The status and conservation of threatened birds in the Upper Guinea forest

Allport, Gary

doi:10.1017/s095927090000054x

Cited by 20 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 3 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…Mean colony size was similar to two previous censuses conducted by Allport et al (1989) and Thompson (1997) between 1988 and 1994 when 21 and 15 active colony sites, respectively, were found in the Gola Forest region, with a total of 152 active nests, and a mean colony size of 4.2 nests. Mean colony size was also similar to that recorded for this species in Liberia (3.8, n 5 31; Gatter 1997) and throughout the region (4.2, n 5 115; Thompson et al 2004).…”

Section: Population Sizesupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Study period, study area and location of colony sites (Allport et al 1989, Thompson 1997, through consultation with experienced field staff and from interviews conducted in villages around the Gola Forest ( Figure 1). In subsequent years, further colonies were added from local knowledge.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…all sites active in all years), which was significantly higher than that found in community forest (chi-square test: v 2 1 5 4.58, P 5 0.032). Current colonies were matched with 13 of 21 sites (60%) surveyed in the 1980s (Allport et al 1989) and six of 15 sites (40%) surveyed in the early 1990s (Thompson 1997) ( Table 2). Unmatched colonies from former surveys lacked precise information about location or were not found again during this study.…”

Section: Population Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Active colonies were known from at least six forest reserves, with the largest numbers recorded in the Gola Forest and the nearby Kambui Hills (Thompson 1997). Based on the work of Allport et al (1989) and his own survey, Thompson (1997) estimated that Gola Forest supported a minimum of 152 active nests across at least 36 colony sites in 1994…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of eight colony sites supporting 18 active nests reported during a pre-war survey in 1991-1992 (Thompson 1997), only five sites with a total of eight active nests were still used by 2008 (Okoni-Williams in litt.). Within the Gola Forest area, a high proportion of colonies are within community forest without formal protection (Allport et al 1989, Thompson 1997, so are presumably under greater threat, though this is not certainly known. Understanding the conditions that lead to colony desertion may lead to practical management recommendations to reduce abandonment rates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Long term stability of White-necked Picathartes population in south-east Sierra Leone

Monticelli

Siaka²,

Buchanan

et al. 2011

Bird Conservation International

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SummaryWhite-necked Picathartes Picathartes gymnocephalus is a globally 'Vulnerable' bird endemic to the highly threatened Upper Guinea forests in West Africa. In an environment under a high level of threat, the high breeding site fidelity (or breeding site persistence) of this species enables long term monitoring of colony site occupancy, colony size and other breeding parameters, which provide multiple indicators of population status. We surveyed known colony sites and searched for new sites in three recent breeding seasons in order to assess the current population status in the most important part of their range in Sierra Leone, the Gola Forest. We found 157 active nests at 40 colonies, equating to at least 314 adult birds. Less than half of the known colonies were protected by the Gola Forest Reserve. Colonies outside the reserve tended to be confined to larger rocks and subject to disturbance from human activities in close proximity, but did not have fewer active nests in them. Colonies outside the reserve were also more likely to be inactive in a given year whereas all colonies inside the reserve were active in every survey year. A predictive distribution model indicated that the survey region could have as many as 234 nests equating to at least 468 breeding birds. There was no evidence that mean colony size had declined since surveys undertaken in the 1980s and 1990s but it was not possible to compare colony abandonment rates inside and outside the reserve over that time period. Clutch and brood sizes were similar in each year, though brood size appeared slightly lower in the third survey year possibly because of a slightly later survey date. Mean clutch and brood sizes reported during the study period were similar to those found in the 1980s and 1990s. We conclude that the population of White-necked Picathartes in the Gola Forest area has been relatively stable over the last two decades, reflecting both the efficacy of protection afforded by the Gola Forest Reserve and presumably low pressure to farm new areas in the nearby community forest. However, regular monitoring of colonies both inside and outside the reserve is required to detect any systematic impact on the birds as pressure for land increases.

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Section: Population Sizesupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Population Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%