scholarly journals Geographical analysis of vegetation structure and sightings for four large bird species in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

1998 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-108
Author(s):  
A. C. Kemp ◽  
G. W. Benn ◽  
K. S. Begg

SummaryThe extensive spatial organization of many large-bird populations is difficult to assess. We used a geographic information system to correlate vegetation structure with random sightings for four large bird species that occur throughout the 20,000 km2 Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. Vegetation structure was assessed visually during 1991-1992 for the 1093 2-5′-quadrats that cover the KNP. Sightings were made during 1991-1994 of Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori, Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus, Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus and Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri, and their nest sites. As control, comparative data on ground hornbills were also available from annual aerial censuses during 1982-1994, and from records of nest sites during 1966-1996. Each species had its highest positive correlation with a different set of vegetation categories, ranging in value from the hornbill (1.13) and vulture (1.15) up to the eagle (1.32) and bustard (1.49). Nest sites had higher correlations (hornbill 1.65, vulture 2.85) than records of free-living birds. The same vegetation categories that had the highest correlations with random sightings of ground hornbills and their nests also had the highest correlations with the more extensive and systematic data from aerial census and long-term nest records. Our method of correlating vegetation structure with random data is predictive, testable and has application to the conservation management of other sparsely distributed species.

Koedoe ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Ie S Milstein ◽  
Davidine A Milstein

Some ornithological observations made during a brief visit to the unique Punda Maria @ Pafuri area of the Kruger National Park, Republic of South Africa, include confirmation of the Redwing Warbler Heliolais erythroptera as an addition to the South African list, Forest Weaver Symplectes (Ploceus) bicolor and Bully Canary Serinus sulphuratus previously unrecorded from the Park, confirmation of the occurrence of Lesser Barred Warbler Camaroptera stierlingi, Purple- banded Sunbird Nectarinia bifasciata and Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis, and records involving the extended range or seasonal occur- rence of other bird species.


1996 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Hurford ◽  
A. T. Lombard ◽  
A. C. Kemp ◽  
G. A. Benn

SummaryTwenty-eight predominantly tropical bird species have ranges that only just extend into the north-eastern part of South Africa, mainly within the Kruger National Park (KNP). These species are listed as “rare” (200 breeding pairs) in the South African Red Data Book (Brooke 1984). This study assesses the extent to which six of these rare bird species represent viable populations in the KNP. Grid squares in the KNP (2.5 × 2.5 miles) were visually assessed according to several bird habitat parameters. Bird records were also plotted on this grid system and habitat associations were identified for each species. This allowed for the measurement of total suitable habitat within the KNP for each species. Bird densities within known habitat were determined using spot-mapping and fixed-distance strip-transect techniques. Estimated population sizes for each species were obtained by extrapolating density estimates to total suitable habitat. Of the six study species, Arnot's Chat, Rudd's Apalis, Wattle-eyed Flycatcher and Tropical Boubou are likely to occur in sufficient numbers to constitute viable populations within the KNP, with estimated population sizes of 1,394, 4/758/ 2,070 and 10,450 birds respectively. The populations of White-crowned Plover and Long-tailed Starling are probably too small to be viable in the long term, with estimated population sizes of 305 and 382 birds respectively. The results presented here are testable and can be used as a baseline for future monitoring.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. e0191704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter Johan Steenkamp ◽  
Henriette van Heerden ◽  
Ockert Louis van Schalkwyk

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document