NEST SITES OF THE SOUTHERN GROUND HORNBILL BUCORVUS LEADBEATERI IN THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA, AND CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Summary Kemp, A. C. & Begg, K. S. 1996. Nest sites of the Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, and conservation implications. Ostrich 67: 9–14. Details of 56 active and 18 potential nest sites of the Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri were recorded in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, over 298 nest-seasons during 1967–95. Nests were natural cavities with a median diameter of about 40 cm, 96% situated in 12 species of trees and 4% in rock faces. Only four species of tree provided 72% of nest sites and 85% of active nest sites were formed by rotting of a damaged branch or trunk. No habitat preference associated with nest sites was detected, but 61% of nests were within 400 m of a tourist road, possibly due to lower predation pressure. Nest attractiveness was correlated positively with nest height, cavity shallowness and proximity to tourist roads, but nest success was not correlated with any measured features of the sites. Average cavity d...