Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

specially trained dog to find the birds. The species should be
treated as Little Known in Lao PDR.
Porzana pusilla Baillon’s Crake. Seasonal status unclear,
perhaps passage migrant; north (historically B21 ). Marshes.
Porzana fusca Ruddy-breasted Crake. Presumed resident;
north (RJTiz), centre (provisionally B10 ), south B2 . Marshes.
There are very few recent field records of this species. Presence
in the north and [centre] was based on market specimens.
Delacour and Jabouille (1940) implied that this species
occurred in central Lao PDR but we have not traced a
primary reference. A bird from Ban Lak (20) market is listed
here as provisionally in central Lao PDR, as it could have
been harvested in a nearby part of north Lao PDR. With few
recent records, the species’s conservation status should be
reconsidered at regular intervals.
• Gallicrex cinerea Watercock. Conservation Significance:
At Risk in Lao PDR. Documented Range and Habitat: Seasonal
status unclear; north B9 , centre (historically B22 ), south B2 .
Marshes, margins of lakes and large pools, and probably
paddy-fields if persecution were controlled. Status Information:
Recently, Watercock has been found at five survey
areas scattered across the country (Table 11), with counts
mostly of only single birds, at the following sites: Northern
Zone wetlands of Xe Pian NBCA (December 1992 - January
1993), the degraded lowlands of Dong Hua Sao NBCA (May
- July 1993), near Ban Nakhay (Phou Khaokhoay NBCA;
April - May 1995), Nam Kan PNBCA in April 1997 and Dong
Khanthung PNBCA in July 1998 (Thewlis et al. 1996, Pasquet
1997, Duckworth et al. 1998a, Round 1998). Historically, it
was recorded by all resident ornithologists, in Xiangkhouang
(uncommon passage migrant in May and August - October)
and Savannakhet Provinces (small numbers in the wet season,
apparently breeding) and, once only, at Salavan
(Engelbach 1932, David-Beaulieu 1944, 1949-1950). Most
wetlands sustain heavy extractive use, including trapping of
rails and opportunistic shooting of birds. Taken together, these
features suggest that the species is At Risk in Lao PDR.
• Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamphen. Conservation
Significance: At Risk in Lao PDR. Documented Range and
Habitat: Seasonal status unclear; north B9 , centre
(historically B22 ), south B2 . Shallow marshes with extensive
emergent or fringing vegetation; less numerous in other
wetlands. Status Information: January counts during 1989-
1992 from wetlands around Vientiane were, respectively, 43,
19, 27 and 5 birds, at 2, 4, 5 and 3 sites (Scott and Rose 1989,
Perennou et al. 1990, Perennou and Mundkur 1991, 1992).
These sites have not been checked recently. The species has
been found in three recent survey areas (Table 11), with up
to three birds seen frequently in the Northern Zone of Xe
Pian NBCA in winter 1992-1993 (Claridge 1996, Thewlis et al.
Birds
1996) and small numbers found at Ban Nakhay (Phou
Khaokhoay NBCA) and on Nong Lom (Bolaven Plateau) in
spring 1995 (Duckworth et al. 1998a). Small numbers (under
12) were seen regularly at Nong Lom during 1996-1998
(RJTiz). Historically, the species was found in the rainy and
early dry seasons at 3-4 wetlands in Savannakhet Province
(David-Beaulieu 1949-1950), and, rarely, at a small lake near
Salavan (Engelbach 1932). Six were taken near Vientiane
(Bangs and Van Tyne 1931). Numbers are currently low (in
areas of Indochina where the species is not persecuted, loose
groups of dozens, even hundreds, can be observed) and the
species is presumably threatened by the same factors as
Watercock and should also be considered At Risk in Lao PDR.
Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen. Seasonal status
unclear, certainly present in winter; north B1 , centre B10 , south B2 .
Marshes and other standing water, exceptionally in slow forest
streams.
Fulica atra Common Coot (= Eurasian Coot, ^T). Presumed
winter visitor; north (historically B21 ), south B2 . Large shallow
pools with extensive open water. There are only two Lao
records (David-Beaulieu 1944, Thewlis et al. 1996).
Conservation Management and Research Proposed for Rails,
crakes and coots:
• Specific surveys of wetlands to clarify the status of all
species and allow the identification of important sites;
wetlands have fallen largely outside the scope of recent
general surveys. Resumption of winter counts (see
Purple Swamphen) would focus activity.
• Management of extensive wetland areas, primarily in a
multiple use context, to maintain suitable water regimes
and vegetation cover. Wetlands of national importance
include those in and around the complex of Xe Pian and
Dong Hua Sao NBCAs and Xe Khampho and Bolaven
Southwest PNBCAs, and Dong Khanthung PNBCA.
Other areas may be of equivalent importance.
• Control of hunting and trade where necessary. Whitebreasted
Waterhen was frequently observed for sale in
the That Luang fresh food market in Vientiane (Annex
1) and elsewhere; its population remains healthy, but numbers
of Watercock and Purple Swamphen seem to be well
below carrying capacity.
• Field investigation of hunting and trapping practices.
Scolopacidae: Woodcocks, snipes, curlews, sandpipers,
phalaropes (21-22 species)
Scolopax rusticola Eurasian Woodcock. Winter visitor;
north B2 , centre B10 , south B2 . Shady stream and river banks,
especially within forest, occasionally damp forest areas and
non-wooded but well vegetated ditches etc. Occurs up to 1700 m.
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