Population status and activity pattern of hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) in Lake Hora-Arsedi, Bishoftu, Ethiopia
Keywords:
Activity pattern, Hamerkop, Lake Hora-Asedi, Status
Abstract
A study on the population status and activity pattern of hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) was carried out along the shore of Lake Hora-Arsedi, Bishoftu, Ethiopia. Data were collected during the wet and dry seasons during 2013/2014. Point count method was used to study the population status. Repeated observations and focal animal sampling methods were used to study the activity patterns. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and results were compared with Chi-square test and one way ANOVA. The difference in the total number of hamerkops counted during the dry and wet seasons was not statistically significant (χ2=3.56, p=0.059). The species preferred fish scraps particularly the head parts discarded by fishermen. Resting (47.5%) was the most important diurnal activity, followed by scanning (20.7%) and feeding (13%) whereas calling and mounting was the minimum activity recorded during the study period. Feeding activity reached its peak (16.4%) during late afternoon (15:00–18:00) and lowest (6%) during mid-day (12:00–15:00). Resting and scanning were the commonly frequented behaviour in all the time blocks. Further ecological studies on hamerkop should be conducted to get additional information and facilitate conservation measures in the study area.
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References
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Myers, J.P. (1984). Spacing behavior of non-breeding shorebirds. Behav. Mar. Anim. 6: 73–323.
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www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/animals-and-attractions/animals/hamerkop. Accessed on 20 Dec, 2016.
Beauchamp, G. and Livoreil, B. (1997). The effect of group size on vigilance and feeding rate in spice finches (Lonchura punctulata). Can. J. Zool. 75: 1526–1531.
Betre Alemu (2000). Rehabilitation of Hora-Arsedi catchment. Final report. Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre, Debre Zeit.
Bibby, C., Burgess, N.D. and Hill, D.A. (1998). Bird Census Techniques. Academic Press, London.
Brook Lemma (2011). The impact of climate change and population increase on lakes Haramaya and Hora-Kilole, Ethiopia (1986–2006) In: Impacts of Climate Change and Population on Tropical Aquatic Resources. Proceedings of the Third International Conference of the Ethiopian Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Association (EFASA), pp. 9–32 (Brook Lemma and Abebe Getahun, eds.). AAU Printing Press, Addis Ababa.
Brown, J.D., Robinson, S.K. and Thompson, F.R. (2001). The role of disturbance in the ecology and conservation of birds. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 32: 251–276.
Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K. and Newman, K. (1982). The Birds of Africa. Vol I. Academic Press, London.
Buskirk, W.H. and McDonald, J.L. (1995). Comparison of point count sampling regimes for monitoring forest birds. In: Monitoring Bird Populations by Point Counts, pp. 25–34 (Ralph, C.J., Sauer, J.R. and Droege, S., eds.). Albany, CA: USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PSW-GTR-149.
Carrascal, L.M., Alonso, J.C. and Alonso, J.A. (1990). Aggregation size and foraging behavior of white storks (Ciconia ciconia) during the breeding season. Ardea 78: 399–404.
Cheke, A.S. (1968). Copulation in the hamerkop Scopus umbretta. Ibis 110: 201-203.
Cowles, R.B. (1930). The life history of Scopus umbretta bannermani in Natal. Auk 47: 159–176.
Fox, A.G. and Young, R.F. (2012). Foraging interactions between wading birds and strand-feeding bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in coastal salt marsh. Can. J. Zool. 90: 744–752.
Gawlik, D.E. (2002). The effects of prey availability on the numerical response of wading birds. Ecol. Monogr. 72(3): 329–346.
Goss-Custard, J.D. (1970). The responses of redshanks (Trínga totanus (L.)) to spatial variations in the density of their prey. J. Anim. Ecol. 39: 91–113.
https://animalcorner.co.uk/animals/hammerkop-bird. Accessed on 20 Dec, 2016.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/10/151023-wild-boar-pigs-wash-food-animals-behavior-science/. Accessed on 23 Dec, 2016.
https://www.aboutanimals.com/bird/hamerkop. Accessed on 20 Dec, 2016.
Hosteler, M.E. and Main, M.B. (2001). Florida Monitoring Program: Transect and Point Count Method for Surveying Birds. University of Florida, Florida.
Hutto, R.L. (1990). Studies of foraging behavior: Central to understanding the ecological consequences of variation in food abundance. Stud. Avian Biol. 13: 389–390.
Kacelnick, A. and Houston, A.I. (1984). Some effects of energy costs on foraging strategies. Anim. Behav. 32: 609–614.
Kahl, M.P. (1967). Observations on the behavior of the Hamerkop Scopus umbretta in Uganda. Ibis 109: 25–32.
Kaminski, R.M. and Prince, H.H. (1981). Dabbling duck activity and foraging responses to aquatic invertebrates. Auk 98: 115–126.
Kopij, G. (2005). Nest site selection in the Hamerkop in Lesotho. Berkut 14(1): 56–58.
Kumar, C.P. (2001). Simulation of sea water intrusion and tidal influence. ISH J. Hydraul. Engine. 7(1): 1–11.
Kushlan, J.A. (1978). Feeding ecology of wading birds. In: Wading Birds, pp. 249–297 (Sprunt, A.I.V., Ogden, J. and Winckler, S., eds.). Nat. Audubon Soc., New York.
Kushlan, J.A. (1976). Wading bird predation in a seasonally fluctuating pond. Auk 93: 464–476.
Lee, S. (1997). A time budget study of wintering mallards on the Southern High Plains of Texas. Korean J. Biol. Sci. 1: 571–576.
Liversidge, R. (1963). The nesting of the hammerkop, Scopus umbretta. Ostrich 34: 55–62.
Losito, M.P., Mirarchi, R.E. and Baldassarre, G.A. (1990). Summer time activity budget of hatching-year mourning doves. Auk 107: 18–24.
Maclean, G.L. (1993). Robert's Birds of South Africa. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.
Martinez, C. (2000). Daily activity patterns of Great Bustards Otis tarda. Ardeola 47(1): 57–68.
Maurer, B.A. (1996). Energetics of avian foraging. In: Avian Energetics and Nutritional Ecology, pp. 250–279 (Carey, C., ed.). Chapman and Hall, New York.
McGowan, P. and Gillman, M. (1997). Assessment of the conservation status of partridges and pheasants in South East Asia. Biodivers. Conserv. 6(10): 1321–1337.
Myers, J.P. (1984). Spacing behavior of non-breeding shorebirds. Behav. Mar. Anim. 6: 73–323.
Rippey, B. and Wood, R.B. (1985). Trends in major ions composition of five Bishoftu crater lakes. SINET: Eth. J. Sci. 8: 9–29.
Sutherland, W.J. and Gosling, L.M. (2000). Advances in the study of behavior and their role in conservation. In: Behavior and Conservation (Gosling, L.J. and Sutherland, W.J., eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Willard, D.E. (1977). The feeding ecology and behavior of five species of herons in southeastern New Jersey. Condor 79: 462–470.
Williams, J.G. and Arlott, N. (1980). A Field Guide to the Birds of East and Central Africa. Collins, St. James's, London.
Wilson, R.T. and Wilson, M.P. (1986). Nest building by the hamerkop, Scopus umbretta. Ostrich 57: 224–232.
Wilson, R.T., Wilson, M.P. and Durkin, J.W. (1988). Growth of nesting hamerkops Scopus umbretta in central Mali. Ibis 130: 384–392.
Wilson, R.T., Wilson, M.P. and Durkin, J.W. (1987). Aspect of the reproductive ecology of the hamerkop Scopus umbretta in central Mali. Ibis 129: 382–388.
www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/animals-and-attractions/animals/hamerkop. Accessed on 20 Dec, 2016.
Published
2015-12-30
Section
Articles