So far 10 important Bird Area have been identified as occurring in the SNNPRS. These includes Bonga forest, Boyo wetland, Lake Chaw Bahir, Konso- Segon area, Mugo Highlands, Nech-Sar National Park, Omo River, Mago National Park, Omo National Park and Lake Turkana and Omo Delta. The key birds for the region are Category 1.Globally Threatened Species: vulnerable (Wattled Crane & Lesser Kestrel ), and Near threatened (Pallid Harrier, Lesser Flamingo, Friedmann’s Lark, Abyssinian Long claw) and Category 2. Restricted-range species ( Nech-Sar Nightjar* and Ruppell’s Chat). Of the globally threatened birds, two are classified as vulnerable and four are near threatened. Both the restricted range species are endemic to Ethiopia and belong to globally Identified Endemic Bird Areas. The other endemics record for the region Abyssinian Longclaw, Abyssinian woodpecker, Abyssinian catbird and black-headed Siskin.
The Bonga forest holds 14 highland biome species), Nech-Sar National Park is well endowed with nightjar: four species including the endemic Nech-sar nightjar. The lakes of the Region Chewbahir, Abaya, Chamo, and Turkana are recognized as wetlands of international importance as they regularly host 20,000or more water birds. |
