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Threatened species surveys in the Gola Forest Reserves, Sierra Leone

2009; Wiley; Volume: 152; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1474-919x.2009.00981_1.x

1474-919X

Simon R. Wotton, Tony Morris, Guy Q.A. Anderson, Guy Shorrock,

Species Distribution and Climate Change

This report gives details of two RSPB sabbatical projects in Gola Forest, Sierra Leone, from 17 October 2006 to 21 January 2007. The projects were organized through the Gola Forest Programme, a joint project between the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Government Forest Division and RSPB. The projects received a research grant of £400 from the BOU in 2006. The White-necked Picathartes Picathartes gymnocephalus is endemic to the Upper Guinea rainforests and is classified as Vulnerable by BirdLife International on the 2007 IUCN Red List. There have been detailed studies of White-necked Picathartes nesting colonies in the Gola Forest in the late 1980s and early 1990s (Allport et al. 1989, Thompson 1997). Allport et al. (1989) recorded 116 active nests at 21 colonies, and 81 old nests. A further nine colonies were visited that were no longer active, and a minimum of 28 old nests were recorded. Thompson (1997) visited 15 active and two abandoned colonies in Gola, and found 36 active nests and 30 broken nests. The aim of this project was to visit as many of the known colonies as possible and count the numbers of active nests, unused but intact nests, and broken, old nests. Active nests were those where the following were noted: fresh lining in nest; young in nest; adults at nest; fresh mud on nest; faecal remains; feathers/eggshell pieces below nest; eggs in nests. A nest under construction, with fresh mud, was classified as an active nest although recorded separately from the complete active nests. Where present, the numbers of young or eggs within each nest were recorded. As far as we are aware, ecologists have not visited most of the sites surveyed since the studies mentioned above. A total of 47 White-necked Picathartes breeding sites were surveyed between 21 October 2006 and 21 January 2007 within the Gola Forest Reserve and in surrounding community forest. Twenty sites were visited within the Forest Reserve, 18 in Gola North and two in Gola East. A total of 109 active nests were counted at 35 active sites. There were 17 active sites inside the Forest Reserve, 15 in Gola North and two in Gola East. These 17 sites contained 64 active nests (a mean of 3.8 nests per colony, range 1–16). The 18 active sites located in community forest, outside the Forest Reserve boundaries, and therefore having no formal protection status, contained 45 active nests (a mean of 2.5 nests per colony, range 1–13). Twelve sites were visited that were no longer active, and of these only three were in the Forest Reserve. It is possible that a number of nest colonies exist at remote locations inside the reserve, which are unknown to local people and therefore missed during the survey. The principal aims of the survey were to look for evidence of key threatened bird and mammal species, focusing on species for which there was little information on their status within the Gola Forest Reserves, and which were less likely to be detected by the baseline transect-based monitoring being conducted by the Gola Forest Conservation. As a number of these key target species were riverine and/or wetland specialists, survey work focused on major rivers in three areas in, or adjacent to, the Gola Forest Reserves. Approximately 1 week each was spent in the areas of the Mahoi River in Gola East FR, the Kwadi River adjacent to Gola North FR and the Mogbai Rivers in Gola North. Key results were as follows: Numerous signs of Pygmy Hippo Hexaprotodon liberiensis found along a 2-km stretch of the Kwadi River, in a floodplain area dominated by tall herbaceous vegetation, currently outside the Forest Reserve boundary. African Clawless Otter Aonyx capensis seen twice – Mahoi and Kwadi Rivers Spot-necked Otter Lutra maculicollis seen and holt located on Mahoi River Water Chevrotain Hyemoshus aquaticus seen twice – Mahoi and Kwadi Rivers Leopard Panthera pardus prints found on Kwadi and Mogbai Rivers Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri adult seen on Mogbai River-the first recent confirmed record of this globally-threatened (Endangered) species within Gola Forest Pel’s Fishing Owl Scotopelia peli adult seen at Konelha settlement, on Mogbai River White-crested Tiger Heron Tigriornis leucolophus heard and one seen on Mahoi River White-breasted Guineafowl Agelastes meleagrides recorded once along Kwadi River and several times along Mogbai River The results from both projects have been included in the Biodiversity of Gola Forest report (Klop et al. 2008), which provides the biological data underlying the recently published management plan for Gola Forest (Gola Forest Programme 2009). Additionally, the White-necked Picathartes survey work has formed a basis for future monitoring of the species in Gola Forest and the first resurvey has taken place in January 2009. The work would not have been possible without the considerable and generous assistance of the Gola Forest Conservation staff based at Kenema. We are also grateful to the BOU for their financial support. Particular thanks go to Prince Soriba, who accompanied us in the field throughout the survey period, and helped ensure smooth and efficient logistics throughout. Many individuals assisted us in the field, but particular thanks go to Fiona Hunter, Michael Kenneh, Erik Klop, Augustine Macfoy, Francis Rogers, Alhaji Siaka and Prince Soriba. Jeremy Lindsell and Alex Hipkiss of RSPB provided much invaluable guidance in planning the survey work and logistics.