Breeding biology of Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri in Zimbabwe: impacts of human activities

Abstract

This paper summarizes current knowledge and outlines future work on the breeding biology of Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri in Zimbabwe. All available records since 1900 were analysed, including casual reports by members of BirdLife Zimbabwe and published records. Estimates were made for the start and end of the breeding season, group sizes, clutch size and productivity levels, together with an assessment of preferred habitats and nest-tree species. There is a need for intensive fieldwork to determine aspects of breeding biology such as incubation and nestling periods. Particularly important for sound management and conservation strategies is relative breeding success in different land-tenure systems. The author has started work in a communal area 40 km south of Bulawayo city; land-use systems such as new resettlement areas, commercial farms and protected areas remain to be studied.

An exploration of cultural beliefs and practices across the Southern Ground-Hornbill’s range in Africa

“…Likewise, in Zimbabwe, it is forbidden to chase, kill or even pick up a feather of an SGH, which should, according to locals, just be ignored and allowed to blow away in the wind because it could bring misfortune to an individual or village [23]. However, in these beliefs could possibly be destructive in cases where the bird is chased, stoned or killed as a result of its association with death or other bad omens (for example in Zambia and parts of Kenya).…”

“…The SGH is no exception. In the case of the SGH, most documented knowledge related to the bird’s role in cultural beliefs and practices stems from the southern parts of its range where perceptions of the bird relate to the self [ 15 ], to important others in people’s social and spiritual worlds [ 16 - 20 ] and to the environment, including beliefs and practices pertaining to hunting and food [ 16 , 18 ] and to rain, lightning and drought [ 17 , 19 , 21 - 23 ]. However, only a small number of studies have recorded beliefs and practices in the northern parts of the SGH’s range, most notably in Tanzania [ 24 ] and Kenya [ 2 ] where these beliefs also relate to their social and spiritual worlds.…”

Fifteen years of annual Cape ParrotPoicephalus robustuscensuses: current population trends and conservation contributions

“…Thus, observations of Southern Tree Hyrax Dendrohyrax arboreus and Samango Monkeys Cercopithecus mitus, both considered rare in South Africa and confined to afromontane forests (Lawes 1990(Lawes , 1992Lawes et al 2000;Gaylard and Kerley 2001;Barry et al 2008;Tegner 2011) were also made ( Figure 5). Southern Ground Hornbills Bucorvus leadbeateri found in grasslands adjacent to forests and listed as Endangered in South Africa (Msimanga 2004;Trial 2007;Taylor in press) are also recorded ( Figure 5). The distribution and abundance of these three species have also declined with habitat loss and human exploitation (Lawes 1990(Lawes , 1992Gaylard and Kerley 1997;Lawes et al 2000;Gaylard and Kerley 2001;Barry et al 2008;Tegner 2011).…”

Birds of a Feather: Quantitative Assessments of the Diversity and Levels of Threat to Birds Used in African Traditional Medicine

“…For example, habitat loss and the reduction in tree cover due to clearing by people, affects ground-hornbills (Vernon 1986;Msimanga 2004). Elephants also reduce tree cover, and vultures in Swaziland were noted not to be nesting in areas where elephants occurred (Monadjem and Garcelon 2005).…”