Nest-site selection by Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus in the Sudano–Sahelian area of Burkina Faso

Abstract

Understanding the factors influencing selection of nesting habitat may be important in the placement and management of Vulture Safe Zones (areas where vultures can safely breed) and in the development of successful conservation programmes. In this study, we analysed the anthropogenic, environmental and topographic factors affecting nest-site selection by Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus in West Africa. Habitat features of 106 nest locations and 138 randomly chosen points were compared to identify the preferred nesting habitat of this species at two locations (Garango and Mogtédo) in the Sudano–Sahelian area of central-eastern Burkina Faso. We used logistic regression to create candidate models, and an information–theoretic approach revealed a best-fit model showing that nests were located mostly in areas with more tall trees (height >10 m) and that certain tree species were favoured (i.e. Faidherbia albida, Kaya senegalensis, Parkia biglobosa and Tamarindus indica). Our results showed that Hooded Vultures prefer nest sites along watercourses, and nest sites that are close to one another in a clustered or loosely colonial fashion. This can likely be explained by the very low level of territoriality of this species and by a higher density of tall trees and favored tree species along watercourses. We suspect that habitat degradation, especially loss of nesting habitat, is a key threat that has probably hastened the decline of this species in West Africa. We recommend that conservationists and government officials engage with local communities to urgently identify and protect key nesting areas, and then integrate the Hooded Vulture’s habitat requirements into land management practises to support the conservation of this Critically Endangered species.