The project
Our knowledge of ecology of migrants in their wintering grounds is extremely poor and severely hampers our ability to explain these declines and conserve this group of species. We lack even basic information about when birds arrive, the habitats they use and how they move around Africa.
The aim is to understand how Palearctic-African migrants use and move around the different vegetation zones found in West Africa, ranging from the semi-desert Sahelian region in Burkina Faso to the lush tropical rainforest in southern Ghana, and whether habitat change may impact them on their wintering grounds.
During the temperate winter of 2009/2010, using point count methodology and mist-netting, we recorded migrants along a degradation gradient at five different stations on a north-south transect. In 2010/2011 we plan to re-visit these sites as well as roving further afield to get a broader picture of migrant habitat use.
Penultimate ringing session for Bee and I. We set the nets at Brukruwa near Alices Triangle site. Another smokey session and a busy one for local’s walking past as they tended their crops. Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Green Hylia, Buff Spotted Woodpecker, Superb Sunbird and White-throated Bee-eater all made appearances. A Honeyguide that didn’t seem to match any of the illustrations in the bird guide came late in the session. Another wildlife encounter of the day included a small (dead) scorpion in my room that wasn’t in the room the day before. We capped off a good day with a tasty meal at a restaurant in good spirits.
Above: Honeyguide sp.
Posted on behalf on Vicky
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