UKZN student needs help with Trumpeter Hornbill research

Have you seen a Trumpeter Hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator) in your garden or surrounds?

UKZN learner, Moses Chibesa is currently doing a PhD on the Ecology of Trumpeter Hornbills across the forest -urban gradient with a focus on home range, habitat uses and their role in seed dispersal. His research will look at how this bird species is surviving in urban environments especially around Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, Waterfall and Eshowe and he would value any sightings or input from residents.

This bird is the largest obligate frugivore in South Africa and feeds mainly on fruits. The project’s core interest is how the Trumpeter Hornbill is utilising fragmented landscapes in terms of nesting, movements and feeding behaviour and thereby, generate vital information that will be useful for biodiversity conservation under the current scenarios of land-use changes.

“I chose the Trumpeter Hornbills because of the important role they play in sustaining tropical forest by dispersing seeds of indigenous plants especially figs. But very little is known on how they managing in fragmented habitats,” said Chibesa.

“We intend to capture some and attach transmitters to enable us understand how they are utilising the urban environment. We have managed to do this in Eshowe and we would love to replicate it in Durban. So, we are looking for a suitable place around Durban were we can catch them. Ideally were they are feeding on a lower fruiting tree.”

If you are able to help, contact: moses.chibesa@gmail.com. or Prof.Colleen T. Downs on downs@ukzn.ac.za.