The birds of Ajai's Game Reserve, Uganda: a first ornithological survey

6 Pages·1994·2.7 MB·English

by  Leigh Stubblefield

Shortcommunications 117
Skuawe hadcaught on the beach at Chumbe Island, about 12 km south-southwest of
Zanzibartown,whichrepresentedthefirstrecordofthespeciesforTanzania(Koehler
&Koehler 1993).
A subadult light, or barred morph Arctic Skua was washed ashore on 14 March
1994 on Chumbe Island following a heavy storm. It was released after being
photographed by Ilona Riehl and Gunther Bludszuweit. The photographs show an
individualprobably in itsthirdcalendaryearandmouhingfromthe secondimmature
non-breedingtobreedingplumage. Primaries 1-8, many wingcoverts andrectrices 1
and2 aredarkbrownandnew,the sharplypointedcentralpairofrectricesprotruding
30^0 mm beyond the old outermost one. All secondaries were old. According to
Urban etal. (1986) this might represent the first record ofArctic SkuaforTanzania.
While we are notcompletely sure ofthe ageingcriteriaofthePomarine Skua seen
on 19January, thetwo immature skuascanbepresumedtohavebeengoingto spend
the summer as non-breeders in the Indian Ocean as virtually only adults are seen on
&
springmigration offEilat, Israel (Meininger Sorensen 1986).
References
Koehler, P. & Koehler, U. 1993. Notable records from Chumbe Island, Zanzibar. Scopus 16:
115-116.
Meininger,P.L.&Sorensen,U.G. 1986.Theoccurrenceofskuas(Stercorariidae)intheMiddle
East,withspecialreferencetoEgyptandthenorthernRedSea. Vogelwarte33; 281-294.
Urban,E.K.,Fry,C.H. &Keith, S. 1986. ThebirdsofAfrica, vol2. London: AcademicPress.
Drs UrsulaandPeterKohler, Korhinianplatz I, 85737Ismaning, Germany
Scopus 18: 116-117, December 1994 Received 8 August 1994
The birds ofAjai's Game Reserve, Uganda:
a first ornithological survey
AbiologicalassessmentofAjai'sGameReserve,centralWestNileRegion,wasundertakenby
Frontier-Uganda, a scientific collaboration between the UK-based Society for Environmental
Exploration andtheUgandaGame Department. An ornithological survey, carriedoutbetween
15 Octoberand 12December 1993 identified 115 speciesfrom40families.
Studyarea
Ajai'sGameReserve(2°45-3°00N,31°05-31°25E)covers 158km-.Thenorthernand
eastern areas are predominantly low-altitude (<700 m) wooded savanna grading to
permanent swamp. In the south ofthe reserve aridge (to 850m) rises out ofwooded
savanna, supporting dry grassland on its northeastern slope. Two tributaries of the
RiverNileflowthroughthereservefeedingarangeofwetlandhabitats whichinclude
34 km- ofpermanent papyrus swamp. Human encroachment, an increasing problem,
has ledto about6percent ofthe reservebeing undercultivation.
118 Shortcommunications
Methods
Bird observations were made in five broad vegetation types occurring within the
reserve: wooded savanna, riverine woodland, papyrus swamp, swamp grassland and
woodland (Langdale-Brown et al. 1964). On two occasions the swamp grassland
between the eastern boundary ofthe reserve and Rhino Camp, a small town on the
RiverNile, was visited.
Speciesidentificationwasbyvisualobservationssupportedforsomespeciesbythe
recognition of calls. Mist-netting was not carried out. Once determined, each
vegetation type was sampled on foot. These bird walks of between 6 and 8 km on
average, were carried out on adaily basis between 07:00-10:30 and between 17:30-
18:30 at least three times each week, though all opportunistic sightings were also
recorded. Fifty-four per cent of observations were made in wooded savanna, and
almost40percent made in the wetlandhabitats ofpapyrus swamp, swamp grassland
andriverineandriverinewoodland.Approximatelyhalfofthestudytimewasspentin
the wooded savanna, the mostextensive vegetation type in the reserve. Access to the
papyrus swamp was limited, though vantage points such as bridges were used during
the study.
Results
A total of 115 species were recorded between 22 October and 5 December 1993.
Species abundance washigherin transitional zonesbetweenthe fivedistincthabitats,
withdiversityenhanced in wetland areas. Cultivationalsohadapositiveeffectonthe
variety ofspecies.
Table 1.Birds ofAjm s GameReserve, 22 Octoher-5December 1993
Key: Habitattype: AT: alltypes,PS: papyrus swamp,RW: riverine woodland,WS: wooded
savanna,SG: swampgrassland,RC: RhinoCamp,SFG: seasonallyfloodedgrassland, SFWG:
seasonallyfloodedwoodedgrassland,R: riverine,SWS: swampywoodedsavanna,W:
woodland,HH: humanhabitation. Frequency: 1: seendaily,2: seenatleastonceaweek,3:
seenatleastthreetimesduringthestudy
Species habitat frequency
WhitePelicanPelecanusonocrotalus PS 3
Long-tailedCormorantPhalacvocoraxafvicanus PS 3
GreaterCormorantP. carho PS 2
DwarfBitternIxohrychusstwmii PS 2
GreyHeronArdeaciiierea SG,RC 2
GoliathHeron/4.^£>o//ar/7 PS 3
Black-headedHeronA.melanocephala SG,RC 2
PurpleHeronA.purpurea PS 3
SquaccoHeronArdeolaralloides PS 3
Green-backedHeronButoridesstriatus PS 2
RW
LittleEgretEgrettagarzetta 3
HamerkopSeopusumhretta RW 2
RW
Open-billedStorkAnastomuslamelligerus 1
Abdim'sStorkCiconiaahdimii WS 3
Woolly-neckedStorkC.episcopus SFG 3
Shortcommunications 119
Species habitat frequency
Saddle-billedStorkEphippiovhynchussenegalensis PS 3
MarabouStorkLeptoptiloscviwieniferus AT 2
HadadaIbisBostrvchiohcii^^dosh WS 2
RW
Lappet-facedVultureTorgostracheliotus 3
AfricanHarrierHawkPolyhovoidcsradiotus WS 3
BateleurTcrothopiusccQiidotus WS 1
Wahlberg'sEagleAcjuilawahlhcr^i WS 3
CommonBuzzardButcohuteo WS 3
Long-crestedEagleLophactusoccipitolis WS 2
GabarGoshawkMclicrcixf^ohoj' WS 3
DMaarrtkiaClhaEnatgilnegPoGloesihnoaswTkusMhe.mUicctooshuQstcs WWSS 21
RW
FishEagleHaliocstiisvocifcr 2
BlackKiteMilvustni^rons AT 1
Black-shoulderedKiteElanuscacrideus WS,RC 3
HelmetedGuineafowlNuniidciviiclcci^ris WS 1
CrownedCraneBaleavicapavonina SG 3
BlackCrakeLimnocoraxflavirostva PS 2
JacanaActophiloi'nisofricoiius SG,RC 3
WattledPloverVauellusscne^allus WS 2
Black-headedPloverV. tectus SG 2
NamaquaDoveOenacapeiisis WS 3
Ring-neckedDoveStreptopeliaccipicola WS 1
Black-billedWoodDoveTuvturohyssiiiicus WS 2
GreenPigeonTvevonaustralis WS 1
BrownParrotPoicephalusmeyeri WS 1
Bare-facedGo-away-birdCovythaixoidespevsonata WS 2
EasternGreyPlantain-eaterCvinifevzonuvus AT 1
White-crestedTuracoTawacoleiicoccphalus RW 3
Levaillant'sCuckooClamatorlevaillantii WS 3
Blue-headedCoucalCentropusmonachus WS 3
SenegalCoucalC.scuegalensis WS 2
White-browedCoucalCsupcrciliosus RWSW 1
Pearl-spottedOwletGlaucidiumpeiiatum 3
Pel'sFishingOwlScotopcliopcli R,PS 3
PalmSwiftCypsiwusparvus WS 1
SpeckledMousebirdColiusstviatus WS 1
Blue-napedMousebirdUrocoliusmacvouvus WS 1
PiedKingfisherCerylevudis R 3
MalachiteKingfisher/4/c6'^/ocvistata R 1
StripedKingfisherHalcyonchelicuti SWS 2
RW
Chestnut-belliedKingfisherH.leucocephala 2
WoodlandKingfisherH.scna^alcnsis WS 2
Red-throatedBee-eaterMeropshulocki RW 2
Swallow-tailedBee-eaterM hirimdincus WS 2
.
LittleBee-eaterM.pusillus SG 3
AbyssinianRollerCoraciasahyssinica S,WS 3
Lilac-breastedRollerC.caudata WS 3
w
GreenWoodHoopoePhoeniculuspurpureus 3
Red-billedHornbillTockuseiythrorhynchus WS 3
GreyHornbillT.nasutus WS 1
AbyssinianGroundHornbillBucorvusahyssinicus WS 2
120 Shortcommunications
Species habitat frequency
Double-toothedBarbetLyhiiishidentatus WS 2
Spotted-flankedBarbetL. lacrymosus WS 3
White-headedBarbetL. leucocephalits WS 3
Black-throatedHoneyguideIndicatorindicator WS 3
RW
CardinalWoodpeckerDendropicosfiiscescens 2
RW
GreyWoodpeckerMesopicosgoertae 2
RW
BeardedWoodpeckerThripiasnamaquus 3
Wire-tailedSwallowHirundosmitlvi WS 2
SandMartinRipariariparia WS 2
DrongoDicrurusadsimilis AT 1
PiedCrowCorvusalhus HH 1
CommonBulbulPycnonotusharhatus AT 2
White-browedRobinChatCossyphaheuglini WS 3
Red-cappedRobinChatC.natalensis WS 1
Yellow-belliedEremomelaEremomelaicteropygialis WS 3
BlackFlycatcherMelaenornisedolioides WS 3
RW
Wattle-eyePlatysteiracyanea 3
RW
ParadiseFlycatcherTerpsiphoneviridis 2
Black-headedGonolekLaniariusharharus WS,RW 1
Black-headedTchagraTchagrasenegala WS 3
Fiscal ShrikeLaniuscollaris WS 1
Grey-backedFiscalL.excuhitorius WS 1
White-crownedShrikeEurocephalusrueppelli WS 2
HelmetShrikePrionopsplumata WS 2
Bronze-tailedGlossyStarlingLamprotornischalcurus WS 1
LesserBlue-earedGlossyStarlingL.cliloropterus WS 3
PurpleGlossyStarlingL.purpureas WS 2
RUppell'sLong-tailedGlossyStarlingL.purpuropterus WS 1
Olive-belliedSunbirdNectariniacliloropygia WS 3
Red-chestedSunbirdN. erytfiroceria SG 3
GrosbeakWeaverAmhlyospizaalhifrons PS 3
Red-headedWeaverAnaplectesruhriceps WS 3
ParasiticWeaverAnomalospizaimherhis RW 3
NorthernRedBishopEuplectesfranciscanus WS 1
Black-wingedRedBishopE. fiordeaceus WS 3
Red-headedMalimbeMalimhusruhricollis WS 3
Black-headedWeaverPloceuscucullatus R 2
MaskedWeaverP. intermedius AT 1
Yellow-backedWeaverP.melanocephalus PS 2
SpectacledWeaverP.ocularis R 2
Slender-billedWeaverP.pelzelni RW 3
White-browedSparrowWeaverPlocepassermahali WS 1
Pin-tailedWhydah Viduamacroura WS 1
CommonWaxbillEstrildaastrild WS 3
RW
AfricanFirefinchLagonostictaruhricata 2
Red-billedFirefinchL.senegala WS 2
Red-cheekedCordon-bleu Uraeginthushengalus AT 1
BlackandWhiteMannikinLonclmrahicolor WS 3
Shortcommunications 121
Additional noteson twouncommon species
Pel'sFishing OwlScotopeliapeli
One was seenontwooccasionsfromabridge inpapyrus swamp. Onthefirst sighting
(12November, 18:30-18:45) thebirdwas flying about 10m upfrom asmall patchof
riverine woodland overtheriverand swamp to apatch offorest approximately 40m
from the river. It was then watched sitting on an open branch about 7 m above the
ground until the light was lost. Onthe second occasion (14 November, 17:30-17:45)
theowl wasflyingbetween5-7mabovethe swampcarryingprey withbothfeet.The
prey wasanobjectabout 15 cmlong andwasnotrecognizableasafish.Thebirdflew
to another open branch in the same patch ofriverine woodland fringing the papyrus
swamp, about 50 m from the observers. The bird waited on this branch for about
10min with itsbacktowards us, though its head was turned to face us. The arrival of
otherpeopleonthebridgedisturbedtheowl whichturneditsbodyroundtofaceusfor
about a minute before flying off into dense Phoenix reclinata swamp forest. A full
descriptionhasbeenlodgedwiththeEANHSOS-c.Ajai'swouldappeartobethethird
locality forthis species in Uganda (Britton 1980, Ash etal. 1991).
Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus
Onewasobservedtwiceinonedayinwoodedsavannainthecentraleasternpartofthe
reserve(27 October).Theonlyprevious record(unpublished) wasofone seen atInde
(avillagewithinthereserve) in May 1969.
Discussion
The 115 species recorded is a minimum estimate as species seen but not positively
identified have been omitted. Further species of nightjars, swallows, warblers and
sunbirds, for example, can be expected with more observation. Local Game Depart-
ment staffstated thatthe ShoebillBalaeniceps rexwas found in the reserve.
The association of vegetation types, particularly wetland habitats, provides a
suitableenvironmentforarichandvariedbirdpopulation. Originallyestablishedasa
white rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum sanctuary, there is strong local feeling that,
withtheextinctionofthis species,thereserve servesnopurposeandshouldbeturned
over to agriculture. The protected status of Ajai's, if revoked or reduced in the
proposedreview ofUganda'sprotected area system, shouldprovide forthepreserva-
tionofamosaic ofswamp, riverine woodland and wooded savannaas refugiaamidst
areas ofincreasinghuman influence.
Acknowledgements
WithoutthefieldsupportoftheFrontierUGIOfieldexpeditionthiswork wouldnothavebeen
possible.IthankProfDerekPomeroyofMakerereUniversity,Kampala,DrLincolnFishpoolof
BirdLifeInternational,CambridgeandDrNeilBurgessoftheRoyalSocietyfortheProtectionof
Birdsforadviceandcriticismofthefirstdraftofthiscommunication.
References
Ash,J.S.,CovERDALE,M.A.C.&Gullick,T.M. 1991.Commentsonthestatusanddistributionof
birds inwesternUganda.Scopus 15: 24-29.
122 Shortcommunications
Britton,P.L. (ED) 1980.BirdsofEastAfrica. Nairobi: EANHS.
Fry,C.H.,Keith,S.&Urban,E.K. 1988.ThebirdsofAfrica. Vol3.London:AcademicPress.
Langdale-Brown, I.,OsMASTON, H.A. & Wilson,J.D. 1964. The vegetation ofUgandaandits
hearingonland-use. Entebbe: GovernmentPrinter.
OrnithologicalSub-committeeEANHS 1984.Check-listofthebirdsofUganda.Nairobi:OSc
EANHS.
LeighStuhhlefield, SocietyforEnvironmentalExploration, 77LeonardStreet,
London EC2A 4QS, England
Scopus 18: 117-122, December 1994 Received 11 October 1994
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi and Papyrus
Canary Serinus koliensis: two additions to the Tanzania list
DuringatlasfieldworkinKageraRegion,northwestTanzania,twospecieswerefound
thathadnotpreviously been identified inthecountry.
Dusky Long-tailed CuckooCercococcyxmechowi
AbirdwasresidentaroundourcampinMinziroForestReserve(1°07S,31°30E)from
16to23November 1993.ItscallwasinitiallynoticedbyBroA.Grawehrwholikened
ittothatoftheBlackCuckooCuculusclamosuswith whichhe is familiarin southern
Tanzania. Itbecame afamiliarcall around thecamp, especially in theearly mornings
and late afternoons. The bird was seen several times but we were aware of the
difficultiesin separatingthis speciesfromtheOliveLong-tailedCuckooCercococcyx
olivinus in the field. Several ofthe party were familiar with the Barred Long-tailed
Cuckoo C. montanus inthe field and in the hand.
On21 Novemberthebirdwas finallycaughtin amistnetplaceddeliberatelyclose
totheforest edge where ithadbeen seen. On 26 and27 Novemberfurtherbirds were
caught at Kikuru Forest Reserve some 14 km east ofMinziro. The relevantmensural
data (g and mm) are as follows:
BirdNo. mass wing bill tarsus tail
1 51.6 146 24.5 20.2 205
2 59 150 24.2 20.4 200
3 47 140 23.8 200
The species isknown from adjacentforest areas in Uganda. Theserecords arenot,
therefore, significant extensions ofrange.
Papyrus CanarySerinuskoliensis
Two birds were mist-netted along the edge ofa papyrus swamp near Katera village
(r20S, 30°40E) on 1 December 1993. The site was in the vicinity ofKagera Swamp
and only 2 km from the Rwandan border. The species is known from the Kagera
Swamp in Rwandaand is not, therefore, a significantextension ofrange.