Magombera and Kimboza forests in Tanzania are small lowland fragments on the eastern foothills of the Udzungwa and Uluguru mountains, respectively. In July–August of 2023 and 2024, we conducted surveys of the forest birds in the forests, using mist nets, opportunistic observations and audio playback. We recorded 58 species in Magombera and 69 in Kimboza including 7 and 12 species new to the sites, respectively. This increases the total number of species to 71 in Magombera and 89 in Kimboza. The majority are widespread in forest habitats in Tanzania, and are either forest generalists or forest visitors, with the number of species belonging to these categories similar in the two forests. More than twice as many obligate forest specialists are known from Kimboza Forest, compared to Magombera Forest, including seven with their main distribution in the Eastern African coastal forests. We identify three possible explanations for these differences: less field work has been carried out in Magombera; differences in forest community structure and floristic composition; and distance from coastal forests. We also recorded more seasonal altitudinal migrants (species and individuals), from nearby mountain areas, in Kimboza relatively to Magombera. This difference is possibly due to the loss of lowland forest in the Uluguru Mountains where the migrants would ‘winter’ previously, whilst in the Udzungwas a continuous forest cover still exists down to 300 m, providing a lowland forest retreat for altitudinal migrants. Instead, migrants from the Ulugurus appear to have to move through at least 11 km of open land to isolated lowland forests in the foothills, such as Kimboza Forest.

We conducted transect surveys in urban Pretoria, South Africa, to document interspecific interactions involving the invasive Common Myna Acridotheres tristis and coexisting species. During 90 standardised transect surveys across three suburban sites from April to August 2022 (outside the main breeding season for many bird species), we recorded 36 interspecific interactions between Common Mynas and other birds. Common Mynas were observed chasing or being aggressive towards other birds such as sparrows (Passer diffusus, P. domesticus) and doves (Streptopelia capicola, Spilopelia senegalensis). Of these encounters, 26 (72%, 95% CI: 56–84%) involved aggression, with Common Mynas initiating 86% of aggressive incidents. In most aggressive incidents, the other bird fled; only larger species (Cape Starlings Lamprotornis nitens) successfully retaliated. Such aggression may facilitate the displacement of native and non-native species from feeding sites or nesting areas. These findings provide evidence for interference competition by Common Mynas in South African urban environments and highlight the need for targeted management strategies to protect native bird communities.

Coevolution of plants and animals may lead to features or behaviour that are mutually beneficial. This is exemplified by plant adaptations for seed dispersal, including caliochory, which is the dispersal of seeds by birds in nest materials. Caliochory is a recently identified seed dispersal mechanism and to date there has been no detailed analysis of characteristics that make seeds suitable for caliochory. Moreover, the distribution of this syndrome across regions, habitats, plant taxa or bird taxa has never been investigated. To test the hypotheses that the probability of seeds being incorporated in nest construction is influenced by bird phylogeny, habitat, region, plant morphology or plant olfactory properties, we examined plant materials in bird nests at the Natural History Museum (UK). Despite the age of this international collection (80–120 years) we were able to identify most of the plant materials to the level of family, genus or in some cases to species. We found that selection of material for construction and lining of nests varies among bird taxa but is also influenced by region and vegetation type. Linings of fluffy seeds were more frequently used in arid than mesic climates. Possible adaptation for caliochory among angiosperms appears more frequent in open, arid and disturbed vegetation than in closed and mesic habitats.

Continuous human presence in protected and recreational areas can adversely affect wildlife. Birds perceive the approach by humans as predatory and mostly flee in response, which can be energetically costly, and leads to disruption of foraging activities and interactions with conspecifics. This study used Flight Initiation Distance (FID) to assess bird responses to multiple versus single human approaches. We examined how the number of persons approaching the study bird species influenced the relationship between FID and factors such as flock characteristics, habitat features, bird orientation and alert distance. A total of 668 FID approaches were conducted on ten bird species belonging to nine families at Rennajj fish farm, Jos, Nigeria. Our findings reveal that the number of persons approaching birds significantly affected their risk assessment and escape behaviour, as they initiated flight earlier when approached by multiple persons. Focal birds positioned on water and ground exhibited significantly higher FID values than those in the tree or shrub habitats, indicating high visibility and vigilance by birds on the ground and water. Furthermore, study birds fled at significantly shorter distances during three-person approaches when oriented backwards, implying an increased vulnerability to predators approaching from the rear. We conclude that the number of persons approaching the study bird species, and environmental and spatial cues play significant roles in the threat perception of wild birds. These factors should be integrated into wildlife management to manage human disturbance effectively.

This study reports on the perspectives of local farmers on predation on chickens by the invasive House Crow Corvus splendens, together with their coping strategies, in Dodoma, Tanzania. A survey was conducted among 391 farmers of free-range chickens in urban and peri-urban areas. Using a questionnaire and point counts, the study revealed that urban areas had a higher abundance of House Crows than peri-urban areas, largely attributable to increased availability of disposed waste. There was significantly greater predation in peri-urban than urban areas. Chicks and eggs had the highest predation rates, with chicks being the preferred prey. There was a negative correlation between the predation rate and the numbers of hens and chicks. To deter House Crows, farmers used techniques such as chasing and shouting. Effective predation control strategies should consider both the predation intensity and proximity to urban areas. While the farmers’ methods were environmentally friendly, innovations are needed to optimise their efforts to control House Crow predation on backyard poultry. Further research is therefore essential for sustainable solutions in this context.

Despite the importance of the poultry sector in Nigeria, limited research has explored free-ranging poultry farmers’ attitudes towards raptors and the factors influencing these perceptions. Perceptions, whether grounded in evidence or not, can shape behaviours and influence conservation outcomes, as people often act on beliefs rather than facts. We surveyed 199 free-ranging poultry farmers across 12 of 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Plateau State using structured questionnaires in 2021 and 2022. Our analysis revealed that place of residence was the only significant predictor of perception towards raptors, with perceptions not significantly influenced by poultry loss, age, gender or education level. Farmers in Jos East, near the Amurum Forest Reserve, exhibited more negative opinions compared to other regions, potentially due to perceived raptor predation on poultry and mistrust towards conservation efforts at the AP Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI). Regardless of accuracy, such perceptions can undermine conservation efforts and potentially lead to increased, unwarranted raptor persecution. We recommend further research incorporating empirical data on predation rates and enhanced community engagement to address misconceptions.

The African Bird Atlas Project (ABAP) and the Coordinated Waterbird Counts (CWAC) are the main citizen science bird monitoring programmes in southern Africa. ABAP data are collected by volunteers that compile bird lists over a grid of geographic areas known as pentads, resulting in millions of records that are key to studying bird distribution. In contrast, CWAC collects data on waterbird abundance at a selection of wetlands twice a year, offering important data on waterbird population dynamics. ABAP and CWAC data are extensively used in research. They also provide the evidence base for conservation decisions, site management and national reporting obligations against international agreements. The respective project websites provide distribution maps, summary statistics and basic data download features. However, a more advanced use of these data for modelling and their incorporation into analytical workflows requires flexible and direct access to the databases. The Africa Bird Data R packages presented here provide an important functionality to download and process data directly into the analytical software R. Apart from accessing the databases, there are functions that help with the analysis of these data by incorporating model covariates or formatting data for R packages that are popular for the analysis of this kind of data. Our objective is to make African bird data more accessible and easier to work with in order to unlock their full potential for research, and to inform management and conservation actions.

The harvesting and trade of species for use in traditional medicine, or muthi, is predominantly illegal, unregulated, and likely unsustainable, representing a major conservation challenge. In South Africa, vulture populations have declined considerably in recent decades, but evidence shows a consistent use of vultures by traditional health practitioners. However, less is understood about the key factors that underpin the hunting of these birds. We evaluated aspects of the illegal hunting and trade of vultures in northern KwaZulu-Natal Province. Data were collected using in-depth interviews with local hunters and muthi traders. A mixed-method sampling design was used, and data were analysed using the thematic analysis approach. The results revealed that vultures were hunted mainly by local men aged 24–40 years. The vultures were obtained using multiple techniques, but poison (38%) and firearms (31%) were the preferred methods. Vultures were hunted upon request and traded through local networks comprising hunters, traditional health practitioners and muthi traders. Carcasses were sold directly to traditional health practitioners, but some were destined for the local market. Prices for the whole carcass ranged from ZAR500 (US$29) to ZAR2 000 (US$116). Perceptions held by respondents concerning the hunting and trade of vultures alluded to the difficulty of obtaining birds. This was attributed to vultures’ conservation status and the risk of being found in the possession of a vulture or any of its by-products. Live vultures were reportedly hard to find as they mostly inhabited protected areas, and their low numbers were also highlighted as an exacerbating factor. The use of vultures in African traditional medicine is a well-established practice; however, presently, this threatens the long-term persistence of vultures in the wild. Intricate socio-economic influences are at play, and addressing these may facilitate positive conservation outcomes for vultures and other target species in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The African Penguin Spheniscus demersus has been considered a threatened species since 1984 and, aside from a short period around 2000, its population has been in constant decline since at least the 1950s. By combining counts of the numbers of breeding pairs made at 26 colonies in South Africa and Namibia between 1979 and 2023 with Bayesian state–space models we reassess the species’ conservation status. The breeding population has declined by 77.8% (95% credible intervals: 71.8–84.6%) over the last 30 years (3 generations), from ∼44 300 breeding pairs in 1993 to ∼9 900 pairs in 2023. This falls just below the threshold for a global IUCN Red List status of Critically Endangered (CR) under criterion A2. However, the decline in Namibia exceeds that threshold at the national level (30-year decline = 82.4%, 78.2–86.2%) following the loss of ∼3 600 breeding pairs there in the last 5 years. In South Africa, the Western Cape population is now declining at <1.5% per annum, but the annual rate of decline in the Eastern Cape has worsened substantially, reaching 13% over the last 10 years. Overall, the global population has more than halved in the last decade and has fallen below 10 000 pairs for the first time. Moreover, “moving window reductions” over 3 generations using observed and projected population trajectories (up to the year 2033) indicate that the decline of the African Penguin population will exceed the 80% CR threshold (under criterion A4ab) with a high probability by 2028. Accordingly, we propose that the African Penguin should be transferred to the IUCN Red List category Critically Endangered.

Large-scale declines in vulture populations have been recorded in West Africa. One concern is that the current trend in Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus populations in West Africa is poorly known. To help fill this knowledge gap, we conducted nationwide road counts in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, using (where possible) the same routes and methods as counts conducted in 1969–1973 and 2003–2004 (46–50 years later). Use of exactly the same routes was unfortunately possible only in Burkina Faso as a result of the security situation in sub-Saharan West Africa at the time of this study. Our results reveal that Burkina Faso remains a stronghold for Hooded Vultures with a mean abundance of 62 individuals per 100 km, reaching a peak of 217 per 100 km in the highest abundance areas. A comparison between early and recent studies shows that populations of Hooded Vulture are still declining in the West African sub-region. In Burkina Faso, the number of Hooded Vultures per 100 km decreased from 122 to 75 (a decline of 38%) over the last five decades. In the West African sub-region, under both ‘best-case’ and ‘worst-case’ scenarios, Hooded Vultures seem to have declined by 58% to 65% between the 1970s and 2019. The main causes of this population decline in West Africa are unintentional poisoning, decreasing food availability, and the trade in vulture body parts for Traditional Medicine. Conservation actions for Hooded Vultures in West Africa could include the implementation of supplementary feeding sites (also known as ‘vulture restaurants’) and decreasing the demand for vulture body parts (for use in Traditional Medicine and mystical practices) by offering relevant alternatives such as plants and their derivatives.