Conservation action - Bertram Smythies fund

Compiled by Brian Sykes in BirdingASIA 8, December 2007

New projects
The last six months have appeared to be rather quiet, but behind the scenes there has been a considerable level of activity particularly in respect of Thailand and the on-going Gurney’s Pitta project. Unfortunately at the time of going to press as matters have not been fully resolved it is not possible to make any announcements. Other significant projects are under discussion, principally with the World Pheasant Association, but again nothing has been finalised.

Completed projects
The report on the Forest Owlet Athene blewitti survey has just been received and will be the subject of a special report in BirdingASIA 9. The final report on the Giant Ibis project in Cambodia is expected shortly.

Radio-tracking of Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis in Cambodia
Owing to the rapid loss of Cambodian grasslands caused by industrial-scale rice cultivation, the Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis has recently been upgraded to Critically Endangered. This Smythies Fund grant contributed to a radio-tracking study, undertaken as a collaboration between the University of East Anglia, UK, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, Cambodia, examining male and female habitat use within grasslands surrounding the Tonle Sap.

Sixteen birds, including six females, were succesfully caught and tagged, with the Smythies Fund allowing the purchase of 10 of the radio transmitters. The study found major differences in breeding-season habitat use and home-range size between males and females, with the latter occupying larger ranges (up to 8.9 km2) and preferring habitats
characterised by dense cover. These differences probably reflect the species’s lekking breeding system, with males defending small territories of open habitat for display and females selecting cover for nesting. Interestingly, nests were found for only two of the females tracked, suggesting that birds may leave known lek sites to breed elsewhere. This adds an extra dimension to conserving the species, and indicates that only protecting habitat in which males display may not be a sufficient conservation response. A full report on the study is in preparation for publication in a peer reviewed scientific journal, and will also be available on the OBC website. The Oriental Bird Club, in association with Birdtour Asia, is running a 2008 birdwatching tour to Cambodia which will be visiting the Tonle Sap grasslands, thereby offering a great opportunity to observe floricans and the other characteristic species of what is probably Asia’s single most threatened habitat.