Birds are renowned for their globe-spanning migrations, but most research on these seasonal movements comes from work on species that migrate between northern, temperate breeding areas and non-breeding areas at lower latitudes. Intra-African migrants–those that seasonally move within the continent–are much less studied, and this has created a challenge for assessing the conservation status and threats of these species. In Africa, resource and logistical limitations have constrained the use of lightweight geolocators and GPS devices that have been used to study temperate-breeding migrants. However, the increasing availability of and expertise on these technologies is finally allowing intra-African migration to get the attention it deserves.
We are using both multi-sensor geolocator technology and GPS devices to study the intra-African migrations of short- and long-distance migrants breeding in South Africa. The Spotted Ground Thrush (see also our ThrushWatch programme) is a rare and endangered forest specialist in South Africa, but its migration has remained a mystery because of the species’ size. Our ongoing project to track thrushes with multi-sensor geolocators is providing valuable insights into the complex migration of fragmented subpopulations that will contribute to conservation. We also have ongoing pilot projects using GPS devices to study the presumably long-distance, intra-African migration of Broad-billed Rollers and Levaillant’s Cuckoos.
