Temporal dynamics of shorebirds in the Niger part of the Lake Chad Basin

Abstract

In the Nigerien portion of the Lake Chad Basin, shorebird dynamics have undergone significant changes due to human activities, climate change, and insecurity. This study aims to analyze shorebird dynamics along a 56 km stretch of the Komadougou River in the Nigerien part of the Lake Chad Basin. Shorebirds were counted along this stretch in the municipalities of Diffa, Gueskerou, and Toumour between January and December 2024 using a transect with 20-minute listening points. A total of eight species belonging to three families were identified. The group of shorebirds counted was dominated by species such as Pluvialis dominica (19.0%), Calidris pusilla (15.8%), Tryngites subruficollis (13.6%), Pluvialis squatarola (13.1%), and Tringa melanoleuca (11.7%). At the species level, intra-African migratory shorebird species (R/M, 67.0%) were dominant, followed by resident and Western Palearctic species (R/M/P, 29.0%). This study, the first of its kind in this area, provides a reference for establishing a database on the spatio-temporal dynamics of shorebirds and their quantitative and qualitative importance.

Keywords: Shorebird, Birds, Komadougou, Wetland, Niger