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Influences of seasons and dietary composition on diurnal raptor habitat use in Chembe Bird Sanctuary, Zambia: Implications for conservation
Author(s) -
Nyirenda Vincent R.,
Yambayamba Arthur M.,
ChishaKasumu Exildah
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/aje.12752
Subject(s) - habitat , geography , ecology , fishery , biology
Abstract Diurnal raptor habitat use has conservation implications due to environmental and anthropogenic interactions. Three tree‐nesting diurnal raptors, black kites ( Milvus milvus ), steppe buzzards ( Buteo vulpinus ) and African fish eagles ( Haliaeetus vocifer ), were studied from December 2016 to October 2017. The objective was to determine factors influencing diurnal raptor habitat selection and use in and around Chembe Bird Sanctuary of Kalulushi district, Zambia. We surveyed for birds in ten randomly selected 200 × 200 m sample plots in each of the five stratified sampling units (miombo woodland, grasslands, human settlements, Lake Chembe and marsh). Seasons and dietary composition variably influenced the distribution, habitat selection and use by raptors. The three raptors devised a suit of behaviours to curtail challenges associated with seasonal food and water availability, and anthropogenic disturbances. There is a need to promote multi‐stakeholder engagement and involvement in raptor conservation.