Re: [KENYABIRDSNET] Ground Hornbills

From: Jeffrey James <jeffrey.r.james@btopenworld.com>

Date: 2009-08-08 20:18

Subject: Re: [KENYABIRDSNET] Ground Hornbills

I've been following the exchanges about Ground Hornbills in Laikipia with great interest and thought I should chip in with my own experience.

On my first visit to Lolldaiga Hills in November 2001, there was a solitary hornbill which frequented the area around the farmhouse from time to time. I last saw it, presumably the same bird, in April 2006. Robert Wells, who is not a birder, cannot recall exactly the last time he saw it, but it seems to have disappeared some time after 2006 as I have not seen it on subsequent visits. Robert remembers seeing two or three hornbills together, including young birds, from time to time after he first went to live on Lolldaiga in 1981. But his regular pair were reduced to one some time in the 1990s. So maybe the one which remained till 2006 was the last survivor in Laikipia. At least it shows a record of past breeding. But the upper part of Lolldaiga, where the birds normally were seen, may not be typical Laikipia habitat.

As a postcript to Marlene's story about windows being attacked, the Lolldaiga bird not only broke a window in the house on one occasion, but also left the chrome/plastic grille of a Prado pitted with deep dents. I counted well over 50!

Best wishes to one and all, Jeffrey

----- Original Message -----

From: James Christian

Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 8:39 AM

Subject: [KENYABIRDSNET] Ground Hornbills

Dear All,
A few quick question: Are there any Ground Hornbills left in Laikipia? Has anyone ever read about reintroductions of Ground Hornbills? What would exactly would have been the chief cause of extirpation of Ground Hornbills from Laikipia if they have indeed been extirpated? Where were they once common in the area?
Thanks for your ideas.
Cheers, James Christian

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