DOCSLIB.ORG

Raptors in the East African Tropics and Western Indian Ocean Islands: State of Ecological Knowledge and Conservation Status

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Raptors in the East African Tropics and Western Indian Ocean Islands: State of Ecological Knowledge and Conservation Status j. RaptorRes. 32(1):28-39 ¸ 1998 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc. RAPTORS IN THE EAST AFRICAN TROPICS AND WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS: STATE OF ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND CONSERVATION STATUS MUNIR VIRANI 1 AND RICHARD T. WATSON ThePeregrine Fund, Inc., 566 WestFlying Hawk Lane, Boise,1D 83709 U.S.A. ABSTRACT.--Fromour reviewof articlespublished on diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey occurringin Africa and the western Indian Ocean islands,we found most of the information on their breeding biology comesfrom subtropicalsouthern Africa. The number of published papers from the eastAfrican tropics declined after 1980 while those from subtropicalsouthern Africa increased.Based on our KnoM- edge Rating Scale (KRS), only 6.3% of breeding raptorsin the eastAfrican tropicsand 13.6% of the raptorsof the Indian Ocean islandscan be consideredWell Known,while the majority,60.8% in main- land east Africa and 72.7% in the Indian Ocean islands, are rated Unknown. Human-caused habitat alteration resultingfrom overgrazingby livestockand impactsof cultivationare the main threatsfacing raptors in the east African tropics, while clearing of foreststhrough slash-and-burnmethods is most important in the Indian Ocean islands.We describeconservation recommendations, list priorityspecies for study,and list areasof ecologicalunderstanding that need to be improved. I•y WORDS: Conservation;east Africa; ecology; western Indian Ocean;islands; priorities; raptors; research. Aves rapacesen los tropicos del este de Africa yen islasal oeste del Oc•ano Indico: estado del cono- cimiento eco16gicoy de su conservacitn RESUMEN.--Denuestra recopilacitn de articulospublicados sobre aves rapaces diurnas y nocturnasque se encuentran en Africa yen las islasal oeste del Octano Indico, encontramosque la mayoriade la informaci6n sobre aves rapacesresidentes se origina en la regi6n subtropical del sur de Africa. E1 nfimero de publicacionesprovenientes de los tr6picos del este de Africa, declint despuesde 1980, mientras que aquellos del subtrtpico del sur del continente aumentaron. Con base en nuestra escala de valoraci6ndel conocimientosolo el 6.3% de las especiesresidentes en los tr6picosdel estedel Africa y el 13.6% de lasaves rapaces de islasdel Ocaano Indico puedenser consideradas como Bien Conocidas, mientrasque la mayoria60.8% del estede Africa y 72.2% de las islasal oestedel Octano Indico fueron clasificadascomo Desconocidas.La alteracitn de habitatsde origen antrtpico como resultadodel so- brepastoreoy los impactosde la agricultura son las principalesamenazas para las avesrapaces de los tr6picos del este de Africa, mientrasque la deforestaci6na partir de la quema y tala de bosqueses la amenaza mas i•nportante en las islasdel Octano Indico. Describimosrecomendaciones de conservacitn, identificamoslas especiesprioritarias para estudiare identificamoslas areasde entendimientoecoltgico que deben ser mejoradas. [Traducci6n de C•sar M•rquez] Raptors are an important tool to focus conser- web below them (Thiollay 1992). Becauseof their vation strategies locally, regionally, and globally top positionsin terrestrial and aquatic food webs, (Watson 1991). They can be used as "umbrella spe- raptorscan be used as indicatorsof worldwidepol- cies" because their large home ranges and low lution by pesticides(Newton 1979). Changesin nesting densities necessitatethat any protected ar- raptor distribution or abundance can serve as a eas encompassingviable populations or complete measure of our impact on landscapes,even in re- communities protect sufficient habitat and popu- mote areas (Reichholf 1974). Finally,raptors are lations of most, if not all, other speciesin the food popular and charismatic and several specieshave becomesignificant "flagships" for increasingpub- lic interest and support of conservationprograms • AlsoNational Museumsof Kenya,Nairobi and Leicester (Burnham et al. 1992, Thiollay 1992). University, U.K. This paper combines our collective knowledge 28 MARCH 1998 EAST AFRICAN AND WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN RAPTORS 29 of raptors in the east African tropics and western 1980 material. Pre-1980 titles were obtained from the b•b- Indian Ocean islandsas part of a worldwide review liography of Brown et al. (1982) and Fry et al. (1988). Post-1980 titles were obtained from a keyword search of their conservation and ecology. We chose to from 1980 through the first quarter of 1996 on the BIOS- combine these two regions in one paper to facili- IS (Biological AbstractsInc.) and RRTAC (Raptor Re- tate comparisonof island with continental situa- search and Technical AssistanceCenter, Boise, ID U.S.A ) tions in adjacent geographicareas. The eastAfri- computer databases.We assumedthat the material ob- tained representeda significantproportion of all articles can tropics (including all countries between the published in peer-reviewedjournals, and that these Tropicsof Cancerand Capricorn and eastof about sourcesaccurately reflect ecologicalknowledge based on 20øE, Zanzibar and Pemba islands) and the western scientific studies. Ad-hocaccounts published in newslet- Indian Ocean islands (comprising Madagascar, ters or magazinescan provide additional knowledgebut Mauritius, Seychelles,Reunion, and Comores) sup- they were not included in this review as they are difficult to find and their significanceto the understanding of a port roughly23% of the world'savifauna accord- species'ecology is difficult to assess. ing to specieslisted in Martin (1987), Langrand Based on a similar review of the statusand knowledge (1990), Perlo (1995), and Zimmerman et al. of Central and South American raptors (Bierregaard (1996). These areas contain a broad spectrum of 1995), we assigned scores to each species from 1 to 5 from our I4a•owledgeRating Scale (KRS) where I = an- habitats, from montane through lowland, dry, ecdotal, speculativeor unstudied; 2 = 1 nest or 1 year moist, and riparian forests,to open woodland, sa- low samplesize studies; 3 = multi-year,local area studies, vanna, scrubland, desert, marsh, mangroves,and <5 pairs; 4 = multi-year, >5 pairs; and 5 = >10 pairs, others. The eastAfrican tropicssupport 82 species >10 years,or regional studies.This wasrepeated for four of diurnal birds of prey and 23 nocturnal owls subject areas, factors affecting distribution and abun- dance, population trends, breeding biology, and feeding (Britton 1980, Brown et al. 1982, Fry et al. 1988). ecology. Scoresfor each subject were summed for each Three-quartersof theseraptors, or roughly20% of species (min. 4, max. 20), and speciesranked by score. the world's raptor species,breed within this area Specieswere then grouped into four categoriesof knowl- while the rest use the region as a migratory path- edge based on their scores:Unknown (score 4-6), Little Known (score 7-10), Known (score 11-13), and Well way.The Indian Ocean islandssupport 22 endemic Known (score 14 and above). Although these categories raptor species(15 diurnal birds of prey and seven were subjective,they simplified our review by separating nocturnal owls), five other breeding species,and speciesinto roughly common levels of knowledge. To two Palearcticmigrants. Although both theseareas compare between subject areas, we calculated a "study boast a tremendous diversityof birds that attracts index" (first line of Tables 1 and 2) by stunmingthe KRS for all specieswithin each subject, and converting the the attention of bird watchersworldwide, their rap- total to a percentage of the maximum possibleif all spe- tors are still poorly understood in many respects, cies had KRS of 5. Species' total scoreswere calculated ranging from basicbiology to the factorsaffecting by summing KRS for all speciesin all subject areas and distribution and abundance. Conserving raptors, expressedas a percentageof the maximum possibleif all specieshad KRS of 5. The conservation status of each or using them as a tool to achievebroader conser- species was compiled from two sources (Collar et al vation goals,is impossiblewithout a sound under- 1994, Bennun and Njoroge 1996). standingof their ecologicalrequirements. In this paper, we first give an overview of the R•St:LTS •ND D•SCt:SS•ON state of ecologicalknowledge and conservationsta- State of EcologicalKnowledge and Conservation tus of breeding raptors in the east African tropics Status. We found 251 and 295 articles in our pre- and the western Indian Ocean islands, based on 1980 and post-1980literature searches,respective- 546 published papers and recent listsof speciesin ly. During the pre-1980 era, raptor researchorigi- jeopardy. Second, we outline the main conserva- nated almostequally from countriesin the eastAf- tion issues,contrast threats to raptorson the main- rican tropics (36%) and subtropicalsouthern Af- land with those on islands, summarize information rica (39%), with 14% originating from tropical on causesof threats, and cite particular examples west Africa and 12% from north and central Africa. of problems.Lastly, we discusspriorities for further From 1980 through the first quarter of 1996, the studies and focus of conservation efforts. proportion of publications originating from sub- METHODS tropical southernAfrica increasedto 55% and de- creased to 25% from countries in the east African We reviewedthe literature in peer-reviewedjournals on 105 speciesin Africa, 79 of which breed in tropical east tropics, while they increasedfrom the western In- Africa, and 22 that are endemic to the Indian Ocean dian Ocean islands (10%) and decreased from •slands. The review was divided into pre-1980 and post- tropical west
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Downloaded from Brill.Com10/11/2021 06:43:08AM Via Free Access 182 T
    Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, 56 (2): 181-204 — 1986 Microscopic identification of feathers and feather fragments of Palearctic birds by Tim G. Brom Institute of Taxonomic Zoology (Zoologisch Museum), University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 20125, 1000 HC Amsterdam, The Netherlands much better and Abstract a assessment of the problem could suggest the most adequate preventive Using light microscopy, a method has been developed for measures. the identification of feathers and feather fragments col- of lected after collisions between birds and aircraft. Charac- LaHam (1967) started the application of the barbules of feathers described for 22 ters downy are microscopic investigation of scrapings collected orders of birds. The of in combination with the use a key of amino from engines, combined with the use macroscopic method of comparing feathers with bird skins acid of and able analysis protein residues, was in a museum collection results in identificationto order or to bird so that defective family level in 97% of the analysed bird strikes. Applica- diagnose strikes, could be into those tion of the method to other fields of biological research engines rapidly separated is discussed. including taxonomy due to either bird strikes or mechanical failures. The microscopic structure of feathers was Résumé first studied by Chandler (1916). He described of feathers of North the structure pennaceous Une méthode utilisant la microscopie optique a été mise l’identification des des American and found differences à point pour plumes et fragments birds, large de collectés des collisions oiseaux plume après entre et between different taxa. He also examined the avions. On décrit les caractères des barbules duveteuses downy barbules of a few species and provided des 22 ordres d’oiseaux.
    [Show full text]
  • Sun-Bathing As a Thermo-Regulatory and in Birds
    SHORT COMMUNICATIONS SUN-BATHING AS A THERMO- REGULATORY AID IN BIRDS TOM J. CADE Section of Ecology and Systematics Cornell University Ithaca, New York 14850 In their study of the Roadrunner (Gcococcl~x califor- for thermoregulation in cold air without resorting ?o nianus), Ohmart and Lasiewski ( 1971) provided a special sun-bathing posture (Hamilton and Heppner another example of a bird that supplements endo- 1967; Lustick 1969, 1971; Heppner 1970). thermy with absorption of solar radiation at low air Ohmart and Lasiewski never observed their Road- temperatures, but they did not give an entirely runners sun-bathing when the ambient temperature convincing proof of a heliothermic function for sun- was above the birds ’ lower critical temperature, but bathing per se. To do so, they would have to show a many birds do sun-bathe at high ambient tempera- difference between sun-bathing and normally postured tures. I had this fact dramatically brought to my Roadrunners under the same conditions of ambient attention during a visit to the Los Angeles Zoo on temperature and insolation, e.g., a faster rate of 18 August 1969. Shortly after 16:00, the slanting warming from hypothermia or a lower rate of metab- rays of the midafternoon sun began to penetrate olism for sunning birds. Other birds utilize solar through the sides of the roofed aviaries. There was radiation and thereby reduce their energy expenditure a sudden explosion of sun-bathing activity by a wide FIGURE 1A. A e-year old Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) sunning in natural light on a hot January after- noon in the austral summer, Pretoria, South Africa, 1966.
    [Show full text]
  • Griffon Vultures &Lpar;<I>Gyps Fulvus</I>&Rpar; Ingesting Bones At
    SEPTEMBER1997 LETTERS 287 AravaipaCreek, Arizona. Almost immediatelyat leastsix Elf Owls beganvocalizing from dispersedlocations around our campsiteand at leastfour of them began making low passesat the Great Horned Owl. Before we could relocate the horned owl to a protectedenclosure, it wasstruck once in the head by an Elf Owl. Some nocturnal behaviorsmay not be well known or understood,not becausethey are rare, but becausethey are difficult to observe.This may changewith the increasedavailability of night vision equipment (P. Henson and J A Cooper 1994, Auk 111:1013-1018). Currently, observationsof nocturnal behaviorsare likely to be sporadicand anecdotal,and therefore unreported. Such information, however,may help in understandinga speciesbiology. For example, other researchershave observedgroup mobbing by Elf Owls (F.R. Gehlbach,pers. comm.; B.A. Millsap, pers. comm.), but there are no publishedreports of the behavior.Our observations,and thoseof other researchers, suggestthat Elf Owlswill join together in mobbing and that they can be physicallyaggressive when defending their nestsagainst predators. We thank A. Duerr, T.S. Estabrookand R.L. Spauldingfor assistingwith the observations.We alsothank T. Brush, ER. Gehlbach, R. Glinski, P. Hardy, B.A. Millsap, G. Proudfoot and H.A. Snyder for sharing their observational information concerning mobbing by small owls.This manuscriptbenefitted from the constructivereviews of ER. Gehlbach,C. Marti, B.A. Millsapand an anonymousreviewer.--Clint W. Boal, Brent D. Biblesand R. William Mannan, Schoolof RenewableNatural Resources,University of Arizona, Tucson,AZ 85721 U.S•. j. RaptorRes. 31 (3):287-288 ¸ 1997 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc. GRIFFONVULTURES (GYPS FULVUS) INGESTING BONES AT THE OSSUARIESOF BEARDEDVULTURES ( GYPAETUSBAR•ATUS) Some African vulturesovercome the calcium deficiencyin their diets by ingestingbone fragments,and are depen- dent on the presenceof largepredators to supplythem (Mundy and Ledger 1976, S.
    [Show full text]
  • BEARDED VULTURE POPULATION and HABITAT VIABILITY ASSESSMENT (Gypaetus Barbatus Meridionalis)
    BEARDED VULTURE POPULATION AND HABITAT VIABILITY ASSESSMENT (Gypaetus barbatus meridionalis) Sterkfontein Dam, Harrismith, Free State Province, South Africa 6 - 10 March 2006 BEARDED VULTURE (Gypaetus barbatus meridionalis) POPULATION AND HABITAT VIABILITY ASSESSMENT IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 6 - 10 March 2006 WORKSHOP REPORT Convened by: CONSERVATION BREEDING SPECIALIST GROUP SOUTHERN AFRICA ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST EZEMVELO KWAZULU-NATAL WILDLIFE Sponsored by: Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Project In collaboration with THE CONSERVATION BREEDING SPECIALIST GROUP (CBSG) OF THE IUCN SPECIES SURVIVAL COMMISSION Population and Habitat Viability Assessment: Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus meridionalis) 1 © Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG-SSC / IUCN) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust. The copyright of the report serves to protect the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group workshop process from any unauthorised use. Krüger, S., Piper, S., Rushworth, I., Botha, A., Daly, B., Allan, D., Jenkins, A., Burden, D. and Friedmann, Y. (editors). 2006. Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus meridionalis) Population and Habitat Viability Assessment Workshop Report. Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (SSC / IUCN) / CBSG Southern Africa. Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg. The CBSG, SSC and IUCN encourage workshops and other fora for the consideration and analysis of issues related to conservation, and believe that reports of these meetings are most useful when broadly disseminated. The opinions and recommendations expressed in this report
    [Show full text]
  • OBSERVATIONS on VERREAUX's EAGLE OWL Bubo Lacteus (Temminck)
    J.E.Afr.Nat.Hist.Soc. Vol.XXV No.2 (111) June 1965 OBSERVATIONS ON VERREAUX'S EAGLE OWL Bubo lacteus (Temminck) IN KENYA By L.H. Brown This paper brings together scattered observations made in various parts of Kenya between 1947 and 1964. Little seems to have been pub• lished on the behaviour and habits of this owl, so that these details on breeding habits and food may be of value. The majority of the observations were made at a breeding site in Karen, 13 miles from Nairobi, in August-September 1963, but some observations were also made in Embu district, and at scattered localities elsewhere in Kenya. Verreaux's Eagle Owl is quite a common bird in Kenya, though not often observed for long. It appears to be an inhabitant of forest edges near open country, and is specially fond of strips of riverine Acacia forest. In such localities its deep hoot proclaims its presence soon after dark, and often by day as well. Pairs of the species are nearly always to be found roosting close together, sometimes sitting on the same branch. When they start to hunt in the early hours of the night they move further apart, but keep in touch by calls, which make them easy to locate. The voice of one sex, probably the female, is deeper than that of the other. II Voice. The normal call is a very deep double hoot "oop-poop", almost as deep as the call of the Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri (Vigors). It can be confused with the call of that species, particularly as both these birds are likely to roost in, and call from, riverine Acacia forest at dusk and dawn.
    [Show full text]
  • Tc & Forward & Owls-I-IX
    USDA Forest Service 1997 General Technical Report NC-190 Biology and Conservation of Owls of the Northern Hemisphere Second International Symposium February 5-9, 1997 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Editors: James R. Duncan, Zoologist, Manitoba Conservation Data Centre Wildlife Branch, Manitoba Department of Natural Resources Box 24, 200 Saulteaux Crescent Winnipeg, MB CANADA R3J 3W3 <[email protected]> David H. Johnson, Wildlife Ecologist Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way North Olympia, WA, USA 98501-1091 <[email protected]> Thomas H. Nicholls, retired formerly Project Leader and Research Plant Pathologist and Wildlife Biologist USDA Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station 1992 Folwell Avenue St. Paul, MN, USA 55108-6148 <[email protected]> I 2nd Owl Symposium SPONSORS: (Listing of all symposium and publication sponsors, e.g., those donating $$) 1987 International Owl Symposium Fund; Jack Israel Schrieber Memorial Trust c/o Zoological Society of Manitoba; Lady Grayl Fund; Manitoba Hydro; Manitoba Natural Resources; Manitoba Naturalists Society; Manitoba Critical Wildlife Habitat Program; Metro Propane Ltd.; Pine Falls Paper Company; Raptor Research Foundation; Raptor Education Group, Inc.; Raptor Research Center of Boise State University, Boise, Idaho; Repap Manitoba; Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada; USDI Bureau of Land Management; USDI Fish and Wildlife Service; USDA Forest Service, including the North Central Forest Experiment Station; Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; The Wildlife Society - Washington Chapter; Wildlife Habitat Canada; Robert Bateman; Lawrence Blus; Nancy Claflin; Richard Clark; James Duncan; Bob Gehlert; Marge Gibson; Mary Houston; Stuart Houston; Edgar Jones; Katherine McKeever; Robert Nero; Glenn Proudfoot; Catherine Rich; Spencer Sealy; Mark Sobchuk; Tom Sproat; Peter Stacey; and Catherine Thexton.
    [Show full text]
  • Vulture Msap)
    MULTI-SPECIES ACTION PLAN TO CONSERVE AFRICAN-EURASIAN VULTURES (VULTURE MSAP) CMS Raptors MOU Technical Publication No. 5 CMS Technical Series No. xx MULTI-SPECIES ACTION PLAN TO CONSERVE AFRICAN-EURASIAN VULTURES (VULTURE MSAP) CMS Raptors MOU Technical Publication No. 5 CMS Technical Series No. xx Overall project management Nick P. Williams, CMS Raptors MOU Head of the Coordinating Unit [email protected] Jenny Renell, CMS Raptors MOU Associate Programme Officer [email protected] Compiled by André Botha, Endangered Wildlife Trust Overarching Coordinator: Multi-species Action Plan to conserve African-Eurasian Vultures [email protected] Jovan Andevski, Vulture Conservation Foundation European Regional Coordinator: Multi-species Action Plan to conserve African-Eurasian Vultures [email protected] Chris Bowden, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Asian Regional Coordinator: Multi-species Action Plan to conserve African-Eurasian Vultures [email protected] Masumi Gudka, BirdLife International African Regional Coordinator: Multi-species Action Plan to conserve African-Eurasian Vultures [email protected] Roger Safford, BirdLife International Senior Programme Manager: Preventing Extinctions [email protected] Nick P. Williams, CMS Raptors MOU Head of the Coordinating Unit [email protected] Technical support Roger Safford, BirdLife International José Tavares, Vulture Conservation Foundation Regional Workshop Facilitators Africa - Chris Bowden, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Europe – Boris Barov, BirdLife International Asia and Middle East - José Tavares, Vulture Conservation Foundation Overarching Workshop Chair Fernando Spina, Chair of the CMS Scientific Council Design and layout Tris Allinson, BirdLife International 2 Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP) Contributors Lists of participants at the five workshops and of other contributors can be found in Annex 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Accipiters.Pdf
    Accipiters The northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and the sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) are the Alaskan representatives of a group of hawks known as accipiters, with short, rounded wings (short in comparison with other hawks) and long tails. The third North American accipiter, the Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is not found in Alaska. Both native species are abundant in the state but not commonly seen, for they spend the majority of their time in wooded habitats. When they do venture out into the open, the accipiters can be recognized easily by their “several flaps and a glide” style of flight. General Description: Adult northern goshawks are bluish- gray on the back, wings, and tail, and pearly gray on the breast and underparts. The dark gray cap is accented by a light gray stripe above the red eye. Like most birds of prey, female goshawks are larger than males. A typical female is 25 inches (65 cm) long, has a wingspread of 45 inches (115 cm) and weighs 2¼ pounds (1020 g) while the average male is 19½ inches (50 cm) in length with a wingspread of 39 inches (100 cm) and weighs 2 pounds (880 g). Adult sharp-shinned hawks have gray backs, wings and tails (males tend to be bluish-gray, while females are browner) with white underparts barred heavily with brownish-orange. They also have red eyes but, unlike goshawks, have no eyestrip. A typical female weighs 6 ounces (170 g), is 13½ inches (35 cm) long with a wingspread of 25 inches (65 cm), while the average male weighs 3½ ounces (100 g), is 10 inches (25 cm) long and has a wingspread of 21 inches (55 cm).
    [Show full text]
  • Our Recent Bird Surveys
    Breeding Birds Survey at Germantown MetroPark Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Accipiter cooperii hawk, Cooper's Corvus brachyrhynchos crow, American Accipiter striatus hawk, sharp shinned Cyanocitta cristata jay, blue Aegolius acadicus owl, saw-whet Dendroica cerulea warbler, cerulean Agelaius phoeniceus blackbird, red-winged Dendroica coronata warbler, yellow-rumped Aix sponsa duck, wood Dendroica discolor warbler, prairie Ammodramus henslowii sparrow, Henslow's Dendroica dominica warbler, yellow-throated Ammodramus savannarum sparrow, grasshopper Dendroica petechia warbler, yellow Anas acuta pintail, northern Dendroica pinus warbler, pine Anas crecca teal, green-winged Dendroica virens warbler, black-throated Anas platyrhynchos duck, mallard green Archilochus colubris hummingbird, ruby-throated Dolichonyx oryzivorus Bobolink Ardea herodias heron, great blue Dryocopus pileatus woodpecker, pileated Asio flammeus owl, short-eared Dumetella carolinensis catbird, grey Asio otus owl, long-eared Empidonax minimus flycatcher, least Aythya collaris duck, ring-necked Empidonax traillii flycatcher, willow Baeolphus bicolor titmouse, tufted Empidonax virescens flycatcher, Acadian Bombycilla garrulus waxwing, cedar Eremophia alpestris lark, horned Branta canadensis goose, Canada Falco sparverius kestrel, American Bubo virginianus owl, great horned Geothlypis trichas yellowthroat, common Buteo jamaicensis hawk, red-tailed Grus canadensis crane, sandhill Buteo lineatus hawk, red-shouldered Helmitheros vermivorus warbler, worm-eating
    [Show full text]
  • Birding Tour Comoros and Mayotte 30
    BIRDING TOUR COMOROS AND MAYOTTE 30 SEPTEMBER – 10 OCTOBER 2020 Karthala Scops Owl is one of the targets – this one was photographed by Alan van Norman on our 2014 tour. www.birdingecotours.com [email protected] 2 | ITINERARY Comoros and Mayotte 2020 Our Birding Tour Comoros and Mayotte will visit all three islands of the Comoros as well as the island of Mayotte. Although Mayotte is a department and region of France, traditional Mayotte culture and ecology are most closely related to that of the neighboring Comoros islands, and biogeographically it is part of the Comoros. This tour allows a rare opportunity for any serious lister to hopefully connect with some of the rarest, most range-restricted, and/or endangered species on the planet. These include Karthala Scops Owl, Moheli Scops Owl, Anjouan Scops Owl (all three listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN), Mayotte Scops Owl, and many other birds, a large number of which are endemic to the Comoros with their respective subspecies being endemic to their specific island. Not only is the birding spectacular, but so too is the scenery and the variety in the fauna and flora that one picks up along the way. The trip, however, is quite strenuous, as the climbs are steep and the camping fairly basic. But the birds available soon make one forget about the lack of common luxuries. This tour will start on 30 September in consideration of those tour participants coming from our Birding Tour Madagascar: The Remote North, providing a two-day gap between tours because of rather unreliable flight connections from Antananarivo to the Comoros, where delays and even cancellations are common.
    [Show full text]
  • Bird Checklists of the World Country Or Region: Ghana
    Avibase Page 1of 24 Col Location Date Start time Duration Distance Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World 1 Country or region: Ghana 2 Number of species: 773 3 Number of endemics: 0 4 Number of breeding endemics: 0 5 Number of globally threatened species: 26 6 Number of extinct species: 0 7 Number of introduced species: 1 8 Date last reviewed: 2019-11-10 9 10 Recommended citation: Lepage, D. 2021. Checklist of the birds of Ghana. Avibase, the world bird database. Retrieved from .https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?lang=EN&region=gh [26/09/2021]. Make your observations count! Submit your data to ebird.
    [Show full text]
  • Iucn Red Data List Information on Species Listed On, and Covered by Cms Appendices
    UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC4/Doc.8/Rev.1/Annex 1 ANNEX 1 IUCN RED DATA LIST INFORMATION ON SPECIES LISTED ON, AND COVERED BY CMS APPENDICES Content General Information ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Species in Appendix I ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Mammalia ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Aves ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Reptilia ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Pisces .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]