This review aims to give all-inclusive précis of key roles of wild birds as bioindicators of contamination using theoretical and empirical evidence provided in different literature and its influence on conservation. Over the years wild birds have been used as bioindicators of contamination globally. Are wild birds suitable for measuring heavy metal pollution? Bioindicators are species used to appraise the health conditions of the environment and they are capable of determining the environmental integrity if their functions and populations are put into consideration. Birds are good indicators because they are very easy to detect and their presence is easy to observe in any environment or if the habitat does not fulfill the ecological requirements, as they are equipped with the ability of flight so that they will leave the environment. Apart from that, in classification individual species are easy to identify with their wide distribution. Heavy metals are essential elements for organisms but may be toxic with high level, affecting productive function and behavioural features and equally heavy metals can easily be accumulated and biomagnified through food or food web. Therefore, using birds as bioindicators is a function of properties of interest and resources available for ecological evaluation which promotes conservation of bird species for impending generation.

Torchlight plays an important part during colony inspection and honey harvesting in the tropics. The impact of coloured lights on night -time colony management of the African honey bees (Apis mellifera adansonii) was investigated in a Gmelina arborea plantation, Obubra, Nigeria. A Tanzanian top-bar bee hive coated with bee wax at the inner surface to attract bees and four identical torches modified to emit green, blue, red and white (control) lights were used. The four colours served as treatments for the study. The experiment was conducted for four weeks during the wet season in June/July, 2010. The mean numbers of honeybees attracted to each coloured light were: white (143.00), blue (122.50), green (97.75) and red (85.00). Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences (0.001, p ≤ 0.05) among the various coloured lights in relation to number of bees attracted to each light while the Fisher's Least Significant Difference (LSD) revealed no significant difference between green and red coloured lights (0.274, p ≤ 0.05) alone. The red and green lights are therefore recommended for management of African honeybees at night.

Scientific classification and conservation status Common name: West African black-crowned crane.

Preliminary study on the population status of mona monkeys (Cercopithecus mona) was conducted in Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) in April (wet season) and December (dry season) of 2014. Data were collected from 20 transects randomly selected from the Northern Sector (12 transects) and Southern Sector (8 transects) using the systematic segmented trackline sampling option. Data generated were analysed with density equation (D) and chi-square (χ 2) statistical analysis at 5% level of significance. Population parameters assessed are troop density and troop size. Wet season troop densities for the Northern Sector, Southern Sector and entire sanctuary were 8.69±1.80, 7.71±1.93 and 8.20±1.87 troops/km 2 respectively. Troop sizes recorded were 4.44±0.30, 3.80±0.36 and 4.12±0.33 individuals/troop for the Northern Sector, Southern Sector and entire sanctuary respectively for the same season. Dry season troop densities of 7.80±0.23, 6.66±2.04 and 7.23±1.14 troops/km 2 were also obtained for the Northern Sector, Southern Sector and entire sanctuary respectively. Within the same period, the values for troop sizes (individuals/troop) were 3.16±0.91 (Northern Sector), 3.20±3.30 (Southern Sector) and 3.18±0.61 (entire sanctuary). There is no significant difference (p>0.05) between the wet and dry seasons as well as between the Northern and Southern Sectors in relation to troop sizes and troop densities. The AMWS habours a high population of Cercopithecus mona as indicated in this study. It is recommended that regular population census should be conducted to ascertain more population parameters for effective conservation of the species.