Distribution and population size of the threatened East Coast Akalat in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya

Abstract

Matiku, P.M., Bennun, L.A. & Nemeth, E. 2000. Distribution and population size of the threatened East Coast Akalat in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 282–285.

The East Coast Akalat Sheppardia gunningi sokokensis is one of six globally threatened bird species that occur in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, the largest remnant of forest on the East African coast. The akalat has been little studied but appears to have a patchy distribution both between and within forests. From October 1995 to February 1996 we studied the akalat's status in Arabuko-Sokoke, carrying out transect counts and plot-based surveys to determine its distribution and population size. Playback of calls was used to stimulate the bird to reveal its presence. The akalat was present in two of the forest's main vegetation types, Cynometm woodland and Mixed forest. It was absent from the more open Brachystegia woodland, and from low-canopied intermediate Cynometra and Cynometra thicket. In Cynometra woodland, the akalats were evenly distributed at high densities (estimated at 87 pairs/km²). Within the Mixed forest distribution was patchy, and the akalats were absent from areas with high human disturbance. Where the species did occur, densities were lower (estimated at 12 pairs/km²) than in the Cynometra woodland. Arabuko-Sokoke may hold up to 9 000 pairs of this species, perhaps the largest single population in the world. Most of these are in the Cynometra woodland, which is also of crucial conservation importance for the threatened Sokoke Scops Owl Otus ireneae.