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Nest success and conservation status of the Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea in Swaziland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2006

ARA MONADJEM
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Swaziland, Private Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Swaziland
RICHARD C. BOYCOTT
Affiliation:
P. O. Box 5245, Mbabane, Swaziland
KIM ROQUES
Affiliation:
All Out Projects, P. O. Box 132, Mahlanya, Swaziland
RAY GAMA
Affiliation:
Swaziland National Trust Commission, P. O. Box 100, Lobamba, Swaziland
DAVID GARCELON
Affiliation:
Institute for Wildlife Studies, P. O. Box 1104, Arcata, California, U.S.A
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Abstract

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The Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea is a globally threatened species endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. The total population breeding south of the Limpopo River (i.e. in South Africa and Swaziland) probably numbers around 100 pairs. A significant proportion of these birds breed in Swaziland, but to date little has been published on this population. Suitable breeding habitat has been reduced significantly in the country in recent decades, due mostly to afforestation with exotic timber plantations, with urbanization playing a lesser role. In Swaziland, breeding sites are restricted to grasslands above 1,200 m, but mostly above 1,300 m. Timing of egg laying is bimodal indicating double brooding. The number of nests initiated in a season is weakly correlated with rainfall in preceding months. Nests were built predominantly in disused antbear Orycteropus afer burrows, with smaller numbers in natural sinkholes. Mean clutch size was 2.80, and 61% of eggs laid resulted in fledged offspring. Mean productivity was 1.30 fledglings per pair per nest attempt. These figures suggest that breeding success is not currently being reduced in Swaziland. The minimum total population currently thought to be breeding in Swaziland is 10 pairs, but this is based on intensive studies of only part of the suitable range. It is recommended that a complete survey be conducted covering the entire range of the species in Swaziland.

Type
Articles
Copyright
BirdLife International 2006