An Ecological Study on Hamerkops (Scopus Umbretta) Along Lake Hawassa, Ethiopia
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Date
2018-06-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A study on population status, foraging nest building and breeding behaviour of hamerkops (Scopus umbretta) was carried out along the shore of Lake Hawassa, southern Ethiopia. Data were collected during the wet and dry seasons. Point count method was employed to estimate the population. Direct observation by the help of binoculars and necked eyes was used to record data on foraging, breeding and nest building. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 descriptive statistics and paired t test. The mean number of hamerkops in the study area was 168 during the wet season and 314 during the dry season. Hamerkops build huge nest and they spend most of their time in building their nest during the wet season. They breed during the late rain season and early dry season. Cultch size range from minimum three to maximum five. The mean clutch size was 4.3. The mean egg length and width was 45.9 and 34.0 mm, respectively. The mean weight was 27.1 g. Egg laying interval varied between 24 and 48 hours. Incubation started 24 hours after the laying of the first egg. Fledging time depended on the hatching period. Hamerkops feed on different food items at different sites, like fish, fish scraps, frogs and worms. Most of the time they feed on fish scraps during the dry season obtained from the fish market. They frequently feed worms at Fiker Hayiq during the wet season. The feeding pattern significantly differed based sites (p> 0.05) in the current study. Further detailed study should be carried out to get more exhaustive information on hamerkops.
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Abundance, Breeding, Egg, Foraging, Hamerkops, Lake Hawassa, Nest Building