Rondo Forest Reserve, Tanzania: an ornithological note including new records of the East Coast Akalat Sheppardia gunningi, the Spotted Ground Thrush Turdus fischeri, and the Rondo Green Barbet Stactolaema olivacea woodwardi

Abstract

The Rondo Forest Reserve is a semi-deciduous coastal forest situated at 10°10S, 39°15E in southern Tanzania, 77 km by road from the coastal town of Lindi. The forest isheterogeneous, with substantial numbers of large canopy trees, such as Chlorophora excelsior and Ficus sp. still present. Although the native flora is now threatened by extensive, illegal burning, as well as legal forestry practices, the indigenous forest still covers an area of approximately 18 km2, making it probably the third largest remaining Tanzanian coastal forest. Despite the well recognized ornithological importance of coastal forests (e.g. Collar & Stuart 1988), and some early interest in the birds of the area, the Rondo Plateau has been virtually ignored by ornithologists. We visited the forest from 16 October to 3 December 1988 as part of a general coastal forest survey sponsored and supported by the Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania. Further information concerning the fauna, flora and conservation status of the forest is in the expedition report (available from the authors)