Historical and current distribution, population size and possible migration routes of the Blue Swallow <i>Hirundo atrocaerulea</i> in Africa

Evans, Steven W.; Bouwman, Hindrik

doi:10.1017/s0959270910000158

Cited by 8 publications

(25 citation statements)

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“…Development of the maps of the distribution range of the Blue Swallow is described in Evans and Bouwman (2010a). In order to display the current distribution range of the Blue Swallow, recent information (late 2010 to 2012) was used to update the maps.…”

Section: Terminologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Blue Swallow is globally classified as Vulnerable due to its small and rapidly declining population, estimated at less than 1 500 pairs, resulting from rapid reductions in the quantity and quality of its unique grassland and wetland habitat (BirdLife International 2000;Evans and Bouwman 2010a;BirdLife International 2012). The East African (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) population was classified as Endangered under East African regional Red Data criteria (Bennun and Njoroge 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Blue Swallow migrates between its breeding grounds in eastern South Africa, north-western Swaziland, eastern Zimbabwe, western Mozambique, Malawi, north-eastern Zambia, southern Tanzania and south-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and its non-breeding grounds in western Kenya, southern Uganda, north-western Tanzania and the north-eastern DRC (Turner and Rose 1989;Keith et al 1992;Evans and Bouwman 2010a). The birds occupy their breeding grounds from late September to mid-April (c. seven months) and their non-breeding grounds from late April to late August or early September (c. five months) (Keith et al 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The quality of PVAs and MVPs are affected by the ecology of the species concerned, the experience of the modellers involved, and the extent of data available for the species (Boyce 1992). However, when combined with an adaptive management approach, both PVA and MVP models are useful tools that contribute to the conservation of threatened species (Boyce 1992).The Blue Swallow is globally classified as Vulnerable due to its small and rapidly declining population, estimated at less than 1 500 pairs, resulting from rapid reductions in the quantity and quality of its unique grassland and wetland habitat (BirdLife International 2000;Evans and Bouwman 2010a; BirdLife International 2012 1989;Keith et al 1992;Evans and Bouwman 2010a). The birds occupy their breeding grounds from late September to mid-April (c. seven months) and their non-breeding grounds from late April to late August or early September (c. five months) (Keith et al 1992).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Blue Swallow is globally classified as Vulnerable due to its small and rapidly declining population, estimated at less than 1 500 pairs, resulting from rapid reductions in the quantity and quality of its unique grassland and wetland habitat (BirdLife International 2000;Evans and Bouwman 2010a; BirdLife International 2012 1989;Keith et al 1992;Evans and Bouwman 2010a). The birds occupy their breeding grounds from late September to mid-April (c. seven months) and their non-breeding grounds from late April to late August or early September (c. five months) (Keith et al 1992).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Current conservation status of the Blue SwallowHirundo atrocaeruleaSundevall 1850 in Africa

Evans

Monadjem

Roxburgh

et al. 2015

Ostrich

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The global Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea was classified as Vulnerable in 2010 on account of its small and rapidly declining population estimated at less than 1 500 pairs. We undertook this study to gain a better understanding of the current status and threats facing this migratory species. Three previously unknown areas that might be part of the species' non-breeding range were identified in Kenya and northern Tanzania. Within its breeding range we identified three previously unknown areas of potentially suitable habitat, one in Tanzania and two in Malawi, which require further exploration. Population viability assessment predicted that the Blue Swallow population will decline by 8% in 10 years. The overall probability of extinction of the species in the wild is 3%. Minimum viable population size analysis suggests that a goal for the long-term conservation of the Blue Swallow should be to mitigate current threats that are driving declines such that the population increases to a minimum of 3 600 individuals. This should consist of at least 900 individuals in each of the four clusters identified, along with a minimum of 500 individuals in at least one of the meta-populations per cluster. The four clusters are located in (1) the southeasten Democratic Republic of the Congo, (2) highlands of southern Tanzania and northern Malawi, (3) eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and (4) South Africa and Swaziland. The current proportions of the Blue Swallow population in strictly protected and unprotected areas on their breeding grounds are 53% and 47%, respectively, whereas on their non-breeding grounds the corresponding percentages are 25% and 75%, respectively. Our reassessment of the Blue Swallow's risk of extinction indicates that it continues to qualify as Vulnerable according to the IUCN/SSC criteria C2a(i).Keywords: Blue Swallow, conservation recommendations, conservation status, distribution, Hirundinidae, minimum viable population size, population viability, species distribution modelling, threatsThe text of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) states that the conservation and effective management of migratory wild animals requires the concerted action of all range states within whose national jurisdictional boundaries such species spend any part of their life cycle (CMS 2003). A globally threatened migratory species that spends different parts of its life-cycle in different regions and countries Introduction 1 can only be conserved if all of the countries cooperate towards conserving the species concerned. The Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea is a prime example of a globally threatened migratory species requiring the cooperation of all 10 range states in order to conserve it and its unique grassland and wetland habitat (Evans et al. 2002). This study was undertaken to gain a better understanding of the current status and vulnerability of the Blue Swallow throughout its range. In order to achieve this, species distribution modelling (SDM) and population viability analysis (PVA...

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Section: Terminologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Blue Swallow is globally classified as Vulnerable due to its small and rapidly declining population, estimated at less than 1 500 pairs, resulting from rapid reductions in the quantity and quality of its unique grassland and wetland habitat (BirdLife International 2000;Evans and Bouwman 2010a; BirdLife International 2012 1989;Keith et al 1992;Evans and Bouwman 2010a). The birds occupy their breeding grounds from late September to mid-April (c. seven months) and their non-breeding grounds from late April to late August or early September (c. five months) (Keith et al 1992).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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