African Journal of EcologyVolume 48, Issue 1 p. 272-274 Perceptions of habitat changes in the Yabelo Sanctuary and surrounding areas Richard J. Mellanby, Corresponding Author Richard J. Mellanby Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK *E-mail: richard.mellanby@ed.ac.ukSearch for more papers by this authorC. Broadhurst, C. Broadhurst Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorM. Wondafrash, M. Wondafrash Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society, PO Box 13303, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSearch for more papers by this authorM. Ewnetu, M. Ewnetu Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK Wildlife Conservation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, PO Box 10-22-98, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSearch for more papers by this authorS. Watt, S. Watt Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorR. Critchlow, R. Critchlow Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorA. Dadesa, A. Dadesa Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary, PO Box 34, Yabelo, EthiopiaSearch for more papers by this authorT. Deas, T. Deas Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorC. Enawgaw, C. Enawgaw Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK Wildlife Conservation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, PO Box 10-22-98, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSearch for more papers by this authorB. Gebremedhin, B. Gebremedhin Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK Institute of Biodiversity and Conservation, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSearch for more papers by this authorE. Graham, E. Graham Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorS. Maclean, S. Maclean Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorB. Ross, B. Ross Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this author Richard J. Mellanby, Corresponding Author Richard J. Mellanby Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK *E-mail: richard.mellanby@ed.ac.ukSearch for more papers by this authorC. Broadhurst, C. Broadhurst Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorM. Wondafrash, M. Wondafrash Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society, PO Box 13303, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSearch for more papers by this authorM. Ewnetu, M. Ewnetu Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK Wildlife Conservation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, PO Box 10-22-98, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSearch for more papers by this authorS. Watt, S. Watt Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorR. Critchlow, R. Critchlow Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorA. Dadesa, A. Dadesa Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary, PO Box 34, Yabelo, EthiopiaSearch for more papers by this authorT. Deas, T. Deas Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorC. Enawgaw, C. Enawgaw Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK Wildlife Conservation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, PO Box 10-22-98, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSearch for more papers by this authorB. Gebremedhin, B. Gebremedhin Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK Institute of Biodiversity and Conservation, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSearch for more papers by this authorE. Graham, E. Graham Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorS. Maclean, S. Maclean Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorB. Ross, B. Ross Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 February 2010 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2028.2009.01087.xRead the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume48, Issue1March 2010Pages 272-274 RelatedInformation

Richard J Mellanby1*, Celia Broadhurst1, Mengistu Wondafrash1,2, Mihiret Ewnetu1,3, Sandy Watt1, Rob Critchlow1, Aman Dadesa1,4, Tom Deas1, Chere Enawgaw1,3, Berihun Gebremedhin1,5, Ellie Graham1, Sarah MacLean1 and Ben Ross1 1 Project Yabelo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK 2 Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society, PO Box 13303, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Wildlife Conservation Department, PO Box 10-22-98, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 4 Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary, PO Box 34, Yabelo, Ethiopia 5 Institute of Biodiversity and Conservation, PO Box 30726, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia * Corresponding author, e-mail: Richard.Mellanby@ed.ac.uk

The Yabelo-Mega region of southern Ethiopia's Borana region holds two threatened endemic and restricted-range species, the White-tailed Swallow Hirundo megnensis ('Vulnerable') and Ethiopian Bush-crow Zavattariornis stresemanni ('Endangered'). Concern about these species' conservation Status has recently increased owing to rapid alterations to their thornbush savanna habitat. This six-week field Study aimed to identify the specific habitat requirements of each species, with a view to understanding how they are likely to be affected by these changes, and to provide baseline quantitative abundance data using simple and repeatable methods. White-tailed Swallows were recorded on an overall 4.7% of transects and point counts, and in all habitats (including villages and farmland) except broadleaved Combretum-Terminalia woodland. Line transects indicated that swallows avoided dense scrub and tree cover, but this was not detected during point counts. Bush-crows were recorded on an overall 16.6% of transects and point Counts, and like swallows showed a strong preference for thornbush (Acacia and Commiphora) over broadleaved woodland, avoided dense scrub cover, and were particularly frequent in the vicinity of villages. During point-counts, bush-crows were more frequently encountered inside the nominally protected Yabelo Sanctuary, whereas the reverse was true for White-tailed Swallows. Recent concern about dramatic declines in bush-crow numbers revealed by roadside Count,; may have been exacerbated by habitat alteration along roads alone, but the species remains under threat from habitat transformation through agricultural expansion, tree felling and bush encroachment.