The Picathartes Field Trip

The field trip to the Picathartes Sanctuary was aimed to investigate in real time aspect of the breeding biology of the Red-necked Picathartes Picathartes oreas. The field work was executed at the Boki Bird Foundation (BBF) situated in Abo Ebam, Cross River State.

A team of three people, comprising Team Leader, Research Field Assistant, and Driver, went for the sampling trip, besides the BBF team (BBF Director, Field Guard, and a laborer) that awaited us to arrive at the site.

Plate 1: A group photo with staff from left to right: Victoria Ayansola (Field Assistant), Jeremiah Mbeson (BBF), Bitru Agwom (Driver), Taiwo Crossby (Principal Investigator), Mbeson Emmanuel (Executive Director BBF), Mbeson Janet (BBF), and Andrew (Field Guard) of the Boki Bird Foundation, Abo Ebam, Cross River.

Observations

We observed five refurbished and active nests for the Picathartes during the field activities. One of the nests had fledged two chicks prior to arrival to the site (BBF Director Pers. Com), but another nest had two eggs during the field period. Using experience from previous attempt in combination with BBF teams’ monitoring information, we concealed in hideout to monitory the breeding behaviour of the birds.

Plate 2: A refurbished Nest of the Red-necked Picathartes Picathartes oreas

The Picathartes unpredictably arrive to their colony, and are notoriously sensitive to any disturbance or signs of human presence. This makes the birds stay away from their colony sites. We observed more than 10 individuals of the birds during the field period.

Plate 3: Abasi Uwat (RA) and Crossby Taiwo (PI) returning from the Picathartes Sanctuary camp at Abo Ebam, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Other observations and photos

Plate 4: Photo of the Red-heade Picathartes Picathartes oreas observed during the field work

Plate 5: The picathartes oreas observed on the nest