Macronyx sharpei

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	PASSERIFORMES	MOTACILLIDAE

Scientific Name:

Macronyx sharpei

Species Authority:

Jackson, 1904

Common Name/s:

English	–	Sharpe's Longclaw, Sharpe's Pipit
French	–	Alouette sentinelle de Sharpe

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A3bc+4bc;B1ab(ii,iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Taylor, J., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Bennun, L.

Justification:
This species is threatened by a very rapid and continuing reduction in the extent and quality of its habitat, such that it now has a very small and highly fragmented range. Similar rates of population decline are likely. This species is therefore classified as Endangered.

History:

2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Macronyx sharpei is endemic to Kenya. The bulk of its population occurs in three locations¹: the Kinangop Plateau (40 birds/km² in 1996⁵), Mau Narok, and the Uasin Gishu grasslands. Surveys of Lake Ol Bolossat grasslands in August 2007 confirmed the presence of the species, with 29 birds recorded at densities of c.0.03-0.37 birds/ha¹⁴. It is still locally common in large areas of suitable habitat¹. It is also known from the eastern slopes of Mt Elgon, the northern, drier slopes of Mt Kenya, and the Aberdare Mountains (but with no recent records)¹.
Countries:	Native: Kenya
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Preliminary population estimate requiring further documentation.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This very sedentary species is restricted to high-altitude grassland, although it is rare above 2,800 m^5,8. Tussocks (required for nesting⁶) are an essential feature of its habitat, short grass is preferred to long, and it is absent from cultivation or woodlots^4,5,6,8. It appears able to coexist with livestock, so long as adequate tussock cover remains (grazing may actually be necessary to maintain optimal habitat)^1,5. It has a mean home range of c.0.5 ha⁵.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This very sedentary species is restricted to high-altitude grassland, although it is rare above 2,800 m^5,8. Tussocks (required for nesting⁶) are an essential feature of its habitat, short grass is preferred to long, and it is absent from cultivation or woodlots^4,5,6,8. It appears able to coexist with livestock, so long as adequate tussock cover remains (grazing may actually be necessary to maintain optimal habitat)^1,5. It has a mean home range of c.0.5 ha⁵.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Its grassland habitat (currently estimated to cover between one-third and half of its historical extent⁴) is being replaced by cultivation and woodlots^1,4,5,7. This is driven by the settlement of small-scale farmers¹³. Rates of replacement at Kinangop were 6-9% per annum in 1995-1996^1,4. The species occurs almost exclusively on privately-owned grasslands, which are likely to be converted to agriculture¹³. On the Kinangop Plateau, cultivation is becoming more attractive than livestock-rearing^1,7, generally because of unreliable payments by large-scale milk purchasers and a decrease in the frequency of frosts¹³. Consequently, most farmers plan to convert their land from a pastoral to an arable system⁶. Many remaining pastures are ploughed every few years to remove unpalatable tussock-grass^9,13. It was predicted that by 2010, only 20% of the Kinangop Plateau would be covered by tussock grasslands¹¹. However, grasslands already cover only 50% of the plateau, and only 30% of these are tussock grasslands¹³. The increasing human population density has resulted in the subdivision of farms and increasing stocking rates⁹. Consequent heavy grazing leads to open, short-grass fields that are unsuitable for M. sharpei^1,9. Around 60% of tussock grasslands are highly fragmented because they are found in small land parcels (2-10 ha) divided amongst small-holders¹³. The Lake Ol Bolossat grasslands are threatened by encroachment and settlement, quarrying for rocks, overgrazing, water abstraction, poor soil and water management practices and eucalyptus plantations on neighbouring farms¹⁴. The fragmentation of its habitat may result in population decreases that are disproportionately greater than the amount of grassland lost^5,8.

Major Threat(s):

Its grassland habitat (currently estimated to cover between one-third and half of its historical extent⁴) is being replaced by cultivation and woodlots^1,4,5,7. This is driven by the settlement of small-scale farmers¹³. Rates of replacement at Kinangop were 6-9% per annum in 1995-1996^1,4. The species occurs almost exclusively on privately-owned grasslands, which are likely to be converted to agriculture¹³. On the Kinangop Plateau, cultivation is becoming more attractive than livestock-rearing^1,7, generally because of unreliable payments by large-scale milk purchasers and a decrease in the frequency of frosts¹³. Consequently, most farmers plan to convert their land from a pastoral to an arable system⁶. Many remaining pastures are ploughed every few years to remove unpalatable tussock-grass^9,13. It was predicted that by 2010, only 20% of the Kinangop Plateau would be covered by tussock grasslands¹¹. However, grasslands already cover only 50% of the plateau, and only 30% of these are tussock grasslands¹³. The increasing human population density has resulted in the subdivision of farms and increasing stocking rates⁹. Consequent heavy grazing leads to open, short-grass fields that are unsuitable for M. sharpei^1,9. Around 60% of tussock grasslands are highly fragmented because they are found in small land parcels (2-10 ha) divided amongst small-holders¹³. The Lake Ol Bolossat grasslands are threatened by encroachment and settlement, quarrying for rocks, overgrazing, water abstraction, poor soil and water management practices and eucalyptus plantations on neighbouring farms¹⁴. The fragmentation of its habitat may result in population decreases that are disproportionately greater than the amount of grassland lost^5,8.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway The bulk of its population occurs on private farmland that is outside protected areas^3,5,13. A local volunteer environmental group has begun an awareness campaign focused on this species¹. Proposals are also being developed to improve milk-cooling facilities, to decrease the incentives for land conversion^1,6. It may be necessary to preserve a network of critical habitat through land purchase and land-management agreements⁴. An 18-ha block of land in the north-central part of the Kinangop Plateau has been identified as being suitable as a reserve for the protection of at least 10 pairs of the species, and was due to be established before the end of 2004¹³. A local conservation group will manage the reserve and employ a warden. It will demonstrate land management that favours the species and provides better economic returns from livestock, and is hoped to encourage the establishment of new reserves by schools and other organisations. It was expected that the reserve would provide a facility for environmental education and awareness-raising activities amongst land-owners and schools, as well as an attraction for ecotourists¹³. Conservation Actions Proposed Carry out surveys and assess its status at Mau Narok and Uasin Gishu¹. Monitor the species's population trends across its range. Monitor the rate of grassland conversion to pasture and cultivation. Study the socio-economic factors underlying land-use changes^1,6. Evaluate grazing regimes to establish which is optimal for maintaining tussock grassland^1,5,6. Raise awareness among farmers within its range⁶, perhaps using the proposed reserve on the Kinangop Plateau as an example of beneficial management¹³. Improve milk processing facilities to make dairy farming more attractive⁷. Investigate the economic benefits of maintaining tussock grass habitat⁷. Establish a network of large pastoral farms (>30ha) to act as longclaw reserves¹¹; well managed reserves could hold up to 85 individuals/km^{2 12}. Encourage ecotourism, perhaps using the proposed reserve on the Kinangop Plateau as an example¹³. Carry out further surveys on and around Lake Ol Bolossat grasslands¹⁴. Protect Lake Ol Bolossat grasslands¹⁴. Carry out reforestation of degraded catchment areas with native vegetation and encourage ecotourism at Lake Ol Bolossat grasslands¹⁴.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
The bulk of its population occurs on private farmland that is outside protected areas^3,5,13. A local volunteer environmental group has begun an awareness campaign focused on this species¹. Proposals are also being developed to improve milk-cooling facilities, to decrease the incentives for land conversion^1,6. It may be necessary to preserve a network of critical habitat through land purchase and land-management agreements⁴. An 18-ha block of land in the north-central part of the Kinangop Plateau has been identified as being suitable as a reserve for the protection of at least 10 pairs of the species, and was due to be established before the end of 2004¹³. A local conservation group will manage the reserve and employ a warden. It will demonstrate land management that favours the species and provides better economic returns from livestock, and is hoped to encourage the establishment of new reserves by schools and other organisations. It was expected that the reserve would provide a facility for environmental education and awareness-raising activities amongst land-owners and schools, as well as an attraction for ecotourists¹³.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out surveys and assess its status at Mau Narok and Uasin Gishu¹. Monitor the species's population trends across its range. Monitor the rate of grassland conversion to pasture and cultivation. Study the socio-economic factors underlying land-use changes^1,6. Evaluate grazing regimes to establish which is optimal for maintaining tussock grassland^1,5,6. Raise awareness among farmers within its range⁶, perhaps using the proposed reserve on the Kinangop Plateau as an example of beneficial management¹³. Improve milk processing facilities to make dairy farming more attractive⁷. Investigate the economic benefits of maintaining tussock grass habitat⁷. Establish a network of large pastoral farms (>30ha) to act as longclaw reserves¹¹; well managed reserves could hold up to 85 individuals/km^{2 12}. Encourage ecotourism, perhaps using the proposed reserve on the Kinangop Plateau as an example¹³. Carry out further surveys on and around Lake Ol Bolossat grasslands¹⁴. Protect Lake Ol Bolossat grasslands¹⁴. Carry out reforestation of degraded catchment areas with native vegetation and encourage ecotourism at Lake Ol Bolossat grasslands¹⁴.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Macronyx sharpei. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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