Populations of the globally endangered Giant Nuthatch Sitta magna have declined significantly throughout their small world range in southern China and northern continental South-East Asia. Distance sampling and direct observations were used to estimate the density and habitat use of the Giant Nuthatch in a potential stronghold for the species, Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. Thirteen line transects covering 6.2 km were established in open, pine-oak habitat favoured by the nuthatch, during November 2014 to December 2015. The mean density of Giant Nuthatch was 3.94±1.22 (95% CI = 2.15–7.22) individuals/km2. Hierarchical distance sampling models indicated that habitat use by Giant Nuthatch was strongly correlated with trees of large diameter. A pair of Giant Nuthatches was radio-tracked as they fed nestlings during the 2016 breeding season. The female’s home range, centred on the nest, was 7.79 ha (95% kernel home range), approximately one-fourth of that of the male, 32.01 ha. Giant Nuthatches showed a significant preference for foraging on pines Pinus spp. and used the fissured bark of mature pines in which to store acorns of deciduous tree species. Our research indicates the importance of large, mature trees in open pine-oak forest in supporting Giant Nuthatch populations.

Cabot's tragopan Tragopan caboti is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, listed on Appendix I of CITES and is endemic to China. Habitat loss and fragmentation are believed to be the main causes of decreases in abundance of the species. Wuyishan National Natural Reserve supports a relatively stable population of the tragopan but is bisected by a clay road through the core area. This study used direct observation and radio telemetry to investigate the impact of the road on the species. We found that weather was the most important factor affecting the number of individuals actually seen on the road, and the volume of traffic was the main factor affecting the behaviour of individuals, especially at dusk. The road does not appear to be a barrier for Cabot's tragopan but appropriate management is required to ensure the continued survival of the species at this site.

Effective species conservation depends upon correctly identifying the threats that cause decline or hinder recovery. Because estimates of the relative viability of different populations of Endangered African wild dogs Lycaon pictus are most strongly influenced by adult and pup mortality, we analysed rates and causes of mortality in eight wild dog populations under study in southern and eastern Africa. The probabilities of detecting wild dog deaths were influenced by the monitoring methods used. The least biased estimates of mortality causes were obtained through intensive monitoring of radio-collared individuals; this is impossible for pups, however. Mortality patterns varied substantially between populations. Rates of human-caused mortality were higher for wild dogs radio-collared outside protected areas than for those collared inside, but rates of natural mortality were comparable, suggesting that anthropogenic mortality is additive to natural mortality. The relative importance of factors such as snaring and infectious disease also varied regionally. Hence, although our analyses identified no new threats beyond those highlighted in a 1997 range-wide Action Plan, they suggest that local plans will be valuable to target conservation activities more precisely.

From 1998 to 2000 we used radio telemetry to study habitat use by greater rheas Rhea americana in rural areas. Captive-born greater rheas preferred pastures to grasslands and did not use crops. No differences in habitat use were found between wild and captive-born greater rheas. Wild individuals preferred pastures, showed less preference for grasslands, and did not use crops. Rheas used pastures and grasslands for nesting but they did not use crops. No differences in nesting success was detected between these habitats. Our results show that agroecosystems that include grasslands and pasture production would strongly contribute to the conservation of this species. However, poaching must be controlled to ensure long-term persistence of wild populations of greater rheas.