Assessment of the biological values of different land cover types in ...

4) Birds
4.1 Introduction
The East Usambara Mountains contain six out of the 19 Eastern Arc endemic bird species and 13 out of 26
near endemic species (Burgess et al., 2007). No single-block endemic bird species have been reported in the
East Usambara Mountains (Baker and Baker, 2002).
Birds of the Eastern Arc Mountains are amongst the best studied taxa, as it is the case with other parts of the
world. The East Usambara Mountains are one of the most studied mountain blocks in Tanzania. However,
most of the studies were confined to the sites which are managed by the central government authorities.
The village landscapes visited during this survey are part of the East Usambara Important Bird Area (Baker
and Baker, 2002).
4.2 Methods
Two methods were used to assess the bird fauna of the three village landscapes: Mist netting and Timed
Species Count (TSC). The surveys were conducted in the vicinity of the vegetation plots.
4.2.1 Mist netting
Ten nets (five 12 m long and five 10 m long) were placed in a continuous line in each of the three sites for
three days. The nets were opened early in the morning, checked frequently throughout the day and closed at
dusk. Netting sites were at the vicinity of the vegetation plots in the village forest reserves.
Each captured bird was identified and morphometric measurements were taken including weight, bill, tarsus,
wing and tail. Where possible, sex and age were also recorded. Each capture was marked by a marker pen on
the bill, as this made it easy to recognise recaptures thus avoiding repeating records of the same bird. Two bird
species were recaptured in Misalai: Olive sunbird and Little Greenbul (twice).
4.2.2 Timed Species Count
The field team walked quietly for a period of 60 minutes at each vegetation plot in the morning, stopping
frequently to identify and record all birds seen or heard calling. Approximately an area of 1 km 2 was covered at
each site. Notes were recorded in a notebook in order to compile a species list.
4.3 Sampling intensity
The bird survey work was carried out by Victor Mkongewa, a field ornithologist; in three village landscapes of
Misalai, Shembangeda and Kwatango. Timed Species Counts were conducted in nine vegetation plots while
mist netting was conducted in the vicinity of the three vegetation plots which were established in the forests.
Timed species counts were conducted in the vegetation plots with the following coordinates in Misalai between
15/02 – 16/02/2009: 0459964/9446401; 0459623/9444539 and 0459039/9443745 while mist netting was
conducted at 0458902/9445582 between 3/11 – 5/11/2008 (Table 7). All sites were situated between 958 and
1212 m a.s.l. For Shambangeda landscape, TSC was conducted between 17/02 – 18/02/2009 at
0458710/9440288 and 0458786/9442508 while mist netting was conducted at 0459231/9440838 between
25/10 – 28/10/2008, altitude ranged from 887 to 971 m a.s.l. In Kwatango village landscape, TSC was carried
out at altitudinal variation of 178 to 233 m a.s.l. between 19/02 – 20/02/2009 at 0470734/9446282,
0470745/9447458, 0471931/9443422 and 0471310/9445254 while mist netting was conducted between 30/10
– 01/11/2008 at 0469746/9446451.
23