Journal article

Publication year: 2010

Pages: 139-144

Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology

Volume number: 81

Issue number: 2

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2010.488379

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group

Abstract: 

For a large number of threatened bird species, no information on habitat
requirements or population estimates are available. We show for one of
the least-studied African birds, the Oberländer's Ground-Thrush Zoothera oberlaenderi,
how a first assessment of its habitat preferences and population size
can be done if a short-term census is combined with a GIS-based
species–habitat analysis. Between 9 February and 14 March 2008, we made
intensive field surveys, using point counts and mist-netting in Semliki
and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks (BINP), two forests in Uganda
from which there are previous records. While the species was not
recorded in Semliki, eight were heard singing in BINP. We made the first
analysis of this species’ habitat preferences by analysing all records
of the species with variables extracted from GIS layers for the BINP. It
preferred dense forest types, close to rivers and at elevations of 1
500–1 935 m. Using detailed habitat information we calculated 30 km² of suitable habitat (out of the 331 km²
in BINP), which could hold an estimated minimum of 36–45 males. Because
there is on-going forest degradation and deforestation within its
potential distributional range in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of
the Congo, and because the population in Uganda appears so small, there
is a need to reconsider the IUCN Red List category of the Oberländer's
Ground-Thrush, which is currently Near Threatened.

Harvard Citation style: Gottschalk, T. and Pomeroy, D. (2010) Habitat preferences and status of an elusive forest species: the Oberländer's Ground-Thrush Zoothera oberlaenderi in Uganda, Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology, 81(2), pp. 139-144. https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2010.488379

APA Citation style: Gottschalk, T., & Pomeroy, D. (2010). Habitat preferences and status of an elusive forest species: the Oberländer's Ground-Thrush Zoothera oberlaenderi in Uganda. Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology. 81(2), 139-144. https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2010.488379