Nesting success of Sharpe’s Longclaw (Macronyx sharpei Jackson, 1904) around the grasslands of lake Ol’bolossat Nyandarua, Kenya

Risper Ann Hamisi,Charles M Warui,Peter Njoroge

doi:10.11609/jott.6762.14.1.20461-20468

Risper Ann Hamisi, Charles M Warui + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6762.14.1.20461-20468

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Abstract

Sharpe’s Longclaw Macronyx sharpei is an endangered Kenyan endemic bird restricted to high-altitude grasslands with long tussocks. The species occurs on the grasslands surrounding Lake Ol’Bolossat in Nyandarua, Kenya, an area that is globally recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. The grasslands receive little conservation measures, which have led to the decline in the population density of Sharpe’s Longclaw. Nesting success in birds is crucial for their population growth. The daily survival rate for natural nests of Sharpe’s Longclaw in the grasslands of Lake Ol’Bolossat had not been systematically assessed prior to this study. Natural nests were actively searched during the breeding seasons of March–May 2016, while artificial nests were constructed using dry grass containing artificial eggs made of cream modeling clay. Natural nests had a higher daily nest survival percentage than artificial nests. The highest daily nest survival rate was 40% and the lowest 0.01%. Predators, livestock grazing and fires greatly reduced the survival of nestlings. We recommend intensive ecological management of the high-altitude grasslands of Lake Ol’Bolossat.

Highlights

350 bird species are grassland dwellers in Kenya (Morris et al 2009)
Sharpe’s Longclaw is endemic to Kenya and it is listed as globally endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species (BirdLife International 2016)
Nests were discovered on 12 May, 26 May, 10 June, 02 July, and 06 July around the grasslands of Lake Ol’Bolossat

Summary

INTRODUCTION

350 bird species are grassland dwellers in Kenya (Morris et al 2009). Sharpe’s Longclaw Macronyx sharpei (Jackson 1904) is among these grassland birds. Tussocks can be destroyed by various human activities such as farming, fires and overgrazing (Wamiti et al 2008) which alter the quality of bird nesting habitats and reduce nesting areas. To properly manage the declining populations of grassland dwelling birds, habitat protection is important because it directly influences their nesting success (Winter & Faaborg 1999). This study was designed to determine the nest success of Sharpe’s Longclaw in the grasslands around Lake Ol’Bolossat in Nyandarua , Kenya. The riparian land around Lake Ol’Bolossat is covered by grasslands inhabited by birds (Wamiti et al 2008) It was internationally recognized as the sixtyfirst Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) in Kenya in March 2008 by BirdLife International (Mwangi et al 2010) and protected officially from February 2018. Temperatures are cold because of the wind blowing from the Aberdare ranges, which can bring frost that can destroy grass, including the tussocks favored by Sharpe’s Longclaw (Wamiti et al 2008)

Methods

RESULTS

DISCUSSION