Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report
PDR. Documented Range and Habitat: Seasonal status unclear;
north (Round 1995), centre (historically B22 ), south
(provisionally B2 ; historically B19 ). Formerly rivers, lakes,
marshes and cultivation; now restricted to the least disturbed
stretches of wide rivers, or extirpated. Status Information:
Records prior to 1997 were reviewed by Thewlis et al. (1998).
Black-bellied Terns formerly nested in large colonies along
much of the Mekong. They dispersed during the rainy season
to pools and flooded areas away from major rivers. Single
birds were seen recently in the main Mekong channel at
Chiang Saen (Thailand) and (provisionally) Khonphapheng
falls (U. Treesucon in Round 1995, Thewlis et al. 1998).
Chlidonias hybridus (= C. hybrida, ^K) Whiskered Tern.
Presumed passage migrant; north (historically B20 ), centre
(historically B22 ), south (RJTiz). Wide rivers, marshes, lakes,
flooded land. The only recent records are of 3-4 over a large
pool on the Bolaven Plateau and dozens along the middle Xe
Kong in September 1996 (RJTiz), and one on the Xe Kong
in April 1998 (JWKP). There is no reason to assume a
decline has occurred as even historically the species was
scarce (e.g. David-Beaulieu 1949-1950).
Chlidonias leucopterus White-winged Tern. Presumed passage
migrant; north (historically; see below), centre B16 ,
south B15 . Wide rivers, likely also to visit other substantial
wetlands. There are no published primary records from the
north, but a single was observed from Chiang Khong (on the
Thai bank of the Mekong) on 21 May 1966 by E. C. Dickinson
(in litt. to T. P. Inskipp 1997).
Conservation Management and Research Proposed for
Skimmers, gulls and terns:
• Identification and complete protection of all remaining
nesting areas of terns and skimmers (see waders for detail).
Breeding tern species are in imminent danger of
national extinction. Indian Skimmer has already disappeared.
As nesting areas are typically highly localised,
protective activity needs to involve prohibition, or at least
regulation, of access to individual sand-bars supporting
colonies or pairs. Major changes in river use (e.g. prevention
of access to entire stretches of river) are most
unlikely to be needed.
• Understanding of wet-season movements of these species,
in case they are threatened in non-breeding areas.
Accipitridae: Osprey, bazas, kites, vultures, harriers,
hawks, buzzards, eagles (35-36 species)
Pandion haliaetus Osprey. Winter visitor, occasional summer
records (David-Beaulieu 1944); north B2 , centre
(historically B22 ), south B2 . Around large water bodies. Special
Significance: CITES Appendix II.
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• Aviceda jerdoni Jerdon’s Baza. Conservation Significance:
Globally Near-Threatened; CITES Appendix II. Not At Risk
in Lao PDR. Documented Range and Habitat: Seasonal status
unclear, may breed; north, centre, south B14 . Open or fragmented
evergreen and mixed deciduous forest and regrowth
up to at least 520 m. Status Information: Records prior to
1997 were reviewed by Thewlis et al. (1998). There are
recent records of nine singles in four areas from Phou
Khaokhoay NBCA south to the Cambodia border (Table 11).
Historically, only one was recorded. A June record from Phou
Khaokhoay NBCA (DAS) suggests that birds may breed in
Lao PDR.
Aviceda leuphotes Black Baza. Resident, probably throughout
(Duckworth et al. 1998a), numbers greatly augmented
by passage migrants and perhaps winter visitors; north,
centre, south B2 . Open forest, secondary growth, trees
within cultivated land and villages; chiefly lowlands and
foothills. Special Significance: CITES Appendix II.
Pernis ptilorhyncus Oriental Honey-buzzard (= Crested
Honey-buzzard, ^T); (included in P. apivorus Eurasian
Honey-buzzard by ^K). Resident probably throughout, numbers
greatly augmented by passage migrants and perhaps also
winter visitors; north, centre, south B2 . Open and forested
areas. Special Significance: CITES Appendix II.
Elanus caeruleus Black-shouldered Kite (= Black-winged
Kite, ^Sm). Documented Range and Habitat: Resident;
north B1 , centre, south B2 . Open country, including cultivation,
from plains to 1200 m. Occurrence seems patchy and densities
seem low, but there is no evidence of a decline. Special
Significance: CITES Appendix II.
• Milvus migrans Black Kite (separated as M. lineatus Blackeared
Kite by ^Sm). Conservation Significance: At Risk in
Lao PDR; CITES Appendix II. Documented Range and Habitat:
Passage migrant and scarce winter visitor; north, centre B14 ,
south (historically B19 ). Open areas, particularly near water;
up to 1200 m. Status Information: Records prior to 1997 were
reviewed by Thewlis et al. (1998). Three singles and a group
of two were seen in three areas. One freshly-caught captive
was seen in a Vientiane temple. The only subsequent records
are of singles over the Mekong in Vientiane on 7 November
1998 (TDE) and 15 January 1999 (RJTiz) and over the Plain
of Jars (Xiangkhouang Plateau) on 14 February 1999 (JWD).
The resident form M. m. govinda occurs in adjacent Cambodia
and Thailand, but seems not to have been recorded in
Lao PDR (Thewlis et al. 1998). If M. lineatus is separated as
a species, govinda remains with migrans. Recent records were
not identified to race except for the captive and that over the
Plain of Jars, both of which were lineatus. Dates of recent
observations (except two in early 1999) fit with passage
migrants; formerly the bird was abundant in winter (Thewlis
et al. 1998).