Avifauna recorded using timed species count method during 2003 Spotted Ground-thrush surveys in Kenyan Coastal Forests

Kariuki Ndang'ang'a; Ronald Mulwa; Colin Jackson; Maryanne Njambi; Peter Njoroge

doi:10.15468/jn9f66

Avifauna recorded using timed species count method during 2003 Spotted Ground-thrush surveys in Kenyan Coastal Forests

Citation

Ndang'ang'a K, Mulwa R, Jackson C, Njambi M, Njoroge P, Ochieng J (2022). Avifauna recorded using timed species count method during 2003 Spotted Ground-thrush surveys in Kenyan Coastal Forests. National Museums of Kenya. Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/jn9f66 accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-11.

Description

The biological importance and uniqueness of East African coastal forests is widely recognized; they form an Endemic Bird Area. Important remnants of this fragmented habitat is on the southern Kenyan coast, but their avifauna has been little studied. In between June and July 2003, a survey of endangered spotted ground thrush was undertaken with an overall objective of examining it conservation status on its non-breeding grounds in the Kenyan Coastal Forest. Other avifauna of the ten South Coast Forest fragments were assessed including the threats facing them using mist-netting, time species counts and point counts. This dataset contains 1156 entries of birds recorded using the time species count method. Birds in the IUCN red list was also recorded in this data set including the near threatened East Coast Akalat (Sheppardia gunningi), Sokoke Pipit (Anthus sokokensis), Plain-backed Sunbird (Anthreptes reichenowi) and Spotted Ground-thrush (Geokichla guttata). The data was formatted according to the Darwin Core Standards by A Rocha Kenya before publishing through the IPT at the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi.

Purpose

Information regarding the Spotted Ground Thrush in most Kenyan sites has been scanty and scattered making it difficult to clearly understand it status in Kenya. Only Bennun (1985, 1987) and Waiyaki (1995) did a focused study on the species. This study was conducted as a follow up survey of Spotted Ground Thrush of Kenyan Coast to assess the current status of the species and it forest habitat. Other birds were also studied to assess their status too.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

Study Extent The survey was done in 10 Kenyan coastal forests in which Spotted Ground-thrush has been previously reported, or was suspected to be present. These forests included Mrima Forest, Kaya Gadini, Kaya Waa, Jilore cyanometra,Arabuko Sokoke Mixed Forest,Gede Ruins, Marenje,Colubus Trust, Diani Baobab and Kaya Diani.

Sampling

Different methods were used in searching for the spotted Ground-thrush including Mist netting, Point Count and Timed species Counts. This dataset presented here was collected using the timed species count method.

Quality Control

Species identification was done on site by a team of bird experts from the Ornithology Section, National Museums of Kenya.

Method steps

The timed species count procedure followed Bennun & Waiyaki (1993). Every time a new bird species was detected during count, the time was recorded, together with an indication of whether the detection was by sight or sound and whether the bird was within 25M of observer and if so, whether it was above 3 m from ground. Each count was 40 minutes long. Birds were sought between 06:00 and 11:00.

Taxonomic Coverages

Geographic Coverages

The survey was done in 10 Kenyan coastal forests in which Spotted Ground-thrush has been previously reported, or was suspected to be present.

Bibliographic Citations

Bennun, L. A., & Waiyaki, E. M. (1993). Using timed species-counts [TSC] to compare avifaunas in the Mau forests, south-west Kenya. Annalen-Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Afrika. Zoologische Wetenschappen. -
Bennun, L. A., & Njoroge, P. (1999). Important bird areas in Kenya. Nature Kenya, East Africa Natural History Society. -
Waiyaki, E. M. (1995). Effects of forest fragmentation, isolation and structure, on the richness and abundance of bird communities in major coastal forests of south coast, Kenya. Unpublished Msc thesis, University of Kent, UK. -

Contacts

Kariuki Ndang'ang'a
originator
position: Head of Conservation Division - Africa
Birdlife International
Nairobi
P. O. Box 3502 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254722473851
email: kariuki.ndanganga@birdlife.org

Ronald Mulwa
originator
position: Senior Research Scientist, Ornithology Section, Zoology Dept.,
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P. O. Box 40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254722499841
email: rokmulwa@gmail.com

Colin Jackson
originator
position: National Director
National Museums of Kenya
Nairobi
P. O. Box 80202
Malindi
KE
Telephone: +254722842366
email: colin.jackson@arocha.org

Maryanne Njambi
originator
position: Data Clerk, Ornithology Section, Zoology Dept.,
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P. O. Box 40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254718374256
email: njambiwaceke@gmail.com

Peter Njoroge
originator
position: Head, Ornithology Section, Zoology Dept.,
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P. O. Box 40658 - 00100,
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254724521770
email: pnjoroge@museums.or.ke

Peter Njoroge
metadata author
position: Head, Ornithology Section, Zoology Dept.,
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P. O. Box 40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254724521770
email: pnjoroge@museums.or.ke

Judith Ochieng
metadata author
position: Project Coordinator, Department of Science and Conservation
A Rocha Kenya
Watamu
P.O.Box 80202
Malindi
email: judith.ochieng@arocha.org

Maryanne Njambi
metadata author
position: Data Clerk, Ornithology Section, Zoology Dept.,
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P. O. Box 40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254718374256
email: njambiwaceke@gmail.com

Esther Mwangi
processor
position: Research Scientist
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P. O. Box 40658 - 00100,
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254787596660
email: ewmwangi@museums.or.ke

Lawrence Monda
processor
position: ICT Manager, ICT Dept.,
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P. O. Box 40658 - 00100,
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254718570439
email: lmonda@museums.or.ke

Kariuki Ndang'ang'a
administrative point of contact
position: Head of Conservation Division - Africa
Birdlife International
Nairobi
P. O. Box 3502 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254722473851
email: kariuki.ndanganga@birdlife.org

Ronald Mulwa
administrative point of contact
position: Senior Research Scientist, Ornithology Section, Zoology Dept.,
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P. O. Box 40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254722499841
email: rokmulwa@gmail.com

Colin Jackson
administrative point of contact
position: National Director
A Rocha Kenya
Watamu
P.O.Box 80202
Malindi
KE
Telephone: +254722842366
email: colin.jackson@arocha.org