TITLE:
Patterns of nest placement of lappet faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) in Lochinvar National Park, Kafue Flats, Zambia
AUTHORS:
Chansa Chomba, Eneya M’simuko, Vincent Nyirenda
KEYWORDS:
Raptors; Nest Placement; Tree Height; Lochinvar; Kafue Flats; Habitat
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.3 No.6,
October
22,
2013
ABSTRACT: This study assessed
the nesting patterns oflappet faced
vulture inLochinvar National Park, on the Kafue flats,Zambia. Road
drives and foot patrols were used to identify and take GPS coordinates of
lappet faced vulture nests. The main objectives of the study were: 1) to obtain
basic breeding information of lappet-faced vulture in Lochinvar National Park
and the Kafue Flats in general, 2) to determine size of the breeding population
in the National Park, 3) todocument distribution of the nesting sites, 4) tofacilitate
development of a monitoring programme that would secure the nesting sites from
human disturbance, and 5) to determine availability of suitable nesting sites
and major threats that may interfere with breeding. Tree species on which nests
were found were identified
and height of nest above ground was estimated. A total of 22 nests were
recorded with 5 (23%) being lappet faced vulture nests on seven species of
trees. The mean height for nest placamenet was10 mabove ground. Host tree physiognomy, size and
height were important characteristics in nest placement. Large trees of 10mand above are critical in facilitating nest
placement and must be protected in identified breeding sites.