Biology and Life Sciences

Biology and Life Sciences

Archive
Join as an Editor/Reviewer

Current Population and Ecological Habitat of Critically Endangered Long-billed Tailorbird (Artisornis moreaui) in Nilo Nature Forest Reserve, Tanzania

Volume: 23  ,  Issue: 1 , February    Published Date: 04 March 2019
Publisher Name: IJRP
Views: 982  ,  Download: 457

Authors

# Author Name
1 Fredrick Ojija
2 Cecilia Leweri
3 Beatus Mwendwa
4 Sayuni Nasari

Abstract

We report the result from habitat and Artisornis moreaui bird population survey conducted in Nilo Forest Nature Reserve in Tanzania. About 42 individuals and 18 heard of A. moreaui in 22 territories were observed in established transects. It was learnt that A. moreaui prefers vines, lianas and climbers nearby Ocotea usambarensis. A survey conducted in nearby cardmom, banana and cassava farms did not locate the bird apart from the forest edges. This implies that A. moreaui prefers natural sub-montane forests dominated by tall trees and with some gaps at altitudinal range of 800 to 1200 m. Moreover, it was observed that A. moreaui does not prefer living in disturbed habitats because no individual was sighted in degraded buffer zones, forest edges and crop fields that are adjacent to Nilo Forest Nature Reserve. Therefore, we recommend that, conservation education and community empowerments might help to prevent and reduce degradation and deforestation of the nature reserve specially the buffer zones. This will subsequently enhance habitat quality for A. moreaui and its population.

Keywords

  • Artisornis moreaui
  • Birds
  • Conservation
  • East Usambara
  • Nilo nature reserve
  • Rufford Foundation