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International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of theMadagascar Pond-heron

Ardeola idae

TECHNICAL SERIES

No. 20 (CMS)No. 39 (AEWA)

Unbenannt-5 2 28.01.2010 12:30:51 Uhr

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA)

International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Madagascar Pond-heron

Ardeola idae

CMS Technical Series No. 20

AEWA Technical Series No. 39

December 2008

Prepared with funding from the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea

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Compiled by: Paul Kariuki Ndang’ang’a1 and Eric Sande2 1BirdLife Africa Partnership Secretariat P.O. Box 3502, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya 2Zoology Dept., Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda. E-mail for correspondence: [email protected] List of contributors Alfred Owino (Kenya Wildlife Service), Charlie Marsh, Claudien Nsabasagani (Association pour la Conservation de la Nature au Rwanda – ACNR and Karisoke Research Center), David Stroud (UK, JNCC - AEWA TC observer), Dieudonné Bizimana (Association Burundaise pour la Protection des Oiseaux), Frank Hawkins (Conservation International), Fred Barasa (National Museums of Kenya), Gérard Rocamora (Island Conservation Society - Seychelles), Henry Ndithia (National Museum of Kenya), Jarton Shawa (South Luagwa Area Management Unit, Zambia), Jasson John (University of Dar Es Salaam), Jean Rushemeza (Management & Ecotourism in Protected Areas, Burundi), Jelena Kralj (Croatia, AEWA Technical Committee), Julien Ramanampamonjy (ASITY Madagascar), Justin Gerlach (Nature Protection Trust for Seychelles), Lindsay Chong-Seng (Seychelles Islands Foundation), Lizanne Roxburgh (Zambian Ornithology Society), Luca Borghesio, Marc Salamolard (Société d'études ornithologiques de la Réunion - SEOR), Michel Clément, Michel Louette (Royal Museum for Central Africa), Mzamiru Kaita (Wildlife Division - Tanzania), Neil Baker (Tanzania Bird Atlas), Niels Kanstrup (Denmark, CIC, AEWA Technical Committee member), Potiphar Kaliba (National Museums of Malawi), Rivo Rabarisoa (ASITY Madagascar), Roger Safford (BirdLife International), Samuel Kamoto (Wildlife and Environment Society of Malawi), Sergey Dereliev (UNEP/AEWA Secretariat), Tim Dodman (Wetlands International) Milestones in the production of the plan Workshop: 14 -16 April 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya First draft: 10 June 2008, presented to experts Second draft: 29 July 2008 presented to Range States and AEWA Technical Committee Third draft: September 2008, adopted by the 4th session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA in September 2008 and the 9th session of the Conference of the Parties to CMS in December 2008 Geographical Scope This International Single Species Action Plan requires implementation in the following countries regularly supporting Madagascar Pond-heron: Burundi, Comoro Islands, Democratic Republic of Congo, France (Europa - Iles Eparses, administered from Réunion and Mayotte - eastern Comoro Island), Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles (Aldabra), Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Reviews This International Single Species Action Plan should be revised in 2018. An emergency review will be undertaken if there are sudden major changes liable to affect the population. Recommended citation: Ndang’ang’a, P.K. and Sande, E. (Compilers). 2008. International Single Species Action Plan for the Madagascar Pond-heron (Ardeola idae). CMS Technical Series No. 20, AEWA Technical Series No. 39. Bonn, Germany. Picture on the cover: Madagascar Pond-heron Ardeola idae © Ray Tipper Drawing on the inner cover: Madagascar Pond-heron Ardeola idae © Sarah Plazzotta Disclaimer The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP/CMS and UNEP/AEWA concerning the legal status of any State, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of their frontiers and boundaries.

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International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Madagascar Pond-heron 3

CMS Technical Series No. 20 / AEWA Technical Series No. 39

CONTENTS

Preface ........................................................................................................................................ 4

List of Acronyms......................................................................................................................... 5

Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... 6

1. Biological Assessment ............................................................................................................ 7

2. Available Key Knowledge ...................................................................................................... 11

3. Threats . ................................................................................................................................... 14

4. Policies and Legislation Relevant for Management ................................................................ 19

5. Framework for Action ............................................................................................................. 23

6. Monitoring and Evaluation...................................................................................................... 29

References ................................................................................................................................... 30

Annex 1: Localities where the Madagascar Pond-heron has been recorded ............................... 32

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4 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Madagascar Pond-heron


Preface

This International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Madagascar Pond-heron (Ardeola idae) was commissioned to the BirdLife International Africa Partnership Secretariat and compiled by the Species Programme Manager, Mr. Paul Kariuki Ndang’ang’a and Eric Sande, Lecturer at the Zoology Department of the Makarere University in Kampala, Uganda. The drafts of the plan went through rigorous consultations including comments from experts, governmental officials from the Range States, CMS Scientific Council Members and the AEWA Technical Committee. The third draft was adopted by the 4th session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA in September 2008 and the 9th session of the Conference of the Parties to CMS in December 2008. The Action Plan follows the format for Single Species Action Plans approved by the 2nd Session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA in September 2002.

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List of Acronyms

ABO: Association Burundaise pour la Protection des OiseauxAEWA: Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory WaterbirdsASITY: ASITY Madagascar / the Malagasy League for Bird Conservation CBD: Convention on Biological Diversity CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and FloraCMS: Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild AnimalsDRC: Democratic Republic of Congo EIA: Environmental Impact AssessmentIBA: Important Bird Area INECN: Institut National pour l’Environnment et la Conservation de la Nature (Burundi) MEEFT: Ministère de l’Environnement, des Eaux et Forêts et du Tourisme (Madagascar) MINITERE: Ministry of Land, Environment, Mines and Water Resources (Rwanda) MPH: Madagascar Pond-heron NP: National Parks ORTPN: Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks PBZT: Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza (Madagascar) Ramsar: The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971SIF: Seychelles Islands Foundation SSG: Site Support Group WHC: Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1972 ZICOMA: Zones d'Importance pour la Conservation des Oiseaux a Madagascar. Antananarivo

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Executive Summary

The Madagascar Pond-heron Ardeola idae is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List. This is because it has a very small population (estimated at 2,000 – 6,000 individuals) which is undergoing a continuing decline. Whilst it remains fairly widespread in Madagascar, populations are low. It breeds from October to March in Madagascar, Aldabra (Seychelles), Mayotte (eastern Comoro Island, France) and Europa (Iles Eparses, administered from Réunion, to France). It has a large non-breeding range in Central and East Africa including the Comoro Islands, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, the United Republic of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and is also a vagrant in Angola and Somalia.

The main threats directly or indirectly affecting the Madagascar Pond-heron include habitat destruction and degradation; human disturbance at nesting sites; reduced nesting sites leading to competition for nesting, feeding and roosting sites; and collection of eggs and young birds. In Madagascar, there is increasing evidence of hybridisation with the much more common Squacco Heron A. ralloides, although the latter does not breed on Mayotte, Aldabra or the Comoros.

The purpose of this action plan is to improve the current conservation status and knowledge base of the Madagascar Pond-heron within the next 10 years. The following are among the priority conservation actions recommended to address the identified threats in order to achieve this purpose: (1) regulate access to sites during the breeding season, including designing and implementing community-run control, (2) develop and/or support the implementation of existing management plans of the known breeding sites, (3) prevent development which will reduce the species’ breeding habitat, (4) designate all breeding sites under national protected area legislation and as Ramsar sites, (5) implement EIA studies in the species habitats before any development, (6) make the status, threats and the species’ priority actions more known and appreciated by the general public, (7) perform coordinated censuses in all countries and conduct training for data collectors in identification and survey techniques in order to determine the actual population size and trends, (8) undertake research to determine the extent, impacts and causes of hybridisation of A. idae with A. ralloides, (9) implement field surveys to identify all breeding colonies in Madagascar and key sites in the non-breeding range, and (10) study the habitat requirements of the species.

Emphasis for site conservation activities will focus on Madagascar, Mayotte, Aldabra and Europa where the species breeds, because the main threats to the species’ survival appear to relate to breeding.

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1. Biological Assessment

General Information The Madagascar Pond-heron Ardeola idae is a small (45-48 cm) white heron with reddish legs. In breeding plumage it is all white, with long crest and scapular plumes. It has a blue bill and bare orbital skin, the former with dark tip. In non-breeding plumage, it is dark brown on crown and streaked dark brownish on mantle and underparts. It is found singly or in small groups, often with Squacco Heron A. ralloides or egrets. It nests colonially with other herons.

It is listed as Endangered in the 2008 IUCN Red List because it has a very small population that is undergoing a continuing decline as a result of many of its breeding colonies being heavily and increasingly exploited for eggs and young (BirdLife International 2008). This exploitation is exacerbated by pressures on its wetland habitats.

Currently, the Madagascar Pond-heron is listed in Appendix II (Migratory species conserved through Agreements) of CMS1 and in Column A, Categories 1b and 1c of the AEWA Table 12.

Taxonomy and Systematics

Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Ciconiiformes Suborder: Ardeae Family: Ardeidae Subfamily: Ardeinae Genus: Ardeola (Boie) Species: Ardeola idae (Hartlaub, 1860) Ardea idae Hartlaub, 1860. Journal of Ornithology 8, p. 167; east coast of Madagascar. Alternative names: Malagasy Pond Heron, Madagascar Squacco HeronTaxonomic sources: Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

1 Migratory species that have an unfavourable conservation status or would benefit significantly from international cooperation organised by tailored agreements are listed in Appendix II to CMS. For this reason, the Convention encourages the Range States to conclude global or regional Agreements for the conservation and management of individual species or, more often, of a group of species listed on Appendix II. 2 AEWA provides for coordinated and concerted action to be taken by the Range States throughout the migration system of waterbirds to which it applies.

Category 1: (a) Species which are included in Appendix I to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory species of Wild Animals;

(b) Species which are listed as threatened in Threatened Birds of the World (BirdLife International 2008); or

(c) Populations, which number less than around 10,000 individuals.

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Population Development There is one population which breeds in small colonies in many places in Madagascar (F. Hawkins per Dodman, 2002), on Aldabra, where the main known breeding site is, Ile aux Aigrettes (Betts 2002), in Mayotte (2 breeding sites known: Clément com. pers.) and on the atoll of Europa in the Mozambique Channel. F. Hawkins (per Dodman 2002) believes that colony size in Madagascar is often less than 10 pairs, and there might be 100-200 colonies or perhaps substantially fewer, giving a maximum estimate of some 6,000 birds, and minimum of 2,000. One of the highest counts is from Lac Alarobia or Tsarasaotra near Antananarivo, where there were 162 individuals in January 1998 (Dodman et al. 1999). However, no other sites meet the previous 1% level of 100 (a threshold used for instance in the IBA programme, determined before the more recent, lower population estimate of 2,000-6,000). This is despite its occurrence at a large number of sites. This indeed suggests that numbers in Madagascar are considerably lower. The population on Mayotte is estimated to be between 50 and 100 individuals, with variation over the years; up to 10 nests were found in 2007 in mixed colonies with Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis), but total nests of Madagascar Pond-heron were surely >10 (Clément com. pers.).Rocamora and Skerrett (2001) estimate the Aldabra population to be 20-50 pairs. The population on Europa numbered up to 15 pairs in 1996 (Le Corre and Safford 2001). The population estimate of 2,000-6,000 was therefore proposed, based mainly on this breeding information.

Whilst the species remains fairly widespread, populations are low, and increasing exploitation at breeding sites is likely to increase the rate of population decline (ZICOMA 1999). As a result, a rapid and on-going population decline is suspected (BirdLife International 2008).

Distribution throughout the Annual Cycle

It breeds on Madagascar, Aldabra in Seychelles, Mayotte (Comoro Island, France), and Europa (France). It has a large non-breeding range in Central and East Africa including the Comoro Islands, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, United Republic of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (BirdLife International 2008); and is also a vagrant in Angola and Somalia (Dean 2000). Details of exact localities where the species has ever been recorded are provided in Figure 1 and Annex 1. It is present almost throughout Madagascar, but is always uncommon (ZICOMA 1999). It is rare in the south and probably commonest in suitable wetlands in the west (Morris and Hawkins 1998).

Survival and Productivity

No data.

Life History: Breeding It breeds from October to March, beginning around the start of rains (rains begin around November). It is colonial, usually in mixed colonies, in Madagascar especially with A. ralloides and with Bubulcus ibis in Mayotte; colonies formerly contained up to 1,000 nests of present species.

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It nests in trees, bushes or shrubs near water, 0.5-4 m up; in mixed colonies, nests of present species tend to be higher than those of A. ralloides in Madagascar; in Mayotte, nests tend to be in the middle and lower than the nests of Bubulcus ibis in a mixed breeding colony located in a mangrove (Clément com. pers.); the nest is made of interlaced twigs. Normally 3 eggs (2-4); incubation c. 20 days; chicks have buffy yellow down; start to leave nest at c. 15 days, and can feed alone at under 4 weeks old. Normally single clutch, but a second may be laid in February-March. Afterwards dispersing to mainland Africa to spend the non-breeding season.

Life History: Feeding It feeds on small fish, reptiles (lizards and geckos), amphibians (frogs) and small invertebrates including grasshoppers and beetles. Mostly in fresh water habitat, usually at pond edges, dams and sluggish rivers in wooded areas or fringing vegetation. In Mayotte, despite breeding colonies being found in mangroves, feeding is in fresh water (M. Salamolard pers. com). It is a secretive, solitary feeder, only rarely forming flocks. On Aldabra, birds feed mainly alongside other heron species. Prey is caught mainly by walking slowly or standing motionless at the water’s edge, in shallow water or on floating vegetation. Most of the feeding observations have been done from the breeding range.

Life History: Outside Breeding Season

No data.

Habitat Requirements: Breeding

Shallow water bodies fringed with vegetation or with floating vegetation, including marshes, lakes, ponds, slow-flowing rivers, rice fields; mangroves on Aldabra and Mayotte. Typical forest species which takes refuge in trees when disturbed.

Habitat Requirements: Feeding

See below – outside breeding season and above: in breeding season

Habitat Requirements: Outside Breeding Season

Outside the breeding season, it is found along the banks of small streams, including those inside forests. It is also found on rice paddies, and more rarely in mangroves and on the seashore. It is migratory but ad hoc data suggests some site fidelity and residence in suitable habitat; in Tanzania largely restricted to small wetlands, ponds, dams with adjacent bushes or small trees.

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Figure 1: Distribution of Madagascar Pond-heron – localities where recorded (Neil & Elizabeth Baker)

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2. A

vaila

ble

Key

Kno

wle

dge

Tab

le 2

.1:

Glo

bal P

opul

atio

n es

tim

ates

of M

adag

asca

r P

ond-

hero

n

Bre

edin

g ra

nge

Win

teri

ng, o

r co

re n

on-b

reed

ing

rang

e E

stim

ate

Tre

nd

Mad

agas

car,

Ald

abra

(S

eych

elle

s), E

urop

a (R

éuni

on)

May

otte

(Fr

ance

) B

urun

di, C

omor

o Is

land

s, D

RC

, Ken

ya, M

alaw

i, M

ozam

biqu

e,

Rw

anda

, Uni

ted

Rep

ubli

c of

Tan

zani

a, U

gand

a, Z

imba

bwe

and

Zam

bia.

Vag

rant

in A

ngol

a an

d So

mal

ia

2,00

0-6,

000

Dec

lini

ng

Tab

le 2

.2:

Nat

iona

l pop

ulat

ion

esti

mat

es o

f Mad

agas

car

Pon

d-he

ron

Cou

ntry

Bre

edin

g no

.N

on-b

reed

ing

no.

Qua

lity

Yea

r(s)

of

esti

mat

eP

opul

atio

n tr

end

Bas

elin

e po

pula

tion

Ref

eren

ces

Mad

agas

car

2,00

0-6,

000

N/A

? 20

02D

ecli

neN

o da

taF.

Haw

kins

(in

litt)

per

D

odm

an (

2002

)M

adag

asca

r1,

000

N/A

?

2008

No

data

N

o da

ta

Ren

e de

Rol

and,

L.A

per

s.

com

.E

urop

a (F

ranc

e)15

pai

rs10

-50

2003

? 19

96; 2

003

No

data

N

o da

ta

Le

Cor

re a

nd S

affo

rd

(200

1); S

alam

olar

d pe

rs.

com

.M

ayot

te

(Fra

nce)

15 p

airs

(20

03);

0

(200

5)

10-2

0 pa

irs

(200

7)

50-1

00?

2003

, 200

5, 2

007

Stab

le to

in

crea

sing

R

ecen

tly f

ound

(2

003)

as

bree

ding

po

pula

tion

Roc

amor

a 20

04;

Clé

men

t per

s co

m.

Ald

abra

(Sey

chel

les)

20-5

0 pa

irs

N/A

? 20

01?

No

data

N

o da

ta

Roc

amor

a &

Ske

rret

t (2

001)

Bur

undi

- N

o da

ta a

vaila

ble

on n

atio

nal p

opul

atio

n es

tim

ates

-C

omor

os-

No

data

ava

ilabl

e on

nat

iona

l pop

ulat

ion

esti

mat

es -

DR

C-

No

data

ava

ilabl

e on

nat

iona

l pop

ulat

ion

esti

mat

es -

Ken

ya-

No

data

ava

ilabl

e on

nat

iona

l pop

ulat

ion

esti

mat

es -

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 11 08.01.2010 12:54:52 Uhr



Cou

ntry

C

olon

y Y

ear

of

bree

ding

N

o. o

f B

reed

ing

pair

s

Oth

er s

peci

es in

mix

ed

colo

nies

B

reed

ing

succ

ess

(no.

fl

edgi

ngs/

BP

)

Leg

alst

atus

of

the

site

Con

serv

atio

n pr

oble

m

Mad

agas

car

Lac

Am

pari

hibe

, M

akir

a20

04

6 ad

ults

T

achy

bapt

us p

elze

nii

n= 3

T

empo

rary

Pr

otec

tion

(N

ew

Prot

ecte

d A

rea)

Nat

ural

cat

astr

ophe

(c

yclo

ne)

Mad

agas

car

Parc

Bot

aniq

ue e

t Z

oolo

giqu

e de

T

sim

baza

za

1996

19

97

2006

20

07

2008

4 pa

irs

8 pa

irs

2 pa

irs

3 pa

irs

5 pa

irs

Ard

eola

ral

loid

es, B

ubul

cus

ibis

, Egr

etta

alb

a, B

utor

ides

st

riat

us, N

ycti

cora

x,

nyct

icor

ax, E

gret

ta d

imor

pha,

M

elan

opho

yx a

rdes

iaca

, Ix

obry

chus

min

utus

n =

16;

unkn

own;

5; 9

; 14

Bot

anic

al

& Zoo

logi

cal

Park

Dis

turb

ance

by

visi

tors

; Si

te m

odif

icat

ion

in a

n at

tem

pt to

reh

abili

tate

it

(200

7)

May

otte

(F

ranc

e)

Bou

éni B

ay

2003

(N

ov);

20

07

15 p

airs

; 10

-20

pair

s B

ubul

cus

ibis

un

know

n no

ne

Dis

turb

ance

; No

lega

l pr

otec

tion

for

site

; pr

obab

le c

olle

ctio

n of

yo

ung

bird

s (R

ocam

ora

2004

) M

ayot

te

(Fra

nce)

T

sing

oni B

ay

2005

; 200

6 (1

- ?)

B

ubul

cus

ibis

un

know

n no

ne

Dis

turb

ance

Seyc

helle

s

Ald

abra

, Ile

aux

A

igre

ttes

-

no in

form

atio

n av

aila

ble

-

Reu

nión

(F

ranc

e)

Eur

opa

- no

info

rmat

ion

avai

labl

e -

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 12 07.01.2010 10:15:53 Uhr



Cou

ntry

Bre

edin

g no

.N

on-b

reed

ing

no.

Qua

lity

Yea

r(s)

of

esti

mat

eP

opul

atio

n tr

end

Bas

elin

e po

pula

tion

Ref

eren

ces

Mal

awi

- N

o da

ta a

vaila

ble

on n

atio

nal p

opul

atio

n es

tim

ates

-M

ozam

biqu

eN

o da

ta

100’

sL

ow

2008

N

o da

ta

No

data

L. B

orgh

esio

(pe

rs. c

om)

Rw

anda

- N

o da

ta a

vaila

ble

on n

atio

nal p

opul

atio

n es

tim

ates

-U

gand

a-

No

data

ava

ilabl

e on

nat

iona

l pop

ulat

ion

esti

mat

es -

Uni

ted

Rep

ublic

of

Tan

zani

aN

o da

ta

100’

s to

low

th

ousa

nds

Low

(bes

tgu

ess

from

237

re

cord

s ov

er 3

0 ye

ars)

1980

-200

7D

ecli

ne

No

data

Bak

er &

Bak

er (

in p

rep)

Zam

bia

- N

o da

ta a

vaila

ble

on n

atio

nal p

opul

atio

n es

tim

ates

-

Tab

le 2

.3:

Info

rmat

ion

from

bre

edin

g co

loni

es o

f Mad

agas

car

Pon

d-he

ron

Cou

ntry

C

olon

y Y

ear

of

bree

ding

N

o. o

f B

reed

ing

pair

s

Oth

er s

peci

es in

mix

ed

colo

nies

B

reed

ing

succ

ess

(no.

fl

edgi

ngs/

BP

)

Leg

alst

atus

of

the

site

Con

serv

atio

n pr

oble

m

Mad

agas

car

A

laro

bia

or

Tsa

rasa

otra

Lak

e 19

96

1997

23

4 pa

irs

70 p

airs

A

rdeo

la r

allo

ides

, Bub

ulcu

s ib

is, E

gret

ta d

imor

pha,

E

gret

ta a

lba,

Nyc

tico

rax

nyct

icor

ax, B

utor

ides

str

iatu

s,

Ana

s er

ythr

orhy

ncha

, Ana

s ho

tten

tota

, Sar

kidi

orni

s m

elan

otos

, Den

droc

ygna

vi

duat

a

Unk

now

n -

Dif

ficu

lt to

co

unt y

oung

bi

rds

- m

ixed

Priv

ate

Park

; R

amsa

r si

te

Nes

ting

hab

itat s

mal

l an

d hi

gh c

ompe

titio

n fr

om s

peci

es in

the

colo

ny; s

ome

youn

g M

PH e

aten

by

Nyc

tico

rax

nyct

icor

ax

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 13 07.01.2010 10:15:53 Uhr



3. Threats

The Madagascar Pond-heron is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because it has a very small population which is undergoing a continuing decline due to a combination of factors. The main ones include: (1) its wetland habitats are facing large-scale ecological transformation due to drainage especially for agriculture; (2) there is increased competition from other herons (especially the more common A. ralloides in Madagascar); (3) in Madagascar, there is increasing evidence of hybridisation with the much more common Squacco Heron A. ralloides,although the latter does not breed on Mayotte, Aldabra or the Comoros; (4) many of its breeding colonies are heavily and increasingly exploited for eggs and young especially in Madagascar; and (5) disturbance especially at breeding sites.

The inability to identify the species properly in the field, and differentiate it from the A. ralloides is another problem facing field workers and is likely to affect any legislation in non-breeding countries. Knowledge on the species is generally limited, especially regarding the following aspects (1) population size and trends; (2) location of all breeding sites in Madagascar; (3) details regarding extent, impact and causes of hybridisation with A. ralloides; (4) habitat requirements especially in the non-breeding range; and (5) ecology of the species. These knowledge gaps are obvious research priorities which need to be filled in order to conserve the species.

The threats facing this species are analysed in detail using a problem tree (Figure 2).

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 14 07.01.2010 10:15:54 Uhr



Fig

ure

2: T

he P

robl

em T

ree

(a)

Ana

lysi

s of

pri

mar

y th

reat

s

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 15 08.01.2010 12:54:56 Uhr



(b)

Ana

lysi

s of

thr

eats

rel

ated

to

unna

tura

l dec

reas

e in

pro

duct

ivit

y (

Key

: ***

*=C

riti

cal,

***=

Hig

h, *

*=M

ediu

m, *

=L

ow, ?

– u

nkno

wn)

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 16 07.01.2010 16:17:24 Uhr



(c)

Ana

lysi

s of

thr

eats

rel

ated

to

unna

tura

l inc

reas

e in

adu

lt m

orta

lity

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 17 08.01.2010 12:54:57 Uhr



(d)

Ana

lysi

s of

kno

wle

dge

gaps

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 18 08.01.2010 12:54:58 Uhr



4. P

olic

ies

and

Leg

isla

tion

Rel

evan

t fo

r M

anag

emen

t

Tab

le 4

.1:

Inte

rnat

iona

l Con

vent

ions

and

Agr

eem

ents

rat

ifie

d by

the

Ran

ge S

tate

s

Cou

ntry

C

BD

C

ITE

S A

EW

A

CM

S R

amsa

r W

HC

Bur

undi

X

X

X

X

Com

oros

X

X

X

X

DR

C

X

X

XX

X

Réu

nion

(Fr

ance

) X

X

XX

XX

K

enya

X

X

X

XX

X

Mad

agas

car

X

X

XX

XX

M

ayot

te (

Fran

ce)

XX

X

XX

X

Moz

ambi

que

X

XX

XR

wan

da

X

X

XX

X

Mal

awi

X

X

XX

Se

yche

lles

X

X

XX

X

Uga

nda

X

X

X

X

X

X

Uni

ted

Rep

ublic

of

Tan

zani

a X

X

XX

XX

Z

ambi

a X

X

X

X =

yes

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 19 07.01.2010 10:15:57 Uhr



Tab

le 4

.2:

Nat

iona

l leg

isla

tion

rel

evan

t to

the

Mad

agas

car

Pon

d-he

ron

Cou

ntry

St

atus

in

Nat

iona

l R

ed D

ata

Boo

k

Nat

iona

l pr

otec

tion

stat

us

Law

pro

tect

ing

spec

ies

Leg

al

prot

ecti

on f

rom

ki

lling

, egg

ha

rves

ting

and

ne

st d

estr

ucti

on

Pen

alti

es

Hig

hest

res

pons

ible

au

thor

ity

Bur

undi

N

one

Non

e D

ecre

e N

br 1

/6 o

f 3r

d M

arch

19

80 a

rtic

le 6

whe

re it

is

stip

ulat

ed th

at h

untin

g is

pr

ohib

ited

in B

urun

di

prot

ecte

d ar

eas;

Env

iron

men

t A

ct-

envi

ronm

enta

l Cod

e ad

opte

d by

edi

ct n

br 1

/010

of

30th

Jun

e 20

00 a

rtic

les

89,9

0 an

d 14

7; F

ores

t Cod

e of

25t

h M

arch

198

5

Yes

N

o in

form

atio

n IN

EC

N

Com

oros

N

o in

form

atio

n A

llA

rdei

dae

are

“par

tly

prot

ecte

d sp

ecie

s»

No

info

rmat

ion

No

info

rmat

ion

No

info

rmat

ion

No

info

rmat

ion

DR

C

Non

e N

one

N

atio

nal B

iodi

vers

ity

Stra

tegy

N

o in

form

atio

n N

o in

form

atio

n M

inis

try

of

Env

iron

men

t, N

atur

e C

onse

rvat

ion

and

Tou

rism

E

urop

a (F

ranc

e)

- N

o in

form

atio

n av

aila

ble

on n

atio

nal l

egis

latio

n -

Ken

ya

Non

e W

ith

othe

r th

reat

ened

sp

ecie

s in

the

Wil

dlif

e A

ct

No

info

rmat

ion

Yes

No

info

rmat

ion

Ken

ya W

ildl

ife

Serv

ice

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 20 07.01.2010 10:15:57 Uhr



Cou

ntry

St

atus

inN

atio

nal

Red

Dat

a B

ook

Nat

iona

l pr

otec

tion

stat

us

Law

pro

tect

ing

spec

ies

Leg

al

prot

ecti

on f

rom

ki

lling

, egg

ha

rves

ting

and

ne

st d

estr

ucti

on

Pen

alti

es

Hig

hest

res

pons

ible

au

thor

ity

Mad

agas

car

EN

C

ateg

ory

I,

Cla

ss I

: pr

otec

ted

anim

als

(=st

rict

pr

otec

tion

)

Dec

ree

N°2

006-

400

on th

e cl

assi

fica

tion

of s

peci

es o

f w

ild f

auna

Yes

E

quiv

alen

t of

€19,

200

to €

38,5

00

Eur

o fi

ne a

nd/o

r 1

to 5

yea

rs o

f pr

ison

ME

EFT

(M

inis

tère

de

l’E

nvir

onne

men

t, de

s E

aux

et F

orêt

s et

du

Tou

rism

e) u

nder

the

auth

ority

of

the

Min

iste

r

Mal

awi

Non

e Pr

otec

ted

spec

ies

Nat

iona

l Par

ks a

nd W

ildlif

e A

ctN

o in

form

atio

n M

K 4

000

in d

efau

lt

2 ye

ars

impr

ison

men

t

Dep

artm

ent o

f N

atio

nal

Park

s

May

otte

(Fr

ance

)

Non

e Pr

otec

ted

spec

ies

in

May

otte

Ord

er n

°347

/DA

F/lis

t of

prot

ecte

d sp

ecie

s in

May

otte

Y

es

Unk

now

n M

inis

try

of

Env

iron

men

t, M

inis

try

of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd

Préf

ectu

re o

f M

ayot

te

Moz

ambi

que

- N

o in

form

atio

n av

aila

ble

on n

atio

nal l

egis

lati

on -

R

wan

daN

one

Pr

otec

ted

Are

a de

cree

(19

74)

Not

yet

Fi

ne f

or il

lega

l hu

ntin

g is

bei

ng

disc

usse

d by

pa

rlia

men

t

Rw

anda

Off

ice

of

Tou

rism

and

Nat

iona

l Pa

rks

(OR

TPN

) an

d M

inis

try

of L

and,

E

nvir

onm

ent,

Min

es

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

(M

INIT

ER

E)

Se

yche

lles

Non

e N

o in

form

atio

n N

o in

form

atio

n N

o in

form

atio

n N

o in

form

atio

n N

o in

form

atio

n U

gand

a -

No

info

rmat

ion

avai

labl

e on

nat

iona

l leg

isla

tion

-

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 21 07.01.2010 10:15:58 Uhr



Cou

ntry

Stat

us in

N

atio

nal

Red

Dat

a B

ook

Nat

iona

l pr

otec

tion

stat

us

Law

pro

tect

ing

spec

ies

Leg

alpr

otec

tion

fro

m

killi

ng, e

gg

harv

esti

ng a

nd

nest

des

truc

tion

Pen

alti

esH

ighe

st r

espo

nsib

le

auth

orit

y

Uni

ted

Rep

ublic

of

Tan

zani

a N

one;

N

atio

nal

SSA

P fo

r

spec

ies

in

prep

arat

ion

Wil

d an

imal

ca

tego

ry/ n

ot

with

in th

e hu

ntin

g qu

ota;

Pr

otec

ted

due

to

Glo

bal R

ed L

ist

stat

us &

AE

WA

Wil

dlif

e C

onse

rvat

ion

Act

(W

CA

) C

AP

283

R. E

. 200

2;

Wil

dlif

e Po

licy

200

7

Yes

N

ot s

et. U

nkno

wn

Wil

dlif

e D

ivis

ion

with

in M

inis

try

of

Nat

ural

Res

ourc

es a

nd

Tou

rism

Zam

bia

Non

e N

o in

form

atio

n W

ildl

ife

Act

N

o in

form

atio

n N

o in

form

atio

n Z

ambi

a W

ildli

fe

Aut

hori

ty

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 22 07.01.2010 10:15:58 Uhr



5. F

ram

ewor

k fo

r A

ctio

n

Goa

l: T

o en

sure

fav

oura

ble

cons

erva

tion

stat

us o

f th

e M

adag

asca

r Po

nd-h

eron

P

urpo

se:

Impr

ove

the

curr

ent c

onse

rvat

ion

stat

us a

nd k

now

ledg

e ba

se o

f th

e M

adag

asca

r Po

nd-h

eron

wit

hin

the

next

10

year

s

Tab

le 5

.1:

Obj

ecti

ves

and

indi

cato

rs

Obj

ecti

ves

Indi

cato

rs

Obj

ecti

ve 1

: T

o re

duce

and

man

age

hum

an d

istu

rban

ce a

t bre

edin

g si

tes

No

hum

an d

istu

rban

ce d

urin

g th

e pr

esen

ce o

f sp

ecie

s at

site

s ot

her

than

man

aged

vi

sits

Obj

ecti

ve 2

: T

o li

mit

and

reve

rse

hum

an a

ctiv

ities

that

red

uce

or

degr

ade

the

spec

ies’

hab

itat

Man

agem

ent a

ctio

ns o

n th

e gr

ound

aim

ed a

t mai

ntai

ning

the

spec

ies’

hab

itat i

n at

le

ast 5

0% o

f ke

y si

tes

in 1

0 ye

ars.

Obj

ecti

ve 3

: T

o pr

even

t exp

loita

tion

of

the

spec

ies’

egg

s an

d yo

ung.

N

o un

man

aged

acc

ess

by p

eopl

e an

d an

imal

s in

cor

e ar

eas

duri

ng b

reed

ing

seas

on

Obj

ecti

ve 4

: T

o ra

ise

the

spec

ies’

pro

file

in th

e ra

nge

stat

es

At l

east

one

new

Mad

agas

car

Pond

-her

on s

ite g

ets

lega

l pro

tect

ion

stat

us (

Prot

ecte

d A

rea,

or

Com

mun

ity-b

ased

con

serv

atio

n in

the

firs

t 5 y

ears

)

Obj

ecti

ve 5

: T

o de

term

ine

the

actu

al p

opul

atio

n si

ze a

nd tr

ends

and

un

dert

ake

appr

opri

ate

trai

ning

in p

rope

r fi

eld

iden

tific

atio

n of

A. i

dae.

Popu

lati

ons

and

tren

ds d

eter

min

ed

Obj

ecti

ve 6

: T

o de

term

ine

the

exte

nt, i

mpa

cts

and

caus

es o

f hy

brid

isat

ion

of A

. ida

e w

ith

A. r

allo

ides

.R

esea

rch

outp

uts

of s

cien

tific

inve

stig

atio

ns

Obj

ecti

ve 7

: T

o es

tabl

ish

the

exte

nt o

f th

e sp

ecie

s’ r

ange

and

di

stri

buti

on w

ith

a fo

cus

on id

entif

ying

all

bree

ding

loca

litie

sR

ange

and

dis

trib

utio

n m

appe

d

Obj

ecti

ve 8

: T

o st

udy

the

spec

ies’

sur

viva

l and

pro

duct

ivity

, as

wel

l as

life

hist

ory

outs

ide

the

bree

ding

sea

son

Res

earc

h ou

tput

s of

sci

entif

ic in

vest

igat

ions

Obj

ecti

ve 9

: T

o de

term

ine

the

spec

ies’

hab

itat r

equi

rem

ents

and

re

fere

nces

R

esea

rch

outp

uts

of s

cien

tific

inve

stig

atio

ns

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 23 07.01.2010 10:15:59 Uhr



Tab

le 5

.2:

Act

ions

, the

ir r

elat

ive

impo

rtan

ce, t

ime

scal

e an

d le

ad a

genc

ies

Act

ion

Pri

orit

y T

ime

Scal

e L

ead

agen

cy

Obj

ecti

ve 1

: T

o re

duce

and

man

age

hum

an d

istu

rban

ce a

t br

eedi

ng s

ites

1.1

Des

igna

te k

ey b

reed

ing

site

s as

Ram

sar

site

sC

ritic

al

5 ye

ars

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies

1.2

Dev

elop

and

impl

emen

t site

vis

itati

on p

roto

col f

or b

irdw

atch

ers

at th

e sp

ecie

s’ s

ites

Low

2 ye

ars

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

1.3

Reg

ulat

e ac

cess

to s

ites

duri

ng th

e br

eedi

ng s

easo

n, in

clud

ing

desi

gnin

g an

d im

plem

enti

ng c

omm

unity

-run

con

trol

of

acce

ss.

Cri

tical

O

ngoi

ng

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s, C

omm

unity

-bas

ed lo

cal

cons

erva

tion

gro

ups

1.4

Dev

elop

and

or

supp

ort t

he im

plem

enta

tion

of e

xist

ing

man

agem

ent p

lans

of

the

know

n br

eedi

ng s

ites

Cri

tical

O

ngoi

ng

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

1.5

Prev

ent d

evel

opm

ent w

hich

will

red

uce

spec

ies’

bre

edin

g ha

bita

tC

ritic

al

Ong

oing

G

over

nmen

t age

ncie

s, C

onse

rvat

ion

NG

Os

1.6

Pur

chas

e so

me

site

s th

at h

old

key

bree

ding

col

onie

s/ h

eron

ries

as

res

erve

s M

ediu

m

Med

ium

G

over

nmen

t age

ncie

s, C

onse

rvat

ion

NG

Os

Obj

ecti

ve 2

: T

o lim

it a

nd r

ever

se h

uman

act

ivit

ies

that

red

uce

or d

egra

de t

he s

peci

es’

habi

tat

2.1

Ana

lyse

the

exis

ting

hab

itat i

mag

es to

est

ablis

h th

e te

mpo

ral

chan

ges

of th

e sp

ecie

s’ h

abita

ts in

key

site

s us

ing

rem

ote

sens

ing

Med

ium

2

year

s G

over

nmen

t age

ncie

s, C

onse

rvat

ion

NG

Os

2.2

Des

igna

te a

ll br

eedi

ng s

ites

unde

r na

tiona

l pro

tect

ed a

rea

legi

slat

ion

Cri

tical

5

year

s G

over

nmen

t age

ncie

s

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 24 07.01.2010 10:16:00 Uhr



Act

ion

Pri

orit

y T

ime

Scal

e L

ead

agen

cy

2.3

Prev

ent d

evel

opm

ent w

hich

will

red

uce

spec

ies’

hab

itat

Cri

tical

O

ngoi

ng

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies

2.4

Impl

emen

t EIA

stu

dies

in s

peci

es h

abita

ts b

efor

e an

y de

velo

pmen

tC

ritic

al

Ong

oing

G

over

nmen

t age

ncie

s, C

onse

rvat

ion

NG

Os

2.5

Prev

ent h

arve

stin

g of

Typ

ha a

t spe

cies

’ ro

osti

ng s

ites

Hig

h O

ngoi

ng

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

2.6

Eng

age

com

mun

itie

s in

con

serv

atio

n of

spe

cies

’ ha

bita

t thr

ough

su

ppor

t and

exp

ansi

on o

f lo

cal c

onse

rvat

ion

grou

ps, e

.g. S

SGs

and

thei

r ac

tiviti

es

Med

ium

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s, C

omm

unity

-bas

ed lo

cal

cons

erva

tion

gro

ups

2.7

Dev

elop

and

or/

supp

ort t

he im

plem

enta

tion

of

exis

ting

m

anag

emen

t pla

ns o

f th

e kn

own

non

bree

ding

sit

es

Hig

h O

ngoi

ng

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

Obj

ecti

ve 3

: T

o pr

even

t ex

ploi

tati

on o

f th

e sp

ecie

s’ e

ggs

and

youn

g.

(Act

ivit

ies

as in

obj

ecti

ve 1

)

Obj

ecti

ve 4

: R

aise

the

spe

cies

’ pr

ofile

in t

he r

ange

sta

tes

4.1

Mak

e th

e st

atus

, thr

eats

and

the

spec

ies’

pri

ority

act

ions

mor

e kn

own

and

appr

ecia

ted

by th

e ge

nera

l pub

lic

Cri

tical

M

ediu

m

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

4.2

Dev

elop

and

dis

trib

ute

advo

cacy

mat

eria

ls e

.g. p

oste

rs, l

eafl

ets

and

put i

nfor

mat

ion

on w

ebsi

tes

to r

aise

aw

aren

ess

abou

t the

sp

ecie

s in

the

publ

ic a

t nat

iona

l and

reg

iona

l lev

els

Cri

tical

M

ediu

m

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

4.3

Cap

ture

info

rmat

ion

abou

t the

spe

cies

in f

ield

wor

kers

’ pe

riod

ic

repo

rts

in a

dditi

on to

oth

er g

loba

lly th

reat

ened

, CM

S/A

EW

A

spec

ies

Med

ium

O

ngoi

ng

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 25 07.01.2010 10:16:00 Uhr



Act

ion

Pri

orit

y T

ime

Scal

e L

ead

agen

cy

4.4

Incl

ude

Mad

agas

car

Pond

-her

on in

med

ia c

ampa

ign

(rad

io, T

V,

new

spap

ers)

toge

ther

with

oth

er th

reat

ened

, CM

S an

d A

EW

A

spec

ies

Med

ium

O

ngoi

ng

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

4.5

Incl

ude

Mad

agas

car

Pond

-her

on in

exi

stin

g sp

ecia

l eve

nts

for

thre

aten

ed, C

MS

and

AE

WA

spe

cies

e.g

. Wor

ld W

etla

nds

Day

and

W

orld

Mig

rato

ry B

ird

Day

(W

MB

D)

etc.

Hig

h O

ngoi

ng

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

4.6

Incl

ude

the

spec

ies

in r

elev

ant s

take

hold

er m

eetin

gs a

t loc

al,

nati

onal

and

reg

iona

l lev

els

Hig

h O

ngoi

ng

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

4.7

Incl

ude

the

spec

ies

and

othe

r w

ater

bir

ds in

the

ongo

ing

trai

ning

pr

ogra

ms

for

staf

f, c

onse

rvat

ioni

sts

and

stud

ents

to im

prov

e sp

ecie

s id

entif

icat

ion

skill

s, s

urve

y te

chni

ques

, etc

Med

ium

O

ngoi

ng

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

4.8

Sup

port

and

exp

and

com

mun

ity

cons

erva

tion

gro

ups

and

thei

r ac

tiviti

es

Med

ium

O

ngoi

ng

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

Obj

ecti

ve 5

: T

o de

term

ine

the

actu

al p

opul

atio

n si

ze a

nd t

rend

s an

d un

dert

ake

appr

opri

ate

trai

ning

in p

rope

r fi

eld

iden

tifi

cati

on o

f A

. ida

e.

5.1

Dev

elop

iden

tific

atio

n ki

t and

gui

de f

or h

eron

s M

ediu

m

1 ye

ar

Res

earc

h in

stitu

tions

, Bir

ding

or

gani

sati

ons,

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

C

onse

rvat

ion

NG

Os

5.2

Iden

tify

and

inve

stig

ate

all o

f th

e su

itab

le s

ites

thro

ugho

ut

Mad

agas

car

Hig

h 2

year

s R

esea

rch

inst

itutio

ns, B

irdi

ng

orga

nisa

tion

s, G

over

nmen

t age

ncie

s,

Con

serv

atio

n N

GO

s

5.3

Dev

elop

a s

uita

ble

cens

us te

chni

que

Hig

h3

year

sR

esea

rch

inst

itutio

ns, G

over

nmen

t ag

enci

es,

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 26 07.01.2010 10:16:01 Uhr



Act

ion

Pri

orit

y T

ime

Scal

e L

ead

agen

cy

5.4

Org

anis

e an

d co

nduc

t tra

inin

g fo

r da

ta c

olle

ctor

s in

id

enti

fica

tion

, sur

vey

tech

niqu

es a

nd d

ata

man

agem

ent

Hig

h O

ngoi

ng

Res

earc

h in

stitu

tions

, Gov

ernm

ent

agen

cies

, Wet

land

s In

tern

atio

nal

5.5

Perf

orm

coo

rdin

ated

cen

suse

s in

all

coun

trie

sC

ritic

al

Ong

oing

Res

earc

h in

stitu

tions

, Gov

ernm

ent

agen

cies

, Wet

land

s In

tern

atio

nal,

Oth

er

NG

Os

Obj

ecti

ve 6

: T

o de

term

ine

the

exte

nt, i

mpa

cts

and

caus

es o

f hy

brid

isat

ion

of A

. ida

e w

ith

A. r

allo

ides

6.1

Des

ign

and

impl

emen

t a s

cien

tific

stu

dy, e

.g. g

enet

ic s

tudi

esC

ritic

al5

year

s R

esea

rch

inst

itutio

ns, G

over

nmen

t ag

enci

es

Obj

ecti

ve 7

: T

o es

tabl

ish

the

exte

nt o

f th

e sp

ecie

s’ r

ange

and

di

stri

buti

on w

ith

a fo

cus

on id

enti

fyin

g al

l bre

edin

g lo

calit

ies

7.1

Impl

emen

t a f

ield

pro

gram

me

to id

entif

y al

l the

bre

edin

g co

loni

es in

Mad

agas

car

Cri

tical

3

year

s R

esea

rch

inst

itutio

ns, G

over

nmen

t ag

enci

es

7.2

Iden

tify

key

site

s in

non

-bre

edin

g ra

nge

C

ritic

al

3 ye

ars

Res

earc

h in

stitu

tions

, Gov

ernm

ent

agen

cies

7.3

Initi

ate/

stre

ngth

en w

ater

bird

dat

abas

es in

ran

ge s

tate

s an

d en

sure

th

at th

e M

adag

asca

r P

ond-

hero

n is

incl

uded

H

igh

Ong

oing

R

esea

rch

inst

itutio

ns, G

over

nmen

t ag

enci

es

7.4

Cre

ate

an in

tern

atio

nal n

etw

ork

of p

eopl

e an

d in

stit

utio

ns

inte

rest

ed in

the

Mad

agas

car

Pond

-her

on a

nd s

hare

info

rmat

ion

thro

ugh

the

netw

ork

Med

ium

1

year

R

esea

rch

inst

itutio

ns, G

over

nmen

t ag

enci

es

7.5

Enc

oura

ge b

irdw

atch

ers

to s

ubm

it re

cord

s to

the

netw

ork

Med

ium

O

ngoi

ng

Res

earc

h in

stitu

tions

, Gov

ernm

ent

Age

ncie

s

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 27 07.01.2010 10:16:01 Uhr



Act

ion

Pri

orit

y T

ime

Scal

e L

ead

agen

cy

Obj

ecti

ve 8

: T

o st

udy

the

spec

ies’

sur

viva

l and

pro

duct

ivit

y, a

s w

ell a

s lif

e hi

stor

y ou

tsid

e th

e br

eedi

ng s

easo

n

8.1

Des

ign

and

impl

emen

t a s

cien

tific

stu

dyM

ediu

m

10 y

ears

R

esea

rch

inst

itutio

ns, G

over

nmen

t ag

enci

es

8.2

Und

erta

ke p

opul

atio

n m

odel

ing

Med

ium

10

yea

rs

Res

earc

h in

stit

utio

ns, G

over

nmen

t ag

enci

es

Obj

ecti

ve 9

: T

o de

term

ine

the

spec

ies’

hab

itat

req

uire

men

ts

9.1

Des

ign

and

impl

emen

t a s

cien

tific

stu

dy to

und

erta

ke d

etai

led

rese

arch

on

the

habi

tat r

equi

rem

ents

of

the

spec

ies

Cri

tical

10

yea

rs

Gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies,

Res

earc

h in

stitu

tion

s

9.2

Initi

ate

a pi

lot p

rogr

amm

e fo

r cr

eatio

n of

art

ific

ial b

reed

ing

site

s/st

ruct

ures

M

ediu

m

5 ye

ars

Res

earc

h in

stitu

tions

, Gov

ernm

ent

agen

cies

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 28 07.01.2010 10:16:02 Uhr



6. Monitoring and Evaluation

This will be done through tracking the level of implementation of various activities as outlined in the Actions table. A column will be added to this table in which assessment of progress (activity compared to indicator) will be explained. This table will be circulated to the Madagascar Pond-heron network for completion twice a year.

Activity Priority Time Lead Agencies Progress made (compare to indicators)

Twice per year, national contacts will evaluate progress nationally. The Africa Secretariat of BirdLife International in liaison with AEWA Secretariat will provide the global lead and the Madagascar Pond-heron network (working virtually by email) will fill in the table. The key drivers for this process will be Julien Ramanampamonjy (breeding range) and Neil Baker (non-breeding range).

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 29 07.01.2010 10:16:03 Uhr



References

Bennun, L.A. and Njoroge, P. 1999. Important Bird Areas in Kenya. East Africa Natural History Society. Nairobi, Kenya.

Benson, C.W. and Penny, M.J. 1971. The land birds of Aldabra. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. BBiol. Sci. 260: 417-527.

Betts, M. 2002. A systematic list of the birds of Aldabra. ABC Bulletin 9(1): 32-42. BirdLife International. 2008. Species factsheet: Ardeola idae. Downloaded from

http://www.birdlife.org on Chapin, J.P. 1953. Birds of the Belgian Congo. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 75A, Part 3. Clément, M., P. de Grissac & R. Rolland. 2008. Les Oiseaux de Mayotte. (Ed.: Naturalistes de

Mayotte, Les guides naturalistes). Dean, W.R.J. 2000. The Birds of Angola: An annotated checklist. BOU Checklist No. 18. British

Ornithologists’ Union, Herts, U.K. Dee, T.J. 1986. The Endemic Birds of Madagascar. International Council for Bird Preservation

(ICBP), Cambridge, U.K. Dodman, T. 2002. Waterbird Population Estimates in Africa . Wetlands International consultation

draft.Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Dowsett, R.J. 2006. The Birds of Malawi: an Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco

Press.Dowset-Lemaire, F. & Dowset, R.J. 2006. The birds of Malawi - An Atlas and Hand book, Tauraco

Press and Aves a.s.b.l Belgium. Hantanirina, I. 2006. Suivi écologique et socio économique dans les sites de conservation des zones

humides au sein de la ZICO Complexe lac Ihotry – delta de la Mangoky. ASITY internal report for BirdLife International Madagascar.

Irwin, M. P. S. 1981. The birds of Zimbabwe. Salisbury: Quest Publishing. Langrand, O. 1990. Guide to the Birds of Madagascar. New Haven, USA: Yale University Press. Langrand, O. and Wilmé, L. 1993. Protection des zones humides et conservation des espèces

d’oiseaux endémiques de Madagascar. Proceedings VIII Pan-African.Ornithological.Congress201-208.

Le Corre, M. & Safford, R.J. 2001. La Réunion and Iles Eparses. Pp. 693-702 in Fishpool, L.D.C. and Evans, M.I., eds. Important Bird Areas of Africa and associated islands: Priority sites for conservation. Newbury and Cambridge, UK: Pisces Publications and BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series No.11)

Louette, M. 1988. La conservation des oiseaux à Mayotte. In (eds Thibault & Guyot) Livre Rouge desOiseaux menacés des régions françaises d'Outre-Mer. ICBP. Monographie n°5. pp.: 197-207.

Louette, M. 2004. Oiseaux. In: Louette, M., D. Meirte and R. Jocque (eds). La faune terrestre de l’archipel des Comores. Studies in Afrotropical Zoology (MRAC, Tervuren). 293: 89-196.

Martinez-Vilalta, A. & Motis, A. 1992. Family Ardeidae (Herons) In: pp 376-429 del Hoyo, J., Elliot, A. and Sargatal, J. eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1. Edicions, Barcelona.

Morris, P. & Hawkins, F. 1998. Birds of Madagascar: a photographic guide. Robertsbridge, UK: Pica Press.

Parker, V. 2005. Atlas of the Birds of Central Mozambique. Endangered Wildlife Trust & Avian Demographic Unit. Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Prigogine, A. 1976. Additions à l’avifaune du Zaire. Gerfaut 66: 307-308. Rabarisoa, R., Rakotonomenjanahary, O., & Ramanampamonjy, J. 2006. Waterbirds of Baie de

Baly, Madagascar. Waterbirds around the world. Eds. G.C. Boere, C.A. Galbraith & D.A. Stroud. The Stationery Office, Edinburgh, UK. pp.374-375.

Rabarisoa, R. 2001. Variation de la population des oiseaux d’eau dans le complexe des lacs de Manambolomaty, un site Ramsar de Madagascar. Ostrich Supplement No 15: 83-87

Rabarisoa, R. 2007. Inventories and assessment of wetlands between Andringitra and Andohahela National Parks, in the south-eastern region of Madagascar in order to get information on important wetlands which need conservation actions. BirdLife International Madagascar

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Programme. Internal report for Ramsar SGF. Ramanampamonjy, J.R. 1997. Malagasy Pond Heron Ardeola idae Second survey 1996 in

Antananarivo Province, Madagascar. PBZT Mars 1997. St Louis Zoo/MFG, Razafimanjato, G., Sam, T.S. & Thorstrom, R. in Press: Waterbird monitoring in the Antsalova

Region, western Madagascar. Rene de Roland, L.A., Sam, T.S., Rakotondratsima, P.H., & Thorstrom, R. 2007. Rediscovery of

the Madagascar pochard Aythya innotata. African Bird Club. Vol 14 (2): Pp 171-173. Rio Tinto and BirdLife International. 2006. Birdwatch Event report 2006. Birds species list at Fort

Dauphin/Taolaganaro Rocamora, G. 2004. Les oiseaux des espaces naturels remarquables de Mayotte. Rapport SEF/DAF.

Collectivités de Mayotte. 200 pp. Rocamora, G., & Skerrett, A. 2001. Seychelles chapter pages 751-768 in Fishpool, L.D.C. and

Evans M.I. editors Important Bird Areas in Africa and Associated Islands: Priority sites forconservation. Newbury and Cambridge, UK. Pisces Publications and BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series No.11).

Salvan, J. 1972. Statut, recensement, reproduction des oiseaux dulçaquicoles aux environs de Tananarive. L'Oiseau et R.F.O. 42: 35-51.

Salvan, J. 1970. Remarques sur l'évolution de l'avifaune Malgache depuis 1945. Alauda 38: 191-203. Salvan, J. 1971. Observations nouvelles à Madagascar. Alauda 39: 37-42. Wetlands International. 2002. Waterbird population estimates. 3rd. Wageningen, Netherlands:

Wetlands International. Wilmé, L. & Jacquet, C. 2002. Census of waterbirds and herons nesting at Tsarasaotra (Alarobia),

Antananarivo, during the second semester of 2001. Working group on Birds in the Madagascar Region. Vol 2 (1): 14-21.

ZICOMA. 1999 Zones d'Importance pour la Conservation des Oiseaux à Madagascar. Antananarivo: Projet ZICOMA.

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 31 07.01.2010 10:16:04 Uhr



Annex 1: Localities where the Madagascar Pond-heron has been recorded.

Site IBA No. of records / notes References

Madagascar-41 sites

Montagne d'Ambre NP MG003 ZICOMA 1999 Analamera SR MG004 ZICOMA 1999 Akarana SR MG006 ZICOMA 1999 Nosy Be MG011 ZICOMA 1999 Masoala NP MG017 ZICOMA 1999 Sahamalaza Bay MG018 ZICOMA 1999 Ankobohobo wetlands MG022 ZICOMA 1999 Mahavavy delta MG025 ZICOMA 1999 Baly Bay NP MG026 ZICOMA 1999 Ankarafantsika SNR MG027 ZICOMA 1999 Marotandrano SR MG029 ZICOMA 1999 Namoroka Tsingy SNR MG030 ZICOMA 1999 Bemaraha Tsingy NP MG037 ZICOMA 1999 Bemamba wetlands MG038 ZICOMA 1999 Manambolomaty wetlands MG039 ZICOMA 1999, Rabarisoa 2001 Anjanaharibe CF MG040 ZICOMA 1999 Upper Rantabe CF MG041 ZICOMA 1999 Mananara-North NP MG042 ZICOMA 1999 Ambatovaky SR MG043 ZICOMA 1999 Lake Alaotra MG046 ZICOMA 1999 Mantadia NP MG054 ZICOMA 1999 Lake Itasy MG058 ZICOMA 1999 Tsiribihina Delta MG059 ZICOMA 1999 Menabe Forest complex MG060 ZICOMA 1999 Lake Ihotry HR MG062 ZICOMA 1999 Zombitse-Vohibasia NP MG065 ZICOMA 1999 Saint Augustin Forest MG067 ZICOMA 1999 Tsitongambarika CF MG072 ZICOMA 1999, Rabarisoa & all pers

obs.Bongolava wetland complex - BirdLife Madagascar 2005 Antongomena forest - Ramanampamonjy pers comm. * Bekapika river rice fields - Ramanampamonjy & all per obs. Betsiboka River - Ramanampamonjy pers comm. PBZT - Ramanampamonjy pers comm. Tsarasaotra Lake - Wilmé, L. and Jacquet, C. 2002 Road to Isorana - Lavaraty - Rabarisoa (2007) Sanira - Rabarisoa (2007) Lagune of Fort Dauphin - Rio Tinto/BirdLife International

Madagascar. BirdWatch Event report 2006.

Andranobe Lake - Ramanampamonjy pers comm. Amparihibe Lake - Volcanic Lake inside intact

forest Lily-Arison and Sam The Seing

Matsaborimaitso Lake - Volcanic Lake inside intact forest

Lily-Arison and Sam The Seing

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 32 07.01.2010 10:16:04 Uhr



Site IBA No. of records / notes References

Comoros - Mayotte (France) breeding sites

Baie de Boueni YT004 Found in 2003; 10-20 pairs in 2007

Rocamora (2004); Clément (pers com)

Baie de Tsingoni Clément com.pers

Comoros – Mayotte (France) non-breeding sites

Lake Dziani Karehani Many records – year & no: :1958 -4; 1983 -5; 1985 - 3; 1992 -7; 1993 -7; 1995 -7; 1996 - 7; 2003 -12; 2004 -37

Loutte 2004; Clément (pers. com); Salamorand (pers com)

Pamandzi 1 in 1965 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)Near White Island 1 in 1985 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)Near Mramadoudour 1 in 1994 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)Dzoumonyé 1 in 1994; 6 in 2003 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)Retenue de Combani 2 in 2003; 5 in 2004 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)Vasières des Badamiers 1 in 2004 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)Miréréni >1 in 2004 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)Chirongui >1 in 2004 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)Tsimkoura >1 in 2004 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)Mzouazia >1 in 2004 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)Mounyambani >1 in 2004 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)Dembéni >1 in 2004 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)Ironibé >1 in 2004 Clément and Salamorand (pers coms)

Comoros – non breeding sites

Grande Comore (Mitsamiouli) 1 in 1969 Louette, M (pers com) Mohéli (Dziani Boudouni) 2 in 1983; 1 in 1993 Louette, M (pers com) Anjouan (Pomoni) Seen frequently Louette, M (pers com)

Seychelles - Aldabra breeding sites

Aldabra atoll SC020 Betts (2002) French 'Iles Eparses' Europa atoll RE012 15 pairs 1996 Malawi 7 sites Lengwe NP MW021 no dates, sev records Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett 2006 Hynde Dam, Limbe - 1, 1984 Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett 2006 Lifu near Salima - 1988 Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett 2006 Lilongwe sewage ponds - 1989 Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett 2006 Namizimu, Liwonde NP - no dates Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett 2006 Blantyre - no dates, sev records Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett 2006 Elephant marsh - no dates, sev records Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett 2006 Rwanda 8 sites Akagera NP RW003 Gashora - Butare - 7 specimens; formally Prigogine 1976

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 33 07.01.2010 10:16:05 Uhr



Site IBA No. of records / notes References Astrida

Gisagara - Prigogine 1976 Kisenyi - Prigogine 1976 Kigali ? Prigogine 1976 Burundi 3 sites Rwihinda Lake BI001 Rusizi NP BI004 Lake Tanganyika - Kenya 18 sites Arabuko-Sokoke KE007 Brian Finch pers comm. Sabaki river mouth KE019 1, 2007 Kenya Birdfinder Nairobi NP KE036 regular, many records Kenya Birdfinder Amboseli NP KE042 2 - Kenya Birdfinder Lake Baringo KE044 Brian Finch pers comm. Lake Naivasha KE048 Brian Finch pers comm. Lake Nakuru NP KE049 1 - Brian Finch pers comm. Masai Mara KE050 1, 1996 Brian Finch, Dave Richards pers

comm. Busia grasslands KE057 1, 2007 Kenya Birdfinder Manguo Swamp Limuru - 2, 2003, 06 Don Tuner pers comm. NAIROBI 8 SITES - multiple records many refs Ahero Rice Scheme - Brian Finch pers comm. Lake Jipe - Brian Finch pers comm. Eldoret - Brian Finch pers comm. Thika Gethumbwini Estate - 1, 1997 Don Tuner pers comm. Malindi Golf Course - 1, 1997 Kenya Birdfinder Mombasa Msambweni - 1, 1997 Kenya Birdfinder Mombasa Bamburi NT - 1, 1995 Kenya Birdfinder Uganda 3 sites Rwenzori Mts NP UG005 1, Turner (1980) Queen Elizabeth NP UG007 Lutembe Bay UG018

Zimbabwe 1 site

Chipinga 1, 29 Sept 1923 Irwin 1981

Zambia 7 Sites

Lochinvar NP ZM011 South Luangwa NP ZM019 >30 at 5 sites Shiwa Ngandu ZM023 Sumbu NP ZM035 Lukusui NP ZM041 Sinde-Nyanje - Nakode -

Mozambique 9 Sites (some overlap ?)

Vilanculos 1, Aug 1999 unnamed locality Parker 2005 unnamed locality Parker 2005 unnamed locality Parker 2005 unnamed locality Parker 2005

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 34 07.01.2010 10:16:05 Uhr



Site IBA No. of records / notes References unnamed locality Parker 2005 Ilha Suafo 10-50 inds, May 2008 Luca Borgesio Mala Mala Branch & Branch 1998 Squacco Vlei Branch & Branch 1998

Democratic Republic of Congo 11 Sites

Merode ? 2 specimens Prigogine 1976 Lusambo ? Prigogine 1976 Kabinda ? Prigogine 1976 Kamituga ? 6 specimens Prigogine 1976 Lac Mokoto ? Prigogine 1976 Butembo ? Prigogine 1976 N. Kivu, région Kisenyi ? Prigogine 1976 Lulenga, Kivu ? Prigogine 1976 Moba, Katanga see Chapin 1954 Chapin 1932 Kasenga, Katanga see Chapin 1954 Prigogine 1976 Tshibati, Kivu see Chapin 1954 Prigogine 1976

United Republic of Tanzania 99 sites, 20 IBAs, note that 14 did not previously qualify for this species

Arusha NP TZ001 Baker & Baker 2002 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 7 records Katavi NP TZ002 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 1 record Mikumi NP TZ006 Baker & Baker 2002 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 13 records Ruaha NP TZ007 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 2 records Serengeti NP TZ009 Baker & Baker 2002 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 8 records Tarangire NP TZ010 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 3 records Mafia Island TZ012 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 3 records Ngorongoro CA TZ013 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 3 records Mkomazi GR TZ016 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 1 record Moyowosi-Kigosi GR TZ017 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 3 records but huge site Selous GR TZ018 Baker & Baker 2002 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 41 records Dar es Salaam coast TZ021 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 55 records Eluanata Dam TZ022 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 1 record Kilombero Valley TZ025 Baker & Baker 2002 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 17 records Nyumba ya Mungu dam TZ030 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 1 record Lake Natron TZ031 tanzaniabirdatlas.com sev records not yet entered Lake Rukwa TZ033 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 1 record but huge site Usangu Flats TZ038 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 1 record but huge site Litipo FR TZ051 tanzaniabirdatlas.com 1 record

non IBA sites (some overlap) referenced to centre 1/4 degree square. 44 squares (multiple sites in some squares)/many of these records are single observations of single birds

Lake shore camp tanzaniabirdatlas.com Malagarasi tanzaniabirdatlas.com Rungwa River tanzaniabirdatlas.com Smith Sound tanzaniabirdatlas.com Musoma tanzaniabirdatlas.com Mara forest tanzaniabirdatlas.com Grumeti River tanzaniabirdatlas.com Mbamba Bay tanzaniabirdatlas.com Kibebe tanzaniabirdatlas.com

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 35 07.01.2010 10:16:06 Uhr



Mufindi Itona tanzaniabirdatlas.com Olasiti tanzaniabirdatlas.com 16 records Tarangire NP south tanzaniabirdatlas.com Kilombero Sugar tanzaniabirdatlas.com Matundu FR tanzaniabirdatlas.com Igumbiro tanzaniabirdatlas.com Kilombero sth tanzaniabirdatlas.com Kivukoni tanzaniabirdatlas.com Ilonga tanzaniabirdatlas.com Mkuyu River tanzaniabirdatlas.com Moshi tanzaniabirdatlas.com Mwomero ANC tanzaniabirdatlas.com Morogoro tanzaniabirdatlas.com Nyamvisi River tanzaniabirdatlas.com Beho Beho tanzaniabirdatlas.com Madaba tanzaniabirdatlas.com Kibaoni tanzaniabirdatlas.com Luwele tanzaniabirdatlas.com Lulira tanzaniabirdatlas.com Unnamed small pond tanzaniabirdatlas.com Mkata tanzaniabirdatlas.com Bagamoyo tanzaniabirdatlas.com Ruvu Valley tanzaniabirdatlas.com Selous GR tanzaniabirdatlas.com Rufiji River camp tanzaniabirdatlas.com Ngarambe tanzaniabirdatlas.com Nahomba Tundu tanzaniabirdatlas.com Kandalawe tanzaniabirdatlas.com Matundu tanzaniabirdatlas.com Ngezi FR tanzaniabirdatlas.com Pangani tanzaniabirdatlas.com Bwawani tanzaniabirdatlas.com Ndege Beach tanzaniabirdatlas.com Lake Kitere tanzaniabirdatlas.com Probably within Selous GR ? tanzaniabirdatlas.com

09-31595_Inhalt.indd 36 07.01.2010 10:16:07 Uhr

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Unbenannt-5 1 28.01.2010 12:30:49 Uhr

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