BINCO Malawi

steep slopes, elusive birds and dense forests

Project description

November 2020 - Mount mulanje forest reserve

Hidden in the dense afromontane forests on the slopes of Mount Mulanje, breeds a pair of the elusive endangered Spotted ground thrush (Geokichla guttata subsp. belcheri). How many birds are left in Malawi? What threats does the population face? Which conservation actions are urgently needed? We completed a rapid biodiversity survey to answer those questions.

: Epiphytic orchids and mosses are supported by an average rainfall per year of over 2000 mm.

: Vegetation surveys were conducted to characterize the breeding site of the Spotted ground thrush.

: Lilongwe University (LUANAR) thesis student records bird sounds for acoustic analysis.

: A full bird assessment was made of the Ruo Gorge and the Chisongeli forest.

: A bush snake

: The tea fields at the forest edge were previously covered with lowland rainforest, now a rare occurrence.

: The dense forest understory is home to several elusive ground-dwelling bird species.

: The footslopes of Chisongeli forest, the largest continuous tract of afromontane forest in Malawi, and home to the Spotted ground thrush.