Conservation implications of the drinking habits of Black-cheeked Lovebirds Agapornis nigrigenis in Zambia

Abstract

Since 1950, the annual rainfall in the habitat of Black-cheeked Lovebirds Agapornis nigrigenis has decreased, increasing dependence on artificial water supplies. In this study, the seasonal water requirements and drinking behaviour of the lovebirds in their natural habitat were investigated. During the dry season, lovebirds drank at the same water-point in the early morning and late afternoon. Flock sizes of birds at drinking sites ranged from 1 to 175 individuals. Birds from one locale all drank at the same waterhole. Black-cheeked Lovebirds were vigilant and highly cautious drinkers that did not drink at waterholes when disturbed by humans or livestock. The implications for conservation of the species are discussed. Since water availability is a limiting factor for the Black-cheeked Lovebird, gradual desiccation of its habitat has caused the reduction of its small distributional range. Because of increasing dependence on artificial water supplies in a highly localized distribution the priority for conservation management of the species must be creating and maintaining water resources with minimal external disturbance.

The drinking habits of the Lilian's lovebird and incidents of poisoning at waterholes

“…Lilian's lovebirds drank from diverse water sources. They drank in the early morning and late afternoon similar to the black‐cheeked lovebird in Zambia (Warburton & Perrin, ). However, the mean flock sizes at waterholes in LNP for the Lilian's lovebird during these peak times of the day differed to those for the black‐checked lovebird.…”

“…They avoided waterholes when large mammals were present. Black-cheeked lovebirds also avoid waterholes with human or livestock disturbance (Warburton & Perrin, 2005).…”

“…Lilian's lovebirds are mopane Colosphermum mopane woodland specialists closely associated with the distribution of rivers (Forshaw, 1989;Perrin, 2012). They form large flocks around water sources (Forshaw, 1989;Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett, 2006), as observed in Fischer's lovebird A. fischeri, yellow-collared lovebird A. personatus, black-cheeked lovebird and rosyfaced lovebird A. roseicollis (Fry, Stuart & Urban, 1988;Forshaw, 1989;Warburton & Perrin, 2005;Perrin, 2012). Lilian's lovebirds' diet is largely grass seeds.…”