Assessing the population size and distribution of an understudied and threatened endemic wetland bird, the Madagascar jacana (Actophilornis albinucha) By Sama Zefania1 and Sebastien Moehy2 FINAL REPORT 1 Institut Supérieur de technologie de Menabe, Enceinte Port Morondava Madagascar Email: [email protected], Phones: +261 32 40 213 36 or +261 34 66 214 98 2 Sebastien Moehy, Etudiant en Sciences naturelles, Bloc 46/D Maninday, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Toliara, Email: [email protected], Phones: +261 34 04 635 49 – +261 32 98 70 656 INSTITUT SUPERIEUR DE TECHNOLOGIE AFRICAN BIRD CLUB DU MENABE CONSERVATION AWARD 1 Contents I. Introduction .............................................................................................................................4 II. Materials and Methods ..........................................................................................................7 II.1. Field data collecting ...........................................................................................................7 II.2. Field data analysing ............................................................................................................8 II.2.1. Mapping the current distribution of Madagascar Jacana .................................................8 II.2.2. Estimating current population size in each area and overall ...........................................9 II.2.3. Revealing recent change in distribution of species at some sites showing past data on distribution and population estimate ............................................9 III. Results ..................................................................................................................................9 III.1. Mapping the current distribution of Madagascar Jacana 2016 .........................................9 III.2. Estimating current population size of Madagascar Jacana at each presence site and overall areas ....................................................................................................13 III.3. Revealing recent change in distribution and abundance of species at some sites showing past data on distribution and population estimate ..........................................14 IV. Budget ................................................................................................................................15 V. Discussion ...........................................................................................................................19 VI. Conclusion .........................................................................................................................21 VII. Recommendation ..............................................................................................................21 VIII. References .......................................................................................................................22 Annexe: Some photos of lakes visited .....................................................................................23 2 List of tables Table 1: Previous distribution sites of Madagascar Jacana before 2016 ............................ .......4 Table 2: Sites of presence of Madagascar Jacana from the 2016 survey ...................................9 Table 3: Sites in which Madagascar Jacana was not found during the 2016 survey ...............11 Table 4: Change in distribution and population estimate of Madagascar Jacana in Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) between past and current data 2016 ..................................................14 List of figure Figure 1: Map locating study sites visited and not visited during the survey 2016 ...................7 Figure 2: Different ways of using the pirogues during surveys according to their size ..............8 Figure 3: Map of distribution of Madagascar Jacana based upon its presence sites 2016 .......10 Figure 4: Sites of absence of Madagascar Jacana during the survey 2016 ..............................12 3 I. Introduction Date of project: We started to collect new data from January 2016 by visiting some sites around Morondava, Masoarivo, Amboromalandy and exploring lakes beside the national road connecting Mampikony – Port-Berger – Antsohihy. Then, other sites were visited between June 2016 and December 2016 with re-assessment of some of the above sites. Previous knowledge on the topic before the project year (2016): The Madagascar Jacana (Actophilornis albinucha) is an endemic Madagascan shorebird which was up-listed to “near threatened” in 2012 due to population declines and severe threats including habitat loss and hunting pressure. Concerning its distribution and population (BirdLife International 2015): Actophilornis albinucha has been described as common or abundant in western and northern Madagascar. It is rare in the east of the island (Langrand 1990, Morris and Hawkins 1998). It has been noted that the species is becoming less frequently observed in suitable habitat (P. Morris in litt. 2010, L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2012), probably indicating that a decline has occurred. This apparent decline is suspected to be on-going, on the basis of continued habitat loss and modification, as well as hunting pressure (del Hoyo et al. 1996, P. Morrisin litt. 2010, L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2012, G. Young in litt. 2012). According to BirdLife International (2015), the population is estimated to number 1,000 - 10,000 individuals, roughly equating to 670 - 6,700 mature individuals. Previous known data on distribution and population estimate are reported below. They are summarized in Table 1 as data from Zicoma 1999 and Safford & Hawkins 2013. Summary of previous data known on distribution of Madagascar Jacana: Table 1: Previous distribution sites of Madagascar Jacana before 2016 Year Site Sources Previous data (Before 2016) according to Zicoma 1999 1998 Lake Sahaka Zicoma 1999 1998 Wetland East coast of Diego Zicoma 1999 1998 Complex Forest Menabe Zicoma 1999 1998 Complex Lake Ihotry hunting reserve Zicoma 1999 and Delta Mangoky 1998 Mikea forest Pk32 Zicoma 1999 4 Previous data (Before 2016) according to Safford and Hawkins 2013 1936 North East of Madagascar: Sambava - Rand 1936a, Benson et al. wetlands in north of Vohemar 1976 1990/1995 Antsiranana - Anivorano to Sambirano Langrand 1990, 1995, Safford region 2000 West of Madagascar from Sambirano region to Toliara 1918 Miandrivazo Bangs 1918, Rand 1936a 1936 Ankavandra Langrand 1990, Langrand 1995, Safford 2000a 1931 Toliara-Amboasary 1931, 1997 Amboasary Sud Goodman et al 1997b 1892 Lake Alaotra Baron 1892, Bangs 1918, Delacour 1932a, Pidgeon 1996 1863 Fenoarivo Newton 1863 1990 Maroantsetra and Toamasina Langrand 1990, Langrand 1995, 1879-1885 All ponds and rivers of Madagascar Milne-Edwards and Grandidier 1879-1885 1936a East of Madagascar: at clearing forest Rand 1936 and cultivation of swamp rice? No evidence March- Lake kinkony region Rand 1936 April 1936 March-Jun- Lower Mangoky Appert 2011 July 2011 Aug Lake Bemamba AFAH Sept-Nov Menabe wetlands (5 sites) Young et 2005 1999 Year-round Lake Sahaka Safford 2000 1929, Lake Alaotra Delacour 1930, 1932, Rand 1990s 1936a, Pidgeon 1996 1861 Lakes around Toamasina Roch and Newton 1863 Before our survey in 2016, Madagascar Jacana was recorded mainly in the western and southern parts of Madagascar with some additional records in the eastern and highland regions. A problem that this project has addressed: Recent surveys of Madagascar Jacana population showed a rarity of sighting of species in the field, suggesting the possible change in conservation status of the species over years. The problem is that there is no data justifying this change in the current population size and the distribution of species that has never been specifically assessed even though the species was up listed to the near threatened IUCN category. 5 Following the recommendation of BirdLife International, carrying out surveys to acquire a total population estimate and baseline estimates for certain sites should be undertaken. Objectives of project: The Global objective of this project is to provide a basic first detailed data for understanding distribution and population size of Madagascar Jacana. This data will help site conservation managers in the development of an effective conservation effort at priority sites of this species. Specific objectives include: - To map current distribution of Madagascar Jacana - To estimate current population size in each area and overall. - To reveal recent changes in population size and distribution of species at some sites showing past data on distributions and population estimates. Study sites location Madagascar: West and North West: Lake Ihotry, Morondava (Alle de Baobabs), Lake Bemamba, Lake Antsamaky, Lake Ankerika, Lake Kinkony, Lakes Sirave and Ambondro (Kirindy Forest Reserve), Port Berger wetlands, Lake Sahaka, Lake Mandrozo. 6 Figure 1: Map locating study sites visited and not visited during the survey 2016 : Not visited study sites 2016 (absence of study species according to local information): 7: Lake Kinkony and 14: Lakes Sirave and Ambondro. : Visited study sites 2016: 1: Lake Ambolobozobe and around 2: Lake Sahaka - Ampisikina 3: Lakes around of Ambanja 4: Lakes around national road Antsohihy-Port- Berger 5: Lakes around Port-Berger (Tsinjomitondraky, Matsaborilava) 6: Lakes beside National road Port-Berger – Mampikony - Antsapanana 8: Lake Amboromalandy 9: Lake Mandrozo 10: Lake Bemamba, 11: Lakes around Masoarivo (Ankerika, Belinta, Besitera, Andranolava,