the monitoring and conservation of grey crowned cranes in

Using information technology in the monitoring and conservation

of Grey Crowned Cranes in Uganda

Jimmy Muhoozi Muheebwa

Uganda Project Coordinator

African Crane Conservation Project (ACCP)

2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda

Implementing Partnership


There are 15 species of cranes in the world


11 species are listed as Threatened or

Endangered: 4 are in Africa (1st four)!


Project name: Conserving cranes and wetlands in South Western Uganda

Project Vision: Grey Crowned Cranes conserved and protected and contributing to cultural heritage and economic development of Uganda

Project Goal: To curb the decline of Grey Crowned Cranes in the species’ strongholds in Uganda (Kabale Wetlands, Bushenyi- Mitooma Wetlands, Kaku- Kiyanja Wetland and Kampala Wetlands


About the Grey Crowned Crane

The GCC is the national bird for Uganda

GCCs are wildlife on mostly outside protected areas; live with people

Therefore the Vision rymes well with our WWD theme – Harmonious living between Wildlife and people


Background: The (Uganda) National Species Action Plan for the Grey Crowned Crane is in place

In 2013, our crane monitoring data (plus that of other regional states) contributed to the up-listing of the GCC from Vulnerable to ENDANGERED.

In 2018 Uganda had its National Species Action Plan approved and its objectives are:

• To reduce adult and juvenile mortality of Grey Crowned Cranes

• To reduce loss, fragmentation and/or degradation of habitats

• To improve knowledge about Grey Crowned Cranes ecology

• To enhance community livelihoods and support for Grey Crowned Crane conservation (our WWD 2019 theme)


Background: GCC population Estimates (Regional)

Country 1985 1994 2006

Uganda 35,000 35,000 13,000– 20,000

Kenya 35,000 35,000 20,000– 25,000

Tanzania Low 1000s Several 1000s Low 1000s

DRC 5000 5000 5000??

Rwanda 500 - 1000 100? 100? Now at

about 400

Mozambique 100s – 1000s 100s – 1000s < 200

Burundi 400 - 600 100s 100s?


National population estimates District Total area (km2) Land area (km2) Crane density

(per km2)Total

Kalangala 9340 432 0.053 22.9

Kampala 181 169 0.053 8.96

Kiboga 4004 3872 0.053 205.2

Luwero 9198 8539 0.053 452.6

Masaka 6986 5531 0.269 1637.2

Mpigi 6278 4514 0.053 239.2

Mubende 6308 5949 0.053 315.3

Wakiso 14241 4594 0.053 243.5

Rakai 4973 3889 0.053 1045.1

Iganga 13114 4823 0.053 255.6

Jinja 734 677 0.053 35.9

Kamuli 4348 3332 0.053 176.6

Kapchorwa 1738 1738 - -

Kumi 2861 2457 0.053 130.32019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda

GCC population estimates cont’d

Mbale 2546 2504 0.053 132.7

Pallisa 1956 1564 0.053 83.0

Soroti 10060 8526 0.053 451.9

Tororo 2597 2336 0.053 123.8

Apac 6488 5887 0.053 312.0

Arua 7830 7595 - -

Gulu 11735 11560 - -

Kitgum 16136 16136 - -

Kotido 13208 13208 - -

Lira 7251 6151 0.053 326.0

Moroto 14113 14113 - -

Moyo 5006 4668 - -

Nebbi 2891 2781 - -


Background cont’d GCC pp’n estimatesBundibugyo 2338 2097 0.035 123.9

Bushenyi (including

Mitooma, Sheema ,

Rubirizi and Buhweju)

5396 4906 0.269 1319.7

Hoima 5908 3563 0.053 188.8

Kabale 1827 1695 0.269 450.0

Kabarole 8361 8109 0.053 429.8

Kasese 3205 2724 0.053 144.4

Kibale 4302 4208 0.053 223.0

Kisoro 662 620 0.269 166.8

Masindi 9326 8458 0.053 448.3

Mbarara (and Isingiro &

Ibanda)

10839 10587 0.269 2841.9

Rukungiri (and

Kanungu)

2753 2584 0.269 695.1

Total 241,038 197,096 13272.72019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda

Identified threats to Grey Crowned Cranes in Uganda

• Wetland degradation / shrinking breeding habitats

• Human presence and proximity at crane sites

• Hunting and trapping/ Crane capture for traditional use and trade

• Flooding wetlands

• Reduced crane roosting sites

• Fires

• Crane deaths resulting from collision with communication and power lines, Poisoning, hitting cranes with objects

• Egg collection

• Trampling and egg crushing on nests and killing of young

• Climate Change

• Diseases


How do we achieve the goal?

Project Goal: To curb the decline of Grey Crowned Cranes in the species’ strongholds in Uganda

1. Developing effective methods of protecting breeding pairs, chicks and flocks - crane monitoring

2. Maintaining and improving the ecological integrity of wetlands

3. Improving the livelihoods of local communities. 2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda

Developing effective methods of protecting breeding pairs, chicks and flocks: monitoring

If we are to conserve Grey Crowned Cranes we must know:

- How many are they currently? Any deviation from the baseline?

- Where are they found?

- Where do they prefer to be found and why? – case for GCCs - feeding, breeding and roosting habitats

- What is the problem and where/ how and when is it affecting most?

- What is the correct intervention?

- If an intervention doesn’t work do we have some adaptive management plan in place?


Monitoring has helped to determine crane distribution in Uganda – at least some baseline

Geo-referencing points where cranes are seen as pairs, families, small and big flocks.

Crane locations against habitat

More concentration in the south and south western parts


Focusing monitoring efforts on Kabale


Crane monitoring

Crane monitoring means looking out for, counting and recording cranes and their attributes. We monitor to understand the following:

• Crane numbers - population (numbers) and population trends

• Crane distribution - where and when?

• Crane breeding and breeding success

• Crane sites and site status

• Threats to cranes

• Where possible trying to address the threats


Monitoring cont’d

• In crane monitoring we must understand and/or be able to identify cranes; sometimes they are confused with other birds especially storks

• We take note of the habitat where they are found and what they are doing -feeding, preening, resting, roosting

• Time of the day – e.g. flocks are small in the morning and big in the evenings or at certain times of the month

• Distance from you – estimate distance in metres

• Weather conditions – GCCs are not easy to identify when it is raining or hazy

• Count and record numbers – accurate counting is very essential; not estimating

• Take GPS coordinates 2019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda

Crane monitoring – cont’d

• Grey Crowned Cranes are non migratory – they engage in local movements within a few kilometres radius and normally return to their base =

• Crane counting would best be achieved by conducting a National Crane Census but – EXPENSES are enormous especially if one is to fly and count from an aircraft. However, it reduces cases of double counting. Rwanda has done theirs

• In South Africa they use other methods like Occupancy Modelling and quadrats; this needs extensive travelling to cover all the quadrats

• In Kenya they are now physically counting – involving communities, NGOs and school children


The Fixed Route Survey (Survey 123) Developed in S. Africa after a long term monitoring protocol for large birds. It is a proven method to determine population trends

• We select a representative route (preferably three different routes) that represents the broader area

• Travel by vehicle maximum at 50km/hr

• Stop every 2 km (set the car/ motorcycle speedometer at 0 reading at the start of the Fixed Route)

• Scan both sides of the road to check for cranes and record what you see –zero or something (Fixed record)

• If you see cranes between the 2 km interval , stop and record (intermediate record)


Crane monitoring – the Survey 123 routes in Kabale

Our three Fixed Routes are:

Route1. Kabale – Kisoro road (20 km) – this goes through the crane rich North Kiruruma valley

Route 2. Kabale – Katuna road (19km) – goes through the South KirurumaValley

Route 3. Kabale - Mbarara road (20 km) – goes through the crane rich spot at Kyanamira

The three routes were chosen on their basis of the being representative of the wider Kabale.


Results 2018 - Fixed Route Survey on Route 1 (Kabale - Kisoro road)

Site Name

Vehicle meter reading Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average

Mutebile road 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0.727273

Majugo 2 48 24 36 44 54 67 58 60 50 42 39 47.45455

Bubare 1 4 2 10 2 12 2 2 4 11 2 4 7 5.272727

Bubare 2 6 4 0 4 6 2 0 4 4 4 0 0 2.545455

Ihanga 8 0 2 0 0 8 8 6 8 0 0 2 3.090909

Mukirwa 10 12 8 12 4 16 22 8 32 34 4 10 14.72727Kebitakuri/ Kakore 12 46 52 46 40 48 50 46 52 48 40 41 46.27273

Karukaara 14 4 4 4 2 4 4 12 0 0 2 4 3.636364

Hamurwa 16 2 2 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 1.454545

Murutenga 1 18 6 8 6 2 2 4 6 3 2 4 8 4.636364

Murutenga 2 20 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 6 4 0 0 2.363636

Total 128 116 114 112 140 161 150 178 146 96 113 132.18182019/03/06 Conserving Grey Crowned Cranes in South-western Uganda

Survey 123 Results (2018) Kabale – Kisoro road


Results – Fixed Route monitoring on Kabale – Katuna road

Site Name Vehicle meter Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average

Chello Fuel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.181818

Kiniogo 2 35 38 31 33 40 54 51 39 36 29 27 37.54545

Hakitagata 4 2 4 2 2 2 2 0 2 2 2 2 2

Corner 6 2 3 3 3 0 3 2 0 2 1 1 1.818182

Hakashenyi 8 5 5 5 2 2 2 7 12 5 6 14 5.909091

Rwakihiirwa 10 8 8 16 14 12 8 6 4 4 4 6 8.181818

Hamabare 12 4 0 2 2 4 4 2 0 2 0 1 1.909091

Kyonyo 14 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 2 2 0.909091

Play ground 16 6 5 7 7 5 4 4 6 4 4 2 4.909091

Katuna 18 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.545455


Survey 123 Results 2018 (Kabale – Katuna road)


Results – Fixed Route Monitoring on Kabale – Mbarara road

Site Name

Vehicle meter reading Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average

Butoberejunction 0 4 4 0 2 12 4 5 8 5 4 6 4.909091

Kyanamira 1 2 168 135 152 68 148 188 197 203 168 125 195 158.8182

Kyanamira 2 4 22 10 2 71 4 8 10 25 55 55 4 24.18182

Rubbish site 6 6 11 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 0 2.181818

Mid hill 1 8 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.363636

Mid hill 2 10 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.363636

Kabalaga summit 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Kaharo view 14 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0.909091

Kaharo 16 4 4 0 4 0 2 2 6 4 0 2 2.545455

Nyakigugwe 18 4 4 0 4 0 0 4 4 6 2 2 2.727273

Nkumbura 20 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 1.454545


Survey 123 (2018) results – Kabale – Mbarara road


Breeding survey recordsBreeding monitoring in Kabale 2017/18

• A total of 34 Grey Crowned Crane were identified

• Of the 34 pairs, 10 breeding pairs engaged in breeding in the 2017/18 breeding season

• The 10 breeding pairs successfully fledged 18 juveniles.

• The breeding success was 18/10 = 1.8

However, in the current surveys, breeding success takes into account all the pairs counted (breeding or not) hence making the success smaller than previously determined.


Survey 123 Crane monitoring:

• Many pairs seen in October and November than in any other months = onset of breeding season

• August – September is when we see numerous and largest flocks = attributable to period when juveniles have joined flocks, mate choice and getting ready for breeding

• Fewer cranes seen December – March = Crane breeding season

• We have noted some pairs that have only been at sites (holding territory) but not engaged in breeding for a while now. We are looking for the possible causes of this – perhaps no adequate site, a lot of human disturbance, may be of same sex etc etc.


Conclusions

• With Survey 123 we get more consistent and refined data - globally accepted • The survey is more scientific • The survey is software based and easy to analyse • Data is readily shared across the users• Monitoring effort is devoted on a specific area• Conservation interventions better suited for the area are designed• It is easy to conduct – we have a team of tem crane custodians who monitor with us.• However, it is quite expensive – need for a vehicle for meter reading• It also needs compliant gadgets – phone

• However, Grey Crowned Cranes numbers remain scientifically worrying • We need a bigger and dedicated team to monitor them


Cranes are important; join in to monitor them


the monitoring and conservation of grey crowned cranes in

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