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Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus are still declining in West Africa: a nearly 50-year assessment study (1969–2019) Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-03-07 Clément Daboné, Idrissa Ouédraogo, Adama Ouéda, Lindy J Thompson, Peter DM Weesie
Large-scale declines in vulture populations have been recorded in West Africa. One concern is that the current trend in Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus populations in West Africa is poorly know...
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Counting Common Starlings: is Sturnus vulgaris invasive in rural South Africa? Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-03-07 Adrian JFK Craig, Shelley Edwards
The numbers of Common Starlings Sturnus vulgaris and indigenous starling species, as well as a subset of other common birds, were recorded from October 2006 to January 2020 at 72 point-count sites ...
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Seasonal movements of Black Coucals Centropus grillii in Nigeria Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-03-07 Soladoye B Iwajomo, Himma Bakam, Shiiwua A Manu, Ulf Ottosson, Kasper Thorup
The scale of movement associated with the migration of many intra-African bird species is still poorly known even with the increasing availability of tracking devices. In this study, we tracked the...
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Nesting habitat of the Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola mauritanica in Morocco Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-03-01 Mohammed Hilmi, Abdallah Mahamoud, Omar Taouali, Nadia Mhammdi, Pedro Fernandes, Mohammed Aziz El Agbani, Abdeljebbar Qninba
The Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola (subspecies mauritanica) of family Hirundinidae is endemic to Morocco and known for its ability to dig tunnels in earthen banks in which it nests. The n...
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New waterbird breeding records in Western Province, Zambia Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-22 Jonah Gula, Amukena Mungole, Kirsty J Kyle, Matthew J Burnett, Moses Chibesa, Colleen T Downs
Knowledge of where species breed is important for understanding population trends, range shifts and conservation threats. During fieldwork in 2019–2023 in Western Province, Zambia, we recorded evid...
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Special issue on moult in African birds Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-12-16 Adrian Craig, Birgit Erni
Published in Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology (Vol. 94, No. 4, 2023)
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Long-term changes in petrel populations on Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha, inferred from the diet of Brown Skuas Stercorarius antarcticus Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-12-16 Peter G Ryan
Petrels that breed in burrows and return to their colonies after dark are among the most poorly studied seabirds. Brown Skuas Stercorarius antarcticus (family Stercorariidae) are major predators of...
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Using generalised additive models to visualise the annual cycle of primary feather moult patterns Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-12-16 Rebecca R Irons, Alan TK Lee, Robert L Thomson, Birgit Erni
Moult is a vital but energy-demanding event in a bird's phenological cycle. Primary moult is the shedding of old feathers and the regeneration of new flight feathers to maintain efficient functioni...
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Influence of groups of points on estimates of the parameters of moult Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-12-16 Les G Underhill, Tanya Scott
The Underhill–Zucchini model of avian moult is a statistical simplification for the analysis of primary moult, a complex biological system in birds. As with all such models, conclusions can be bias...
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Multiple circannual moult strategies: feather tract moult patterns for common birds of the central Fynbos region, South Africa Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-28 Alan TK Lee
When and where birds lose their feathers during the annual moult cycle is a fascinating subject, but there is little reported on patterns and strategies of moult for most African bird species. Whil...
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The avifauna of Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal: a review of historical and recent ornithological records Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-24 John B Rose, Oliver JL Fox, Bram Piot, Philippe Delaporte
We present the results of a review of the bird species historically observed in Niokolo-Koba National Park, a World Heritage Site and 913 000 ha natural protected area in southeastern Senegal. In c...
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The effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the relative abundance and conservation of Ludwig’s Bustard Neotis ludwigii in South Africa Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-24 Steven W Evans
Ludwig’s Bustard Neotis ludwigii is near-endemic to the semi-arid shrublands of southwestern southern Africa and is listed as Endangered. The primary threat to this species is collisions with overh...
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Population size, habitat use and foraging habits of wild Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris in southwestern Ethiopia Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-20 Yihenew Aynalem, Afework Bekele, Bezawork Afework Bogale
The Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris is a widespread and abundant resident gamebird species in sub-Saharan Africa. It is hunted throughout the region, including in Ethiopia. However, knowledge ...
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Huddling in the heat? Rarely seen thermoregulatory behaviours as Southern Pied Babblers Turdoides bicolor compete for cool microsites Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-10 Amanda R Bourne, Camilla Soravia
Huddling is an important thermoregulatory behaviour used by many group-living endotherms to conserve energy during cold weather or periods of food scarcity. It is not typically considered a strateg...
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Diversity and abundance of avifauna in the Suba Forest area, central Ethiopia Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-09 Gemechis B Mosisa, Nega Tassie, Sintayehu W Dejene
Birds are one of the best-described taxa, but detailed knowledge about most bird species in Ethiopia remains rare, which hinders the development and evaluation of conservation strategies in the reg...
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Breeding ecology of the Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor (Glareolidae) on semi-arid grazing land in Souss-Massa National Park, southwestern Morocco Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-08 Yassine Teyar, Dimitri Giunchi, Mohamed El Bekkay, Widade Oubrou, Mohammed Znari, Mohamed Aourir
This study presents the first data on the breeding ecology of the Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor (family Glareolidae) in a grazed semi-arid steppe in southwestern Morocco. The egg-laying o...
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Long-term trends from Citizen Scientists: 24 years of breeding success data of African Oystercatchers Haematopus moquini in the Garden Route Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-03 B Arendse, P Dawson, B Mels, M Brown
Long-term data on breeding success in beach-nesting birds in southern Africa are scarce. Citizen science projects have risen to the forefront of large dataset collection efforts globally, with seve...
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Gill Memorial Medal citation: Colleen Downs Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-03 Alan TK Lee, Sandi Willows-Munro, David A Ehlers Smith, Preshnee Singh
Published in Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology (Vol. 94, No. 3, 2023)
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Anton Reichenow and the birds of Africa Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-31 Adrian JFK Craig
The first handbook of the birds of Africa was completed in 1905 by Anton Reichenow (1847–1941). Based in the Berlin museum for almost 50 years, he described 152 African taxa that are still recognis...
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A demonstration of the value of recapture data for informing moult phenology models for avian species with imperfect moult data Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-31 Philipp H Boersch-Supan, Alan Tristram Kenneth Lee, Hans-Dieter Oschadleus
The Underhill–Zucchini model has revolutionised the study of moult in the context of birds’ annual cycles, but, as for all statistical models, inferences are vulnerable to violations of model assum...
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101 Curious Tales of East African Birds: A Brief Introduction to Tropical Ornithology Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-27 H Dieter Oschadleus
Published in Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology (Vol. 94, No. 3, 2023)
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Avian species assemblages in African mangrove forests Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-20 W Richard J Dean, Suzanne Milton
African mangrove forests are threatened by harvesting and climate change. Most bird species that occur in this habitat are either drawn from adjacent forests or woodlands or are marine and piscivor...
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Primary moult in the annual cycle of adult African Oystercatchers Haematopus moquini Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-20 Taylyn C Bate, Peter G Ryan, Les G Underhill
African Oystercatchers Haematopus moquini are sedentary, intertidal foraging birds, range-restricted to Namibia and South Africa. Their annual cycle has two components: breeding and moult. The Unde...
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Pattern and intensity of moult in White-capped/Shy Albatrosses Thalassarche steadi/cauta Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-19 Peter G Ryan, Oluwadunsin E Adekola
Albatrosses typically only replace a subset of flight feathers each annual moult cycle. We scored the moult of 662 White-capped/Shy Albatrosses Thalassarche steadi/cauta, using birds that had been ...
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Twenty-three new bird species for Angola, including Mayombe National Park in Cabinda Province, and other noteworthy records Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-18 Michael SL Mills, Rogério Ferreira, Pedro Vaz Pinto
The avifauna of Cabinda Province, Angola, is poorly known; since 1885 only one ornithological expedition has been made to the province, by AA da Rosa Pinto in 1969. All previous works that include ...
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Primary moult of adult Laughing Doves Spilopelia senegalensis: introduction of the relative duration index and a comparison of moult indices Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-16 Tanya Scott, Les G Underhill, George D Underhill
A new moult index, the relative duration index (RDI), was developed to quantify progress through moult using the Underhill–Zucchini model of primary avian moult, with the Laughing Dove Spilopelia s...
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The primary moult of adult Red-headed Finches Amadina erythrocephala Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-16 T Scott, JMH Raijmakers, LG Underhill
Little is known about the biology of the Red-headed Finch Amadina erythrocephala. This study investigates its primary moult, the first aspect of its life history to be looked at in depth. Additiona...
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Presence of the alien Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri (Psittacidae) in Mozambique Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-06 Francesca Romana Trezza, Ivan da Costa Nerantzoulis, Silvio Cianciullo, Hugo Mabilana, Célia Macamo, Fabio Attorre, Carlos Manuel Bento, Paolo Ramoni-Perazzi
The biology of the Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri has been widely studied in many of its naturalized habitats around the world. However, its potential status and impacts may have gone unno...
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Preliminary investigation into deducing breeding success of African Penguins Spheniscus demersus from automated transponder reader data to reduce disturbance Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-06 Mpumalanga Mnyekemfu, Peter J Barham, Barbara Barham, Lauren Waller, Katrin Ludynia, Gavin W Maneveldt
The Endangered African Penguin Spheniscus demersus is in serious decline, with the total population falling at a rate of ∼5% per annum. The need to carry out regular monitoring to collect demograph...
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New Pleistocene avian ichnosites on South Africa’s Cape south coast Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-06 Charles W Helm, Martin G Lockley, Andrew S Carr, Hayley C Cawthra, Jan C De Vynck, Mark G Dixon, Pieter-Jan Gräbe, Renée Rust
Twelve new avian ichnosites have been identified on South Africa’s Cape south coast, adding to the 29 sites previously identified. More than half of these 41 avian ichnosites are found along a 9-km...
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Status and density of the threatened Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori in a woodland savanna Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-06 Kathan Bandyopadhyay, Bogdan Cristescu, Jeffrey L Beck, John L Koprowski, Laurie Marker
Many grassland habitats have disappeared or undergone substantial change worldwide and many obligatory grassland animal species have populations that are at risk of extinction. The Kori Bustard Ard...
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Community involvement in the mass capture of Red-billed Queleas Quelea quelea adjacent to protected areas: the case of Chemba District, Dodoma, Tanzania Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-02 Naza Emanuel Mmbaga, Richard John Mongi, Mhuji Bukheti Kilonzo, Leonard Kamanga Katalambula
The mass capture and utilisation of Red-billed Queleas Quelea quelea as a source of food is practiced in different African countries. The current study sought information on the trapping methods an...
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Plumage dimorphism and moult patterns of weaverbirds – a review Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-08-02 H-Dieter Oschadleus, Staffan Andersson
The colourful plumages of weaverbirds (family Ploceidae, with 118 species recognised) provide a well-known and in part iconic showcase of sexual selection, with widespread sexual dimorphism (93 spe...
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Spatial use of non-breeding sites by adult GPS-tracked Ospreys Pandion haliaetus from Germany Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-08-02 Bernd-Ulrich Meyburg, Daniel Holte
Recent analyses of telemetry data on Ospreys Pandion haliaetus predominantly address migratory movements, whereas studies focusing on spatial use are rare, especially concerning the African non-bre...
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Assessment of genetic and morphological differentiation among populations of the Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-07-19 Rae M Smith, Desiré L Dalton, Monica Mwale, Lisa J Nupen, Chantelle Pretorius, Jamie Bojko, Kim Labuschagne, Isa-Rita M Russo, Samuel T Osinubi
The Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius is an African species widely distributed south of the Sahara, which migrates seasonally between breeding and nonbreeding sites. It is currently unknown whet...
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Conservation status and threats to lovebirds: knowledge gaps and research priorities Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-06-05 Sascha Dueker, Sandi Willows-Munro, Michael R Perrin, Yilma D Abebe, Nathaniel ND Annorbah, Esther W Mwangi, Ireene R Madindou, Wondimagegnehu Tekalign, Emiliano Mori, Tiwonge I Mzumara, Chris Brown, Ursula Bryson, Henry Ndithia, Tim Dodman, Henriette van der Zwan, Rencia van der Sluis, Chaona R Phiri, Abigail Karimanzira, Rowan O Martin
Lovebirds (genus Agapornis of family Psittaculidae) are a group of small, colourful parrot species endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, two-thirds of which are considered to have declining populations. Effective conservation efforts are hampered by a lack of information, particularly for species occurring in regions that have received little research attention. We combined expert knowledge
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Sunning in Yellow Bishops Euplectes capensis Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-06-05 H Dieter Oschadleus, Philipp H Boersch-Supan
Two photographic records of a Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis apparently sunning, at the West Coast National Park, South Africa, are described. There are very few records of sunning in weavers, and this is the first record for this species.
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Reproduction of the Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus at the El Maleh Dam reservoir in north-western Morocco Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-05-25 Abdeslam Rihane, Abdelmottalib Nahli, Rhimou El Hamoumi, Mohamed Chlaida
The reproduction of the Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus in submerged and dried up thickets of French tamarisk Tamarix gallica at El Maleh Dam reservoir, Benslimane Province, Morocco, was studied through monitoring nests in three successive years (2017–2019). Systematic field investigation showed that the nests were concentrated exclusively in a narrow and shallow area upstream of the dam.
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The role of experimental perches on the hover and perch hunting preferences of the Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-04-19 Gerard Malan, Marco Heimstadt
The Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis is a fishing kingfisher that employs two hunting modes. The bird can either hunt from a perch or hover and then dive into the water. The former method is energetically cheap but limits prey searching to the area below the perch, whereas hovering is costly but gives access to feeding areas that lack perches. This exploratory study examined how the provision of artificial
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Nest-site selection by Levaillant’s Woodpecker Picus vaillantii in the Aurès Mountains of northeastern Algeria Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-03-16 Mehdi Badis, Imane Benchana, Nabil Hamdi
We investigated ecological factors that influence the presence of nests of Levaillant’s Woodpecker Picus vaillantii in the Aurès Mountains of northeastern Algeria. Surveys carried out during the breeding season in 2018 and 2019, using point counts combined with extensive nest searching around each point at 72 random stations, allowed us to detect 44 nests against 28 unoccupied points. Using data on
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Initial evaluation of the care and rehabilitation success of Cape Cormorants Phalacrocorax capensis rescued from Robben and Jutten islands, South Africa, in January 2021 Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-03-13 Jesse Phillips, Katrin Ludynia, Lauren J Waller, Peter J Barham, Andile Mdluli, Romy Klusener, Gavin W Maneveldt
The population of the endangered Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis more than halved over the last three decades (BirdLife International 2018a). In January 2021, nearly 2 000 Cape Cormorant chicks were found abandoned, suffering from dehydration and heat stress, at two important nesting sites. The chicks were rescued and rehabilitated by the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal
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Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus diet in a nutshell: use of indigenous and exotic plants in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2023-03-06 Kirsten Wimberger, Kate F Carstens, Johann C Carstens, Francis R Brooke, Fanie Rautenbach
The success of conservation action for a threatened species can be improved by knowledge of its feeding and breeding requirements. The Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus is a threatened endemic restricted to patches of mistbelt forest in South Africa. Cape Parrots are considered dietary specialists, preferring the kernels of yellowwood Podocarpus/Afrocarpus species, and consuming other species when these
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Road counts reveal The Gambia’s West Coast region still has the densest population of Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus in Africa Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-12-15 Mawdo Jallow, Momodou L Dibba, Fagimba Camara, David R Barber, Keith L Bildstein, Lindy J Thompson
Road surveys are a useful tool for comparing vulture population trends. Here we present data from road surveys to count Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus in The Gambia in 2017 and 2021. In the first nationwide road survey in November 2017 (during this species’ breeding period), we counted 7.3 Hooded Vultures per km. In The Gambia’s West Coast, we counted 33.3 Hooded Vultures per km in November 2017
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Breeding status of invasive Rose-ringed Parakeets Psittacula krameri in Durban, South Africa Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-12-15 Tinyiko C Shivambu, Ndivhuwo Shivambu, Colleen T Downs
The Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri has established feral populations in South African suburban areas. However, the information on the breeding biology of parakeets remains poorly documented in the country. We assessed parakeets’ breeding status and behaviour by locating their roost and breeding sites in Durban, eThekwini Metropole, KwaZulu-Natal province. We also placed artificial nest boxes
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Natural recolonisation of sub-Antarctic Marion Island by Common Diving Petrels Pelecanoides urinatrix Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-12-03 Maëlle Connan, Stefan Schoombie, Janine Schoombie, Ben Dilley, Peter G Ryan
Nocturnal burrow-nesting seabirds are notoriously difficult to study and can go unnoticed for years in remote areas. One of these species is the Common Diving Petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix, which has a circumpolar breeding distribution in the Southern Ocean, including at the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. At Marion Island, the larger of the two islands, the species was extirpated by cats that
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Local perceptions and sociocultural value of Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus in Burkina Faso, West Africa Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-11-18 Clément Daboné, Adama Ouéda, Lindy J Thompson, Jacques Boco Adjakpa, Peter DM Weesie
Hooded Vultures have suffered from dramatic population declines in recent decades owing to anthropogenic pressures. To properly address this threat, the sociocultural perspectives towards this species should be considered. We examined peoples' perceptions, knowledge and beliefs on Hooded Vulture's sociocultural values in Burkina Faso through face to face surveys at 20 sites spread across the country
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African–Eurasian birds: our birds, their birds, or OUR birds? Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-11-11 Samuel Temidayo Osinubi
Published in Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology (Vol. 93, No. 3, 2022)
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A comparison of migrant and resident bird population changes in South Africa using citizen science data: trends in relation to Northern Hemisphere distribution Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-11-11 Alan TK Lee, Sophie AJ Hammer
Many species of migratory birds have been declining on the Palearctic-African flyways in recent decades due to human population pressure and land-use intensification. Models predict that the declining trends of migratory birds will continue into the foreseeable future across much of Africa, likely exacerbated by climate change. While sub-Saharan Africa is viewed as less important for these migrants
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Distribution and breeding numbers of a recently split species, the West African Crested Tern Thalasseus albididorsalis Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-11-11 Jan Veen, Ahmed Amarejeyat, Mohamed Aziz el Agbani, Mohamed Camara, Hanneke Dallmeijer, Yelli Diawara, Moussa Sega Diop, Abdou Diouf, Eelke Folmer, Nicolas Gomis, Valentin Mansali, Hamilton Monteira, Moussa Samb, Lamin Manneh, Effoleming Manga, Thor Veen, Wim C Mullié
This study investigated the distribution, numbers and conservation threats of the West African Crested Tern, which was recently elevated to full species after it was split from the Royal Tern with an American and African subspecies. In the period 1998–2019, a total of 13 West African coastal islands were identified as breeding localities, stretching from Mauritania to Guinea. All the islands are isolated
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The pros and cons of a virtual conference: the first virtual International Ornithological Congress held in 2022 Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-11-11 Colleen T Downs, Will Cresswell, Liza Monteiro, Joanne Bezuidenhout, Nina Freysen-Pretorious, Alan TK Lee, Preshnee Singh, Sandi Willows-Munro
Published in Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology (Vol. 93, No. 3, 2022)
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The African Bird Atlas Project: a description of the project and BirdMap data-collection protocol Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-11-05 Michael Brooks, Sanjo Rose, Res Altwegg, Alan TK Lee, Henk Nel, Ulf Ottosson, Ernst Retief, Chevonne Reynolds, Peter G Ryan, Sidney Shema, Talatu Tende, Les G Underhill, Robert L Thomson
The African Bird Atlas Project (ABAP) is a citizen-science bird-monitoring programme that relies on a robust, repeatable protocol (BirdMap) and allows insights into the distributions of African birds and their conservation. The protocol involves collecting bird lists within spatial sampling units called pentads (5 × 5 minutes of latitude by longitude), in relation to survey effort. It is based on the
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Why the taxonomy of francolins and spurfowls (Galliformes, Phasianidae) needs revision: responses to Hustler (2021) and Hunter et al. (2021a,b) Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-11-04 Timothy M Crowe, Tshifhiwa G Mandiwana-Neudani, Robin M Little, Rauri CK Bowie
Published in Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology (Vol. 93, No. 4, 2022)
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Hilery Desmond Jackson: ornithologist and museologist Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-10-13 R Mark Brigham, Peter Locke
Published in Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology (Vol. 93, No. 4, 2022)
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Aspects of the nonbreeding ecology of the Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis in and around Amurum Forest Reserve, Jos Plateau, Nigeria Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-10-13 Taiwo A Adams, Samuel T Ivande, Mark Wilson
To advance our knowledge about the nonbreeding ecology of the Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis, this study investigated its population dynamics, habitat utilisation and foraging behaviour, from October to December 2018, in and around the Amurum Forest Reserve, located in the guinea savannah zone of Nigeria, West Africa. The study area comprises four main habitat types: gallery forest, rocky outcrop, savannah
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Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus movements between Europe and Africa show a pattern across the Strait of Gibraltar Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-08-31 Juan Ramírez, Javier Elorriaga, Andrés de la Cruz
The biology of the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus is well known across its breeding range, and the species’ dispersal and movements throughout Europe are widely recorded. However, the ecology of this vulture south of the Mediterranean Sea has been overlooked, probably owing to the belief that the presence of Cinereous Vultures in North Africa derives from dispersal behaviour. Data from raptor
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Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus movements between Europe and Africa show a pattern across the Strait of Gibraltar Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-08-31 Juan Ramírez, Javier Elorriaga, Andrés de la Cruz
The biology of the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus is well known across its breeding range, and the species’ dispersal and movements throughout Europe are widely recorded. However, the ecology of this vulture south of the Mediterranean Sea has been overlooked, probably owing to the belief that the presence of Cinereous Vultures in North Africa derives from dispersal behaviour. Data from raptor
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Sexual and individual signatures are encoded in the temporal rate of Cape Gannet Morus capensis display calls Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-08-19 Kezia Bowmaker-Falconer, Andréa Thiebault, Maëlle Connan, Thierry Aubin, Isabelle Charrier, Pierre Pistorius
Vocalisations play a vital role in animal communication, as they are involved in many biological functions such as mate selection, individual recognition and care of young. Seabirds often breed in large and dense colonies, making successful recognition between mates or between parents and offspring crucial for reproductive success. Acoustic signals have been shown to play an important role in this
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The influence of nest location and the effect of predator removal on Cape Gannet Morus capensis egg predation by Kelp Gulls Larus dominicanus vetula Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-08-19 Zanri Strydom, Lauren J Waller, Mark Brown, Hervé Fritz, Jan A Venter
The breeding range of the Cape Gannet Morus capensis currently extends to six of the ten islands formerly utilised by this species. The Cape Gannet is classified as an endangered species with a rapidly declining population. Since the mid-1950s, the global population has declined by 51% due to multiple causes, including egg predation by the Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus vetula. To assess the effect of
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How do we feel, African Ornithology? A sentiment analysis search for symptoms of eco-anxiety Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-08-19 Alan TK Lee
Published in Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology (Vol. 93, No. 2, 2022)
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Genetic and morphological variation of Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis reveals cryptic mitochondrial lineages and patterns of mitochondrial–nuclear discordance Ostrich (IF 1.0) Pub Date : 2022-07-20 Monica Mwale, Desiré L Dalton, Anna S Kropff, Kim Labuschagne, Isa-Rita Russo, Samuel T Osinubi
The Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis is widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa and occupies a wide variety of woodland and savannah habitat. Thus far, three subspecies have been described based on morphological variation. In the present study, using western, eastern and southern African populations, we examined the relationship between morphological and genetic divergence among two