lanioturdus - Birdwatching

LANIOTURDUS

This edition contains just three articles, one of an historical nature

Vol. 46 (5) 2013 December 2013

www.namibiabirdclub.org

CONTENTS THOMSON N

Editorial

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DEMASIUS E Charles John Andersson (1827-1867) - The Founder of Namibian Ornithology 2 LEIGHTON G Sociable Weavers – An Opportunity to Test the General Principles of Social Evolution 19 KOPIJ G Avian Assemblages in Natural and Modified Kaokoland (Mopane) Savanna in the Cuvelai Draingage System, North Central Namibia

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Editorial This year once again I have managed to accumulate sufficient material to enable me to produce an additional edition of Lanioturdus. I have again decided to make this a “special edition” with articles of a more scientific nature than most of those that I publish.

This edition contains just three articles , one of an historical nature and two of scientific nature. I fully realize that these articles will not be everyone’s cup of tea but I think it is important to publish them. The festive season is almost upon us once again and the committee wishes all our members and readers great birding over this period. If you are going on holiday, be it to a resort somewhere or to visit family on the farm please remember that SABAP2 needs as many Namibian atlas cards as possible so please try to make as many lists as possible especially for areas which as yet have no coverage. If you are not able to compile full protocol lists please remember that ad hoc lists and incidental observations are also valuable to the project particularly as some of our larger birds are in serious trouble. Vultures (poisoning), bustards (power line collisions), storks and cranes (habitat loss and disturbance) are among these. Any sightings of these species will help scientists determine numbers, distribution and conservation strategies. And while looking for vultures please be on the lookout for patagial (wing) tags. If you can read the tag these birds can now be reported on line at https://vulturesresightings.crowdmap.c om

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Charles John Andersson (1827-1867) The Founder of Namibian Ornithology

Sadly not much can be read about these accounts as the manuscripts are not accessible and his published books and diaries (including the facsimile reprints) are so rare that they are collectors’ items.

Eckart Demasius [email protected] The Swedish explorer, trader and naturalist, Charles John Andersson, can, without doubt, be accepted as the founder of Namibian ornithology. In the course of his travels in south western Africa from 1850 onwards he intensively collected specimen of natural history of the feathery type to the extent that his great work, The Birds of Damara Land and the adjacent countries of South West Africa, when published after his death by his friend, John Henry Gurney, in 1872, made mention of 428 bird species. Compared to our current total of about 670 this is a major achievement.

John Henry Gurney (4 July 1819-20 April 1890)

John Henry Gurney who published The Birds of the Damara Land and the adjacent countries of South West Africa five years after Andersson’s death also does not give a full account of the no doubt most interesting manuscripts compiled by Andersson. His reasons are as follows:

Charles John Andersson (4 March 1827 – 6 July 1867)

The Birds of the Damara Land, p xxvi: Mr Andersson’s notes as here given, have been extracted partly from his rough note-book and partly from his MS (manuscript- Ed). (which he had partially prepared at the time of his decease) for his projected work on the avifauna of South-western Africa, to both which documents I have had full access by the kind permission of Mr Andersson’s widow. 2

To have given the whole of these MSS. in full would have extended the present work to a very inconvenient size; and I have therefore only extracted such portions as appeared to me to embody Mr Andersson’s personal and original observations. Andersson’s first records of his experiences are reflected in the book, Lake Ngami, or Explorations and Discovery during four years’ of wanderings in wilds of South-Western Africa, which was published in 1856 and documents his first four years in south western Africa. Surprisingly this detailed narrative, recorded on 536 pages, makes reference to this passion of mine (p 175, Lake Ngami) (being birds) only twenty eight times. Few references are described in such detail as to enable the reader to identify the bird, whilst many refer e.g. to ducks and geese in general. One chapter, however, Chapter XX, 13 pages in all, is devoted entirely to the Ostrich, describing, inter alia, capture of young ostriches, natural history of the ostrich, where found, description of and eggs highly prized. This might be on account of the importance of the Ostrich to the hunter and explorer in those days for its economic value, i.e. the skin and the feathers, the nutritional value, i.e. the meat and eggs, the recreational value of hunting the birds for good sport and lastly its natural history value. As food and water were basic requirements for survival these were always on the mind of the explorer and traveler, hence it comes as little surprise that the edibility of certain bird species is discussed in detail. In Andersson’s second book titled “The Okavango River” published in 1861 his descriptions and references to birds

become even more scarce. Only a few birds or bird related matters are mentioned by him; some others by accounts quoted such as those of Captain Messum. It is very clear that the object was not so much to describe the “feathery type” in detail in either of the two publications, but that this was reserved for his intended magnum opus, The Avi-Fauna of South Western Africa. In 1875, eight years after Andersson’s death, his father, Llewellyn Lloyd, the famous English bear hunter and author, edited and published the book, Notes on Travel in South Africa. The book serves the purpose of publishing memoranda relating to Andersson’s last travels. One chapter deals with “Game Birds” …. It will also probably prove acceptable to the reader of such, at least, as are either Sportsmen or Naturalists. Of other African birds I have not ventured to speak, for reason, that Mr. John Henry Gurney has recently published an abridgment of Andersson’s great projected work – the “Avifauna of South Africa” – under the title of “The Birds of Damaraland”, to which valuable publication, I beg to refer the Ornithologist for information respecting the rest of the feathered type. Interestingly this chapter, Chapter III, deals with the Kori Bustard, Redcrested, Rüppell’s, Southern Black and Northern Black Korhaan. Also with the Guineafowl, Swainson’s and Red-billed Spurfowl, Orange River, Coqui and Crested Francolin, three sandgrouses, i.e. Namaqua, Double-banded and Burchell’s. Three quails, European, Harlequin and Kurrichane Buttonquail, are dealt with as well as four snipes. (It is highly likely that the Southern and Northern Black Korhaans referred to here are the subspecies A a damarensis and A a etoschae of today’s Northern Black Korhaan Afrotis afraoides – Ed) 3

The descriptions go into great detail and here one can see to what extent The Birds of Damaraland and adjacent countries in South West Africa is abridged as of a two or three page description only one or two little paragraphs are cited in the above publication. Chapter IV of the book deals with the interesting debate on theories whether vultures find carrion by smell or sight or both by various authorities of the time.

one species – he was convinced of three species of ostrich in the country! Whilst recovering from a bad wound to his knee in Barmen resulting from a battle between the Herero and the Nama (he commanded the volunteer army supporting the Herero), he commissioned the artist Thomas Baines to paint the birds for his future bird book. Sadly, due to Andersson’s premature death on 5 July 1867 this book was never published as Andersson himself had envisaged it.

One incident described by Andersson shows his ever scientific approach to matters, just wanting to establish some facts even if it meant using the gun to obtain an answer: p 58 Notes on Travel: Though all vultures were equally greedy, yet doubtless there was amongst this great mass of sharp beaks and upraised tails more than one unjust oppressor. Observing this, the idea came into my head to keep some order amongst them. My gun was pointed into the midst of this mountain of vultures, distant one hundred and ten paces. The explosion ensued, and seven of the number remained on the spot, either killed or helplessly wounded by a single ball! Certainly a justifiable motive was wanting to induce me so to act, because the innocent as well as the guilty equally suffered; but to speak the truth, my real object was to ascertain the effect of my bullet would have on a great gathering of individuals of this species. It was however, a destruction not only useless, but blame-able, because the vultures render these countries a signal service in rapidly absorbing quantities of offal that would otherwise contaminate the air with deleterious miasma. In Chapter IV Andersson further deals with additional aspects of the ostrich such as whether there was more than

Battle of Otjimbingwe by T Baines 1865

He writes of this time as follows in Notes on Travel: During my long and painful illness at Otjimbingue, I, at an early period, had recourse to my favourite pursuit, viz., the study of the feathered tribes. &C., of Damaraland, and by this means I often succeeded in beguiling many a weary hour, as well as in diverting and soothing the anguish of mind and body. I employed several native lads, besides my European servant (Axel Eriksson), to collect specimens. Baines now also entered on his appointed task of depicting the birds. When Charles John Andersson landed in Walvis Bay on 22 August 1850 he was a mere 23 years old. With no African experience he ventured into this unknown territory to face all kinds of challenges and hardships from dangers of wild beasts to thirst and disease and yet he kept a detailed diary 4

of his adventures which enables us to gain some glimpses into the world of Namibia some 170 years ago. His first reference to birds appears on page 15/16 of Lake Ngami: Walfisch Bay is frequented by immense numbers of water-fowl, such as geese, ducks, different species of cormorants, pelicans, flamingos, and countless flocks of sandpipers, but, as the surrounding country is everywhere open, they are difficult to approach. Nevertheless, with a little tact and experience, tolerably good sport may be obtained, and capital rifle-practice at all times. Hardly any of the water-fowl breed here.

Andersson describes the !Nara plant and its virtues. p 22: Birds are also very partial to it, more especially ostrich, who, during the naras season, are found in great abundance in these parts. p 22: I have also seen the white Egyptian Vulture feed upon it! This is, I believe, with one more exception, the only instance where this class of birds are known to partake of vegetable food. This is an interesting record of Egyptian Vultures being present so close to the coast in those days. During his first excursion into the Swakop River Andersson describes the following birds. p 44: During the following day, I observed several curiously looking crested parrots of greyish colour, which screamed discordantly on our approach; but as they always perched on the top of the very highest trees, and kept an excellent look out, I could not possibly get into gunshot.

Flamingos by Thomas Baines

This is an amazingly accurate report from someone who set foot on a new continent at the age of 23 years; Andersson possibly had some prior knowledge of the birds mentioned! Whilst at Sand Fountain, about four kilometres inland from Walvis Bay

Grey Go-away Bird by Thomas Baines

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The crested parrots of greyish colour can, by his excellent description, immediately be identified as Grey Go-away-birds. p 46: Having followed the course of the Swakop for some days, we struck into one of its tributaries called Tjobis. At the mouth of this stream we met, for the first time, with a vast number of guinea-fowls, which we afterwards found very common throughout the country. p 46: We also made acquaintance with one or two species of toucans; and I succeeded, at last, in obtaining several specimens of the parrot-looking birds of which mention has lately been made. They were the “chizoerhis concolor” of Dr Smith.

led a scientific expedition into the interior and was able to indulge in his interests of natural history and anthropology. Smith returned to England in January 1837 and shortly afterwards started publishing the five volumes making up Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa. It is interesting to note that some bird species, i.e. the guinea-fowl, were wellknown to Andersson at that time, whilst others, e.g. curiously looking crested parrots of greyish colour and one or two species of toucans, which must be a reference to hornbill species were obviously still unknown to him.

Grey Hornbill by Thomas Baines Dr Andrew Smith (3 December 1797 – 11 August 1872)

Dr Andrew Smith was a well known Scottish medical doctor and zoologist who worked at the British Museum at the time. In 1820 he had been ordered to the Cape Colony and was sent to Grahamstown to supervise the medical care of European soldiers and soldiers of the Cape Corps. Whilst he was there, he

After this excursion Andersson and Galton returned to Scheppmannsdorf (today’s Rooibank) to stay with the missionary, Mr Bam and his wife for three months to prepare for and to equip themselves for their journey inland. During this time in the desert the following interesting observations were recorded. 6

p 66: Whilst at Scheppmannsdorf, and whenever I could snatch a moment from my busy life, I never failed to shoulder my gun with a view of obtaining specimens of natural history, or a “reinforcement for the larder”; and an hour’s walk not unfrequently procured me a tolerable share of both. Ducks and geese, though somewhat shy, were by no means uncommon. p 66: Almost every morn we were visited by a splendid flock of pelicans, who kept soaring above the place for hours together; now in wide, graceful circles, the next instant in a compact body, sometimes rising into the sky, till they became nearly invisible; then suddenly sinking till almost they touched the earth; when abruptly, as if recollecting that the land was not their proper home, they would resume their airy station. They generally ended by settling near a large fountain; but they were very difficult of approach.

interest is that this subspecies was clearly recognized by Andersson as a different species from the Common Fiscal described by him in fine detail below. p 67: Also the butcher bird, which as known always impales its prey on the same thorn or sharp-pointed stick before devouring it. The Cape people call this bird the “fiscal” or magistrate, in the consequence of a superstitious belief that it represents amongst the smaller animals what the judge does amongst men. Many even go further, and say the “fiscal” only administers justice on a Friday; probably, from the Dutch court of justice being held in former times on that particular day.

p 67: The lanius subcoronatus, a species of shrike, first described by Dr Andrew Smith, I found to be common at Scheppmannsdorf. The bird was first described by Smith in 1841 based on a sample collected near Latakoo (Kuruman) in the Northern Cape. Today it is regarded a subspecies of the Common Fiscal, Lanius collaris, namely Lanius collaris subcoronatus. According to Roberts Geographic Variations of Southern African Birds its distribution currently covers only the eastern parts of Namibia and areas east thereof, covering mainly the whole of Botswana. Additionally, as we see from the bird species reported by Andersson, the distributions of some birds are very different from their current distributions. In Andersson’s Birds of the Damara Landthe bird is referred to as Fiscus subcoronatus and its distribution is described as being in the north and east of the country. Of

Immature Common Fiscal by Thomas Baines

Unfortunately we are not in a position to know on what basis these two species differed from one another. Subcoronatus 7

has a broad white eyebrow and the Common Fiscal of the Cape has no white eyebrow at all. Could it be possible that the nominate race was seen in the Kuiseb River at that time? After departing from Scheppmannsdorf they followed the course of the Swakop River to Onanis, where, once again they came across the Guineafowl. p 82: on the evening of our arrival at Onanis, we had started an immense number of guinea-fowls near the water; and, thinking it a favourable opportunity to replenish our exhausted larder, I slung my double-barreled gun across my shoulder, and immediately started off. The flesh of the wild guinea-fowl – that of the young at least – is tender and wellflavoured; and their eggs are excellent. The speed of this bird is almost incredible.

Okahandja, which seemed like paradise to Andersson and Galton. p 130: We never fared better than at Schmelen’s Hope. Besides the large game mentioned, our table was plentifully supplied with geese, ducks, guinea-fowls, francolins, grouse, and so forth. The large bustard (otis kori, Burch), the South African “paauw”, was, moreover, very abundant, but so shy, that to kill it, even with the rifle, was considered a dexterous exploit. One that I shot weighed no less than twenty-eight pounds. I have since repeatedly killed African bustards of this species; but I never saw a bird that attained more than two-thirds of weight just specified; usually they do not exceed fourteen or fifteen pounds. The flesh is very tender and palatable; indeed, to my notion, it is the best flavoured of all the game birds found throughout this portion of South Africa. p 131: It now being breeding season, the numerous flocks of guinea-fowl, in the neighbourhood, afforded us a constant supply of fresh eggs, which as has been said elsewhere, are excellent.

Swakop River by T Baines

In describing the kameel-doorn, i.e. the camelthorn (acacia erioloba) he describes the huge nests built by the Sociable Weaver.

Shortly after leaving Schmelen’s Hope on 3 March 1851 for a northern excursion to find Lake Omanbonde, he describes a vlei called Kotjiamkombe indicated on his map as being halfway between Schmelen’s Hope and the Omatako mountains.

p 96: It is in the branches of this acacia, mentioned by several South African travellers, that the social gross-beak (loxia socia) chiefly constructs its interesting and singular nest.

p 142: On the fifth day we arrived at a splendid vley, called Kotjiamkombe. From the branches of the trees and bushes which lined the sides of this piece of water, were suspended innumerable graceful and fanciful nests of the wellknown weaver species. The rank grasses and reeds afforded shelter to a great variety of water-fowl, some of which were gorgeously plumed.

From Onanis they travelled further east to reach Schmelen’s Hope, today’s

How sad it is that Andersson did not find it interesting enough to elaborate 8

on the actual species of well-known weaver species and a great variety of water-fowl, some of which were gorgeously plumed.

frequently were, by the invasion of a hawk, the noise caused by their precipitate flight was like that of a sudden rush of wind.

They trekked further north past the Ombotodthu Mountain, today the Ombotuzu Mountain towards the Omuvereoom Mountains, today’s Waterberg. To the north east of the Omuvereoom Mountains Lake Omanbonde is indicated on Andersson’s map.

They travelled past Etosha, which is little mentioned in passing, to reach the land of the Ovambo. At the beginning of June they arrived at King Nangolo’s residence, where they remained for six weeks and from where they made their observations.

p 152: Early the next morning, we pushed to a large vley, upwards of a mile in length, the finest sheet of standing water we had yet seen in Damara-land. It was swarming with geese and ducks. Then Andersson describes the reaction of his native servants towards his hobby of collecting specimens of natural history. p 175: The natives were unable to comprehend why I thus collected birds and other species of natural history; and on an evening, when I returned home, were convulsed with laughter on seeing the contents of my game bag. This passion of mine (coupled with my name being unpronouncable) caused them to re-christen me “Karabontera”, or the birdkiller, by which designation I am now universally known throughout the country. Andersson and Galton were the first Europeans to visit Lake Otjikoto on 26 May 1851. They stunned the local people when they took a refreshing swim in the lake. The locals’ superstituous beliefs led them to think one would inevitably perish (p 181) if one swims in the lake. p 182: In the morning and evening, Otjikoto was visited by an incredible number of doves, some of which were delicately and beautifully marked. On such occasions the wood resounded with their cooing; but when disturbed, as they

p 185: During the two days we remained at Omutjamatunda, we amused ourselves with shooting ducks, and birds of the grouse kind. Both were abundant, but more especially the latter, which literally obscured the air with their numbers every morning and evening, when they come to quench their thirst. It is, however, only in the dry season – as in the present instance – that they are observed in such astonishing multitudes.

Double-banded Sandgrouse by Thomas Baines

They usually go far in search of food; and, although a pair only may be seen at starting in quest for water, yet, as they draw nearer to the pool, they describe wide and continued circles over it; and thus, by giving time for others to arrive, increase their numbers. There is a great variety amongst the grouse, thus, for instance, in the course of a single morning, and in about half-adozen discharges, I have bagged grouse 9

of five different species; and I have procured altogether eight or nine; but none of them are good eating….They are best when made into pies. Currently we know four species of sandgrouse in our region, i.e. Namaqua, Double - banded, Burchell’s and Yellowthroated. In Birds of the Damara Land only three species are described, Double-banded Sandgrouse, Variegated (Burchell’s) Sandgrouse and Namaqua Sandgrouse. Could he possibly have mistaken female birds for birds of different species? (Thomson pers. comm.)

Namaqua Sandgrouse by Thomas Baines

Amusing ourselves with shooting geese and ducks or having good sport and shooting birds for capital rifle practice sounds completely unacceptable in terms of current values (although probably still practised in places).

direction, in the wildest confusion, and cutting the most ridiculous capers. The cause of this commotion was the arrival of a large flock of the “buphaga africana”, which alighted on the backs of the cattle for the purpose of feeding on the ticks with which their hides were covered. By means of their long claws and elastic tails, these birds are enabled to cling to and search every part of the beast, it was evident, however, that our oxen had never experienced a similar visitation, that they were taken somewhat a-back at being thus unceremoniously assailed. The “buphaga africana”, is also a frequent companion of the rhinoceros, to which, beside being of service in ridding him of many of the insects that infest his hide, it performs the important part of sentinel. On many occasions has this watchful bird prevented me from getting a shot at the beast. The moment it suspects danger, it flies almost perpendicularly up into the air, uttering sharp, shrill notes, that never fail to attract the attention of the rhinoceros, who, without waiting to ascertain the cause, almost instantly seeks safety in a precipate flight. According to Mr. Cumming, these birds also attend upon the hippopotamus. On the next page Andersson gives a description of the Red-billed BuffaloWeaver.

In search of the elusive Cunene River Andersson travelled further north. He now entered a new habitat where unknown bird species occurred.

p 215: Another bird (textor erythrorhynchus) is also in the habit of feeding upon parasitical insects, but is said to restrict its visits to the buffalo. In the part of Damara-land of which I am now speaking, that animal is unknown; yet the bird was in very great numbers. It appeared to be very social in its habits, living in colonies, and building its nest, which consists of dry sticks, on lofty trees.

p 214: One morning, as we were about to yoke the oxen, we were amused to see them suddenly start off in every

p 215: We also made acquaintance with a small, sparrow-looking bird, the “amadina squamifrons”, which deserves

From the above report however we can deduce that most birds and game shot were consumed if not collected as specimens.

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notice on account of its peculiar and interesting nest. According to Dr Andrew Smith, this is placed on a small shrub, and is constructed of grass. But in Damara-land and parts adjacent, the materials are of a beautifully soft texture, not unlike sheep’s wool. I never could discover the plant from which it was procured. The Hottentots use it as a substitue for gunwadding, and it is by no means a bad makeshift. The nest is so strongly put together, that one has difficulty in separating it. When the old bird absents itself, it effectually conceals the opening of the nest from view. Even long after I was acquainted with this peculiarity, I was puzzled to find it out. Just above the entrance is a small hollow which has no communication with the interior of the nest, but which, by the uninitiated, is often mistaken for it. In the tube the male bird sits at night. There can be no doubt that this fine description relates to the Cape Penduline-Tit. In the detailed chapter dealing with the Ostrich, Andersson proposes an interesting theory of the link between mammals and birds: p 255: The ostrich, which, from possessing the rudiments of a gallbladder, and the absence of wings for flight, seems to form a kind of connecting link between the two great families of mammalia and aves. Returning from a morning hunt where two oryx were bagged and whilst they were being cut up Yellow-billed Kites showed their antics as aptly described by Andersson: p 273: ..the men being busy cutting up, or “dressing” as butchers would say, two fine oryxes, the produce of the morning hunt, we were suddenly surrounded by a cloud of kites. The actions of these birds were most strange. Hovering within a few feet of our heads, they eyed us

steadily for awhile, and then took themselves off, as if satisfied. Another batch would now approach so near, that in order to avoid coming into contact with us, they threw themselves on their backs, whilst one or two actually, with a swoop, snatched the food out of the hands of the natives., It was only after having brought down several with the rifle that the rest thought best to keep at a more respectful distance.

Yellow-billed Kite by Thomas Baines

Describing the devastation caused by locusts, Andersson gives the following report: p 292: Birds of almost every description, more especially storks and kites, are seen devouring them generally. The great enemy of the locust, however, is the locust-bird, or the “springhaanvogel”, as it is termed by the colonists. This is described as a species of thrush, about the size of a swallow, and is a constant attendant on the insect. It is even said to build its nest and rear its young in the midst of locusts – which, moreover, occassionally prey on each other; for when a locust becomes maimed or crippled, its companions instantly pounce upon and devour it. The “springhaan-vogel” is the Wattled Starling, its earlier Afrikaans name being “Springkaanvoël” as per Roberts Birds of South Africa, Revised Edition – 1958, Second Impression. The current Afrikaans name is “Lelspreeu”. 11

Springkaanvoëls are also pratincoles in Afrikaans – the thrush fits better to a starling but the reference to swallows could be a reference to a pratincole. (Thomson pers. comm.)

Then on about 26 July 1853 Andersson reached Lake Ngami, the object of my ambition for a number of years for which I had forsaken home and friends, and staked my life.

Andersson’s description fits both species and O.P.M. Prozesky in his book, A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa, has descriptions of both these birds that fit Andersson’s description:

p 450: If the quadrupeds of the Lake Fauna are numerous and varied, the “aves” class is no less rich and abundant. In our first journey through

Wattled Starling: ‘Their irregular local movements depend on the food-supply, which consists chiefly of locusts. Large flocks perform remarkable aerial manoeuvres. Nest in large colonies, where their untidy stick-nests are crowded together in thorn trees – usually near hatching locusts…Catch their prey on the ground as well as in the air.” Black-winged Pratincole: “This swallowlike bird has a deeply forked tail and a white rump that are conspicuous in flight… An irregular summer migrant, usually seen in small flocks, but often congregating in very large numbers at locust or army worm outbreaks. Take insects on the wing and on the ground. Agile runners, in spite of their short legs. Often seen executing aerial displays over their feeding grounds.” Interestingly, in The Birds of the Damara Land, Gurney points out the absence of any notes by Andersson on the habits of the pratincole! No doubt Anderson was a superb marksman as documented in the following incident. p 311: One day I made a capital shot at an ostrich, which, when running at full speed, I brought down at the distance of two hundred and thirty paces. On a previous occasion I killed one of these splendid birds when upwards of three hundred paces from me.

Lake scene by Thomas Baines

Damara-land, I had such a complete collection of its birds and insects, that I almost despaired of obtaining anything new and interesting; but here I found at once an unexplored and almost unlimited field for the naturalist. Unfortunately, I was not in a state to be able to benefit, to any extent, by its abundance and variety, which I regret exceedingly. p 451: The aquatic birds were particularly numerous and varied. A friend, who visited the Lake, assured me that here, and on the Zonga, he had, at one time and another, killed specimens of no less than nineteen species of ducks and geese. One of the latter varieties is not larger than a common teal, but clothed in the most brilliant plumage. The herons and waterhens vie with the ducktribe in numbers and gaudiness of plumage. During a hurried journey up the Teoge, I procured, in a short time, herons of upwards of ten distinct species, besides several different kinds of storks, cranes, &c.

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The small duck not larger than a common teal, but clothed in the most brilliant plumage might be a decription of the African Pygmy-Goose. In one of the few references to birds in the book, The Okavango River, Charles John Andersson describes the ostrich hunt referred to in Lake Ngami on page 311, shooting the bird at a distance of over three hundred yards. p 40: .. and no less so were three ostriches which I succeeded in knocking over. One of these birds I killed at the long range of 374 yards. I stepped the distance carefully twice, and as the locality happened to be perfectly level there could be little or no error in the measurement. My friend Green would treat this feat as a bagatelle, but I felt proud of the performance.

In the above description there seems to be another incorrect statement. On page 96 of Lake Ngami the Social Grossbeak’s scientific name is quoted as “loxia socia”, while on page 215 of Lake Ngami the “textor erythrohyncus”, is clearly described as the Red-billed BuffaloWeaver. While the nests of either of the two species would without any doubt give a spectacular display when burning, it however remains unclear to which bird reference is made. In the lithograph accompanying the scene described in the book, no bird nests are shown.

At one time Andersson and his trek found themselves in the middle of a huge veld fire. p 51: Once a huge trunk, in flames from top to bottom, fell athwart our path, sending up millions of sparks, and scattering innumerable splinters of lighted wood all around us, whilst the numerous nests of the social grossbeaks – the “Textor erythrorhyncus”- in the ignited trees looked like so many lamps suspended in designs at once natural, pleasing, and plentiful. It was altogether a glorious illumination, worthy of Nature’s palace with its innumerable windows and stately vaulted canopy.

Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver by Thomas Baines

The painting of the Red-billed BuffaloWeaver clearly shows the nests of Sociable Weavers in the background. Is this another error, this time by Baines? The inscription by Baines on his painting reads: “Grosbeak – new” and “T Baines Otjimbengue Sept 26 1864”. Once again at Omanbonde Andersson tells:

Crossing a burning savannah – lithograph in Lake Ngami

p135: I gave up hunting, and devoted my spare time to exploring the marsh, in search of specimens chiefly, but also to obtain occasional supplies of game for the larder. Snipes and ducks were plentiful. The former I had never before met with in any part of the wide tracts I had explored. There were, likewise, several species of waterhens, rails, 13

plovers, &c.; and I occasionally bagged a hawk or a marsh hamer (Hamerkop?). When in search of water every sign of nature was considered to lead the explorer to this valuable commodity. p 150: We came, however, upon fresh Bushmen tracks, which, together with the appearance of numerous guineafowls, doves &c., led us to conclude that water was not far off. Despite being riddled with pain from the effects of malaria, Andersson describes how he made his monotonous life more interesting in the Ovamboland and from this last reference to birds in the book, The Okavango, we gain an insight into the number of specimens collected by Andersson and his helpers on his travels through south western Africa.

Victoria Falls with Chapman and the two worked together for one and a half years, drawing and painting bird illustrations. In Cape Town, while on convalescence in 1865, Andersson continued his ambitious project, The Avi-Fauna of South Western Africa. It was envisaged to be a three volume publication with 450 illustrations by Thomas Baines and Joseph Wolf. The latter was responsible for some of the lithographs in Lake Ngami. The Birds of South Africa painted by Thomas Baines contains ninety southern African bird paintings.

p 234: I continued still to suffer severely from the effects of fever, which seemed determined not to leave me. My debility was indeed extreme; I could not remain standing on my legs for a few moments together, yet, strange to say, I could, though not without much pain, walk a good while. This enabled me to vary the monotony of my solitary life by indulging in my favourite pursuit – the study of Natural History. Regularly every morning I sauntered out with my fowling-piece, and rarely returned without a few specimens of either birds or insects. It is true I met at first with but sorry success, but on the return of spring, i.e. of vegetable and insect life, the winged tribes became gradually more numerous and varied; and by dint of perserverance I succeeded, in the course of three months, in shooting and preserving no less than nine hundred birds and bats. In the early 1860’s he started on his dream of writing his bird book and to have it illustrated. He employed Thomas Baines, the artist, who had just returned from an expedition to the

Thomas Baines (27 November 1820 – 8 May 1875)

In the course of my research I was not successful in finding any southern African birds painted by Joseph Wolf. Wolf was a much acclaimed bird artist born in Germany who worked at the British Museum from 1848 onwards. He was considered by Sir Edwin

Landseer...without exception, the best allround animal artist who ever lived. 14

Andersson most likely only wanted to contract Joseph Wolf as he did not at that time have the means to publish this three volume book. Andersson publicised the project in Cape Town with the aim of looking for subscriptions. A subscription will be Five Guineas as stated in his advertisement; at that time this was a considerable amount of money.

obtaining by trading in South West Africa. Despite his poor health and weakened condition he left Cape Town on 22 May 1866 for Walvis Bay. In his company, amongst others, were Captain Thure Gustav Een and the young Axel Eriksson. They settled at Otjimbingwe where Andersson had established his trading post before and remained there for a couple of months.

Otjimbingwe by Thomas Baines

Joseph Wolf (21 January 1820 – 20 April 1899)

Fifty three subscribers signed up for the publication, but sadly Andersson never concluded this ambitious project due to his untimely death.

Andersson was a restless man and in need of financial means which he thought he would be more successful in

It was here that Andersson collected his Macherhampus anderssoni, (Bat Hawk) and a second specimen was collected by Axel Eriksson. (See also Lanioturdus 43(1)). p 23 of Birds of the Damara Land: On 10 March 1865 (should be 1866!), I obtained a specimen, a female, of this singular bird at Otjimbinque, Damara Land; it was shot by my servant, who observed another, probably the male. I imagine that I have myself observed it once or twice in the neighbourhood of Otjimbinque just before dusk. When brought to me, I instinctively suspected the bird to be a feeder at dusk or at night, and called out “Why, that fellow is likely to feed on bats!” And truly enough, so it turned out; for, on dissection, an undigested bat was found in the stomach; and in another specimen, subsequently killed by Axel (Eriksson), there were several bats in the stomach. 15

P 181 of Notes on Travel: After Mr Baines’ departure I was fortunate enough to discover a very remarkable bird of the falcon tribe, not only quite new to science, but forming an altogether new and distinct genus.

settlements. Of Mr Hahn’s information I can make nothing.

At a later period I had the very great pleasure of presenting it to my kind friend Mr John Henry Gurney, one of the most distinguished and painstaking ornithologists of the present day. I speak of “Andersson’s Perm” (Macherhampus Anderssoni, Gurney), which English naturalists, considering I was the first discoverer, were pleased to name after me.”

Thursday, 21st February 1867: Axel (Eriksson) out the whole day in search of specimens, but was unsuccessful in that respect; he bagged, however, seven couple of ducks. The natives brought in some new eggs. At last I am in for what I long dreaded, viz. the fever, which, as usual, threatens to be very severe.

This certainly was a rare bird for his collection so late in his career. Eriksson later obtained a specimen which, as it was so rare and valuable to science, was not sent to the Vaenersborg Museum, as all his other bird specimens were, but to the Royal Museum of Sciences in Stockholm. Later in the year Andersson set off to the north towards the Ovamboland in the quest to find the Kunene River. Against the advice of all white hunters not to remain in the area during the wet season, Andersson, with only the young and inexperienced Eriksson, remained in Ovamboland. His comment in his diary was accordingly sarcastic. Wednesday, 13th February 1867: … The hunters talk of finally breaking up their camp in a day or two. It is high time; they are vacillating, dilatory set. H—returned; as he had a bad attack of fever since he left, and is still weak. Although Andersson was a very ill man he continued to strive for his quest to reach the Kunene River. Wednesday, 20th February 1867: Hard at work mapping out the last of my route, and preparing a new sheet for my contemplated journey to the Portuguese

Despite his poor health either he or his servants went out daily to collect bird specimens.

Saturday, 23rd February 1867: Axel labouring assiduously in the vleys, but to little purpose. He complains of the difficulty of getting the birds to take wing, owing, no doubt, to their being so much hunted…..A trifle better; able to sit up, but great pain in my leg; sores are forming all over and around the large wound in front, and much redness in most parts. The heel is excessively tender. Wednesday, 27th March 1867: Eight hours in the saddle to-day; scouring the country in search of specimens and eggs; had long shots on three several occasions at the huge red-billed storks, but although I heard the shots rattle on their plumage like the pattering of rain-drops on a house-top, they took not the slightest notice. Eventually they did reach the Kunene but when his servants refused to take him across the river he had no alternative but to return. Andersson’s illness got worse and worse: although hardened by privations and sufferings, was often heard groaning in pain when the wagon passed over logs or rocks or other obstructions. Eriksson, as sensitive as he was brave, could on many occasions not hold back his tears, especially as he was attached to 16

Andersson with strong bonds friendship. (Thure Gustav Een)

of

Finally they reached Uukwambi, where Andersson was exhausted and had to stop. This is where he died. Eriksson’s account of Andersson’s death was given to Thure Gustav Een and describes a last and remarkable reference to birds: Andersson suffered so from bodily pains that he was longing for death. Until his last moment he stayed fully conscious, and, even a short while before the final death struggle, Andersson observed a bird, a hawk, in flight, and said to Eriksson that he should shoot such one for Andersson’s natural science collection in which it was not represented. Eriksson stayed at his side all the time, but just before sunset he went over to the campfire to prepare some food that Andersson wanted, some fried liver, and when Eriksson returned to the wagon after about twenty minutes, Andersson was no longer alive. The day was 6 July 1867.

manuscripts and Andersson’s friend, John Henry Gurney, arranged and edited The Birds of the Damara Land and the adjacent countries of South West Africa in 1872. Sadly, Andersson’s ornithological work, “this passion of mine”, to which he devoted much attention and time was reduced to a watered down reference book, not being nearly what he himself had envisaged when he published his appeal for subscriptions for The AviFauna of South Western Africa. Today we only have access to the few detailed descriptions by Andersson of some game birds mentioned in Notes on Travel and some few detailed descriptions and discussion regarding vultures in the above mentioned publication and to the ostrich in The Birds of Damaraland. With today’s technological means and with the goodwill of the owners of Andersson’s manuscripts and notes as well as the publishers of the Baines’s bird paintings, an “Avifauna of South Western Africa” containing the unabridged manuscripts and notes of Charles John Andersson would be a fitting publication and a deserved monument to honour the founder of Namibian ornitholgy.

References: Gurney, J.F. (Editor) Notes on The Birds of the Damara Land and the adjacent countries of South-West Africa by the late Charles John Andersson, London, John van Voorst, Paternoster Row, 1872 Andersson’s grave in Angola near the Namibian Border

A few years after his death his father, Llewellen Lloyd, assembled the collected

Andersson, C.J. lithograph – wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, internet Andersson, C.J. Lake Ngami or Explorations and Discoveries during 17

four years’ wanderings in the wilds of South Western Africa, London, Hurst and Blacket, Publishers, 1856 Andersson, C.J. The Okavango River, A Narrative of Travel, Exploration and Adventure, Facsimile Reprint, C.Struik (Pty) Ltd, 1968 Andersson, C.J. Notes on Travel in South Africa, edited by L Lloyd, London, Hurst and Blackett, Publishers, 13 Great Marlborough Street. 1875 Wallis, J.P.R., Fortune My Foe, The story of Charles John Andersson African Explorer (1827–1867), Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, 1936 Baines, T., The Birds of South Africa, Winchester Press, Johannesburg, 1975 Chittenden, H., Allen, D. and Weiersbye, I. Roberts Geographic Variations of Southern African Birds, The John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, 9 Church Square, Cape Town, 2012 Blomstrand, C. Two Early Maps of Southern Africa, A Discovery in Sweden, Macmillan Namibia (Pty) Ltd, 2008

Wallstroem, T, Svenska Upptaeckare, Utgiven av Bokfoerlaget Bra Boecker, Hoeganaes, 1983 Een, T.G. Memories of several years in south-western Africa (1866 – 1871), Translated and edited from the original Swedish edition of 1872 by Ione and Jalmar Rudner, Namibia Scientific Society, P.O. Box 67 Windhoek, Namibia, 2004 Rudner, I. & J., Axel Wilhelm Eriksson of Hereroland (1846 – 1901), Gamsberg Macmillan, Windhoek, Namibia, 2006 Wolf, Joseph - wikipedia, encyclopedia, internet

the

free

Baines, Thomas - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, internet Gurney, John Henry - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, internet Smith, Dr Andrew - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, internet Thomson, Neil – personal communications

McLachlan, G.R. and Liversidge, R., Roberts Birds of South Africa, The Trustees of the South African Bird Book Fund, Revised Edition, Second Impression, 1958 Johansson, P., The Trader King of Damaraland, Axel Eriksson, A Swedish Pioneer in Southern Africa, Gamsberg Macmillan Publishers, Windhoek, Namibia, 2007 Erratum Gill, E. L., A First Guide to South African Birds, Maskew Miller Limited, Cape Town, Third Edition, 1945. Prozesky, O.P.M. A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa, Collins, St James’s Place, London, 1970

On page 23 of Lanioturdus 46 (4) “Death of Swifts in Windhoek in the Winter of 2013” should read “Dearth of Swifts in Windhoek in the Winter of 2013”.

18

Sociable Weavers: An Opportunity to Test the General Principles of Social Evolution. Part 1 Gavin M. Leighton University of Miami, Florida, USA Introduction to Social Evolution, Cooperative Behaviors, and Theory Historically, scientists considered natural selection a process that promoted ruthlessness and selfishness no matter what the effect on others. In direct contrast to the historical view of natural selection, the natural world is not ruthless; and in fact, we see that many behaviors in the nature are altruistic1. Biologists observe such feats of altruism throughout the evolutionary tree. For instance, between 2 billion and 3.5 billion years ago single-celled organisms first joined together to form what we now consider eukaryotic cells2. Subsequently, eukaryotic cells joined together to form simple multicellular organisms and simple multicellular organisms soon transitioned to complex multicellular organisms such as insects, birds, and humans2. At the highest level, the complex multicellular organisms such as insects, birds, and humans form complex, cooperative societies. Importantly, all of these examples require cooperation among the constituent parts; if the individuals did not cooperate, the group would collapse due to the selfish behavior of certain individuals3. Animal societies often confront behavioral dilemmas since these societies rely on communal resources4. Communal resources are those resources that benefit every individual in the society and communal resources are also freely available to all individuals4. The second component is problematic because if individual A invests in a communal resource, then

individual B can take the benefits associated with individual A’s investment while contributing nothing itself. And therein lies the dilemma, the society’s existence relies on the maintenance of the communal resource, but the best strategy for every individual is to rely on the investments of others5. As one might imagine, the individual’s that benefit without paying a cost are at a reproductive advantage since they have not contributed anything to the resource but have received the same benefit as all the other individuals. Given the dilemmas associated with cooperation and communal resources, evolutionary biologists have long been interested in describing the evolutionary mechanisms that can maintain those cooperative behaviors that sustain communal goods. Indeed, Charles Darwin mentioned the paradox of cooperation in his seminal work6. Since Darwin, scientists have focused their attention on what are considered the pinnacles of social evolution such as ants, wasps, bees, and humans7. Recently, more insect societies, e.g. certain thrips and social aphids, have been discovered and studied; and the naked mole rat societies are also being investigated to try to determine how communal resources can be sustained in these societies. The previous work has found two evolutionary mechanisms that can maintain communal resources. The first mechanism is known as “kin selection”8,9 and is slightly more complex than the second mechanism, which is known as “coercion”10. The first mechanism, kin selection, is simply an extension of the idea of natural selection11. In general, natural selection increases the behaviors that are most beneficial for the organism; but the actual units that are increasing in the population are genes that code for the beneficial behaviors. Let’s create a 19

thought example. If individual A and B both share gene 1, then gene 1 benefits disproportionately if individual A and individual B cooperative with each other. In contrast, if individual A and individual B fight and wound each other, then gene 1 suffers12. Therefore, gene sharing can promote cooperation and since gene sharing is most common among kin, the term kin selection was created. In terms of communal resources, if a family maintains a communal resource, then the shared genes of all the family members benefit and cooperation can be stable. The second mechanism, punishment, is more self-explanatory. To encourage cooperative behaviors in others, a focal individual will perform aggressive act towards those individuals that do not cooperate13. In the case of punishment, an individual that does not perform the cooperative behavior is likely to suffer increased aggression, thereby making cooperation less costly than selfishness. Likewise, an individual that exacts punishing behaviors on selfish individuals will gain the benefits of future cooperation, and therefore the investment in punishing behavior now will be paid off in the future10. Scientists consider kin selection and punishment general mechanisms that can maintain communal resources; however, these mechanisms have only been investigated in a limited number of taxa, and only in two vertebrates (humans and naked mole rats). Therefore, to truly understand the generality of these evolutionary ideas, biologists should investigate their presence in species that form societies and rely on communal resources. Sociable Weaver Societies Maintain a Communal Resource Sociable Weavers (Philetairus socius) live in large, communal, perennial nests14 that need to be continually constructed

and built. Typically, the sociable weavers use Stipagrostis spp. grasses to weave into the nest; however, acquiring these grasses and weaving them into the nest requires both time that could be spent foraging and energy. According to the evolutionary theory discussed above, individuals should undergo selection to be selfish, and not perform cooperative nest construction. If selfish individuals were rewarded, then one would expect them to undergo positive selection, leading to a decrease in cooperative nest construction behaviors. In contrast, cooperative nest construction is a stable behavior, suggesting that one of the two evolutionary mechanisms above maintains cooperative nest construction in sociable weavers.

© Eckart Demasius

To test whether kin selection is maintaining cooperative nest construction, we must know if the nests are actually composed of extended family groups. To do this, one can look at different genes within individuals and perform a population genetic analysis. With the help of Namibian ringers Dirk Heinrich, Gudrun Middendorff, Neil Thomson and Holger Kolberg, I extracted blood from 380 birds representing six different nests. I am currently performing DNA extractions so that I can estimate how related individuals are within a colony, and compare this to how related individuals are to weavers in other nests. The population genetics will also allow me to estimate the migration rate between 20

nests; I can compare the genetic estimate of migration rate to the estimate of migration provided by the data collected by Namibian ringers since 2003. Given the low migration between the ringed nests, relatedness within a nest is seemingly high, suggesting that kin selection may help maintain the cooperative nest construction behavior. With regard to punishment, I am considering testing this idea using sociable weavers in the future. Testing the evolutionary theories in Sociable Weavers is crucial because most of our empirical studies of communal resources come from a small sample of taxa. Sociable Weavers provide a new species where we can discover the evolutionary mechanisms that allow for the maintenance of communal resources. In a general sense, evolutionary biologists will be able to assess whether these general theories of social evolution can be generally applied to multiple taxa. Such a broad understanding will help scientists understand how evolution shapes social behaviors. Therefore, the small, relatively cryptic Sociable Weaver, likely has much to reveal about how natural selection molds behavior.

Axelrod, R. & Hamilton, W. The evolution of cooperation. Science (1981). Rankin, D. J., Bargum, K. & Kokko, H. The tragedy of the commons in evolutionary biology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 22, 643-651, (2007). Frank, S. Mutual policing and repression of competition in the evolution of cooperative groups. Nature 377, 520-522 (1995). Darwin, C. On the origin of the species by means of natural selection: or, The .... 502 (1859). Nonacs, P. Kinship, greenbeards, and runaway social selection in the evolution of social insect cooperation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 108, 10808-10815, (2011). Maynard Smith, J. & Wynne-Edwards, V. Group selection and kin selection. Nature 201, 1145-1147 (1964). Hamilton, W. Genetical evolution of social behaviour I. Journal of Theoretical Biology 7, 1-16 (1964). Clutton-Brock, T. & Parker, G. Punishment in animal societies. Nature 373, 209-216 (1995). West, S. A., Griffin, A. S. & Gardner, A. Evolutionary explanations for cooperation. Current Biology 17, R661R672 (2007).

© Eckart Demasius

Works Cited

Bourke, A. F. G. The validity and value of inclusive fitness theory. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 1-9, doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1465 (2011).

Bourke, A. F. G. Principles of social evolution. (2011).

El Mouden, C., West, S. A. & Gardner, A. The enforcement of cooperation by policing. Evolution 64, 2139-2152, (2010).

Maynard Smith, J. & Szathmáry, E. The major transitions in evolution. 346 (1997).

Maclean, G. The sociable weaver (Parts 1-5). The Ostrich 44, 176-216 (1973).

21

Avian Assemblages in Natural and Modified Kaokoland (Mopane) Savanna in the Cuvelai Drainage System, North-Central Namibia Grzegorz Kopij Department of Wildlife Management University of Namibia Katima Mulilo Campus Private Bag 1096 Katima Mulilo Namibia ([email protected]) All photographs in this article were provided by Grzegorz Kopij ©

Abstract. Studies were conducted in the BIOTA Observatory Ogongo, which is located on the UNAM Campus, c. 50 km NW of Oshakati, North-Central Namibia (17.70 S, 15.31 E). The natural vegetation of this area is the Mopane Savanna. In 2011, the line transect method was employed to assess the species composition, dominance structure, abundance index and population density for all resident bird species in three study plots with different degrees of land transformation in this area: communal land transformed largely into cultivated fields, ranch utilized as pasture for livestock, and game reserve excluded from any agriculture activities. A total of 93 resident and 20 non-resident bird species were recorded in the Ogongo area. Among resident bird species, 69 were recorded in the communal, 72 in ranch and 50 in game reserve. In the whole area 6 dominant species were identified: Red-billed Quelea, Laughing Dove, Cape Turtle-Dove, Blue Waxbill, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver and Black-chested Prinia. The dominant

species composed 47.3% (4 spp.) in communal, 54.1% (6 spp.) in ranch and 57.5% (4 spp.) in game reserve. Proportions of main feeding guilds were remarkably similar among all three habitats compared. Granivores comprised 46-48% of all resident bird pairs, insectivores 41-44% and other guilds (frugivores, nectarivores, carnivores, omnivores) remaining 812%. Key words: avian communities, sustainable agriculture, natural areas. Introduction Although Namibia has rich and diverse avifauna (Barnard 1998), no quantitative data on resident bird communities are available to date for any of the 31 distinguished vegetation types (Giess 1971). These data refer to the following ecological parameters: species diversity, dominance structure, frequency of occurrence, relative abundance and density (Bibby et al. 1992). These parameters are indispensible for ornithologists, ecologists, environmentalists, conservationists and wildlife managers. Furthermore, they may constitute a basis for monitoring population changes for species, regarded as so called bioindicators (Sutherland 1996). Such monitoring program can be easily established in areas located in a close proximity to proper scientific institutions. The Ogongo Campus is an ideal site for such program. The Department of Integrated Environmental Science of the University of Namibia is established here. In a close vicinity to it, there are large areas of natural vegetation utilized as pasture for cattle, sheep and goats, and a game reserve, bordering on communal areas, where this type of vegetation was modified for arable agriculture, pastures and human settlements (Mendelsohn et al. 2000). 22

For these reasons the Ogongo Campus has been designed as a final observatory of the BIOTA Transect and Biodiversity Observatories in Southern Africa. This transect starts in Cape Town goes through Oranjemund, Karios, Nabaos, Windhoek, Okahandja, Sonop and Mutompo, and ends in Ogongo (Jürgens et al. 2010; Schmiedel & Jürgens 2010; Hoffman et al. 2010). In each of these observatories both plant and animal diversities are subject to monitoring. For some of them data on avian diversity have been provided. However, in the BIOTA Observatory Ogongo (S42), no studies on birds had been conducted (Jürgens et al. 2010; Schmiedel & Jürgens 2010; Hoffman et al. 2010).

563 000 people lived in this area. The climate is semiarid. Almost all rain (96%) falls in summer (November-April), with 2/3 in January-March. The amount of rain varies greatly from year to year, usually within 400-500 mm per annum (Mendelson, Weber 2011). The average temperature of the coolest months (June-August) is 17˚C and that of the warmest months (OctoberJanuary) 25˚C.

The aim of this study was to investigate resident bird communities in the natural, semi-natural and transformed vegetation in this important monitoring observatory. Study Area The BIOTA Observatory Ogongo is located on the UNAM Campus, c. 50 km NW of Oshakati; in Outapi district, Omusati Region, North-Central Namibia (17.70 S, 15.31 E). It is an extensive sandy plain, c. 1100 m a. s. l., partly flooded almost on an annual basis (usually December-June). It is located in a prime summer rainfall zone, with mean annual precipitation of 400-500 mm (Mendelsohn et al. 2000). A total of 411 vascular plant species, 3 vegetation classes, 7 associations and 7 subassociations were described in this area (Kangombe 2007). The Cuvelai Drainage System is located in Ovamboland, North-Central Namibia. It comprises a network of hundreds of meandering oshanas (canals) separated by sodic sands covered with Koakoland Savanna (Mendelsohn et al. 2000). The Cuvelai occupies 14 773 km2, 5 957 km2 is cleared or fenced, while 1 926 km2 is transformed into cultivated land (Mendelsohn et al. 2000). In 2000 about

Typical oshona with hyacinth flowers in UNAM game reserve

Within the Koakoland (Mopane) Savanna, seven vegetation units have been recognized. Ogongo falls within Mopane-fruit trees-oshana-mosaic. This unit occupies an area of 1706 km2, where 277 km2 is transformed into cultivated fields and 832 km2 is cleared or fenced. About 78 000 people live within this unit and the livestock capacity is 22 LAU per 100 ha (Mendelsohn, Weber 2011).

Mopane savanna with oshona

23

The vegetation of dry land in the Ogongo area is dominated by shrubs and trees of Colophospermum mopane. Among fruit trees the most common are: marula Sclerocarya birrea, Berchemia discolor, Schinziophyton rautanenii and the makalani palms Hyphaena petersiana. Other tree/shrub species which also occur in this vegetation are Acacia erioloba, A. nilotica, Zizyphus mucronata, Combretum spp., Ficus spp. (Jürgens et al. 2010). The vegetation of oshanas is dominated by grasses and sedges. On the margins the most common species are Willkommia sermantosa, Eragrostis trichophora and Sporobolus iocladus; wetter places are occupied mainly by Eragrostis rotifer, Eragrostis viscose, Diplachne spp., Brachiaria deflexa, Elytrophorus globularis, and among sedges: Cyperus halpan, Kyllinga albiceps and Pycerus spp. Nymphaea spp. and other floating plants occur in deep open water (Mendelsohn, Weber 2011). In the communal areas the natural vegetation is partly cleared into heavily overgrazed pastures or it is transformed into cultivated fields with mahangu (pearl millet) and sorghum as main crops. Almost every rural household grows these crops and keeps goats/sheep and poultry. In some households cattle and donkeys are also bred. Three study plots were selected for this study: communal area, ranch, and game reserve. They differed in the degree of naturalness: communal area is the most transformed, rangeland is utilized only as pasture (no cultivated lands), while game reserve is totally excluded from any form of agricultural activity. The communal area is a mixture of mopane savanna (5 transects) and Acacia savanna (5 transects) intensively utilized mainly as arable field for sorghum and millet and as pasture for cattle, goats and sheep; numerous rural

settlements. The mopane savanna is in Oshitalamesho communal area, north of the Ogongo Game Reserve, while the Acacia savanna is in Okangongo, south of Ogongo Campus. Total length of transects in this plot was 15 km.

Acacia savanna in the communal area

The UNAM Ranch is a mixture of mopane (5 transects) and Acacia savanna (5 transects) extensively utilized as pasture for cattle, goats and sheep; no arable fields, no rural settlements. Total length of transects in this plot was 13 km.

Acacia savanna with palm trees in the UNAM ranch area

The UNAM Game Reserve: 11 km predominately mopane savanna (mopane – 96% of all trees), with admixture of Acacia spp., Combretum spp. and other species (9 transects with pure mopane and one transect a mixture of mopane and Acacia savanna). 24

Marabou Storks foraging in UNAM game reserve

Both the UNAM ranch and game reserve are included in the Ogongo BIOTA Observatory, while the Okangongo is located close to the Omano go Ndjamba Observatory (Jürgen et al. 2010). Methods In each plot, 10 transects were designed in such way that they did not overlap. Each transect was about 1 km long. The total length of these transects in the communal area was 15 km, in ranch – 13 km and in game reserve – 11 km. The line transect method has been employed (Bibby et al. 1992) to assess the species composition, dominance structure, abundance index and population density for all resident bird species. On each transect, three counts were conducted: first in May, second in June and third in July 2011. Counts were conducted while walking slowly in the mornings from c. 07h00 until c. 11h00. A potentially breeding pair (territorial and/or resident) was a census unit, excluded were Palearctic migrants, water birds and other migratory species. In each of the three plots, the following parameters were used to describe avian communities: 1) species diversity (number of species recorded; species diversity index); 2) number of potentially resident pairs recorded; dominance expressed as the proportion of resident

pairs of a given species to the total number of all resident pairs of all species recorded, expressed as a percentage (%D); 3) frequency of occurrence, defined as the percentage of transects, where a given species was recorded to the total number of transects in given plot (F); average number of resident pairs per transect (only transects where the species were recorded were taken into account) (A); standard deviation of this average (SD); index of abundance calculated as the percentage of the number of resident pairs of the most numerous species (I); population density expressed as the number of resident pairs per 10 ha (1 km of transect = 10 ha) (D). Dominant species is defined here as comprising at least 5% of the total number of all resident pairs; while subdominant that comprising 2-4.9% of that total. Results and Discussion A total of 93 resident and 20 nonresident bird species were recorded in the Ogongo area in May-July 2011 (App 1 and 2). Among resident birds, 69 were recorded in the communal, 72 in ranch and 50 in game reserve. In the whole area 6 dominant (Red-billed Quelea, Laughing Dove, Cape Turtle-Dove, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Blue Waxbill and Black-chested Prinia) and 11 subdomiant species (African PalmSwift, Namaqua Dove, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Black-throated Canary, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Southern Masked-Weaver, Red-billed Hornbill, Wattled Starling and Grey Go-away-bird) were identified. The dominant species composed 47.3% (4 spp.) in communal, 54.1% (6 spp.) in ranch and 57.5% (4 spp.) in game reserve; subdominants 17.3% (6 spp.); 10.7% (4 spp.) and 12.7% (4 spp.) respectively. In all three study plots, only the Red-billed Quelea and Laughing Dove were dominant, while only African Palm-Swift and 25

Namaqua species.

Dove

were

subdominant

From the point of view of nature conservation, more important is, however, not only the level of species richness, but also the presence of rare and endangered species. Red-billed Hornbill and African Grey Hornbill, Common Scimitarbill and Green WoodHoopoe, Rosy-faced Lovebird and Meyer’s Parrot, woodpeckers and barbets, raptors and game birds appear to be more common in natural and semi-natural areas than in modified habitats. Only in one of the 12 habitat types distinguished in South African Highveld (bushy vegetation on slopes of the Clarens Formation Sandstone Cave), a similar number (N=75) of resident bird species was recorded. In all other habitats the number falls below 60 (Kopij 2006). Also nowhere in BIOTA Observatories, more than 65 bird species (including non-residents) was recorded. The highest numbers were recorded in the Woodland Savanna, 60 km SW of Rundu (56 species) and in Thornbush Savanna, Toggekry near Windhoek (65 species) (Jürgen et al. 2010). All these indicate that in Kaokoland (Mopane) Savanna in the Cuvelai Drainage System in North-Central Namibia the bird diversity is relatively high. Proportions of main feeding guilds were remarkably similar among all three habitats compared in the Ogongo area. Granivores comprised 46-48% of all resident bird pairs, insectivores 41-44% and other guilds (frugivores, nectarivores, carnivores, omnivores) remaining 8-12%. The similarity was also apparent on species level, for granivores being 26-30% of all bird species, for insectivores 41-44% and for other guilds 32% in each habitat (Fig. 1).

The proportion of main feeding guilds in various habitats in South African grasslands differed significantly one from another. Everywhere, granivores comprised, however, more than 40% of all birds, but in many habitats insectivores formed less than 20%, and the percentage of frugivores was in some habitats higher than 20% (Kopij 2006). A gradient from transformed environment (communal areas) through semi-natural (ranch) to natural (game reserve) was apparent for several species in the Ogongo area. Increased in population densities along this gradient were species such as: Cape Turtle-Dove, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Redbilled Hornbill, White-crested HelmetShrike, Zitting Cisticola; decreased: Blue Waxbill, Black-chested Prinia, Southern Masked-Weaver, African Palm-Swift, Marico Flycatcher, African Quailfinch; stable: Red-billed Quelea, Laughing Dove, Fork-tailed Drongo, African Hoopoe, Lilac-breasted Roller, Pied Crow. The following species were more common in the communal areas than in the ranch and game reserve: Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Black-throated Canary, Wattled Starling, Cape Glossy Starling; while less common in communal areas than elsewhere were: Crimson-breasted Shrike, White-tailed Shrike, Common Moorhen, Green WoodHoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, Helmeted Guineafowl and Golden-breasted Bunting. In total 20 non-resident birds were also recorded in the Ogongo area, most of them were water birds. Most frequently encountered were Cattle Egret, Rufousbellied Heron and Black-headed Heron. In each study plot 11-12 species were recorded (Table 2). The line transect method is suitable to assess species composition, dominance structure and relative abundance. This 26

method can, however, produce only a rough estimate of population density as belt width is not clearly defined. All parameters obtained by this method should be interpreted with caution. Some species are less active (e.g. Blackfaced Waxbill, Cape Penduline-Tit, Golden-breasted Bunting, Marico Flycatcher) than others. Species such as the White-tailed Shrike, Crimsonbreasted Shrike, Long-billed Crombec, are more active in the rainy than in the dry season; while the reverse is true in the case of doves. Also habitat may play a role in that regard: in dense habitat, such as young mopane plantation, which occurs in the game reserve, bird detection is lower than in more open habitats, such as Acacia savanna. In conclusion, species richness and population densities of birds recorded in the Ogongo area appear to be not so much dependant on the land use, as it depends more on vegetation diversity, being higher in communal area and in the ranch than in the game reserve; as the game reserve is mostly monoculture Mopane savanna, and the former habitats represent a mixture of Mopane and Acacia savanna. Within similar habitat setting, however, the ecological parameters tend to be higher in less modified habitats. Acknowledgements I would like to express my thanks to Ms. Wilika Nemuno Iita, who assisted me while counting birds in the communal plot.

Barnard P. 1998 (ed.). Biological diversity in Namibia: a country study. Windhoek: Namibian National Biodiversity Task Force. Giess W. 1971. A Preliminary Vegetation Map of South West Africa. Dinteria, 4: 1-114. Hoffman, M. T., Schmiedel, U., Jürgens, N. (2010) [Eds.]: Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 3: Implications for landuse and management. - XII + 226 pp. + CD-ROM, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek. Jürgens, N., Haarmeyer, D. H., LutherMosebach, J., Dengler, J., Finckh, M., Schmiedel, U. (2010) [Eds.]: Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 1: Patterns at local scale – the BIOTA Observatories. – XX + 801 pp., Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek. Kangombe F. N. 2007. Vegetation description and mapping of Ogongo Agricultural College and the surrounds with the aid of satellite imagery. B.Sc. thesis. Pretoria: University of Pretoria. Kopij G. 2006. The Structure of Assemblages and Dietary Relationships in Birds in South African Grasslands. Wrocław, Wydawnictwo Akademii Rolniczej we Wrocławiu. Mendelsohn J., Jarvis A., Roberts C., Robertson T. 2009. Atlas of Namibia. A Portrait of the Land and its People. Cape Town: Sunbird Publishers.

References

Mendelsohn J., el Obeid S., Roberts C. 2000. A profile of north-central Namibia. Windhoek: Gamsberg Macmillan Publishers.

Bibby C. J., Burgess, N. D. & Hill, D. A. 1992. Bird census techniques. London: Academic Press.

Mendelsohn J., Weber B. 2011. The Cuvelai Basin, its water and people in Angola and Namibia. Occasional Paper no. 8. Luanda: Development Workshop.

27

Schmiedel, U., Jürgens, N. (2010) [Eds.]: Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 2: Patterns and processes at regional scale. – XII + 348 pp., Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek. Sutherland W. J. 1996. Ecological Census Techniques: a handbook. Cambridge (U.K.): Cambridge University Press.

Fig. 1. Composition of feeding guilds of resident birds. A) communal area (69 species, 1080 pairs), B) UNAM rangeland (72 species, 879 pairs) and C) UNAM game reserve (50 species, 768 pairs); 1) species, 2) breeding pairs; F – frugivores, G – granivores, I – insectivores, R – carnivores, O – other feeding guilds.

28

Table. 1. Transects designed for counting resident bird species in the Ogongo area. Transect number

Co-ordinates for starting point

Co-ordinates for ending point

Habitat type

Communal area 1

S144358 E151603

S174355 E151699

Mopane savanna; pasture, arable

2

S174355 E151699

S174375 E151650

Mopane savanna; pasture, arable

3

S174375 E151650

S174351 E151644

Mopane savanna; pasture, arable

4

S174351 E151644

S174307 E151642

Mopane savanna; pasture, arable

5

S174351 E151644

S174358 E151602

Mopane savanna; pasture, arable

6

S173906 E151747

S173857 E151660

Acacia savanna; pasture, arable

7

S173857 E151660

S173808 E151777

Acacia savanna; pasture, arable

8

S173808 E151777

S173787 E151819

Acacia savanna; pasture, arable

9

S173787 E151819

S173827 E151839

Acacia savanna; pasture, arable

10

S173827 E151839

S173885 E151778

Acacia savanna; pasture, arable

UNAM Ranch 1

S174086 E151828

S174084 E151978

Acacia savanna; pasture

2

S174084 E151978

S174155 E151945

Acacia savanna; pasture

3

S174155 E151945

S174136 E151910

Acacia savanna; pasture

4

S174136 E151910

S174075 E151910

Acacia savanna; pasture

5

S174075 E151910

S174079 E151883

Combretum savanna; pasture

6

S174086 E151828

S174078 E151885

Mopane savanna; pasture

7

S174078 E151885

S174083 E151979

Mopane savanna; pasture

8

S174083 E151979

S174154 E151945

Mopane savanna; pasture

9

S174154 E151945

S174135 E151910

Mopane savanna; pasture

10

S174135 E151910

S174073 E151803

Mopane savanna; oshana, pasture

UNAM Game Reserve 1

S173953 E151789

S173906 E151835

Mixed Acacia/Mopane savanna

2

S173906 E151835

S173896 E151898

Mopane savanna

3

S173896 E151898

S173935 E151914

Mopane savanna

4

S173935 E151914

S173996 E151931

Mopane savanna

5

S173996 E151931

S173998 E151897

Mopane savanna

6

S173998 E151897

S173943 E151849

Mopane savanna

7

S173943 E151849

S173906 E151835

Mopane savanna

8

S173953 E151789

S173943 E151849

Mopane savanna

9

S173943 E151849

S173935 E151914

Mopane savanna

10

S173953 E151789

S173998 E151897

Mopane savanna

29

Appendix 2. Number of non-resident water birds recorded in 2011 in the study area. N – number of individuals, %N – percentage of the total number, %F – frequency of occurrence on transects.

Communal areas

UNAM rangeland

UNAM reserve

N

%N

%F

N

%N

%F

N

%N

%F

Cattle Egret

132

59.2

50

35

26.3

60

Comb Duck

17

7.6

20

61

45.9

20

36

24.7

20

African Openbill

3

1.3

20

1

0.8

10

51

34.9

30

Yellow-billed Egret

20

9.0

10

5

3.8

40

20

13.7

30

Rufous-bellied Heron

7

3.1

50

13

9.8

90

16

11.0

40

Black-headed Heron

18

8.1

40

1

0.8

10

6

4.1

30

Great Egret

9

4.0

50

3

2.1

10

Species

Marabou Stork

10

7.5

30

2

1.4

10

4

2.7

10

3

2.1

20

2

1.4

10

2

1.4

10

1

0.7

10

146

100.0

Grey Heron

1

0.4

10

2

1.5

20

White-breasted Cormorant

5

2.2

10

1

0.8

10

Squacco Heron

5

2.2

10

0.0

0

1

0.8

10

1.3

20

1

0.8

10

Fulvous Duck Red-billed Teal

3

Black Heron Black-crowned NightHeron

2

0.9

20

Southern Pochard Black-winged Stilt

1

0.8

10

African Darter

1

0.8

10

Goliath Heron

1

0.4

10

Spur-winged Goose Total

223

100.0

133

100.0

30

Appendix 1. Avian communities in natural, semi-natural and modified savanna (Ogongo area; May-July 2011). N – number of pairs recorded, %D – dominance, F – frequency of occurrence, A – average number of pairs per transect where the species was recorded, SD – standard deviation of the average, I – index of abundance, D – Density (pairs per 10 ha). Dominant species are indicated in bold type. Species Red-billed Quelea Laughing Dove Blue Waxbill Cape Turtle-Dove White-browed SparrowWeaver Black-chested Prinia African Palm-Swift Namaqua Dove Red-billed BuffaloWeaver Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Black-throated Canary Crimson-breasted Shrike Fork-tailed Drongo Southern MaskedWeaver Red-billed Hornbill Wattled Starling Grey Go-away-bird African Hoopoe African Quailfinch Swainson's Spurfowl Black-headed Heron Red-faced Mousebird Lilac-breasted Roller Acacia Pied Barbet Pied Crow Tinkling Cisticola White-crested HelmetShrike Common Scimitarbill Rattling Cisticola Common Moorhen Cape Glossy Starling Bateleur Helmeted Guineafowl Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark

Communal areas F A SD 60.0 35.2 23.2 100.0 12.3 5.3 100.0 10.4 6.8 50.0 4.2 1.9

I 100.0 58.3 49.3 10.0

D 14.1 8.2 6.9 1.4

N 200.0 112.0 57.0 61.0

%D 22.8 12.7 6.5 6.9

0.5 6.8 3.4 3.0

10.0 100.0 70.0 90.0

5.0 7.4 5.3 3.6

3.6 4.6 2.6

2.4 35.1 17.5 15.2

0.3 4.9 2.5 2.1

46.0 22.0 30.0 29.0

20.0

1.9

40.0

5.0

6.7

9.5

1.3

35.0 28.0 13.0 17.0

3.2 2.6 1.2 1.6

70.0 100.0 70.0 80.0

5.0 2.8 1.9 2.1

4.3 1.7 1.9 1.7

16.6 13.3 6.2 8.1

23.0

2.1

70.0

3.3

3.2

32.0 13.0 13.0 16.0 9.0 18.0 15.0 7.0 12.0 11.0 6.0

3.0 1.2 1.2 1.5 0.8 1.7 1.4 0.6 1.1 1.0 0.6

20.0 50.0 80.0 70.0 40.0 40.0 30.0 50.0 60.0 60.0 30.0

16.0 2.6 1.6 2.3 2.3 4.5 5.0 1.4 2.0 1.8 2.0

1.4 2.5 0.7 1.4 1.9 2.9 2.0 0.6 1.1 0.4 1.0

1.0 5.0 4.0 1.0 11.0 2.0 1.0

0.1 0.5 0.4 0.1 1.0 0.2 0.1

10.0 40.0 30.0 10.0 60.0 20.0 10.0

1.0 1.3 1.3 1.0 1.8 1.0 1.0

16.0

1.5

60.0

2.7

N 211.0 123.0 104.0 21.0

%D 19.5 11.4 9.6 1.9

5.0 74.0 37.0 32.0

0.5 0.6 1.0 0.0

1.9

UNAM rangeland F A SD 80.0 25.0 17.7 100.0 11.2 6.2 100.0 5.7 3.7 100.0 6.1 2.8

I 100.0 56.0 28.5 30.5

D 15.4 8.6 4.4 4.7

N 202.0 79.0 37.0 104.0

%D 26.3 10.3 4.8 13.5

UNAM game reserve F A SD 60.0 33.7 25.9 100.0 7.9 3.2 100.0 3.7 2.3 100.0 10.4 7.2

I 100.0 39.1 18.3 51.5

D 18.4 7.2 3.4 9.5

5.2 2.5 3.4 3.3

80.0 90.0 70.0 80.0

5.8 2.4 4.3 3.6

2.5 2.2 2.3 1.9

23.0 11.0 15.0 14.5

3.5 1.7 2.3 2.2

58.0

7.6

100.0

5.8

4.2

28.7

5.3

18.0 17.0

2.3 2.2

70.0 90.0

2.6 1.9

1.3 0.9

8.9 8.4

1.6 1.6

14.0

1.6

60.0

2.3

1.4

7.0

1.1

37.0

4.8

60.0

6.2

5.8

18.3

3.4

2.3 1.9 0.9 1.1

6.0 6.0 18.0 10.0

0.7 0.7 2.0 1.1

20.0 40.0 90.0 70.0

3.0 1.5 2.0 1.4

1.4 1.0 1.1 0.8

3.0 3.0 9.0 5.0

0.5 0.5 1.4 0.8

6.0 8.0 10.0 13.0

0.8 1.0 1.3 1.7

40.0 60.0 70.0 70.0

1.5 1.3 1.4 1.9

0.6 0.5 0.8 0.9

3.0 4.0 5.0 6.4

0.6 0.7 0.9 1.2

10.9

1.5

15.0 14.0

1.7 1.6

60.0 90.0

2.5 1.6

0.6 0.5

7.5 7.0

1.2 1.1

2.5 0.5 1.3 0.8

9.0 5.0 6.5 7.0 0.5 5.0 5.0 4.5 3.0 2.0

1.4 0.8 1.0 1.1 0.1 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.5 0.3

0.3 3.4 0.5 0.5 1.4 0.3 1.0 0.8

20.0 100.0 10.0 20.0 60.0 20.0 50.0 60.0

1.0 2.6 4.0 2.0 1.8 1.0 1.6 1.0

0.0 2.1

3.0 1.3 2.2 2.0 1.0 10.0 1.4 2.3 1.2 4.0

2.0 26.0 4.0 4.0 11.0 2.0 8.0 6.0

1.4 1.0 0.0 0.9 0.0

1.0 12.9 2.0 2.0 5.5 1.0 4.0 3.0

0.2 2.4 0.4 0.4 1.0 0.2 0.7 0.6

15.2 6.2 6.2 7.6 4.3 8.5 7.1 3.3 5.7 5.2 2.8

2.1 0.9 0.9 1.1 0.6 1.2 1.0 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.4

18.0 10.0 13.0 14.0 1.0 10.0 10.0 9.0 6.0 4.0

2.0 1.1 1.5 1.6 0.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 0.7 0.5

60.0 80.0 60.0 70.0 10.0 10.0 70.0 40.0 50.0 10.0

7.0 2.0 6.0 13.0

0.9 0.3 0.8 1.7

50.0 20.0 40.0 50.0

1.4 1.0 1.5 2.6

0.6 0.0 1.0 1.1

3.5 1.0 3.0 6.4

0.6 0.2 0.6 1.2

0.5 2.4 1.9 0.5 5.2 1.0 0.5

0.1 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.1 0.1

5.0 13.0 14.0 2.0 4.0 8.0 15.0

0.6 1.5 1.6 0.2 0.5 0.9 1.7

30.0 60.0 40.0 20.0 20.0 80.0 10.0

1.7 2.2 3.5 1.0 2.0 1.0 15.0

1.2 1.0 1.7 0.0 1.4 0.0

2.5 6.5 7.0 1.0 2.0 4.0 7.5

0.4 1.0 1.1 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.2

16.0 4.0 1.0 15.0 3.0 7.0 1.0

2.1 0.5 0.1 2.0 0.4 0.9 0.1

40.0 40.0 10.0 60.0 30.0 70.0 10.0

4.0 1.0 1.0 2.5 1.0 1.0 1.0

1.4 0.0

7.9 2.0 0.5 7.4 1.5 3.5 0.5

1.5 0.4 0.1 1.4 0.3 0.6 0.1

7.6

1.1

0.5 1.3 0.5

2.7 0.0 0.0

31

Species N Marico Flycatcher Southern Red Bishop House Sparrow Rosy-faced Lovebird Dark-capped Bulbul Blacksmith Lapwing Little Bee-eater Scaly-feathered Finch Cisticola spp. Scarlet-chested Sunbird Cape Penduline-Tit Red-billed Firefinch Grey Kestrel Green Wood-Hoopoe Village Indigobird Fiery-necked Nightjar Spotted Thick-knee White-breasted Cormorant Black Crow Black-chested Snake-eagle Black-collared Barbet African Grey Hornbill Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Black-crowned Tchagra Yellow-billed Kite Golden-breasted Bunting Common Ostrich Red-billed Teal Shikra Black-faced Waxbill Black-shouldered Kite Greater Striped Swallow Lesser Moorhen Little Grebe African Mourning Dove Southern White-crowned Shrike White-tailed Shrike Yellow-bellied Eremomela Yellow-billed Oxpecker Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Crowned Lapwing African Pipit Kalahari Scrub-Robin Kittlitz's Plover

%D

F

Communal areas A SD

D

N 4.0

0.5

30.0

1.3

7.0 1.0 2.0 7.0 2.0

0.8 0.1 0.2 0.8 0.2

40.0 10.0 10.0 30.0 20.0

4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 4.0

0.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.5

1.0 1.0 1.0

11.0 15.0 12.0

1.0 1.4 1.1

80.0 60.0 20.0

1.4 2.5 6.0

0.7 2.0 1.4

5.2 7.1 5.7

0.7 1.0 0.8

8.0 5.0 2.0 7.0 8.0 4.0 4.0 5.0

0.7 0.5 0.2 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.5

50.0 30.0 20.0 30.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 40.0

1.6 1.7 1.0 2.3 1.6 1.0 1.3 1.3

0.9 1.2 0.0 2.3 0.9 0.0 0.6 0.5

3.8 2.4 1.0 3.3 3.8 1.9 1.9 2.4

0.5 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3

5.0 5.0 3.0 5.0 5.0 3.0 3.0 1.0 3.0 3.0 5.0

0.5 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.5

40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 30.0 30.0 30.0 10.0 30.0 30.0 20.0

1.3 1.7 1.5 5.0 1.7 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.5

0.5 1.2 0.7 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.1

2.4 2.4 1.4 2.4 2.4 1.4 1.4 0.5 1.4 1.4 2.4

0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3

3.0 2.0

0.3 0.2

20.0 20.0

1.5 1.0

0.7 0.0

1.4 1.0

0.2 0.1

2.0 1.0

0.2 0.1

20.0 10.0

1.0 1.0

0.0

1.0 0.5

0.1 0.1

1.0

0.1

10.0

1.0

0.5

0.1

1.0

0.1

10.0

1.0

0.5

0.1

1.0 1.0

0.1 0.1

10.0 10.0

1.0 1.0

0.5 0.5

0.1 0.1

2.0 2.0 1.0 2.0

0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2

10.0 20.0 10.0 10.0

2.0 1.0 1.0 2.0

1.0 1.0 0.5 1.0

0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

0.0

I

D

0.6

2.0

0.3

1.8 1.0 2.0 2.3 1.0

1.0

3.5 0.5 1.0 3.5 1.0

0.5 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.2

30.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 40.0

1.3 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0.6 0.0 0.0

2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 2.0

0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3

0.1 0.1 0.1

10.0 10.0 10.0

1.0 1.0 1.0

0.5 0.5 0.5

0.1 0.1 0.1

2.0 2.0 4.0 2.0 2.0

0.2 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.2

20.0 10.0 40.0 20.0 20.0

1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0

0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2

4.0

0.5

30.0

1.3

0.6

2.0

0.3

1.0 1.0 3.0 1.0

0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1

10.0 10.0 30.0 10.0

1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0.5 0.5 1.5 0.5

0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1

1.0 2.0

%D

UNAM rangeland F A SD

I

0.1 0.2

10.0 20.0

1.0 1.0

1.0

1.5 0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.5 1.0

1.0

0.1 0.2

2.0 1.0

0.2 0.1

20.0

1.0

0.1

10.0

1.0

0.5

0.1

1.0

0.1

10.0

1.0

0.5

0.1

N

4.0

%D

UNAM game reserve F A SD

I

D

30.0

1.3

0.6

2.0

0.4

2.0

0.5 0.0 0.3

20.0

1.0

0.0

1.0

0.2

6.0 3.0 1.0

0.8 0.4 0.1

40.0 30.0 10.0

1.5 1.0 1.0

0.6 0.0

3.0 1.5 0.5

0.6 0.3 0.1

2.0

0.3

20.0

1.0

0.0

1.0

0.2

4.0

0.5

30.0

1.3

0.6

2.0

0.4

2.0 3.0 1.0 1.0

0.3 0.4 0.1 0.1

20.0 10.0 10.0 10.0

1.0 3.0 1.0 1.0

0.0

1.0 1.5 0.5 0.5

0.2 0.3 0.1 0.1

2.0 3.0

20.0 30.0

1.0 1.0

0.0 0.0

1.0 1.5

0.2 0.3

1.0

0.3 0.4 0.0 0.1

10.0

1.0

0.5

0.1

1.0

0.1

10.0

1.0

0.5

0.1

0.2

32

Species Marico Sunbird Meyer's Parrot Southern Pochard Chestnut-vented TitBabbler Kurrichane Buttonquail White-bellied Sunbird Black-winged Stilt Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Bronze-winged Courser Red-crested Korhaan Long-billed Crombec Golden-tailed Woodpecker Black-backed Puffback Red-headed Finch Tawny Eagle Number of pairs Estimated area (ha)

N 2.0

%D 0.2

Communal areas F A SD 20.0 1.0 0.0

I 1.0

D 0.1

N 2.0

1.0

0.1

10.0

1.0

0.5

%D 0.2

UNAM rangeland F A SD 20.0

1.0

2.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0

0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1

20.0 10.0 20.0 10.0 10.0

1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1.0 1.0 1.0

0.1 0.1 0.1

10.0 10.0 10.0

1.0

0.1

10.0

0.0

0.0

I

D

1.0

0.2

1.0 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.5

0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1

1.0 1.0 1.0

0.5 0.5 0.5

0.1 0.1 0.1

1.0

0.5

0.1

0.0

N

%D

UNAM game reserve F A SD

0.0

I

D

1.0

0.2

2.0

0.3

20.0

1.0

1.0

0.0 0.1

10.0

1.0

0.5

0.1

1.0

0.1

10.0

1.0

0.5

0.1

1.0 768

0.1

10.0

1.0

0.5

0.1

0.1

1081

879 150

130

110

33

About the Namibia Bird Club The Namibia Bird Club was founded in 1962 and has been active since then. We organize monthly visits to interesting birding sites around Windhoek as well as regular visits to Avis Dam and the Gammams Sewage Works and occasional weekend trips further afield. Experienced birders are more than happy to help beginners and novices on these outings. If you have a transport problem or would like to share transport please contact a committee member. Depending on the availability of speakers and suitable material we have lecture or video evenings at the Namibia Scientific Society premises. Members receive a programme of forthcoming events (Namibia Bird News) and the Bird Club journal, Lanioturdus. Membership Fees 2013 African Birdlife, the new magazine published by BirdLife South Africa can be ordered through the Namibia Bird Club. A year’s subscription (6 issues) of African Birdlife currently costs N$ 270.00. Category (excluding African Birdlife subscription) Single member N$ 140 Family membership (Husband, wife, children) N$ 160 Junior member (All scholars and students) N$ 90

Pensioner N$ 100 Foreign member (Not resident in Namibia) N$ 165 Corporate membership N$ 700 Namibia Bird Club Committee 2013 Gudrun Middendorff (Chairperson) Tel : 081 240 3635 Jutta Surèn (Treasurer) Tel : 061 24 1382 (home) Jennie Lates (Secretary) Tel : 081 299 0323 Liz Komen (Planning and Education) Tel : 061 26 4409 (home) Neil Thomson (Editor Lanioturdus) Tel : 061 22 2140 (home) email : [email protected] Sonja Bartlewski (Member) Tel : 081 149 2313 Richard Niddrie (Member) Tel : 061 233 892 (home) Franz Klein (Website Manager) Tel : 081 210 1221 email : [email protected] Advertising in Lanioturdus We will accept advertisements to be published in Lanioturdus at the following rates:Full page

N$ 300.00

Half page

N$ 150.00

Quarter page

N$ 75.00

Small advertisement

N$

35.00

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