Bird Ringing Data of the Lower Tana River Forests, 1999 to 2001

Joseph Oyugi; Alfred Owino; Kariuki Ndang'ang'a; Bernard Amakobe; Patrick Gichuki; Colin Jackson; Henry Ndithia; Judith Ochieng; Esther Mwangi; Maryanne Njambi; Peter Njoroge

doi:10.15468/ge6vzg

Bird Ringing Data of the Lower Tana River Forests, 1999 to 2001

Citation

Oyugi J, Owino A, Ndang'ang'a K, Amakobe B, Gichuki P, Jackson C, Ndithia H, Ochieng J, Mwangi E, Njambi M, Njoroge P (2022). Bird Ringing Data of the Lower Tana River Forests, 1999 to 2001. Version 1.2. National Museums of Kenya. Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/ge6vzg accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-11-12.

Description

The Lower Tana River Forest patches in Coastal Kenya are remnants of a vast tropical forest that once extended from the East Coast of Africa to the Congo Basin during the Miocene (some 26 million years ago). The forest now occurs patchily on each side of the river. The forest fragments are among the key forests for bird conservation in Africa and qualify as an Important Bird Area (Bennun & Njoroge 1999). However, there has been little systematic ornithological work in the Lower Tana, and information on the avifauna is patchy and scant. The forest fragments are at different succession stages and are unlikely to be of equal conservation importance to birds hence the studies sought to characterize the avifauna of the different forest types in Lower Tana River and to identify the most important fragments for bird’s conservation. This dataset gives a baseline information on the ringing events of birds at the Lower Tana River forest fragments including; Mchelelo, Mnazini South, Mnazini North, Congolani Central, Nguru North, Nguru South, Makere West,Baomo South, Maroni East and Kipende West between 1999 to 2001. This dataset represents 279 records of birds ringed in the Lower Tana River forests between 1999 -2001. A total of 38 species were ringed.

Purpose

Lower Tana River Forest is listed among the key forests for bird conservation in Africa and qualify as an Important Bird Area hence is of conservation significance. This dataset was provided to act as a reference point against which to compare current bird's situation in this forest. It will also give a focus for contemporary survey work and management decisions. Raising the profile of data for the conservation of four forested African landscapes project has played a role in unlocking this dataset which has been locked in unpublished reports for many years. Later, this project will create relevant and applicable tools to interpret this dataset hence guiding the conservation work and policy decisions of the Lower Tana River Forest Fragments.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

The bird ringing was done in the Tana River Primate National Reserve (1⁰55’5, 40⁰5’E) located along the lower reaches of the Tana River. This reserve covers 169km2 of which around 11km2 is riverine forest. 15 forest fragments of this including: Mchelelo(63ha), Mnazini South(50ha), Mnazini North(38ha), Congolani Central(50ha), Guru North(5ha), Guru South(46ha), Makere West48ha), Mchelelo East(10ha), Sifa East(150ha),Wenje East(525ha), Makere East(4ha), Baomo South(30ha), Maroni East(4ha), Maroni West(16ha) and Kipende West(14ha) were covered.

Sampling

The understory birds were captured using mist nets set along paths in each site, ringed, biometrics taken then later on released.

Quality Control

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

Method steps

At each study site, a narrow trail, 105 m long, through the understory vegetation was cleared. Small mesh mist-nets 3M high and 105 M long in total length were erected using bamboo poles and operated for two mornings at each site. Nets were opened for four hours each morning starting from between 06:30-07:30 h depending on availability of security personnel.

Taxonomic Coverages

Birds ringed within the Lower Tana River Forest Patches.

Accipitriformes
rank: order
Culumbiformes
rank: order
Trogoniformes
rank: order
Strigiformes
rank: order
Coraciiformes
rank: order
Piciformes
rank: order
Passeriformes
rank: order
Accipitridae
rank: order
Columbidae
rank: order
Tytonidae
rank: order
Strigidae
rank: order
Trogonidae
rank: order
Indicatoridae
rank: order
Alcedinidae
rank: family
Rhamphastidae
rank: family
Pycnonotidae
rank: family
Leiothrichidae
rank: family
Turdidae
rank: family
Muscicapidae
rank: family
Monarchidae
rank: family
Stenostiridae
rank: family
Cisticolidae
rank: family
Platysteiridae
rank: family
Vangidae
rank: family
Malaconotidae
rank: family
Dicruridae
rank: family
Nectariniidae
rank: family
Ploceidae
rank: family

Geographic Coverages

The bird ringing was done in 11 Lower Tana River Forests patches which lies at an altitude of 40-70m within the floodplain of the river in Tana River County, at approximately 2⁰30’S and 40⁰30’E. Guru North, Guru South and Kipende West areas were given the Tana River Forest central point coordinates as they were missing from the google maps.

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Joseph Oyugi
originator
position: Professor of Biology, Natural Sciences
Gardner-Webb University
203 GW Laboratory Center
Boiling Springs
Campus Box: 7270
North Carolina
US
Telephone: (704) 406-2411
email: joyugi@gardner-webb.edu
homepage: https://gardner-webb.edu/people/dr-joseph-oyugi/

Alfred Owino
originator
position: Research Scientist; Biodiversity Research and Monitoring Division
Kenya Wildlife Service
Nairobi
P. O. Box 40241- 00100
Nairobi
KE
email: alfred@kws.go.ke

Kariuki Ndang'ang'a
originator
position: Head of Conservation Division for Africa
BirdLife International
Nairobi
P. O. Box 3502 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
email: kariuki.ndanganga@gmail.com
homepage: https://www.birdlife.org/

Bernard Amakobe
originator
position: Research and Biodiversity Monitoring Officer
Wildlife Works Kenya Ltd
Maungu
Voi
KE
Telephone: +254721517910
email: libukujulius@yahoo.com

Patrick Gichuki
originator
position: Technician, Ornithology Section, Zoology Department
National Museums of Kenya
Nairobi
40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE

Colin Jackson
originator
position: National Director
A Rocha Kenya
Watamu
383 - 80202
Malindi
KE
Telephone: +254722842366
email: colin.jackson@arocha.org

Henry Ndithia
originator
position: Senior Research Scientist, Ornithology Section, Zoology Department
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
40658-00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254724584121
email: hndithia@gmail.com

Judith Ochieng
originator
position: Project Coordinator, Department Science and Conservation
A Rocha Kenya
Watamu
383 - 80202
Malindi
KE
Telephone: +254704843754
email: judith.ochieng@arocha.org

Esther Mwangi
originator
position: Research Scientist, Zoology Department
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
40658 - 00100
Nairobi
Telephone: +254787596660
email: ewmwangi@museums.or.ke
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4961-0278

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

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

Peter Njoroge
metadata author
position: Head, Ornithology Section, Zoology Department
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254724521770
email: pnjoroge@museums.or.ke
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1165-3579

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

Judith Ochieng
metadata author
position: Project Coordinator, Department Science and Conservation
A Rocha Kenya
Watamu
383 - 80202
Malindi
KE
Telephone: +254704843754
email: judith.ochieng@arocha.org

Joseph Oyugi
administrative point of contact
position: Professor of Biology, Natural Sciences
Gardner-Webb University
203 GW Laboratory Center
Boiling Springs
Campus Box: 7270
North Carolina
US
Telephone: (704) 406-2411
email: joyugi@gardner-webb.edu
homepage: https://gardner-webb.edu/people/dr-joseph-oyugi/

Alfred Owino
administrative point of contact
position: Research Scientist; Biodiversity Research and Monitoring Division
Kenya Wildlife Service
Nairobi
P. O. Box 40241- 00100
Nairobi
KE
email: alfred@kws.go.ke

Kariuki Ndang'ang'a
administrative point of contact
position: Head of Conservation Division for Africa
BirdLife International
Nairobi
P. O. Box 3502 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
email: kariuki.ndanganga@gmail.com
homepage: https://www.birdlife.org/