Background:

East Africa’s wildlife is threatened by the environmental impacts of rapid human population growth. When our East Africa Project began in 1990, the numbers and diversity of raptors were declining dramatically due to habitat changes, agricultural intensification, and the indiscriminate use of poisons such as carbofuran. Predicted growth in the construction of power lines and wind turbines will add even more challenges facing birds of prey in this part of the world.

The need to monitor and evaluate raptor abundance and diversity in their historic strongholds has never been greater. We believe that building a wider base of knowledge will help us develop and justify scientifically sound conservation policies.

This project aims to build local capacity for conservation and research through student training. We also partner with the Raptor Working Group, formed in Kenya in 2009, to help increase public understanding about the need to conserve birds of prey and their habitats.

Recent Results:

2010 Results

• Transmitters attached to three species of vultures in the Masai Mara National Reserve determined movement patterns that can be used to mitigate threats from poisoning.
• A study on the effects of vulture declines on other scavengers measured disease transmission and effects on the health of the ecosystem in southern Kenya.
• The continuation of long-term studies on birds of prey, specifically African Fish Eagles, Augur Buzzards and Sokoke Scops Owls, increased our understanding of how these species are affected by environmental and human-caused habitat changes. 

 

Vulture tracking in Masai Mara
Five of the eight species of vultures in East Africa are globally threatened, mainly from scavenging on livestock that has been poisoned deliberately in retaliation for attacks by lions and other large predators. So far, 31 GSM-GPS (cellular) transmitters have been attached on three species of vultures in the Masai Mara National Reserve to understand their movement patterns, critical in mitigating threats, especially from carbamate poisoning. This project builds on our existing raptor work in the Masai Mara to understand the impact of changing land-uses on vulture population dynamics in the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. Preliminary results from the retrieval of four dead birds suggested up to 25% annual mortality due to poisoning. In addition, wing tagging of vultures continued, important in generating awareness about the importance of vultures through public participation in this research project.

Role of vultures in ecosystem
In northern Kenya, we studied the role of vulture population declines on other scavengers and measured rates of disease transmission at carcasses. This study has important implications for the spread and persistence of diseases at carcasses and highlights the crucial role of vultures in providing important ecosystem services that cannot be replaced by other scavengers. More broadly, the research emphasizes the urgent need to protect the world’s remaining vulture populations in order to maintain healthy ecosystems that naturally curb the spread of disease.

Long-term raptor studies
We continued to build on our existing long-term studies on raptors, specifically on African Fish Eagles, Augur Buzzards, and Sokoke Scops Owls to understand how these species are affected by environmental and human-caused habitat changes. At Lake Naivasha, the highest freshwater lake in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, prolonged and heavy rains in the early part of 2010 resulted in the lake’s water level rising by more than 2 meters and regeneration of significant areas of Papyrus fringe, especially in the northern and western part of the lake. New African Fish Eagle individuals and pairs of eagles were identified, increasing the lake’s resident population by about 20%. Breeding recommenced in habitats that were most affected by the 2009 drought. In 2009, only 11 of 32 nests were active but in 2010, this figure rose to 24 of 32 nests.
In the southern Lake Naivasha area, a survey of Augur Buzzard territories revealed more than 300 Augur buzzard sightings in nearly 200 hours of direct field observation, resulting in the identification of 24 active breeding territories. This is a 33% decline in the number of breeding territories since the mid-1990s, which highlights the importance of our continued long-term monitoring of common species.

Having documented disconcerting downward trends in populations of the endangered Sokoke Scops Owl in Kenya’s Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, we are working with local partners to develop a thorough understanding of the species’ range throughout the East African coast.

Project Links:

Project History	Notes From The Field
Publications and Data	Other Information
Photos and Videos

Species involved

People involved in this project:

Cooperating Partners:

• Boise State University
• Elsamere Conservation Center
• Makerere University
• National Museums of Kenya
• Nature Kenya
• NatureUganda
• St. Lawrence University
• Uganda Wildlife Authority
• University of Exeter
• University of Leicester U.K.

Combined Federal Campaign # 10639

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