Terrestrial birds of the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar site

Abstract

This study was undertaken as part of the environmental baseline studies designed under the Ghana Coastal Wetlands Management Project to collect data for the description of the ecological character of selected coastal wetland sites in Ghana and provide baseline data for long-term monitoring of the sites. We provide data on the species richness, species composition, relative abundance and conservation status of terrestrial avifauna of the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar site. The terrestrial bird study was concentrated in the two reserved forest blocks, Yenku Blocks A and B within the Ramsar site. A total of 114 species belonging to 25 families were recorded. Of this, the Yenku Block A site contributed 57 species belonging to 16 avian families, while the Yenku Block B reserve contributed 91 species belonging to 24 families. The most dominant group at both sites was the Muscicapidae. Encounter rates ranged from 12.0 to 28.7 species per km and 34.7 to 141.3 individual birds per km at Yenku Block A; and 14.0 to 26.0 species per km and 45.3 to 172.7 birds per km at Block B. Mist net catch rates were 1.9 to 2.2 birds per 100 mnh and 1.8 to 4.9 birds per 100 mnh at Block A and Block B respectively. The Little Greenbul was the dominant species in the transect counts at Block A, accounting for 16% of bird sightings, and five species, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Blue-bill, Olive Sunbird, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul and Grey-headed Bristle-bill accounted for nearly 60% of the mist net captures at the site. At Block B the dominant species in transect counts was the Barbary Shrike while the Yellow-mantled Whydah dominated the mist net captures. The status of the vegetation at the sites influenced the species composition and bird communities found. The Yenku Block A site had the greatest number of forest associated species and the highest proportion of rare/uncommon bird species (10.5% of total number of species recorded). Moulting was observed in 11 species of birds and evidence of breeding activity was observed in 13 species. The site supported seven species of birds listed as wholly protected on Ghana's list of protected species and 20 biome restricted species, comprising 19 Guinea-Congo forest biome restricted species and one Sudan/Guinea savannah biome restricted species. Despite the degraded nature of the Muni forest, the terrestrial bird species richness and composition is of sufficiently high conservation value for the site to merit more effective protection and management.