan. I would like to thank Under-Secretary Major General Alfred Akwoch Omoli and Senior Advisor Perez Malande Olindo for their authorisation, support and advise. Thanks also to all other people at the MEWT for their support. I thank the board of WIWO for their moral support. Furthermore I would like to thank Chief Park Warden of Shambe NP Gabriel Gurgury for his guidance and advise in the field. I would like to thank Minasona Peter Lero, for helping in preparation, giving advise and hospitality. Lastly, I am grateful to Wetlands International, in particular Tim Dodman, Oliver Nasirwa, Ward Hagemeijer and Szabolcs Nagy, for their support in preparations and/or company during the WI- mission, which made the exploration possible.

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Itinerary

February 25-28 Preparing for journey. Trying to arrange rental car. Bying supplies.

February 29 Flight Juba-Rumbek, met with personnel of Wildlife Offices Rumbek, arranged car, spent night in AFEX Camp.

March 1 Journey to Yirol, met with officer Gabriel Gurgury, settled in lodges of Veterinary Training Center, met with commissioner of Yirol West, visit to Lake Yirol, found Shoebill Stork.

March 2 Visit to Lake Yirol, visit to area around Pagarau and counted waterbirds, walked 12km to edge of wetland area northwest of Pagarau and back, found one Shoebill Stork.

March 3 Visit to Lake Yirol in morning and evening, estimated roosting waterbirds, floodplain of the river Yei, low numbers of waterbirds.

March 4 Attempt to reach Lake Nibor, failed, visit to lake Yirol in the evening.

March 5 Journey to Shambe, met with commissioner of Yirol East, visit to Port Administrator, arranged motorboat for following morning, visited village and port, put up camp.

March 6 Went for 2,5 hours with motorboat on lake Shambe and adjacent channels, counted waterbirds, journey to Yirol, journey to Rumbek, spent night in AFEX Camp.

March 7 Met with John Maper of Rumbek Wildlife Office, Flight Rumbek-Juba, reporting to Under-Secretary Major General Alfred Akwoch Omoli.

March 8 Visit Juba, photography of Nile.

March 9 Flight Juba-Nairobi and Nairobi-Amsterdam

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Geography

Figure 1: Overview of central Southern Sudan, with in blue the White Nile and with yellow pins the sites mentioned in the report.

Figure 2: Map of the exploration area.

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Results

Logistics Organising an expedition in remote areas of Southern Sudan is not easy, as can be expected in a country that has suffered from more than 30 years of civil war and under-development. Several difficulties have been encountered during the (preparation of the) exploration of the wetlands in Lakes State.

Organising transport at an affordable rate is difficult. Car rental companies in Juba are reluctant in providing cars (4x4) for use outside the Juba region. If they are willing, prices vary between $300 and $350 a day including driver and fuel. Flying to Rumbek was in this case a better option as prices seem to be lower. However, the number of companies is also less, restricting the choice.

Navigation using solely the geographical knowledge of local people can prove to be very difficult. On two occasions, one on foot and another by car, the destination could not be reached. This was due to insufficient knowledge of the accompanying people on navigation, distance or road conditions. This was the case when hiking to a wetland northwest of Pagarau (Annex 1, Shoebill Stork observation). After a long hike, no large wetland was found, only some small ones and access to wetlands was blocked by broad fringes of reed and papyrus. The second case considered a trip with the car to Lake Nyubor (Annex 1), which ended in the bush where the road had virtually disappeared.

The road from Rumbek to Yirol was fairly good. The road from Yirol to several kilometers after Yang was good. On the remaining part to Shambe, road upgrading was in process and the road was poor.

Availability of motorboats to navigate the lakes and channels of the Sudd near Shambe was very restricted. Outboard motors need petrol, which can pose another obstacle as the availability of petrol can be very restricted, resulting in very high prices. Outside the Sudd and the Nile motorboats are probably non- existent and one is dependant on tree canoes.

Shoebill Stork Two Shoebill were observed, one at Lake Yirol and one northwest of Pagarau (Figure 2). Both birds were feeding in shallow 20-70cm deep water covered (50-90%) by floating grass. On one occasion a Shoebill had caught a large fish (60 cm) of a catfish-like species. I was able to get good images of the first , which was quite tame. Unfortunately Lake Nyubor could not be visited as this is a potential site for Shoebill (pers. comm. Gurgury).

Photography In addition to Shoebill Stork, other waterbird species as well as landscapes and human activity were photographed. It was noted that most waterbirds tolerated human presence and were approachable to relatively close distances. This might reflect a low hunting pressure on these species.

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Numbers of waterbirds At three sites I conducted a waterbird census with assistance of wildlife officers from the MEWT. The results can be found in annex 3 and 4. The results are preliminary as only fractions of sites could be visited and in some occasions only estimates of the numbers of waterbirds could be generated. The results were communicated to the database of the African Waterbird Census in Dakar. At Lake Yirol thousands of Long-tailed Cormorants Phalacrocorax africanus and several species of egret were seen flying to their roosts. The roosting site consisted of bushes standing at the edge of the water or in the water at the eastern edge of the lake.

At Shambe, no big concentrations of birds were found on the lake (annex 4). The largest concentrations were observed on the dry parts bordering the lake and marshes (i.e. Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola ) and on floating islands of vegetation and mud (i.e. African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris ). In the dense marsh vegetation (Papyrus, reed, cat tail) no concentrations of waterbirds were found. However, there seems to be an even and constant distribution of and African Jacana Actophilornis africana in the marsh, feeding along the edges of pools and streams. For the whole Sudd this would result in high numbers for i.e. Purple Ardea purpurea , Ardea cinerea and Goliath Heron Ardea goliath and African Jacana, considering the surface of these marsh vegetations (Howell et al . 1988; Nikolaus 1989).

Waterbird Monitoring The exploration gave a first impression of the Yirol-Pagarau and Shambe (Sudd) areas from the ground. In an earlier stage, a reconnaissance flight had been carried out over the southern half of the Sudd area (in cooperation with the Wildlife Conservation Society). Together with the experience gained from the preliminary censuses, this provides a rough idea of how to organise future waterbird monitoring. As expected, the densities of waterbirds in the Sudd vary greatly between different vegetation zones. Moreover, small waterbirds (ducks, small herons, rails, waders) were recorded during the ground census, which had been missed during aerial surveys.

The extent to which areas outside the Sudd contain water varies greatly between seasons. This exploration took place in the dry season, resulting in the water being restricted to lakes, permanent streams and pools in floodplains. This made access to the wet areas more complicated as infrastructure was in a poor state and knowledge of local geography was not always accurate.

Observations of human activity It was noted that in the Sudd area an alarming intensity of oil exploration constructions and activities are being developed. These consist of base camps, canals, seismic drilling sites and tracks created by large vehicles. This was also recorded by the WCS (Fay et al . 2007). Large concentrations of cattle exist along the borders of the Sudd marshes. Fishing exists in the whole area, at a low intensity level. Barges were observed navigating the main channel of the Bahr el Jebel system (White Nile).

Assessment of sites for sampling of Avian Influenza (AI) in wild birds The visits to several sites gave the opportunity to assess them for their potential suitability for an AI sampling mission. One of the sites came out as suitable for

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such a mission: Lake Yirol. This was based on the high numbers and great diversity of waterbirds, the accessibility, the availability of accommodation and facilities and the vicinity to human activity, making it a higher risk site.

Conclusions

The conclusions are derived from information collected in a small fraction of the wetlands in Lakes State and a small part of the Sudd marshes and also refer to the dry season situation.

- Shoebill Stork is still present in the exploration area, possibly in very low densities; - Two of the wetlands (Lake Yirol and Lake Shambe) hold relatively large numbers of waterbirds; - It is expected that the central marshes and the lakes in the Sudd contain relatively low densities of waterbirds, with the largest concentrations of waterbirds occurring in the floodplains around the permanent marsh; - Nevertheless it is expected that for some species confined to the marsh, the huge surface of the marsh vegetation will result in high numbers for the whole area; - Waterbird monitoring proves to be a challenge, but with careful preparation it is possible to set up a monitoring system; - Both aerial surveys and ground surveys are needed for valid waterbird monitoring; - Lake Yirol qualifies as a site for AI sampling.

Recommendations

- Further aerial reconnaissance of wetlands not previously included in aerial surveys should be carried out, including the Bahr El Ghazal system and lakes and floodplains around the Sudd; - These reconnaissance flights should provide a base for selecting sites for long-term monitoring, including ground based surveys; - A thorough investigation of the geography and infrastructure in the sampling area should be made prior to a census (e.g. using satellite images and maps from the University of Bern http://www.cde.unibe.ch/Tools/GIS_Sudan_TS.asp ); - Exploration of Lake Nyubor and Lake Anyi is recommended; - Remote sensing techniques should provide baseline data on the vegetation development and flooding regime of the Sudd marshes in order to assess its status; - Research on the impact of oil industry on the area is necessary on a short term; - A protection, monitoring and wise use policy and practice for wetlands should be developed.

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References

Fay, M, P. Elkan, M. Marjan & F. Grossmann, 2007. Aerial Surveys of Wildlife, Livestock and Human Activity in and around Existing and Proposed Protected Areas of Southern Sudan, Dry Season 2007. Phase 1. Wildlife Conservation Society & Government of Southern Sudan, Juba.

Howell, P.P., J.M. Lock & S. M. Cobb (eds.), 1988. The Jonglei Canal; impact and opportunity. Cambridge Studies in Applied Ecology and Resource Management, Cambridge.

Nikolaus, G, 1989. Birds of South Sudan. Scopus Special Supplement Number 3. East Africa Natural History Society, Nairobi, Kenia.

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Annex 1: Yirol and Pagarau census areas, Shoebill Stork sightings and additional areas.

(border of the census areas in red)

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Annex 2: Lake Shambe census area and surrounding area.

(approximate border of census area in red)

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Annex 3: Yirol Lake count form

COMPILER’S name and address: Niels Gilissen Blaauwe Kamer 8 AFRICAN WATERFOWL 6702 PA Wageningen CENSUS The Netherlands [email protected] PO Box 8060 Dakar - Yoff CENSUS FORM Senegal

EASTERN AFRICA DATE OF COUNT: COUNTRY: 2 & 3 march 2008 TIME OF DAY: 10:00-12:00 and 18:00-19:00 Southern Sudan NAME OF SITE: Lake Yirol PROVINCE/STATE: SITE CODE: Lakes State NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Yirol WAY OF COUNTING: HAS THE SITE BEEN COUNTED BEFORE ?

Aerial on Foot Boat Mixed Yes No From car and on foot. AS PART OF A LARGER SITE , please give details: Totals based on estimates of foraging birds and birds flying to roost. Totals are probably underestimated. COVERAGE OF THE COUNT: 75 % (see map in the report) If less then 100%, please show covered area on added sketch-map CONDITION OF THE WETLAND (e.g. wet, dry) : Lake was filled with water. Marsh fringes and floodplains of seasonal streams surround the lake.

SITE STATUS, protection, disturbance: No known protection. Disturbance during census low, consisting of people fishing, bathing, washing and walking.

Total 0______GREBES Total 2______STORKS PODCR ______Great crested Grebe - Podiceps cristatus MYCIB ______Yellow-billed Stork - Mycteria ibis TACRU ______Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis ANALA ______African Openbilled Stork - Anastomus lamelligerus PODNI ______Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis CICNI ______Black Stork - Ciconia nigra CICAB ______Abdim's Stork - Ciconia abdimii Total 0______PELICANS CICEP 2______Woolly-necked Stork - Ciconia episcopus PELON ______Great White - Pelecanus onocrotalus CICCI ______White Stork - Ciconia ciconia PELRU ______Pink-backed Pelican - Pelecanus rufescens EPHSE ______Saddle-billed Stork - Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis PELEC ______unidentified - Pelecanus spp. LEPCR ______Marabou Stork - Leptoptilos crumeniferus STORK ______unidentified storks - Ciconiidae spp. Total 3000____ CORMORANTS & DARTER PHACA ______Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo Total 31______IBISES, SPOONBILLS, & SHOEBILL PHAAF 3000____ Long-tailed Cormorant - Phalacrocorax africanus THRAE ______Sacred Ibis - Threskiornis aethiopicus PHALA ______unidentified cormorants - Phalacrocorax spp. HAGHA 25______Hadada Ibis - Bostrychia hagedash ANHRU ______African Darter - Anhinga rufa BOSCA ______Wattled Ibis - Bostrychia carunculata PLEFA 5______Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus Total 2179____ HERONS & EGRETS PLALE ______Eurasian Spoonbill - Platalea leucorodia ARDCI 30______Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea PLAAL ______African Spoonbill - Platalea alba ARDME 20______Black-headed Heron - Ardea melanocephala SCOUM ______Hamerkop - Scopus umbretta ARDGO 5______Goliath Heron - Ardea goliath BALRX 1______Shoebill - Balaeniceps rex ARDPU 4______Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea EGRAL 20______Great Egret - Casmerodius albus Total 0______FLAMINGOS EGRAR ______Black Heron - Egretta ardesiaca PHORO ______Greater - Phoenicopterus ruber roseus EGRIN 200_____ Yellow-billed Egret - Mesophoyx intermedia PHOMI ______Lesser Flamingo - Phoenicopterus minor EGRDI ______Dimorphic Egret - Egretta dimorpha PHOEN ______unidentified - Phoenicopteridae spp.

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EGRGA 200_____ - Egretta garzetta EGRGU ______Western Reef Egret - Egretta gularis Total 0______CRANES BUBIB 1500____ Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis GRUGR ______Common Crane - Grus grus EGRET ______unidentified egrets - Egretta/Bubulcus spp. BUGCA ______Wattled Crane - Grus carunculatus ARDRA 200_____ Squacco Heron - Ardeola ralloides ANTVI ______DemoiselleCrane - Grus virgo ARDID ______Madagascar Squacco Heron - Ardeola idae BALPA ______Black Crowned Crane - Balearica pavonina BUTST ______Green-backed Heron - Butorides striatus BALRE ______Grey Crowned Crane - Balearica regulorum NYCNY ______Black-crowned Night-heron - Nycticorax nycticorax IXOMI ______Little Bittern - Ixobrychus minutus Total 100_____ FINFOOT & JACANAS IXOST ______Dwarf Bittern - Ixobrychus sturmii PODSE ______African Finfoot - Podica senegalensis ARDEI ______unidentified Ardeidae - Ardeidae spp. MICCA ______Lesser Jacana - Microparra capensis ACTAF 100_____ African Jacana - Actophilornis africana

Total 105_____ GEESE & DUCKS CHAAL ______Kentisch Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus DENBI ______Fulvous Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna bicolor CHAMA ______White-fronted Sandplover - Charadrius marginatus DENVI 80______White-faced Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna viduata CHAMO ______Lesser Sandplover - Charadrius mongolus THALE ______White-backed Duck - Thalassornis leuconotus CHALE ______Greater Sandplover - Charadrius leschenaultii PLEGA ______Spur-winged Goose - Plectropterus gambensis CHAAS ______Caspian Plover - Charadrius asiaticus SARME 25______Knob-billed Duck - Sarkidiornis melanotos CHARA ______unidentified Charadrius plovers - Charadrius spp. ALOAE ______Egyptian Goose - Alopochen aegyptiacus LIMLI 50______Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa NETAU ______African Pygmy Goose - Nettapus auritus LIMLA ______Bar-tailed Godwit - Limosa lapponica ANAPE ______Wigeon - Anas penelope NUMPH ______Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus ANACR ______Common Teal - Anas crecca NUMAR ______Curlew - Numenius arquata ANACA ______Cape Teal - Anas capensis TRIER ______Spotted Redshank - Tringa erythropus ANAUN ______Yellow-billed Duck - Anas undulata TRITO ______Common Redshank - Tringa totanus ANASP ______African Black Duck - Anas sparsa TRIST ______Marsh Sandpiper - Tringa stagnatilis ANAAC ______Northern Pintail - Anas acuta TRINE ______Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia ANAER ______Red-billed Teal - Anas erythrorhynchos TRIOC ______Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus ANAHO ______Hottentot Teal - Anas hottentota TRIGL ______Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola ANAQU ______Garganey - Anas querquedula ACTHY ______Common Sandpiper - Tringa hypoleucos ANACL ______Shoveler - Anas clypeata XENCI ______Terek Sandpiper - Tringa cinereus NETER ______Southern Pochard - Netta erythropthalma TRING ______unidentified Tringa sandpipers - Tringa spp. OXYMA ______Maccoa Duck - Oxyura maccoa AREIN ______Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres DUCKS ______unidentified ducks - Anatinae spp. GALNI ______African Snipe - Gallinago nigripennis GALMD ______Great Snipe - Gallinago media Total 0______RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS GALGA ______Common Snipe - Gallinago gallinago RALCA ______African Water Rail - Rallus caerulescens CALAA ______Sanderling - Calidris alba POREG ______African Crake - Crecopsis egregia CALMI ______Little Stint - Calidris minuta PORFL ______Black Crake - Amaurornis flavirostra CALFE ______Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea GALCH ______Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus CALAL ______Dunlin - Calidris alpina GALAN ______Lesser Moorhen - Gallinula angulata CALID ______unidentified Calidris sandpipers - Calidris spp. GALAL ______Alllen’s Gallinule- Porphyrio alleni PHIPU 1______Ruff - Philomachus pugnax PORPO ______Purple Swamphen - Porphyrio porphyrio WADER ______unidentified waders - Charadrii spp. FULCR ______Red-knobbed Coot - Fulica cristata RAILS ______Unidentified Rallids - Rallidae spp. Total 0______GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMER LARFU ______Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus Total 85______WADERS/SHOREBIRDS LARCI ______Grey-headed Gull - Larus cirrocephalus ROSBE ______Painted Snipe - Rostratula benghalensis LARRI ______Black-headed Gull - Larus ridibundus DROAR ______Crab Plover - Dromas ardeola LARUS ______unidentified gulls - Larus spp. HAEOS ______Eurasian Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus CHLHY ______Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybridus HIMHI ______Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus CHLLE ______White-winged Black Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus RECAV ______Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta CHLID ______unidentified marsh terns - Chlidonias spp. BURSE ______Senegal Thick-knee - Burhinus senegalensis GELNI ______Gull-billed Tern - Gelochelidon nilotica BURVE ______Water Thick-knee - Burhinus vermiculatus STECA ______Caspian Tern - Sterna caspia BURCA ______Spotted Thick-knee - Burhinus capensis STEHI ______Common Tern - Sterna hirundo RHIAF ______Two-banded Courser - Rhinoptilus africanus STEFU ______Sooty Tern - Sterna fuscata

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RHICI ______Heuglin's Courser - Rhinoptilus cinctus STEAL ______Little Tern - Sterna albifrons RHICH ______Violet-tipped Courser - Rhinoptilus chalcopterus STEBE ______Lesser Crested Tern - Sterna bengalensis CURTE ______Temminck's Courser - Cursorius temminckii STERN ______unidentified Sterna terns - Sterna spp. GLAPR ______Collared Pratincole - Glareola pratincola RYNFL ______African Skimmer - Rhynchops flavirostris GLANU ______Rock Pratincole - Glareola nuchalis VANCR 30______Long-toed Lapwing - Vanellus crassirostris Total 13______BIRDS OF PREY VANAR ______Blacksmith Plover - Vanellus armatus PANHA ______Osprey - Pandion haliaetus VANSP ______Spur-winged Plover - Vanellus spinosus HALVO 3______African Fish Eagle - Haliaeetus vocifer VANTE 4______Black-headed Plover - Vanellus tectus CIRAE 10______Eurasian Marsh Harrier - Circus aeruginossus VANLU ______Senegal Plover - Vanellus lugubris CIRRA ______African Marsh Harrier - Circus ranivorus VANME ______Black-winged Plover - Vanellus melanopterus CIRMA ______Pallid Harrier - Circus macrourus VANCO ______Crowned Lapwing - Vanellus coronatus CIRPY ______Montagu’s Harrier - Circus pygargus VANSE ______African Wattled Plover - Vanellus senegallus PLUVI ______unidentified plover spp. - Vanellus / Pluvialis spp. Total ______ADDITIONAL SPECIES PLUSQ ______Grey Plover - Pluvialis squatarola ______CHAHI ______Ringed Plover - Charadrius hiaticula ______CHADU ______Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius ______CHAPE ______Kittlitz's Sandplover - Charadrius pecuarius ______CHATR ______Three-banded Plover - Charadrius tricollaris TOTALS: 5515____ BIRDS of 22 ______SPECIES

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Annex 4: Lake Shambe count form

COMPILER’S name and address: Niels Gilissen Blaauwe Kamer 8 AFRICAN WATERFOWL 6702 PA Wageningen CENSUS The Netherlands [email protected] PO Box 8060 Dakar - Yoff CENSUS FORM Senegal

EASTERN AFRICA DATE OF COUNT: COUNTRY: 6 March 2008 TIME OF DAY: 8:00-10:30 Southern Sudan NAME OF SITE: Lake Shambe

PROVINCE/STATE: Lakes State SITE CODE:

NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Shambe WAY OF COUNTING: HAS THE SITE BEEN COUNTED BEFORE ?

Aerial on Foot Boat Mixed Yes No AS PART OF A LARGER SITE , please give details: COVERAGE OF THE COUNT: 100 % If less then 100%, please show covered area on added sketch-map CONDITION OF THE WETLAND (e.g. wet, dry) : Wet

SITE STATUS, protection, disturbance: No known protection Disturbance level low (fishing activities, barge)

Total 0______GREBES Total 3______STORKS PODCR ______Great crested Grebe - Podiceps cristatus MYCIB ______Yellow-billed Stork - Mycteria ibis TACRU ______Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis ANALA ______African Openbilled Stork - Anastomus lamelligerus PODNI ______Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis CICNI ______Black Stork - Ciconia nigra CICAB ______Abdim's Stork - Ciconia abdimii Total 0______PELICANS CICEP ______Woolly-necked Stork - Ciconia episcopus PELON ______Great White Pelican - Pelecanus onocrotalus CICCI ______White Stork - Ciconia ciconia PELRU ______Pink-backed Pelican - Pelecanus rufescens EPHSE ______Saddle-billed Stork - Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis PELEC ______unidentified pelicans - Pelecanus spp. LEPCR 3______Marabou Stork - Leptoptilos crumeniferus STORK ______unidentified storks - Ciconiidae spp. Total 5______CORMORANTS & DARTER PHACA ______Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo Total 4______IBISES, SPOONBILLS, HAMERKOP & SHOEBILL PHAAF 5______Long-tailed Cormorant - Phalacrocorax africanus THRAE ______Sacred Ibis - Threskiornis aethiopicus PHALA ______unidentified cormorants - Phalacrocorax spp. HAGHA 4______Hadada Ibis - Bostrychia hagedash ANHRU ______African Darter - Anhinga rufa BOSCA ______Wattled Ibis - Bostrychia carunculata PLEFA ______Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus Total 60______HERONS & EGRETS PLALE ______Eurasian Spoonbill - Platalea leucorodia ARDCI 12______Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea PLAAL ______African Spoonbill - Platalea alba ARDME ______Black-headed Heron - Ardea melanocephala SCOUM ______Hamerkop - Scopus umbretta ARDGO 7______Goliath Heron - Ardea goliath BALRX ______Shoebill - Balaeniceps rex ARDPU 5______Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea EGRAL ______Great Egret - Casmerodius albus Total 0______FLAMINGOS EGRAR ______Black Heron - Egretta ardesiaca PHORO ______Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus ruber roseus EGRIN ______Yellow-billed Egret - Mesophoyx intermedia PHOMI ______Lesser Flamingo - Phoenicopterus minor EGRDI ______Dimorphic Egret - Egretta dimorpha PHOEN ______unidentified flamingos - Phoenicopteridae spp. EGRGA ______Little Egret - Egretta garzetta EGRGU ______Western Reef Egret - Egretta gularis Total 0______CRANES

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BUBIB 30______Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis GRUGR ______Common Crane - Grus grus EGRET ______unidentified egrets - Egretta/Bubulcus spp. BUGCA ______Wattled Crane - Grus carunculatus ARDRA 4______Squacco Heron - Ardeola ralloides ANTVI ______DemoiselleCrane - Grus virgo ARDID ______Madagascar Squacco Heron - Ardeola idae BALPA ______Black Crowned Crane - Balearica pavonina BUTST 1______Green-backed Heron - Butorides striatus BALRE ______Grey Crowned Crane - Balearica regulorum NYCNY 1______Black-crowned Night-heron - Nycticorax nycticorax IXOMI ______Little Bittern - Ixobrychus minutus Total 50______FINFOOT & JACANAS IXOST ______Dwarf Bittern - Ixobrychus sturmii PODSE ______African Finfoot - Podica senegalensis ARDEI ______unidentified Ardeidae - Ardeidae spp. MICCA ______Lesser Jacana - Microparra capensis ACTAF 50______African Jacana - Actophilornis africana

Total 30______GEESE & DUCKS CHAAL ______Kentisch Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus DENBI ______Fulvous Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna bicolor CHAMA ______White-fronted Sandplover - Charadrius marginatus DENVI 30______White-faced Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna viduata CHAMO ______Lesser Sandplover - Charadrius mongolus THALE ______White-backed Duck - Thalassornis leuconotus CHALE ______Greater Sandplover - Charadrius leschenaultii PLEGA ______Spur-winged Goose - Plectropterus gambensis CHAAS 1______Caspian Plover - Charadrius asiaticus SARME ______Knob-billed Duck - Sarkidiornis melanotos CHARA ______Unidentified Charadrius plovers - Charadrius spp. ALOAE ______Egyptian Goose - Alopochen aegyptiacus LIMLI ______Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa NETAU ______African Pygmy Goose - Nettapus auritus LIMLA ______Bar-tailed Godwit - Limosa lapponica ANAPE ______Wigeon - Anas penelope NUMPH ______Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus ANACR ______Common Teal - Anas crecca NUMAR ______Curlew - Numenius arquata ANACA ______Cape Teal - Anas capensis TRIER ______Spotted Redshank - Tringa erythropus ANAUN ______Yellow-billed Duck - Anas undulata TRITO ______Common Redshank - Tringa totanus ANASP ______African Black Duck - Anas sparsa TRIST 1______Marsh Sandpiper - Tringa stagnatilis ANAAC ______Northern Pintail - Anas acuta TRINE 2______Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia ANAER ______Red-billed Teal - Anas erythrorhynchos TRIOC ______Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus ANAHO ______Hottentot Teal - Anas hottentota TRIGL 3______Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola ANAQU ______Garganey - Anas querquedula ACTHY ______Common Sandpiper - Tringa hypoleucos ANACL ______Shoveler - Anas clypeata XENCI ______Terek Sandpiper - Tringa cinereus NETER ______Southern Pochard - Netta erythropthalma TRING ______Unidentified Tringa sandpipers - Tringa spp. OXYMA ______Maccoa Duck - Oxyura maccoa AREIN ______Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres DUCKS ______unidentified ducks - Anatinae spp. GALNI ______African Snipe - Gallinago nigripennis GALMD ______Great Snipe - Gallinago media Total 0______RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS GALGA 3______Common Snipe - Gallinago gallinago RALCA ______African Water Rail - Rallus caerulescens CALAA ______Sanderling - Calidris alba POREG ______African Crake - Crecopsis egregia CALMI ______Little Stint - Calidris minuta PORFL ______Black Crake - Amaurornis flavirostra CALFE ______Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea GALCH ______Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus CALAL ______Dunlin - Calidris alpina GALAN ______Lesser Moorhen - Gallinula angulata CALID ______Unidentified Calidris sandpipers - Calidris spp. GALAL ______Alllen’s Gallinule- Porphyrio alleni PHIPU ______Ruff - Philomachus pugnax PORPO ______Purple Swamphen - Porphyrio porphyrio WADER ______Unidentified waders - Charadrii spp. FULCR ______Red-knobbed Coot - Fulica cristata RAILS ______Unidentified Rallids - Rallidae spp. Total 97______GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMER LARFU ______Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus Total 629_____ WADERS/SHOREBIRDS LARCI ______Grey-headed Gull - Larus cirrocephalus ROSBE ______Painted Snipe - Rostratula benghalensis LARRI 2______Black-headed Gull - Larus ridibundus DROAR ______Crab Plover - Dromas ardeola LARUS ______Unidentified gulls - Larus spp. HAEOS ______Eurasian Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus CHLHY 8______Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybridus HIMHI ______Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus CHLLE 7______White-winged Black Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus RECAV ______Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta CHLID ______Unidentified marsh terns - Chlidonias spp. BURSE 2______Senegal Thick-knee - Burhinus senegalensis GELNI ______Gull-billed Tern - Gelochelidon nilotica BURVE ______Water Thick-knee - Burhinus vermiculatus STECA ______Caspian Tern - Sterna caspia BURCA ______Spotted Thick-knee - Burhinus capensis STEHI ______Common Tern - Sterna hirundo RHIAF ______Two-banded Courser - Rhinoptilus africanus STEFU ______Sooty Tern - Sterna fuscata RHICI ______Heuglin's Courser - Rhinoptilus cinctus STEAL ______Little Tern - Sterna albifrons RHICH ______Violet-tipped Courser - Rhinoptilus chalcopterus STEBE ______Lesser Crested Tern - Sterna bengalensis

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CURTE ______Temminck's Courser - Cursorius temminckii STERN ______Unidentified Sterna terns - Sterna spp. GLAPR 600_____ Collared Pratincole - Glareola pratincola RYNFL 80______African Skimmer - Rhynchops flavirostris GLANU ______Rock Pratincole - Glareola nuchalis VANCR 12______Long-toed Lapwing - Vanellus crassirostris Total 6______BIRDS OF PREY VANAR ______Blacksmith Plover - Vanellus armatus PANHA 1______Osprey - Pandion haliaetus VANSP 4______Spur-winged Plover - Vanellus spinosus HALVO 3______African Fish Eagle - Haliaeetus vocifer VANTE ______Black-headed Plover - Vanellus tectus CIRAE 2______Eurasian Marsh Harrier - Circus aeruginossus VANLU ______Senegal Plover - Vanellus lugubris CIRRA ______African Marsh Harrier - Circus ranivorus VANME ______Black-winged Plover - Vanellus melanopterus CIRMA ______Pallid Harrier - Circus macrourus VANCO ______Crowned Lapwing - Vanellus coronatus CIRPY ______Montagu’s Harrier - Circus pygargus VANSE ______African Wattled Plover - Vanellus senegallus PLUVI ______unidentified plover spp. - Vanellus / Pluvialis spp. Total 22______ADDITIONAL SPECIES PLUSQ ______Grey Plover - Pluvialis squatarola 20______Pied Kingfisher______CHAHI 1______Ringed Plover - Charadrius hiaticula 2______Malachite Kingfisher______CHADU ______Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius ______CHAPE ______Kittlitz's Sandplover - Charadrius pecuarius ______CHATR ______Three-banded Plover - Charadrius tricollaris TOTALS: 901_____ BIRDS of 30______SPECIES

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Annex 5: African Waterbird Census Site description form Lake Yirol

COMPILER’S name and address: Niels Gilissen Blaauwe Kamer 8 6702 PA Wageningen The Netherlands [email protected] BP 8060 Dakar - Yoff Senegal DATE: 2-3 March 2008 COUNTRY: Southern Sudan

NAME OF SITE: Lake Yirol

PROVINCE/STATE: Lakes State SITE CODE: n.a. NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Yirol ALTITUDE , in metres: AREA , in hectares: ca. 800 ha GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES: 425 m 6°34'43.63"N 30°30'10.30"O BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE : Permanent lake, bordered by fringes of marsh and shrub. On the western and eastern sides there are shallow inundated floodplains/marshes. Activities consist of fishing, bathing and washing.

WETLAND TYPE , please circle the appropriate Ramsar codes for wetland types, then rank in order of dominance:

Marine/Coastal wetlands Inland wetlands code rank code rank A ___ Shallow marine waters L ___ Inland deltas B ___ Subtidal aquatic beds M ___ Permanent rivers/streams/creeks C ___ Coral reefs N ___ Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks D ___ Rocky marine shores O _1_ Permanent freshwater lakes E ___ Sand, shingle or pebble shores P ___ Seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes F ___ Estuarine waters Q ___ Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline lakes G ___ Intertidal mud, sand or salt flats R * ___ Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkaline lakes H ___ Salt marshes Sp ___ Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes/pools I ___ Intertidal forested wetlands Ss * ___ Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes/ pools J ___ Coastal brackish/saline lagoons Tf ___ Floodplains (please mention floodplain type under *) K ___ Coastal freshwater lagoons Tp _2_ Permanent freshwater marshes/pools Ts * ___ Seasonal/intermittent freshwater marshes/pools Dambos/vleis Artificial wetlands ___ U ___ Peatlands (non-forested) 1 ___ Aquaculture ponds Va ___ Highlands wetlands 2 ___ Ponds W * ___ Shrub-dominated wetlands 3 ___ Irrigated land Xf * ___ Freshwater, tree-dominated wetlands 4 ___ Seasonally flooded agricultural land Xp * ___ Forested peatlands 5 ___ Salt exploitation sites Y ___ Freshwater springs; oases 6 ___ Water storage areas Zg ___ Geothermal wetlands 7 ___ Excavations 8 ___ Wastewater treatment areas * includes certain floodplain wetlands 9 ___ Canals and channels

PHYSICAL FEATURES (e.g. geology, soil type, climate): Eroded lowland plain. Sandy soils with clay areas. Tropical climate with dry (November-March) and wet (April-October) seasons. HYDROLOGICAL VALUES (groundwater, surface water, flood control etc.): Lake seems to be fed by some small intermittent streams and possibly by flooding of large river (Yei). No flood control seems to be in place.

ECOLOGICAL FEATURES (main habitats, noteworthy flora and fauna): Large body of open water (4,5 x 1,5 kilometer); reed and papyrus fringes; wet shrubs; flooded grasslands. Shoebill Stork has been recorded (2008); ; large roost in the wet shrubs of Long-tailed Cormorant and egrets (several 1000’s) Seems to be rich in fish.

CURRENT (WET)LAND USE (tenure, ownership, site and surroundings): No known ownership or protection; fishing, bathing, washing.

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FACTORS (past, present or potential) ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE SITE’S ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER: Not known

CONSERVATION MEASURES (e.g. legal status of protection, management practices): Not known.

CURRENT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (details of projects, existence of field station, etc) Not known, but probably non-existent.

CURRENT CONSERVATION EDUCATION (visitor centre, hides, information etc): Not known, but probably non-existent.

CURRENT RECREATION AND TOURISM (e.g. type and frequency of tourism/recreation): None.

MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (name and address of organisation responsible for management of the wetland. Are local communities involved in wetland management, if so, how?): Not known, most likely Ministry of Resources (fisheries).

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES (scientific/technical only): Not known

OUTLINE MAP OF THE SITE , with important geographical features, scale and indicate North. Please attach any other additional maps.

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Annex 6: African Waterbird Census Site description form Lake Shambe

COMPILER’S name and address: Niels Gilissen Blaauwe Kamer 8 6702 PA Wageningen The Netherlands [email protected] BP 8060 Dakar - Yoff Senegal DATE: 6 March 2008 COUNTRY: Southern Sudan

NAME OF SITE: Lake Shambe

PROVINCE/STATE: Lakes State SITE CODE: n.a. NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Yirol ALTITUDE , in metres: AREA , in hectares: ca. 2000 ha GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES: 400 m 7° 5'0.70"N 30°47'41.05"O BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE : Permanent lake, part of the Bahr el Jebel (White Nile) system. Fed by the main channel and some tributary channels. Bordered by waterhyacinth, reed, cat’s tail and papyrus marshes. Fairly strong current for a lake.

WETLAND TYPE , please circle the appropriate Ramsar codes for wetland types, then rank in order of dominance:

Marine/Coastal wetlands Inland wetlands code rank code rank A ___ Shallow marine waters L ___ Inland deltas B ___ Subtidal aquatic beds M _1_ Permanent rivers/streams/creeks C ___ Coral reefs N ___ Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks D ___ Rocky marine shores O _2_ Permanent freshwater lakes E ___ Sand, shingle or pebble shores P ___ Seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes F ___ Estuarine waters Q ___ Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline lakes G ___ Intertidal mud, sand or salt flats R * ___ Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkaline lakes H ___ Salt marshes Sp ___ Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes/pools I ___ Intertidal forested wetlands Ss * ___ Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes/ pools J ___ Coastal brackish/saline lagoons Tf ___ Floodplains (please mention floodplain type under *) K ___ Coastal freshwater lagoons Tp _3_ Permanent freshwater marshes/pools Ts * ___ Seasonal/intermittent freshwater marshes/pools Dambos/vleis Artificial wetlands ___ U ___ Peatlands (non-forested) 1 ___ Aquaculture ponds Va ___ Highlands wetlands 2 ___ Ponds W * ___ Shrub-dominated wetlands 3 ___ Irrigated land Xf * ___ Freshwater, tree-dominated wetlands 4 ___ Seasonally flooded agricultural land Xp * ___ Forested peatlands 5 ___ Salt exploitation sites Y ___ Freshwater springs; oases 6 ___ Water storage areas Zg ___ Geothermal wetlands 7 ___ Excavations 8 ___ Wastewater treatment areas * includes certain floodplain wetlands 9 ___ Canals and channels

PHYSICAL FEATURES (e.g. geology, soil type, climate): Part of the Sudd floodplain. Clay soils. Extensive annual flooding. Tropical climate with dry (November-March) and wet (April-October) seasons. HYDROLOGICAL VALUES (groundwater, surface water, flood control etc.): Permanent lake due to its connection (north part) to the main channel of the Bahr el Jebel system. There is a permanent current downstream due to other smaller channels entering the lake in the south.

ECOLOGICAL FEATURES (main habitats, noteworthy flora and fauna): Large body of open water (app. 4 x 7,5 kilometer); water hyacinth, reed, cat tail fringes and large areas of papyrus marsh. Probably rich in fish.

CURRENT (WET)LAND USE (tenure, ownership, site and surroundings): No known ownership or protection; fishing, bathing, washing.

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FACTORS (past, present or potential) ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE SITE’S ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER: Jonglei Canal will alter the hydrological regime of the whole Sudd area and subsequently Lake Shambe. Development upstream might increase polution.

CONSERVATION MEASURES (e.g. legal status of protection, management practices): Not known.

CURRENT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (details of projects, existence of field station, etc) Not known, but probably non-existent.

CURRENT CONSERVATION EDUCATION (visitor centre, hides, information etc): Not known, but probably non-existent.

CURRENT RECREATION AND TOURISM (e.g. type and frequency of tourism/recreation): None.

MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (name and address of organisation responsible for management of the wetland. Are local communities involved in wetland management, if so, how?): Not known.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES (scientific/technical only): Fay, M, P. Elkan, M. Marjan & F. Grossmann, 2007. Aerial Surveys of Wildlife, Livestock and Human Activity in and around Existing and Proposed Protected Areas of Southern Sudan, Dry Season 2007. Phase 1. Wildlife Conservation Society & Government of Southern Sudan, Juba.

Howell, P.P., J.M. Lock & S. M. Cobb (eds.), 1988. The Jonglei Canal; impact and opportunity. Cambridge Studies in Applied Ecology and Resource Management, Cambridge.

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OUTLINE MAP OF THE SITE , with important geographical features, scale and indicate North. Please attach any other additional maps.

Census area in red

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