Trend and Population Size of White-necked Rockfowl
The White-necked Rockfowl (Picathartes gymnocephalus) is a rare passerine bird endemic to the Upper Guinea forests of West Africa, and, with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals globally, the species is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
In Ghana, the species was thought extinct for over 40 years until its rediscovery in 2003, which led to efforts to locate additional populations. Subsequent surveys found the species in 18 forests and off-reserve areas, although many historic nesting colonies had disappeared following extensive forest loss.
A study titled "Trends and population size of White-necked Rockfowl Picathartes gymnocephalus within the Nyamibe Bepo Forest Reserve in Ghana" is featured in Volume 96, issue 1 of Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology.
Corresponding Author, Joseph Kwasi Afrifa, based at Ghana Wildlife Society, Accra Conservation Education Centre noted that the Nyamibe Bepo Forest Reserve emerged as a key stronghold, with a 2011 survey estimating that it supported 309 of Ghana’s 602 White-necked Rockfowl individuals. Fortunately, tourism centred around birdwatching and pangolin sightings provides an incentive for local communities to protect the reserve. Irrespective of the community's effort to protect the reserve, both legal and illegal activities in the forest have consequences on the population and distribution of the species.
“Our recent survey reassessed the White-necked Rockfowl population in Nyamibe Bepo, comparing current nesting colonies to those documented in 2011. Using nest site surveys, we recorded 54 nests across ten rock faces and counted 88 individuals in the Bonkro area,” said Afrifa.
However, surveys in the Amanokrom and Ashilvikrom sections revealed significant declines, with only two inactive colonies found and no colonies in Amanokrom. Overall, while Bonkro’s population remains stable, the broader trend shows a decline across the reserve. Based on the researcher's findings, Nyamibe Bepo hosts 3.3% of the global minimum population and 41 reproductive units, qualifying it for designation as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and an Important Bird Area (IBA).
“We are grateful to Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology for publishing our study and making it available for a limited free to read period. The journal has significantly helped in raising awareness about the conservation needs of the White-necked Rockfowl and its habitat. We strongly encourage other researchers working on African ornithology and conservation to consider Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology as a platform for sharing their important work," said Afrifa.
Read the article at no cost until the end of July here.
Photograph: Samuel Zhang