rsg_book_2013

BirdsRe-introduction of red-billed oxpecker incentral ZimbabweClive M. Swanepoel 1 , Janine Walls (ex Honywill) 2 & Kevin M. Dunham 31 - Formerly General Manager Debshan Ranches, 10 Belgravia Mews, Isobels Lane,Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe cmswanie2012@yahoo.com2 - Formerly Research Assistant, Wildlife Unit, Veterinary ResearchLaboratory, Harare, Zimbabwe. Current address: PO Box 89023 Torbay, 0742,Auckland, New Zealand janinekaren57@gmail.com3 - PO Box CH385, Chisipite, Harare, Zimbabwe faykevin@zol.co.zwIntroductionThe red-billed oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) ranges from southern Africato north-eastern Africa. Although its conservation status is Least Concern (IUCNRed List), its population range and number are declining. Population decreasesfollowed declines in the populations of the hosts (e.g. buffalo, black rhinoceros)on which the oxpecker perches to feed, eating ticks; and the widespread dippingof cattle in acaricides (based on arsenic, organochlorine, or organophosphatecompounds) that kill both ticks and oxpeckers. Recently, dips that control ticks butwhich do not kill oxpeckers (Amitraz ,or pyrethroid-based) have become available(Couto, 1994). The red-billed oxpecker was re-introduced to Shangani Ranch toaid in tick control on both cattle and wild animals. Shangani Ranch (c. 480 km 2 )lies on the highveld in central Zimbabwe. Mean annual rainfall is c. 600 mm, witha single rainy season during November - March (Dunham et al., 2003). The mainvegetation types are: Terminalia sericea woodland and wooded grassland;Brachystegia–Julbernardia woodland; Colophospermum mopane woodland andshrubland; Acacia-Combretum woodland on alluvial soils; and hydromorphicgrassland. The ranch isused primarily for beefproduction, but supportssignificant populations ofwild herbivores, includingimpala, kudu, tsessebe,eland, zebra and giraffe,as well as predators suchas leopard, cheetah andjackal.Captured oxpecker being measured afterremoval from mist net © Tracey CoutoGoals Goal 1: Create a selfsustainingpopulation ofthe red-billed oxpecker onShangani Ranch. Goal 2: Establish thered-billed oxpecker as anatural means of tick90