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Namibian National Biodiversity
Programme
Bird Research and Survey Projects
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Details within the
programme:
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Originally begun as a collaborative project
between Edinburgh University and MET's ornithology section in 1993, this
research developed new methods for using Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP)
relative
abundance data to predict population estimates for Namibia's 10
"inland" endemics. These estimates were later refined using abiotic
parameters. Now the distribution
and population status of Namibia's inland endemic birds are among the best known
on the continent. See Biodiversity
Programme publications (Robertson et al. 1995, Jarvis and Robertson 1997 and
related papers).
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The damming and regulation of two of only six
perennial rivers in Namibia (the Kunene River and the Orange River) precipitated in 1991 a set of surveys of the
species diversity and abundance of birds, particularly at the river mouths. This
has grown into regular surveys by amateur and professional ornithologists of
Namibia's desert and tropical woodland rivers. The Orange and Kunene are both
warm and highly variable in flow, and their mouths hold by far the greatest
diversity and abundance of birds of any Namibian river. Woodland rivers, however, hold over their entire course ten times the abundance that desert rivers
do. Unexpected increases in diversity and abundance from east to west have
recently been discovered for the Orange River. See Biodiversity
Programme publications (Simmons et al. 1993,
Simmons & Allan, 2001).
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Namibia's enormously nutrient-rich marine
ecosystem, abutting a seemingly barren desert coast, is where hundreds of
thousands of shorebirds congregate. Regular surveys of wetlands at Sandwich
Harbour, Walvis Bay, and Lüderitz Bay, and less frequent surveys of intervening
coastal strips, show that at least half a million shorebirds, flamingos and
terns congregate on Namibia's desert coast in summer. A 25-year study of
Sandwich Harbour, Namibia's most changeable coastal wetland, has revealed a
natural attrition in size and a consequent reduction in the diversity of birds
of the unique freshwater wetland. However,
Sandwich Harbour's southern mudflats can at times support 230 000 birds. This
wetland acts as a natural yardstick against which the effects of pollution and
other human activities in Namibia's second major wetland, Walvis Bay, can be
measured.
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Birds of prey and wetland birds are the two
groups most threatened in Namibia. This project coordinates counts of all major
wetlands every January and April as part of an Africa-wide programme. A network
of conservation staff and bird enthusiasts throughout Namibia count up to 300
000 wetland birds twice yearly. Eastern Caprivi, the Tsumkwe Pans, the central
coast and large dams hold important numbers of birds. Four wetlands of
international importance have been registered under the Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands: Orange River mouth; Sandwich Harbour; Walvis Bay lagoon, and Etosha
Pan.
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The breeding of both greater and lesser flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber
and P. minor) on Etosha Pan is well documented, yet birds are only successful on average once
every nine years. Subsequent research here has shown that the pan is not a
viable breeding area because high evaporation rates typically dry up food and
water before breeding is complete. Thousands of flightless chicks can perish,
and attempts at saving these birds rarely succeed. A management proposal
recommends that a raised breeding island be constructed, surrounded by water for
the duration of breeding. This would allow a core of 4 000 pairs to breed
annually, allowing enhanced success and a major tourism attraction for the
viewing of breeding flamingos.
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98% of the world population of this rare seabird (Sterna balaenarum) breeds along the Namib Desert coast. Previous estimates
put the population at only 4 000 birds world-wide. Three systematic,
randomised surveys of the entire coast in 1992, 1994 and 1996 revealed that at
least 13 000 birds occur in Namibia. Breeding occurs farther north than
previously thought but at higher densities and earlier in central regions.
Further ecological studies of colony location in relation to cold ocean
upwellings and predators, as well as the effect of disturbance on behaviour of
colour ringed birds, are planned.
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Red data books
Many of the bird studies listed above have specifically focused on Namibia's
red data birds to determine population sizes, threats and conservation measures.
A red data book on conservation action for Namibia's threatened birds is planned
for publication in 2002.
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Contact: Rob Simmons
Tel: +264 61 272766/249015
Fax: +264 61 240339 |
