We examined the influence of fruit availability and habitat disturbance, including past and recent forest fires, on an assemblage of hornbills over a four-month period in the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra. The assemblage is dominated by Wreathed Hornbills Aceros undulatus (7.5 birds/km2), followed by Bushy-crested Hornbills Anorrhinus galeritus (3.05 birds/km2), Rhinoceros Hornbills Buceros rhinoceros (2.6 birds/km2), and Helmeted Hornbills Buceros vigil (1.9 birds/km2). Overall densities for each species were consistent with estimates from other South-East Asian sites but densities varied temporally and spatially, even for territorial species. We speculate that Rhinoceros and Helmeted Hornbills may exhibit facultative territoriality or they may not be territorial at this site. We found a positive relationship between temporal variability in hornbill numbers and the availability of ripe fruits. All hornbills, especially Rhinoceros and Bushy-crested Hornbills, tended to avoid highly disturbed areas; these areas had a lower than expected number of fruiting trees in five important hornbill diet families. Densities of Bushy-Crested, Rhinoceros, and Helmeted Hornbills declined from 28 to 63% in the post-burn surveys. Wreathed Hornbills, however, increased slightly in the post-burn surveys, possibly because they were nesting there at the time. Movement of hornbills between disturbed and primary forest habitat may enhance regeneration of disturbed areas if hornbills are transporting viable seeds.

The Hadejia-Nguru wetlands in north-east Nigeria are of international importance for resident and migratory Anatidae but the construction of large dams upstream seriously threatens their continued existence. An analysis of waterfowl census data collected over the period 1988 to 1998 inclusive demonstrated that the extent of flooding had no effect on the species richness of waterfowl but had a significant impact on total numbers. White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata and Garganey Anas querquedula in particular respond to changes in flood extent. The present practice of releasing water from upstream reservoirs should therefore be continued.

The controversy that presently surrounds the taxonomy of the Orange-fronted Cyanoramphus malherbi and Forbes' C. forbesi Parakeets has important implications for the conservation of both birds. Both taxa are critically endangered, but consensus regarding their specific status has not yet been achieved. We present mitochondrial DNA sequences for the cytochrome b gene and the control region from 17 Cyanoramphus parakeets representing nine populations and six taxa together with field observations of courtship and breeding behaviour in a sympatric population of Orange-fronted and Yellow-crowned Parakeets C. auriceps. Field data support species status of the Orange-fronted Parakeet under the Biological Species Concept. Phylogenetic analyses of our DNA sequence data support earlier hypotheses based on allozyme data that both Orange-fronted and Forbes' Parakeets represent distinct species under four species concepts and indicate that high conservation priority is warranted for both taxa.

We investigated how North Island Weka Gallirallus australis greyi could be conserved in situ at East Cape, New Zealand using banded and radiotransmitter-carrying Weka to measure home range size and use, reproduction and mortality. We fitted radiotransmitters to 28 Weka with 75% of the subsequent fixes from 18 birds being obtained at intervals of < 4 days. Home ranges of 10 males had an estimated median size of 10.6 ha, while 5 female home ranges had an estimated median size of 3.5 ha. Home ranges of individuals of both sexes overlapped. Within their home ranges, Weka preferred bush relative to pasture and may have preferred pines to pasture. Weka did not significantly prefer bush to pines. Breeding occurred year-round, with a summer peak, but 11 breeding pairs raised only four chicks to independence in two years. The causes of egg and chick mortality could not be established, but predators killed six adults, motor vehicles killed six and one adult died in a trap. Measurements of body size revealed that a male-biased sex ratio was likely (67:33). We concluded that the recovery of the North Island Weka population in the East Cape region will require improving reproductive success and decreasing predation on adults. We recommend that managers focus on predator removal and habitat creation in future.

The conservation status of the Blue-throated Macaw Ara glaucogularis, a Bolivian endemic, is assessed using the most recent information available. The known range of the species is patchily distributed within an 8,600 km2 area of lowland savanna–forest habitat in the Beni department, under private ownership for cattle ranching, which is the main form of land use in the region. Population surveys of the Blue-throated Macaw revealed this species to exist in very low numbers. The immediate threat to the species is illegal trapping for the live bird trade. Effects of cattle grazing and savanna burning may modify habitat characteristics, but there is no direct evidence suggesting that these factors negatively influence the ecological requirements of Ara glaucogularis. The species is highly associated with the Attalea phalerata palm, which it uses for feeding and nesting. Current conservation efforts include: population and distribution surveys and assessment of habitat requirements; environmental awareness targeted at landowners and ranch personnel; collaboration with subnational and central government bodies; and development of strategies to curtail parrot trafficking activities. Recommendations for the long-term conservation of the species include increasing the involvement of landowners to strengthen protection for wild macaws; working with the Bolivian government on strategies to curb macaw trafficking; increasing environmental education activities with local inhabitants; basic research on breeding requirements and limitations of wild Blue-throated Macaws; and investigating the application of private reserves to the Blue-throated Macaw range.

Population densities of the near-threatened Black-faced Cotinga Conioptilon mcilhennyi were investigated during a 21-month survey of lowland rainforest bird communities in Madre de Dios, south-east Peru. Surveys for the species were conducted at two locations along the Río Madre de Dios. C. mcilhennyi is more abundant in old floodplain/seasonally flooded swamp forest mosaic habitat than in seasonally flooded swamp forest. Regional population estimates along the Río Madre de Dios, Río Parramanu and Río de las Piedras range from 1,153 to 2,178 individuals. Current threats to this species and its habitat are discussed along with several conservation recommendations, including the proposal that the newly designated Parc Nacional Bahuaja-Sonene or existing Zona Reservada de Tambopata-Candamo are expanded to encompass suitable Black-faced Cotinga habitat.