Avifauna recorded using Mist netting 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/ntbenc

Avifauna recorded using Mist netting 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 Mist netting method during 2003 Spotted Ground-thrush surveys in Kenyan Coastal Forests. National Museums of Kenya. Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/ntbenc accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-11-12.

Description

The biological importance and uniqueness of East African coastal forests is widely recognised; 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 its conservation status on its non-breeding grounds in the Kenya Coastal Forest. Other avifauna of the ten Coastal Forests were assessed including the threats facing them using mist-netting, time species counts and point counts. This dataset contains 518 entries of birds ringed using the mist netting method. Birds in the IUCN red list were also ringed in this study including the near threatened East Coast Akalat (Sheppardia gunning), 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.

Sampling Description

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. This 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 and other birds including Mist netting, Point Count and Time species Counts. This dataset present data collected mist netting method.

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

Surveys were carried out between 16 June and 20 July 2003 within the period when Spotted Ground Thrush is found on the forests of the Kenya coast as a non-breeding visitor. Additional information was collated from an ongoing ringing programme at Arabuko-Sokoke forest, as well as from past literature. In each of the study forests visited (except Shimoni), mist nets were used at sites distributed across the forested area. Choice of site was constrained by the availability of suitable small paths or trails and net lengths used varied. Every site was operated for three or four sessions before nets were moved to another site in the same or different forest. These sessions included one or two mornings (06:00 – 11:00) and one or two evenings (15:30 – 18:30) sessions. All species caught were aged and various biometrics and molting details taken; in addition, all Spotted Ground Thrushes were colour-ringed.

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

BirdLife International. 2000. Threatened Birds of the World. Barcelona and Cambridge: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International. -
BirdLife International. 2007. Species factsheet: Zoothera guttata. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 16/7/2007 -
Bennun, L. & Njoroge, P. 1999. Important Bird Areas in Kenya. Nairobi: Nature Kenya. -

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
A Rocha Kenya
Watamu
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 Manager
A Rocha Kenya
Watamu
P.O.Box 80202
Malindi
KE
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