Short Note

Surveys of Sooty Falcons Falco concolor wintering in Madagascar in 2023 and 2024

Published in: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology
Volume 96 , issue 4 : Entrepreneurship and Africa’s Cultural Context , 2024 , pages: 284–288
DOI: 10.2989/00306525.2025.2569664
Author(s): Gilbert Razafimanjato , Madagascar, Michael J McGrady International Avian Research, Austria, Radoniaina Razafiherison , Madagascar, Heritiana J Randriamanantena , Madagascar, Marius PH Rakotondratsima , Madagascar, Idéaly J Dinafitiavana , Madagascar, Russell Thorstrom World Center for Birds of Prey, United States, Lily-Arison Rene de Roland , Madagascar,
Keywords: birds of prey, migration, population monitoring, wintering,
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Abstract

Madagascar is the non-breeding-season destination for a significant proportion of the global population of the migratory and Vulnerable Sooty Falcon Falco concolor. Here, we report on surveys of wintering birds in Madagascar, conducted in 2023 and 2024 over a total of 52 days (15 January–21 February in 2023, and 18–31 January in 2024), covering the eastern, western and northwestern regions, parts of the southern area, and the Central Highlands. A total of 695 individuals were recorded, 92% (n = 639) during road surveys and 8% (n = 56) from incidental observations across all surveyed areas. The area-weighted average density of Sooty Falcons was 114.7 ind. 1 000 km-2. Degraded Western Dry Forest held 55.8% of the Sooty Falcons recorded. Our results provide useful baseline information and point to the benefits of enacting long-term annual surveys to learn more about the wintering population of Sooty Falcons and its trends.
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