The Movements of Palaearctic Landbird Migrants in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The seasonal pattern of occurrence of the Palaearctic-breeding landbird migrants in Tsavo East National Park in southeastern Kenya is described. The majority of the migrants did not arrive in the autumn until the onset of the rains, usually about mid-Nov. By this time they had been in Africa south of the Sahara for 2 or 3 mo. Those species feeding on the ground and in the air remained in Tsavo East National Park for the remainder of the northern winter. Those species feeding in the woody vegetation moved on by mid-Jan., presumably farther south, and then returned in smaller numbers during April. The arrival in Nov. appeared to be largely the result of typical long-distance nocturnal migration. The patterns of occurrence can be explained in terms of the available food supplies, and there is circumstantial evidence for the suggested movements from ringing studies carried out at a nearby site. The migrants have adopted the strategy of always living in areas with an abundance of resources and moving on when these become reduced; and that the only real difference between the so-called Palaearctic migrants and those that migrate within Africa is that of distance moved.